Earth Observation – A Fundamental Input for Crisis Information Systems

Space-borne and airborne earth observation (EO) is a highly valuable source of spatio-temporal information promoting the ability for a rapid up-to-date assessment and (near-) real-time monitoring of natural or and man-made hazards and disasters. Such information has become indispensable in present-day disaster management activities. Thereby, EO based technologies have a role to play in each of the four phases of the disaster management cycle (i.e. mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) with applications grouped into three main stages: - Pre-disaster (preparedness and mitigation): EO-based information extraction for assessing potential spatial distributions and severities of hazards as well as the vulnerability of a focus region for disaster risk evaluation and subsequent mitigation and preparedness activities. - Event crisis (response): Assessment and monitoring of regional extent and severities of the characteristics and impacts of a disaster to assist rapid crisis management. - Post-disaster (recovery): EO based information extraction to assist recovery activities. Within the PHAROS system a wide range of data products are used, which are varying in temporal, spatial and spectral resolution and coverage. The used sensor platforms comprise space-borne satellites and airborne systems, i.e. aircrafts as well as unmanned aerial systems (UAS)

GIS-gestützte Beckenanalyse am Beispiel des Französischen Juragebirges

Das Untersuchungsgebiet liegt an der französisch-schweizerischen Grenze. Es erstreckt sich in Nord-Süd-Richtung von 45°45'N nach 47°30'N und in Ost-West-Richtung von 5°30'E nach 7°00'E. Dabei umfasst es das Französische Juragebirge sowie Teile der angrenzenden Molas-se, der Subalpinen Ketten sowie der Französischen Voralpen. Grundlage für die Beckenanalyse war die detaillierte Auswertung von 89 Erdöltiefbohrungen und die geochemische Untersuchungen von Bohrlochproben potentieller Erdölmuttergesteine. Die Ergebnisse aus den Bohrlochprotokollen und den geochemischen Untersuchungen wur-den in eine Bohrlochdatenbank aufgenommen. Zusätzlich wurden Literaturdaten zur geologi-schen Geschichte, paläogeographische Karten, Wärmeflusskarten und Bohrlochmessungen verwendet. Die Organisation dieser sehr vielfältigen und heterogenen Datenbasis erfolgte in einem paläogeographischen Informationssystem. Erst die Verwendung dieses PaläoGIS er-möglichte die detaillierte und über das gesamte Untersuchungsgebiet einheitliche Rekonstruk-tion der geologischen Ereignisse, die die Grundlage für die Modellierung der Subsidenz und der thermischen Geschichte bildete. Das PaläoGIS enthält somit alle Daten des konzeptionel-len Modells für die Durchführung der Beckenanalyse. In einem weiteren Schritt wurden Bohrlochkorrelationen (chronostratigraphische und litho-fazielle Profile) erstellt. Diese vermitteln ein Bild der für die vorliegende Arbeit relevanten Gesteinseinheiten zur Zeit der Ablagerung und heute. Im Anschluss daran erfolgte eine Rekonstruktion der Subsidenzgeschichte. Das konzeptionel-le Modell für die Subsidenzanalyse setzt sich in erster Linie aus der Lithostratigraphie und der Chronostratigraphie der zu untersuchenden Einheiten zusammen. Da die Auswertung der Bohrlochprotokolle zum großen Teil nur lithostratigraphische Informationen ergab, mussten in einem zweiten Schritt diese lokalen lithostratigraphischen Einheiten in ein global gültiges, chronostratigraphisches Zeitgerüst eingeordnet werden. Daneben bilden eustatische Meeres-spiegelschwankungen, paläobathymetrische Daten sowie Dichte und Porosität der beteiligten Gesteine wichtige Bestandteile des konzeptionellen Modells. Wichtigstes Ergebnis der Subsi-denzanalyse sind die Subsidenzkurven, die den rein tektonischen Anteil der Subsidenz dar-stellen. Dieser tektonische Anteil der Subsidenz wird durch Korrektur der Gesamtsubsidenz um den Einfluss der sedimentären Subsidenz gewonnen, wobei Kompaktion, eustatischen Meeresspiegelschwankungen und Paläobathymetrie berücksichtigt werden (Backstripping-Verfahren). Diese Subsidenzkurven stellen wiederum den wichtigsten Eingangsparameter für die Model-lierung der thermischen Geschichte dar. Weitere wichtige Parameter für die numerische Mo-dellierung der thermischen Geschichte sind der Wärmefluss an der Erdoberfläche und an der Basis der Lithosphäre, Paläo-Oberflächentemperaturen sowie Wärmeleitfähigkeit und spezi-fische Wärmekapazität der beteiligten geologischen Einheiten. Ergebnis der thermischen Mo-dellierung ist u.a. die Maturität bestimmter Zielhorizonte. Die Kalibrierung des thermischen Modells erfolgt indirekt über im Labor ermittelte, geochemische Maturitätsparameter (Werte der Vitrinit-Reflexion, Tmax-Parameter). Porosität und Permeabilität, die wichtigsten Eigenschaften eines Speichergesteins, wurden für den Horizont des Buntsandsteins aus geophysikalischen Bohrlochmessungen berechnet. Die Permeabilität wurde hierbei mit Hilfe des Tongehalts abgeschätzt. Die flächenhafte Interpolation der zunächst punktuell vorliegenden Ergebnisse aus Geoche-mie, Subsidenzanalyse und thermischer Modellierung erfolgte mit Hilfe geostatistischer Ver-fahren (Variogramm-Analyse, Kriging, Kreuzvalidierung). Auf Basis all dieser oben aufgeführten Untersuchungsergebnisse wurde ein Modell für die Genese von Kohlenwasserstoffen im Arbeitsgebiet erstellt. Neben reifen Muttergesteinen (Permokarbon), einem wirtschaftlichen Speichergestein (Buntsandstein) und vorhandenem Deckgestein (Muschelkalk) existieren auch Fallenstrukturen (permokarbonischer Blockschol-lenbau, synsedimentäre Abschiebungen der Trias und des Lias), deren Bildung dem Beginn der Migration vorausgeht. Somit sind alle theoretischen Voraussetzungen für die Existenz von Kohlenwasserstofflagerstätten gegeben. Offen bleibt die Frage, wo permokarbonische Mut-tergesteine von genügender Mächtigkeit tatsächlich abgelagert wurden sowie die genaue Lage der Fallenstrukturen. Dies bleibt als Aufgabe für weitere Explorationstätigkeiten, die am aus-sichtsreichsten in den Gebieten erscheinen, in denen permische Gräben lokalisiert sind

