Creation and Spatial Analysis of 3D City Modeling based on GIS Data

The 3D city model is one of the crucial topics that are still under analysis by many engineers and programmers because of the great advancements in data acquisition technologies and 3D computer graphics programming. It is one of the best visualization methods for representing reality. This paper presents different techniques for the creation and spatial analysis of 3D city modeling based on Geographical Information System (GIS) technology using free data sources. To achieve that goal, the Mansoura University campus, located in Mansoura city, Egypt, was chosen as a case study. The minimum data requirements to generate a 3D city model are the terrain, 2D spatial features such as buildings, landscape area and street networks. Moreover, building height is an important attribute in the 3D extrusion process. The main challenge during the creation process is the dearth of accurate free datasets, and the time-consuming editing. Therefore, different data sources are used in this study to evaluate their accuracy and find suitable applications which can use the generated 3D model. Meanwhile, an accurate data source obtained using the traditional survey methods is used for the validation purpose. First, the terrain was obtained from a digital elevation model (DEM) and compared with grid leveling measurements. Second, 2D data were obtained from: the manual digitization from (30 cm) high-resolution imagery, and deep learning structure algorithms to detect the 2D features automatically using an object instance segmentation model and compared the results with the total station survey observations. Different techniques are used to investigate and evaluate the accuracy of these data sources. The procedural modeling technique is applied to generate the 3D city model. TensorFlow & Keras frameworks (Python APIs) were used in this paper; moreover, global mapper, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS and CityEngine software were used. The precision metrics from the trained deep learning model were 0.78 for buildings, 0.62 for streets and 0.89 for landscape areas. Despite, the manual digitizing results are better than the results from deep learning, but the extracted features accuracy is accepted and can be used in the creation process in the cases not require a highly accurate 3D model. The flood impact scenario is simulated as an application of spatial analysis on the generated 3D city model. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-01-08 Full Text: PD

Promoting healthy eating and physical activity among school children: findings from Health-E-PALS, the first pilot intervention from Lebanon

Background: In Lebanon, childhood obesity doubled during the past decade. Preventive measures should start early in life and Schools are considered an important environment to promote energy balance health behaviours. School-based programmes promoting healthy lifestyles are lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a multicomponent school-based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity (and prevent obesity) with school children aged 9–11 years in Lebanon. Methods: The intervention was developed based on the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory and adapted to the culture of Lebanese and Arab populations. It consisted of three components: class curriculum, family involvement and food service. Eight schools were purposively selected from two communities of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Beirut and, within each school type, were matched on SES, religious sect profile, and then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Anthropometric measurements and questionnaires on determinants of behavioural change, eating and physical activity habits were completed by the students in both groups at baseline and post intervention. Focus group interviews were conducted in intervention schools at the end of the study. Challenges encountered during the programme implementation were also identified, since Lebanon is considered a country with political unrest and no similar research projects were conducted in the area. Results: Students in the intervention group reported purchasing and consuming less chips and sweetened drinks post-intervention compared with controls (86% & 88% less respectively p < 0.001). Knowledge and self-efficacy scores increased for the intervention (+2.8 & +1.7 points respectively p < 0.001) but not for the control group. There was no difference in physical activity and screen time habits and no changes in BMI between groups at post intervention. Interview data from focus groups showed that the programme was generally well accepted. Limitations for better outcomes include the length of the programme and the school environment. Conclusion: “Health-E-PALS” intervention is a promising innovative, theory-based, culturally sensitive intervention to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity in Lebanese school children with a potential to be scaled up, replicated and sustained

Three dimensional modeling and geometric properties of oil plant equipment from terrestrial laser scanner observations

Terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) is a new class of survey instruments to capture spatial data developed rapidly. A perfect facility in the oil industry does not exist. As facilities age, oil and gas companies often need to revamp their plants to make sure the facilities still meet their specifications. Due to the complexity of an oil plant site, there are difficulties in revamping, having all dimensions and geometric properties, getting through narrow spaces between pipes and having the description label of each object within a facility site. So it is needed to develop an accurate observations technique to overcome these difficulties. TLS could be an unconventional solution as it accurately measures the coordinates identifying the position of each object within the oil plant and provide highly detailed 3D models. This paper investigates creating 3D model for Ras Gharib oil plant in Egypt and determining the geometric properties of oil plant equipment (tank, vessels, pipes . . . etc.) using TLS observations and modeling by CADWORX program. The modeling involves an analysis of several scans of the oil plant. All the processes to convert the observed points cloud into a 3D model are described. The geometric properties for tanks, vessels and pipes (radius, center coordinates, height and consequently oil volume) are also calculated and presented. The results provide a significant improvement in observing and modeling of an oil plant and prove that the TLS is the most effective choice for generating a representative 3D model required for oil plant revamping

EFFECT OF RESTRICTED FEEDING PERIODS DURING LATE PREGNANCY AND EARLY LACTATION ON THE PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF THE DROMEDARY SHE –CAMEL

