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These days, the science of photogrammetry is frequently used in a wide range of applications, including engineering geology, medication, security, navigation, and topographic surveying works. Drones have gradually become an effectual and frequent technique for obtaining a number of photogrammetric products, such as ortho-mosaics, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and land detailed topographic maps. This paper investigates the possibility of employing low-cost amateur drones with 4K Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) video for topographic surveying works and creating DEM's. DJI Mavic 2 PRO drone with Hasselblad L1D-20C 20 MP camera has been used for covering an expected gas & oil pipeline route in the South of Libya with length of nearly 15 km and width of 200 m. 60 well-distributed high-quality 3D ground points, divided as 30 Ground Control Points (GCP's) and 30 check points, have been used for more stable and robust photogrammetric processing and for reliable evaluation, respectively. The camera has been calibrated twice, before and after executing the flight mission for trustworthy Interior Orientation Elements (IOE's). The recorded video has been split into smaller videos based on the capturing time of the required frames, and the small videos have been extracted to individual UHD photos using Matlab image tools. Leica Photogrammetric Suite (LPS) software has been used for all processing steps, except the automatic filtration of the generated tie points, which has been carried out using self-developed Matlab algorithm for epipolar geometry and 2D transformation based filters. Results show that DEM's with quality of nearly 1.2 to 2 decimeter in plane and elevation, respectively can be obtained using DJI Mavic 2 PRO drone, 4K UHD video taken by Hasselblad L1D-20C 20 MP camera, pixel ground footprint of 8 cm, and flight height of 350 m. This level of accuracy is appropriate for many engineering applications, such as initial-planning projects stretched on huge areas, urban development plans, GIS data collection, inventory of earth works materials, and 3D modeling. The obtained quality of the generated DEM depends on the flight height and the camera quality, IOE's, and resolution. Tests show that using 4K UHD video for photogrammetric applications can provide UHD extracted frames, similar to that captured singly, especially with fit flight speed and camera settings, namely: ISO sensitivity, shatter speed, and aperture size. Also, using video facilitates the aerial photography process, overcoming the difficulties of determining the suitable capturing time and location of individual photos in site. The other advantage is the ability of taking alternative frames if the selected images are not suitable for photogrammetric works in terms of tilting and blurring. The opportunity of changing the overlapping rates across the route is another important advantage of using video, especially for curvy routes. Moreover, using different groups of overlapped images for the same route helps for creating different DEM's for the same area, resulting more precise and dense topographic surveying works.

Background and aims. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disorder with an increasing prevalence. It has a significant effect on their quality of life, work productivity, activity impairment, and health care costs. This study was aimed to assess the impact of AD on quality of life of patients. Methods. Eighty-seven patients with atopic dermatitis attending dermatology eczema clinic in Tripoli Central Hospital were studied by using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) which is a self-administrated questionnaire to assess the type and degree of psychosocial impairment among atopic dermatitis patients. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software program version 16. Results. The age of patients was ranged from 3 to 78 years with mean age 18 ± 17 with males to female ratio 1.3:1. The impact of AD on quality of life of patients was significant among adults more than children. Conclusion. This study concludes that AD disease has a negative impact on the quality of life of adult patients, on social relationships, work, study, and on performing daily activities.&nbsp

Little is known about which quality of life measure best captures the lived experience of people with a chronic skin condition. The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ views on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Skindex-29. Participants were adults (n = 28) with a diagnosis of eczema or psoriasis who completed the DLQI and the Skindex-29 before being interviewed about the content and format of these questionnaires. Interviews were analysed using content analysis. Participants were generally satisfied with length and layout of both questionnaires. However, the majority preferred the Skindex-29 for its ease of understanding, use of a longer recall period and incorporation of items on a variety of emotions. Participants reported both questionnaires failing to incorporate important aspects of their lives, for instance impact on professional relationships. Participants voiced limitations in both measures but overall felt Skindex- 29 better captured their lived experience.