A multi-scale flood monitoring system based on fully automatic MODIS and TerraSAR-X processing chains

A two-component fully automated flood monitoring system is described and evaluated. This is a result of combining two individual flood services that are currently under development at DLR’s (German Aerospace Center) Center for Satellite based Crisis Information (ZKI) to rapidly support disaster management activities. A first-phase monitoring component of the system systematically detects potential flood events on a continental scale using daily-acquired medium spatial resolution optical data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). A threshold set controls the activation of the second-phase crisis component of the system, which derives flood information at higher spatial detail using a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) based satellite mission (TerraSAR-X). The proposed activation procedure finds use in the identification of flood situations in different spatial resolutions and in the time-critical and on demand programming of SAR satellite acquisitions at an early stage of an evolving flood situation. The automated processing chains of the MODIS (MFS) and the TerraSAR-X Flood Service (TFS) include data pre-processing, the computation and adaptation of global auxiliary data, thematic classification, and the subsequent dissemination of flood maps using an interactive web-client. The system is operationally demonstrated and evaluated via the monitoring two recent flood events in Russia 2013 and Albania/Montenegro 2013

Octamer-binding factor 6 (Oct-6/Pou3f1) is induced by interferon and contributes to dsRNA-mediated transcriptional responses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Octamer-binding factor 6 (Oct-6, Pou3f1, SCIP, Tst-1) is a transcription factor of the Pit-Oct-Unc (POU) family. POU proteins regulate key developmental processes and have been identified from a diverse range of species. Oct-6 expression is described to be confined to the developing brain, Schwann cells, oligodendrocyte precursors, testes, and skin. Its function is primarily characterised in Schwann cells, where it is required for correctly timed transition to the myelinating state. In the present study, we report that Oct-6 is an interferon (IFN)-inducible protein and show for the first time expression in murine fibroblasts and macrophages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oct-6 was induced by type I and type II IFN, but not by interleukin-6. Induction of Oct-6 after IFNβ treatment was mainly dependent on signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) and partially on tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2). Chromatin immunopreciptitation experiments revealed binding of Stat1 to the Oct-6 promoter in a region around 500 bp upstream of the transcription start site, a region different from the downstream regulatory element involved in Schwann cell-specific Oct-6 expression. Oct-6 was also induced by dsRNA treatment and during viral infections, in both cases <it>via </it>autocrine/paracrine actions of IFNα/β. Using microarray and RT-qPCR, we furthermore show that Oct-6 is involved in the regulation of transcriptional responses to dsRNA, in particular in the gene regulation of serine/threonine protein kinase 40 (<it>Stk40</it>) and U7 snRNA-associated Sm-like protein Lsm10 (<it>Lsm10)</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data show that Oct-6 expression is not as restricted as previously assumed. Induction of Oct-6 by IFNs and viruses in at least two different cell types, and involvement of Oct-6 in gene regulation after dsRNA treatment, suggest novel functions of Oct-6 in innate immune responses.</p