The present study aimed to justify the effects of restricted feeding periods during last month of pregnancy and initiation of lactation on growth rate of Maghrebi she-camel and their offsprings. Sixteen pregnant she- camels with an average body weight 512.74 kg were divided randomly into three groups. The first group (G1) was fed 100% of their daily requirements concentrates. The second group (G2) was offered 75% of their daily requirement of concentrates after delivery for one month, while the third group (G3) was fed on 75% of  their daily of concentrate requirements for two months (one month pre and another one post-partum). New born calves were divided after one month of lactation to four groups as following; calves born  G1 dams were divided randomly to two subgroups. The first one (G11) suckled their dams naturally, while the other (G12) was artificial reared on a milk mixture (50% natural camel milk and 50% cattle milk replacer). Calves born to G2 and G3 dams were artificial reared on a mixture 50% natural camel milk and 50% cattle milk replacer. Results obtained showed that she-camels of G1 gained insignificant more live body weight than that of G3 during the pre-calving period 49.09 vs. 42.05 kg, respectively. There were insignificant differences among the 3 groups in calves birth weight 30.44, 32.8 and 29.73 kg, respectively. During lactation period, she-camels of G1 produced insignificantly more daily milk in compare with the corresponding she-camels of G2 and G3 (3.78 liter vs. 3.32 and 3.4 liter/ animal), respectively. She-camel of G3 lost significantly (P˂0.05) more LBW from the beginning of the experiment to the end of the study in compare with both of G1 and G2 she-camels. Calves of one month of age and born to G1 dams indicate faster (P˂0.05) daily gain (0.326 kg / h/ day) than those to both of G2 and G3 dams. Three months old age calves of different groups, indicated nearly similar growth, regardless of their dams feed restriction and type of calves rearing (natural vs. artificial). Data obtained showed also that neither she-camels feed restriction practice nor type of calves rearing have any significant effect on either calves daily gain or dams final LBW after 3 months of treatments

Views on a brief mindfulness intervention among patients with long-term illness.

BACKGROUND: Chronic illness is the leading cause of death in the UK and worldwide. Psychological therapies to support self-management have been shown to play an important role in helping those with chronic illness cope; more recently, the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness approaches have become evident for managing depression and other distressing emotions. Brief guided mindfulness interventions, are more convenient than intensive traditional programmes requiring regular attendance but have been less explored. This study assessed views on a brief (i.e., 10 min) mindfulness intervention for those with specific long-term illnesses. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with chronic illness patient groups (i.e., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic pain and cardiovascular disease), designed to capture the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. The interviews were conducted after use of a mindfulness based audio in clinic and, one week later, after use in the patient's own environment. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: In total, a combination of 18 interviews and focus groups were conducted among 14 patients. Recruitment was most successful with chronic pain patients. All patients reported benefits such as feelings of relaxation and improved coping with symptoms. While the wording and content of the audio were generally well received, it was suggested that the length could be increased, as it felt rushed, and that more guidance about the purpose of mindfulness, and when to use it, was needed. CONCLUSIONS: A brief mindfulness intervention was well accepted among patients with long-term illness. The intervention may benefit by being lengthened and by offering further guidance on its use

Verification of experimental saltwater intrusion interface in unconfined coastal aquifers using numerical and analytical solutions

Saltwater intrusion (SWI) is a widespread environmental problem that poses a threat to coastal aquifers. To address this issue, this research employs both numerical and experimental methods to study saltwater intrusion under the impact of sea level rise and varying freshwater boundary conditions in two homogeneous aquifers. The study compares transient numerical groundwater heads and salt concentrations to experimental results under receding-front and advancing front conditions. In the low permeability aquifer, the root mean square error is 0.33 cm and the R2 is greater than 0.9817. Similarly, in the high permeability aquifer, the root mean square error is 0.92 cm and the R2 is greater than 0.9335. The study also compares the results of ten experimental tests for steady-state saltwater intrusion wedge and toe length with seven different analytical solutions. The experimental results are then compared to these analytical solutions to find the most suitable equation. The Rumer and Harleman equation shows good agreement with experimental saltwater intrusion wedge, while the Anderson equation is a good fit for saltwater intrusion toe length. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers, and the findings can be used to inform policies and management strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of saltwater intrusion. The investigation shed light on how inland water head and Sea Level Rise (SLR) affect SWI behavior

SUCCESSFUL TWO PREGNANCIES IN ACHONDROPLASIC MOTHER, A CASE REPORT

The word achondroplasia is derived from Greek and means "without cartilage formation," although individuals with achondroplasia do have cartilage. In genetics, dominance describes the effects of the different versions of a particular gene on the phenotype of an organism. Many animals (including humans) and plants have two copies of each gene in their genome, one inherited from each parent

A comparative genomics approach for identifying host-range determinants in <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> bacteriophages

