Matching conjugate points between multi-resolution satellite images using geometric and radiometric properties

Remotely sensed images are the main source for a variety of mapping and change-detection applications. Images from different satellites are employed in several of these applications. However, each type of these images has a different resolution and orientation. Hence, they need to be co-registered before any meaningful use. The first step in the registration process is to find conjugate points between the images. This paper presents a modified method of the Scott and Longuet-Higgins approach to find conjugate points between different remotely sensed images. In such an algorithm, initially, corner points are automatically extracted in two images, and for each pair of points, a cost value is computed. The cost of corresponding any two points is computed using two-dimensional transformation models and pixel intensities. The cost values are then used to fill a cost matrix, and its singular value decomposition is used to find corresponding points. The algorithm is tested on three pairs of satellite images with different resolutions and orientations. The results show that the approach presented here succeeded in finding 93% of conjugate points between different pairs of satellite images using only the image coordinates through the eight-parameter transformation model. Moreover, the results show that including the image intensities in the matching procedure does change the results significantly.     

Improving thermal performance of the roof enclosure of heavy construction buildings

High heat flux through the enclosures of heavy building constructions during summer and winter seasons is of great concern with respect to energy-related economics and environmental issues. This paper demonstrates the importance of quantitative evaluation of enclosure design and proves the potential for substantial energy savings by minor alterations of conventional roof designs. These modifications include adding insulation layer(s), removing construction details and obstructing fluid flow within the attic cavity by partial or full vertical partition within the cavity. The CFD approach adopted for this purpose is based on a numerical study of steady, conjugate natural convection in the cavity of an attic of heavy construction buildings. Because of the flow characteristics, laminar and turbulent models were employed for summer and winter day boundary conditions, respectively. Steady state results based on the finite-volume method were obtained for Rayleigh number in the range 10⁸–10¹⁰. Representative results illustrating the effects of the proposed design modifications on the local and total Nusselt numbers at the indoor surfaces are presented and discussed for summer and winter day boundary conditions. The results show that considerable energy saving may be achieved via relatively simple design changes. It is also shown that adding an insulation layer does not necessarily translate into energy conservation, and that eliminating a minor design detail might have significant rewards in terms of energy savings.     

Pressure death and tailing behavior of Listeria monocytogenes strains having different barotolerances

The objectives of this study were to investigate the variability among Listeria monocytogenes strains in response to high-pressure processing, identify the most resistant strain as a potential target of pressure processing, and compare the inactivation kinetics of pressure-resistant and pressure-sensitive strains under a wide range (350 to 800 MPa) of pressure treatments. The pressure resistance of Listeria innocua and nine strains of L. monocytogenes was compared at 400 or 500 MPa and 30 degrees C. Significant variability among strains was observed. The decrease in log CFU/ml during the pressure treatment was from 1.4 to 4.3 at 400 MPa and from 3.9 to >8 at 500 MPa. L. monocytogenes OSY-8578 exhibited the greatest pressure resistance, Scott A showed the greatest pressure sensitivity, and L. innocua had intermediate resistance. On the basis of these findings, L. monocytogenes OSY-8578 is a potential target strain for high-pressure processing efficacy studies. The death kinetics of L. monocytogenes Scott A and OSY-8578 were investigated at 350 and 800 MPa. Survivors at 350 MPa were enumerated by direct plating, and survivors at 800 MPa were enumerated by the most-probable-number technique. Both pressure-resistant and pressure-sensitive strains exhibited non-first-order death behavior, and excessive pressure treatment did not eliminate the tailing phenomenon.     

Contact Ratio: A New Precise Measurement for Wettability

According to Young's equation, the contact angle “Θ” is considered as the measurable wettability parameter. The rate of change in the contact angle has been commonly used as the relevant parameter of spreading dynamics notwithstanding the difficulties associated with contact angle measurements that are well recognized in the literature. Considering that the velocity of the contact line is the pertinent quantity, it is, therefore, reasonable to regard the change in the contact area as the flux of the process. In this study, we have introduced a new measuring parameter for wettability based on the liquid/solid contact area. The term “contact ratio” has been coined to account for this new measurable parameter. The contact ratio is defined as the ratio between the spreading contact area of liquid over solid surface and the surface area of the spherical drop before spreading. The measurements of contact areas and low‐rate dynamic contact angles for various liquid/solid systems were conducted independently using the ADSA‐P technique. The theoretical relation between the contact ratio and the contact angle is derived based on spherical cap approximation. The results show that there is a good correlation between the theoretical relation and the experimental values. Since the contact angle of a specific system is a unique parameter of the system, the contact ratio can also be presented as a unique parameter of the system. Nevertheless, contact ratio presents a more precise measure of wettability.     

A Roadmap Review of Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites: Critical Factors,Progress, and Prospects

Recently, the need for miniaturization and high integration have steered a strong technical wave in developing (micro-)electronic devices. However, excessive amounts of heat may be generated during operation/charging, severely affecting device performance and leading to life/property loss. Benefiting from their low density, easy processing and low manufacturing cost, thermally conductive polymer composites have become a research hotspot to mitigate the disadvantage of excessive heat, with potential applications in 5G communication, electronic packaging and energy transmission. By far, the reported thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) of thermally conductive polymer composite is far from expectation. Deeper understanding of heat transfer mechanism is desired for developing next generation thermally conductive composites. This review holistically scopes current advances in this field, while giving special attention to critical factors that affect thermal conductivity in polymer composites as well as the thermal conduction mechanisms on how to enhance the λ value. This review covers critical factors such as interfacial thermal resistance, chain structure of polymer, intrinsic λ value of different thermally conductive fillers, orientation/configuration of nanoparticles, 3D interconnected networks, processing technology, etc. The applications of thermally conductive polymer composites in electronic devices are summarized. The existing problems are also discussed, new challenges and opportunities are prospected.     

GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PERMIAN–TRIASSIC TRANSITION AT OUTCROP,CENTRAL SAUDI ARABIA

This study presents the results of chemostratigraphic analyses and spectral gamma‐ray logging integrated with sedimentological data across the Permian‐Triassic boundary at a measured outcrop section in central Saudi Arabia. The studied section encompasses the uppermost part of the Midhnab Member and the Lower and Upper Khartam Members of the Khuff Formation. Lithofacies were interpreted to have been deposited in subtidal, tidal to supratidal, lacustrine and meandering fluvial / flood plain, marginal marine and lagoonal depositional environments. Integration of bulk geochemical and carbon isotope (δ¹³C) data allowed the identification of a stratigraphic interval with a negative shift in δ¹³C ratio values, which was interpreted to correspond to the end‐Permian mass extinction event. The end of this “first negative shift in δ¹³C values” is taken to mark the Permian‐Triassic boundary. Above this boundary and just below an interval containing scattered thrombolites, a second negative shift in δ¹³C ratios was observed, and corresponds to an interval with long‐term uranium depletion as indicated by the bulk sediment geochemical and spectral gamma‐ray uranium data. The Permian‐Triassic boundary (PTrB) was placed at the transition between marginal‐marine and subtidal deposits. This stratigraphic position corresponds to the end of the “first negative δ¹³C shift” and the point of greatest uranium depletion. Although previous studies on outcrops of the Khuff Formation in Saudi Arabia identified a major sequence boundary between the Lower and Upper Khartam Members and interpreted it as the P TrB, no evidence is presented in this study for exposure and dissolution at this surface. Accordingly, the Permian‐Triassic transition is placed in the transgressive portion of the Upper Khartam Member, while the sequence boundary below is interpreted to correspond to the end‐Permian extinction. Correlation of Khuff time‐equivalent units in the Arabian Plate is challenging, and this study will contribute to an improved understanding of this important stratigraphic unit, which contains prolific non‐associated gas reservoirs. The identification of the Permian‐Triassic boundary in central Saudi Arabia will help in the construction of a sequence‐stratigraphic scheme for the Khuff, and with the correlation of lithofacies within this heterogeneous reservoir unit.     

MICROPOROSITY IN THE UPPER JURASSIC ARAB‐D CARBONATE RESERVOIR,CENTRAL SAUDI ARABIA: AN OUTCROP ANALOGUE STUDY

This study investigates microporosity in an outcrop analogue of the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) Arab‐D carbonate reservoir in central Saudi Arabia, integrating outcrop facies analysis, petrographic and SEM data and statistical analyses. At the study location in Wadi Nisah, the outcropping succession includes the uppermost Jubaila Formation and the entire Arab‐D Member of the Arab Formation which together comprise the Arab‐D reservoir interval. The succession is composed of eight lithofacies which can be grouped into three lithofacies associations based on their depositional environments. The stromatoporoid lithofacies association includes dolomitic mudstones, dolomitic wackestones and stromatoporoid wackestones and packstones; the skeletal bank lithofacies association includes burrowed fossiliferous wackestones and peloidal fossiliferous grainstones; and the tidal flat lithofacies association comprises laminated mudstones, wave‐rippled sandy grainstones, and supra‐ and intertidal muds with rip‐up clasts. The lithofacies were classified into mud‐dominated, grain‐dominated and dolostone textural groups. Microporosity and associated permeability in the analysed samples (n = 125 for porosity and n = 61 for permeability) range from 0.11% to 4.8 % and 0.36 to 4.35 mD, respectively. Three types of microporosity were observed: (i) between macro‐ and micro‐sparry calcite crystals; (ii) between micrites of varying morphologies; and (iii) within macro‐sized dolomite crystals. Microporosity distribution was controlled by sparry calcite cement, micrite crystal size, sorting and shape, and the presence of dolomite crystals. Statistical analyses of microporosity and associated permeability show non‐normal distributions for both variables. Coefficients of variation indicated high variability for porosity and permeability, which may be attributed to the high degree of heterogeneity in the pore system. In general there was a poor correlation between microporosity and permeability, but the correlation improved when visualized for individual textural groups.     

Seismic array response in the presence of a dipping shallow layer

Seismic arrays are commonly used to enhance vertically traveling signals and attenuate horizontally traveling noise. However, variations within the array length can degrade the array response. This paper studies the effect of a dipping shallow layer across the array length on the array response, by modeling plane Ricker wavefronts incident on 12-element equally and triangularly weighted arrays. To analyze the dip effect, shallow layer dip angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° are used, while wavefront incidence angles of 90°, 70°, 45°, 20°, and 5° are used to analyze the effect of dip on various types of signals and noises incident on the array. In the presence of a dipping shallow layer, an array designed to attenuate a wave with a certain dominant frequency will actually attenuate a wave with a different frequency, so degrading the array performance. The effects of incidence and dip angles on the array response are opposite. The degradation in the array performance depends largely on the combination of incidence angle of the targeted signal and shallow layer dip angle. However, the degradation in the array response became more severe as the incidence angle decreased. Thus, vertically incident signals are more severely affected than horizontally incident noise (e.g., ground roll). A spatial filter to compensate for these effects is proposed, which requires knowledge of the incidence and dip angles. Since a dipping bottom boundary of the shallow layer cannot be inferred from the surface topography, it can affect the array response without being detected. Therefore, the dip of the shallow layer bottom should be estimated prior to array layout. Once the dip angle is known, a spatial filter can be designed to account for the effects of incidence and dip angles.