Coccolithophore were collected and analyzed at 10 stations during summer 2010, from coastal and offshore areas off the eastern Libyan coast (southern Mediterranean Sea). The results were compared with oceanographic data. Total coccosphere concentrations, associated with nutrient-depleted stratified waters, show good correlation with the summer data from the central and eastern Mediterranean sites. K-strategist taxa dominate the surface/intermediate water, while F. profunda is more abundant in the deep photic zone. The Canonical Correlation Analysis reveals that the distribution of coccolithophore taxa is influenced by environmental parameters: K-strategist taxa are related to nutrient-depleted surface/intermediate waters, whereas lower photic zone taxa are influenced by the development of a Deep Chlorophyll Maximum and high salinity values, well below the thermocline. Finally, the occurrence of 3 clusters above 50m, between 50 and 100m, and below 100m depth can be detected. These results confirm that a vertical species zonation, as a typical feature of low-middle latitude, characterizes the eastern Libyan coast, where the holococcolithophores represent one of the most important features of coccolithophore production during summer. The distribution of F. profunda matches the depth of the Deep Chlorophyll Maximum layer, once again confirming its use as a proxy of Deep Chlorophyll Maximum development and paleoproductivity estimates.

Purpose: Accurate recording of immunisation status is essential for the evaluation of any immunization program. In September 2006, 7 Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination (PCV7) was introduced into the UK’s routine childhood immunisation programme. This study validated the PCV7 immunization status of children aged 2 years recorded in the IMS Disease Analyses database. / Methods: The PCV7 vaccination uptake rate for children born in 2008 in the IMS DA database was calculated. A sample of 173 of the 2497 children not recorded as vaccinated was identified and a questionnaire was sent to each of their General Practitioners to ascertain the child’s true PCV7 vaccination status. / Results: In the IMS DA data of 15,237 children born in 2008, 12,740 (83.6%) had a vaccination record of PCV7. One hundred and eleven of the 167 questionnaires sent to the child’s general practitioners were returned, giving an adjusted response rate of 111/167 (66.5%). Based on the general practitioners’ responses, 71 (64%) of these children were fully vaccinated according to their General Practitioner’s records making the revised estimated vaccination rate for this cohort 94.1%. / Conclusion: This validation study has shown that caution is needed if using historical IMS patient-level data to analyse the effectiveness of PCV7 as there is a potential under-recording of immunization leading to underrepresentation of vaccination rates by approximately ten per cent. Coverage of other vaccines may also be underestimated in the IMS database.

This paper reports on the first study on the ichthyoplankton community structure in the Gulf of Sirte and its spatial distribution in relation to environmental conditions and zooplankton abundance. The results make an important contribution to the future management of fisheries in this unexplored, but much exploited, area. Biological samples were collected in July 2008 using a Bongo40 net. In total, 1914 larvae were found and 1652 of these were identified. In particular, bathypelagic taxa were the most abundant, followed by demersal, mesopelagic, pelagic and epipelagic taxa. The ichthyoplankton community had a patchwork distribution influenced by oligotrophic conditions, the bottom depth and oceanographical features. The results suggest that environmental forcings were able to transport the ichthyoplankton to productive areas. Indeed, maximum fish egg densities were found in coastal stations in correspondence with the Atlantic Tunisian Current inflow, whereas larvae were mainly concentrated in the east side of the Gulf, probably as a result of advection by the anticyclonic circulation. Additionally, the distribution patterns of the total larvae density and the different assemblages were well matched with the abundance of the zooplankton, probably determining final larval survival, growth and recruitment.

Oceanographic processes play a key role in influencing the structure of the marine planktonic ecosystems. Taking advantage of the quasi-simultaneous collection of a large ichthyoplanktonic dataset in different regions of the Central Mediterranean Sea (Italian/Maltese, Tunisian and Libyan waters), this study aimed at the identification of the main environmental drivers that control the structure of the larval fish assemblages. Spatial distribution and taxa composition were related to physical forcings (geostrophic currents and wind stress) and environmental conditions (bottom depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration). ANOSIM and SIMPER identified contribution of fish taxa to the average Bray–Curtis dissimilarity among regions. In Italian and Libyan waters, two assemblages (neritic and oceanic) were identified, while a mixed assemblage characterized only some stations. Two neritic and one oceanic assemblages were discriminated in Tunisian waters. Random Forest classification model highlighted the essential role of the bathymetry, while Lagrangian simulations evidenced the action of the hydrodynamics in mixing neritic and oceanic assemblages in the Italian/Maltese and partially in Libyan waters. These findings highlighted the importance of the multidisciplinary approach and shed light on the potential value of the ichthyoplanktonic surveys for the assessment of the state of the marine ecosystem and the conservation of the fishery resources.