The authors would like to thank: Mimi Birkelund, Ditte E. Christiansen, Goncalo Covas, and Denise Coutinho for their help in collecting data; Ana Rute Neves for valuable discussions; Witold Kot and Lars H. Hansen for sequencing of phage genomes at Aarhus University (Roskilde, Denmark). This work is part of an Industrial PhD Project funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and Chr. Hansen A/S, grant no. 4135-00104B.Comparative genomics has proven useful in exploring the biodiversity of phages and understanding phage-host interactions. This knowledge is particularly useful for phages infecting Streptococcus thermophilus, as they constitute a constant threat during dairy fermentations. Here, we explore the genetic diversity of S. thermophilus phages to identify genetic determinants with a signature for host specificity, which could be linked to the bacterial receptor genotype. A comparative genomic analysis was performed on 142 S. thermophilus phage genomes, 55 of which were sequenced in this study. Effectively, 94 phages were assigned to the group cos (DT1), 36 to the group pac (O1205), six to the group 5093, and six to the group 987. The core genome-based phylogeny of phages from the two dominating groups and their receptor binding protein (RBP) phylogeny corresponded to the phage host-range. A role of RBP in host recognition was confirmed by constructing a fluorescent derivative of the RBP of phage CHPC951, followed by studying the binding of the protein to the host strain. Furthermore, the RBP phylogeny of the cos group was found to correlate with the host genotype of the exocellular polysaccharide-encoding operon. These findings provide novel insights towards developing strategies to combat phage infections in dairies.publishersversionpublishe

Socio-demographic disparities in receipt of clinical health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic for Canadian children with disability

Background: Little is known about the experience of receiving in-person and virtual clinical health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic for Canadian children with developmental disabilities and delays facing multiple layers of vulnerability (e.g., low income, low educational attainment families). We examined the relationship between socio-demographic factors and the receipt of these services (physical and mental health services) during COVID-19 for Canadian children with these conditions. Methods: Data collected in Canada for the Global Report on Developmental Delays, Disorders and Disabilities were used. The survey: (1) was developed and disseminated in collaboration with caregivers of children with disabilities, (2) included topics such as response to the pandemic and receipt of services and supports, and (3) documented the experiences of a non-random convenience sample of caregivers of children (any age) with these conditions during and prior to the pandemic. We used four logistic regression models to assess the association between socio-demographic factors and receipt of services. Results: Being a single parent, having low educational attainment (high school or less), having low income (making less than $40,000 per year), working less than full time (working part-time, working reduced hours due to COVID, retired, stay home parent or student), as well as male gender and older age of the child with disability were factors associated with decreased likelihood of receiving services. Conclusion: Our findings point to the need for tailoring services for families of children with disabilities, particularly low socioeconomic status families, to ensure continuity of care during public health emergencies

In vitro MATURATION OF DROMEDARY SHE-CAMEL OOCYTES EXPOSED TO LASER IRRADIATION

The objective of this study was to study the effect of laser irradiation on maturation rate of dromedary she-camel oocytes.  Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique in she-camel has been established, but maturation rate of camel oocytes is still low comparing with other animal species. Several studies performed to improve in-vitro maturation rate using different types of media with different incubation times. In order to establish high sensitive and low cost maturation improvement technique, laser irradiation has been suggested in the present work. Cumulus oocytes complexes (COCʼs) were collected from ovaries by aspiration method and grade (A) oocytes were chosen and divided into five different groups, 62 oocytes served as control group,  an un-irradiated (group 1), 64 oocytes exposed to 2 minutes of laser irradiation (group 2), 57 oocytes exposed to 3 minutes of laser irradiation (group 3), 49 oocytes exposed to 4 minutes of laser irradiation (group 4) and 52 oocytes exposed to 5 minutes of laser irradiation (group 5) with a total output power of 3 mW for different exposure durations; 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes.  Afterwards, oocytes were matured in TCM-199 medium at 38.5oC and 5% CO2 in humidified air for 42 h. Maturation rate was calculated based on expulsion of the first polar body and statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA test.   The obtained results showed that, the oocytes reached germinal vesicles (GV) which exposed to laser beam for 5 minutes at 488 nm wavelength represent significantly (P<0.05) the highest value (42.31%) compared to control (not irradiated, 16.13%). However, other groups of GV showed insignificant differences with the control group. The metaphase II (M II) in the control oocytes represents significantly (P<0.05) the highest value (75.81%) compared to 3-5 minutes exposed groups. The degenerated oocytes exposed to laser beam for 5 minutes at 488 nm wavelength represent significantly (P<0.05) the highest value (40.38%) compared to control (not irradiated, 8.06%). In conclusion‚ these results indicated that the exposure of laser irradiation for 2 minutes may improve in-vitro nuclear maturation of immature oocytes in dromedary she-camels as compared to other durations (3-5 minutes) at 488 nm wavelength (blue laser)