Sub-pixel correlation length neutron imaging:Spatially resolved scattering information of microstructures on a macroscopic scale

Neutron imaging and scattering give data of significantly different nature and traditional methods leave a gap of accessible structure sizes at around 10 micrometers. Only in recent years overlap in the probed size ranges could be achieved by independent application of high resolution scattering and imaging methods, however without providing full structural information when microstructures vary on a macroscopic scale. In this study we show how quantitative neutron dark-field imaging with a novel experimental approach provides both sub-pixel resolution with respect to microscopic correlation lengths and imaging of macroscopic variations of the microstructure. Thus it provides combined information on multiple length scales. A dispersion of micrometer sized polystyrene colloids was chosen as a model system to study gravity induced crystallisation of microspheres on a macro scale, including the identification of ordered as well as unordered phases. Our results pave the way to study heterogeneous systems locally in a previously impossible manner.ISSN:2045-232

Populism and inequality: Does reality match the populist rhetoric?

Populists since the Roman Republic have argued for redistribution from an elite to ordinary people and depicted themselves as the true representative of the ‘people’. However, very little research has explored whether populists actually affect the distribution of income or consumption when in power. The present paper therefore asks, whether populists admin- istrations actually achieve redistribution. After a short theoretical discussion, our empirical strategy combines new data on populism in Latin America and the Caribbean with infor- mation on income and consumption inequality since 1970. Estimates suggest that populist governments in the region generally have achieved no redistribution, leading us to con- clude that the redistributive aims of populists are mainly empty rhetoric

Ketogenic diet and fasting diet as Nutritional Approaches in Multiple Sclerosis (NAMS): protocol of a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in young adults that may lead to progressive disability. Since pharmacological treatments may have substantial side effects, there is a need for complementary treatment options such as specific dietary approaches. Ketone bodies that are produced during fasting diets (FDs) and ketogenic diets (KDs) are an alternative and presumably more efficient energy source for the brain. Studies on mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis showed beneficial effects of KDs and FDs on disease progression, disability, cognition and inflammatory markers. However, clinical evidence on these diets is scarce. In the clinical study protocol presented here, we investigate whether a KD and a FD are superior to a standard diet (SD) in terms of therapeutic effects and disease progression. METHODS: This study is a single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group study. One hundred and eleven patients with relapsing-remitting MS with current disease activity and stable immunomodulatory therapy or no disease-modifying therapy will be randomized to one of three 18-month dietary interventions: a KD with a restricted carbohydrate intake of 20-40 g/day; a FD with a 7-day fast every 6 months and 14-h daily intermittent fasting in between; and a fat-modified SD as recommended by the German Nutrition Society. The primary outcome measure is the number of new T2-weighted MRI lesions after 18 months. Secondary endpoints are safety, changes in relapse rate, disability progression, fatigue, depression, cognition, quality of life, changes of gut microbiome as well as markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and autophagy. Safety and feasibility will also be assessed. DISCUSSION: Preclinical data suggest that a KD and a FD may modulate immunity, reduce disease severity and promote remyelination in the mouse model of MS. However, clinical evidence is lacking. This study is the first clinical study investigating the effects of a KD and a FD on disease progression of MS

Investigation of a Monturaqui Impactite by Means of Bi-Modal X-ray and Neutron Tomography

X-ray and neutron tomography are applied as a bi-modal approach for the 3D characterisation of a Monturaqui impactite formed by shock metamorphism during the impact of an iron meteorite with the target rocks in the Monturaqui crater (Chile). The particular impactite exhibits structural heterogeneities on many length scales: its composition is dominated by silicate-based glassy and crystalline materials with voids and Fe/Ni-metal and oxihydroxides particles generally smaller than 1 mm in diameter. The non-destructive investigation allowed us to apply a novel bi-modal imaging approach that provides a more detailed and quantitative understanding of the structural and chemical composition compared to standard single mode imaging methods, as X-ray and neutron interaction with matter results in different attenuation coefficients with a non-linear relation. The X-ray and neutron data sets have been registered, and used for material segmentation, porosity and metallic content characterization. The bimodal data enabled the segmentation of a large number of different materials, their morphology as well as distribution in the specimen including the quantification of volume fractions. The 3D data revealed an evaporite type of material in the impactite not noticed in previous studies. The present study is exemplary in demonstrating the potential for non-destructive characterisation of key features of complex multi-phase objects such as impactites