This paper presents the results of a study conducted by ISCR and Sapienza University of Rome in order to restore a mosaic of the Roman Villa of Silin. Detached after the discovery and relayed on reinforced concrete panels with iron net, it presented complex conservation conditions due the vicinity of the sea. The restoration interventions provide the lifting and disassembling of the mosaic panels, the removal of the metal, the partial removal of the concrete. An extensive study has been carried out in order to select the reliable support of the panels and the in situ replacement.

Accurate recording of immunization status is essential for the evaluation of any immunization programme. In September 2006, 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV7) was introduced into the UK's routine childhood immunization programme. This study validated the PCV7 immunization status of children aged 2 years recorded in the IMS Disease Analyses (DA) database.The PCV7 vaccination uptake rate for children born in 2008 in the IMS DA database was calculated. A sample of 173 of the 2497 children not recorded as vaccinated was identified, and a questionnaire was sent to each of their general practitioners to ascertain the child's true PCV7 vaccination status.In the IMS DA data of 15 237 children born in 2008, 12 740 (83.6%) had a vaccination record of PCV7. One-hundred and eleven of the 167 questionnaires sent to the child's general practitioners were returned, giving an adjusted response rate of 111/167 (66.5%). Based on the general practitioners' responses, 71 (64%) of these children were fully vaccinated according to their general practitioner's records making the revised estimated vaccination rate for this cohort 94.1% CONCLUSION: This validation study has shown that caution is needed if using historical IMS patient-level data to analyse the effectiveness of PCV7 as there is a potential under-recording of immunization leading to under representation of vaccination rates by approximately 10%. Copyright © 2016 John WileySons, Ltd.

Introduction: In order to enable fast treatment response to anaphylactic reactions, adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) have been developed and manufactured. It has been reported in several studies that administration technique is suboptimal. The primary purpose of this study was to review the nature and extent of the deficiencies in administration technique among patients, parents/caregivers and healthcare professionals.\ud \ud Methods: Relevant publications were identified between 1998 and 2015 using two search methods: a keyword search in Embase, PubMed, British Nursing Index and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and a search of reference lists of relevant articles.\ud \ud Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 37% of patients, 32% of parents/caregivers and 21% of healthcare professionals demonstrated correct administration technique. For studies which employed a before-and-after training study design, correct technique was achieved in 77% of patients, 79% of caregivers and 65% of healthcare professionals. The most consistently observed error was the failure to hold the device in place for the recommended time. For patients, factors associated with good technique were being aged over 18 years, trained in AAI administration by an allergist, prescribed an AAI for more than 30 months, having a history of severe anaphylaxis and membership of a support group. For parents/caregivers in addition to those mentioned, being given a training device with which to practice, improved technique.\ud \ud Discussion: There was wide variation in administration techniques reported. However, studies designed using before-and-after training show that even a brief demonstration and educational intervention can improve technique. Further studies are required to design and pilot acceptable and cost-effective educational materials.

This paper, and the research it describes, examines the benefits and importance of good site practice for the aftercare of lime mortars and renders. The control of moisture is explored in relation to mortar development. This work shows the way in which proper aftercare in terms of wetting, drying and protection enables lime mortars and renders to perform at their best. It is important that Architects, Engineers and specifiers can rely on craftspeople who understand the need for aftercare and ensure that best practice is followed. This paper provides a scientific explanation of how the traditional practice to control moisture, before and immediately following the application of building limes, works to improve set and durability. Scientific reasons for the traditional site practice of damping down the background to application of lime mixes, and the subsequent tending of finished work, are explained by reference to laboratory research developed for the purpose.

A microbalance technique for the real-time measurement of carbonation in cement and lime pastes and mortars is described. Experimental results showing carbonation rates in a range of these materials are presented. The results confirm that the progression of carbonation is proportional to t1/2. Systematic differences in carbonation rate with hydraulicity are shown for a range of lime pastes of the same mix proportion. For lime mortars, the carbonation rate is shown to decrease as the sand particle size is increased for mixes of a given volume fraction sand content. Scanning electron microscopy shows the typical crystal morphologies produced on carbonation. It is shown that the microbalance provides a highly sensitive technique for the investigation of carbonation in cementitious materials.

Clindamycin has been used successfully to treat pneumonia and soft-tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, inducible clindamycin resistance has been described as a cause of treatment failure of such infections. A total of 159 staphylococcal isolates from different clinical specimens from burn patients in Tripoli Burn Center were tested for inducible clindamycin resistance by the disk-diffusion induction test. Inducible clindamycin resistance was detected in 66.2% of 65 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates and in none of 55 methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, 10 methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci and 29 methicllin-sensitive coagulase negative staphylococci isolates. In our setting, clindamycin can be used for the treatment of infections due to staphylococci, but we recommend that staphylococci isolates, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus , are tested by the D-test before treatment. Key words: Inducible clindamycin resistance, Staphylococci, Burn patients, Libya

This study describes the use of banana peel, a commonly produced fruit waste, for the removal of Cd(II) from environmental and industrial wastewater. The banana peel was characterized by FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The parameters pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature were investigated and found to be rapid ( approximately 97% within 10 min). The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was used to describe partitioning behavior for the system at room temperature. The value of Q(L) was found to be (35.52 mg g(-1)) higher than the previously reported materials. The binding of metal ions was found to be pH-dependent with the optimal sorption occurring at pH 8. The retained species were eluted with 5 mL of 5 x 10(-3)M HNO(3) with the detection limit of 1.7 x 10(-3)mg L(-1). Kinetics of sorption followed the pseudo-first-order rate equation with the rate constant k, equal to 0.13+/-0.01 min(-1). Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy at 303K (-7.41+/-0.13 kJ mol(-1)) and enthalpy (40.56+/-2.34 kJ mol(-1)) indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the sorption process. The developed method was utilized for the removal of Cd(II) ions from environmental and industrial wastewater samples using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS).

This paper describes a study to evaluate the effect of finely ground waste glass on the mechanical, chemical and structural properties of a NHL 3˙5 hydraulic lime mortar. Finely ground waste glass was mixed with a natural hydraulic lime of classification 3˙5 in the lime/glass ratio, 10 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 1 : 3. Cylindrical samples were formed and placed in a controlled environment for up to 11 weeks. The mechanical properties were investigated by destructively testing the samples in compression before chemical analysis using Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The structure of the samples was investigated using focused ion beam microscopy. Evidence for a pozzolanic reaction at the glass/lime interface was observed together with the chemical process involved.

Studies monitoring the carbonation of NHL3.5 hydraulic lime are described. Weight-gain measurements, focused ion beam imaging, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to monitor changes in structure and composition occurring in lime pastes after exposure to 100% carbon dioxide at relative humidities of 65 and 97%. Lime paste exposed to a relative humidity (R.H.) of 97% indicated a higher carbonation rate compared to paste exposed to 65% R.H. Surface analysis showed that the sample exposed to a relative humidity of 97% was completely carbonated. No calcium hydroxide was detected. A small amount of calcium hydroxide was, however, present at the surface of the sample exposed to 65% R.H. These observations suggest that high humidity results in the formation of a thin layer of crystalline calcium carbonate covering silicate and hydroxide phases. The actual mass increase of the sample also indicated that uncarbonated calcium hydroxide remained beneath the surface.

The absorption of water from a slurry into an absorbent substrate is analysed using Sharp Front theory. The analysis describes the relationship between the sorptivity S of the substrate, the desorptivity R of the slurry and the transfer sorptivity A between slurry and substrate, and leads to the relationship 1/A2 = 1/R2 + 1/S2. Experimental data are presented which validate this equation for the practically important case of the absorption of water from soft mortar mixes by fired clay bricks. A unique feature of the experimental work is the measurement of the desorptivity of the mortars at a pressure equal to the wetting front capillary pressure of the clay brick substrate. Analysis of the experimental data also enables, for the first time, the calculation of the capillary potential at the slurry/substrate interface. The analysis has relevance to many aspects of ceramic and mineral processing, industrial filtration and construction engineering.

The effect of thermal expansion and contraction in masonry has been simulated using repeated stress cycles. Cylindrical specimens cast from 1:2 NHL3.5 lime mortar were exposed to air at 208° and 65% relative humidity with a CO2 concentration of 400 ppm for 28 and 84 days respectively prior to stress cycling 40 times. Cycling did not influence the peak stress recorded from subsequent destructive compressive testing, however the un-cycled specimens absorbed more energy up to the peak stress, compared with the cycled specimens. Ion-induced electron images of the mortar structure revealed the presence of micro-cracks in the cycled mortars, suggesting the energy absorbing mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated a reduction for otitis media (OM) following the introduction of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), but this has not been evaluated in the United Kingdom (UK). Moreover, there are limited data on any additional impact of PCV13 introduction in 2010. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study to investigate the trends in OM incidence and associated antibiotic prescriptions in children aged

The microstructural change, crack initiation and spallation of a vacuum plasma sprayed (VPS) thermal barrier coating on an INCONEL-738 superalloy substrate were investigated after successive 300 h thermal cycles at 1050 °C. The coating was characterised using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Localised micro-cracks at the yttrium (III) oxide stabilised zirconium (IV) oxide (YSZ) ceramic coating/thermally grown oxide (TGO) interface were observed after 8 cycles. Spallation of the YSZ coating occurred after approximately 21 cycles. Significant amounts of the elements titanium, tantalum and chromium were found within the TGO together with the formation of nickel, cobalt and chromium-rich oxides at this TGO/YSZ interface.

This paper reports a study of the composition and morphology of the corrosion products formed on galvanised steel specimens exposed to a swimming pool atmosphere. Two thicknesses of hot dip zinc coatings were investigated measuring 1·8 and 180 µm, respectively. Specimens were analysed throughout a 12 month exposure period and a reaction sequence identified using the techniques of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and SEM/EDX. The main phases determined were: zincite (ZnO), simonkolleite (Zn5(OH)8Cl2. H2O), hydrated zinc hydroxychlorosulphate (Zn4Cl2(OH)4SO4. 5H2O), and hydrated sodium zinc hydroxychlorosulphate (NaZn4Cl(OH)6SO4. 6H2O). Amarantite (FeSO4(OH). 3H2O) was found only on the specimens with the thinner zinc coating through which iron diffusion from the bulk steel could occur.

A UNESCO designated World Heritage Site, the city of Bath has many important listed buildings largely constructed of limestone from local quarries. Among present day atmospheric pollutants, SO2 is ...

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were found in the samples of tissues of Seagrass, Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, that were collected from eighteen different sites along 820 Km of the coast of eastern Libya on the Mediterranean sea (the first site is about 500 km to the east of Alexandria of Egypt). These samples were collected from the following 18 sites (east to west): Tobrouk, Ras-Etteen, Derna, Ras-Lehlal, Sousa, QasrLibya, Tulmaitha, Deryana, North Benghazi, Alssabri, Family Village (Qaria), Nairowz, Nakheil, Geminis, Sultan, Zuitina, Al-Briga and Ras-Lanouf. The technique used by this study was Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (model novAA300). This study shows that elevated concentrations of Zn, Co, and Pb are found in most samples; particularly, those were collected near the discharge points of city sewages effluent and the power station sites. The concentrations of Cr and Co were very low in all the samples, except for those were collected near the city of Benghazi. The statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) indicates that the Sea-grass” Posidonia oceanica”(L.) Del. tissues have different levels of metal bioaccumulation, which might be used as a bio monitors for trace metals. The higher values of MPI are recorded for BR and TP that is 121.18 and 124.29, respectively. Perhaps, the high values of MPI for these two sites are due to the high elevated values (387.56) μg /g and (186.40) μg/g of Chromium for both sites (BR & TP). The least values of MPI are obtained for the locations SP, ZU and RH (20.16, 20.96 and 22.20 μg\g), respectively, and this may be explained by the low levels of the five heavy metals ( Cr, Co,Zn,Cd and Pb) in these sampled sites.