bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Savannah's Lost Squares
Authors: Walker Nathaniel Robert
Published: November 2011

In the 1920s and 1930s Savannahians argued about the future of their world-famous town plan, with its many squares. Savannah's Lost Squares: Progress versus Beauty in the Depression-era South tells how one body of modern Savannahians—primarily young, white, male business owners—argued that the squares had to be altered—paved over for parking or cut open to allow highways to penetrate them—to accommodate the automobile. Their ideas were opposed by the majority of the city's residents, who, often led by women's groups, rallied to preserve the beauty and pedestrian character of the squares. Time after time, the "progressives" were defeated, and the squares largely endured until they came under the protection of sweeping preservation laws in the 1950s. But Nathaniel Robert Walker explains that in 1935, when economic conditions were dire, the financial might of the federal highway program combined with local racism to destroy three of Savannah's squares for the making of the Coastal Highway, a path for motorized modernity.
Determination of management zones from normalized and standardized equivalent produtivity maps in the soybean culture
Authors: Suszek Grazieli , Souza Eduardo G. de , Uribe-Opazo Miguel A. , Nobrega Lucia H. P.
Published: November 2011

Through the site-specific management, the precision agriculture brings new techniques for the agricultural sector, as well as a larger detailing of the used methods and increase of the global efficiency of the system. The objective of this work was to analyze two techniques for definition of management zones using soybean yield maps, in a productive area handled with localized fertilization and other with conventional fertilization. The sampling area has 1.74 ha, with 128 plots with site-specific fertilization and 128 plots with conventional fertilization. The productivity data were normalized by two techniques (normalized and standardized equivalent productivity), being later classified in management zones. It can be concluded that the two methods of management zones definition had revealed to be efficient, presenting similarities in the data disposal. Due to the fact that the equivalent standardized productivity uses standard score, it contemplates a better statistics justification.
Influência da granulometria dos sólidos triturados de sabugo de milho e bagaço de cana-de-açúcar como materiais filtrantes no tratamento de águas residuárias da suinocultura
Authors: Lo Monaco Paola A. V. , Matos Antonio T. de , Brandão Viviane dos S.
Published: November 2011

Teve-se o objetivo de avaliar a influência da granulometria de sólidos triturados do sabugo de milho e do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, utilizados como materiais filtrantes, na eficiência de remoção de poluentes da água residuária da suinocultura (ARS). Utilizaram-se colunas de filtragem contendo o material em três faixas granulométricas (0,84 a 1,19; 1,19 a 2,00 e 2,00 a 2,83 mm). Para a avaliação da eficiência do sistema, o afluente e o efluente foram caracterizados em relação às seguintes variáveis: demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO5), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos totais (ST), nitrogênio total (N-total), fósforo total (P-total), potássio (K), sódio (Na), cobre total (Cu-total) e zinco total (Zn-total). Geraram-se curvas, relacionando-se as concentrações relativas das variáveis e a lâmina de ARS filtrada. As menores concentrações de DBO nos efluentes foram obtidas, no geral, nos filtros constituídos por materiais na sua maior granulometria; as remoções de DQO, ST, N-total e P-total não foram sensivelmente influenciadas pela granulometria dos materiais filtrantes; o K e o Na não foram retidos nos materiais filtrantes, em nenhuma das granulometrias estudadas, entretanto as remoções de Zn-total e o Cu-total foram, em geral, maiores nos filtros constituídos de materiais filtrantes de menor granulometria.
Primeiro registro de Thaumastocoris peregrinus para o estado de Santa Catarina, e novas áreas de ocorrência para o Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Savaris Marcoandre , Lampert Silvana , Pereira Paulo Roberto Valle da Silva , Salvadori José Roberto
Published: November 2011

Thaumastocoris peregrinus é relatado pela primeira vez para o estado de Santa Catarina atacando plantas isoladas de Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis e reflorestamentos de Eucaliptus grandis localizados no interior dos municípios de Chapecó, Cordilheira Alta, Xaxim e Xanxerê. No Rio Grande do sul, esse inseto já é encontrado em 10 localidades do sul do estado, e são registradas novas áreas de ocorrência nos municípios de Ernestina, Passo Fundo, Marau, Coxilha, Getúlio Vargas, Erechim, São Valentim, Erval Grande, Nonoai, Três Palmeiras, Ronda Alta, Pontão e Quatro Irmãos.
Prevalência de Cryptosporidium serpentis em serpentes de cativeiro
Authors: Ruggiero Paulo Custório , Zacariotti Rogério Loesch , Bondan Eduardo Fernandes , Lallo Maria Anete
Published: November 2011

Cryptosporidium é um protozoário encontrado em uma grande variedade de espécies animais como responsável por casos de gastrite e enterite, porém com epidemiologia pouco conhecida em animais silvestres. A presente investigação teve como objetivo avaliar a prevalência de Cryptosporidium serpentis em lavado gástrico de serpentes mantidas em cativeiro no serpentário do Instituto Butantan (São Paulo, Brasil). A coleta foi realizada uma semana após alimentação, evitando, assim, a regurgitação devido à manipulação. Foram realizados esfregaços do sedimento do lavado gástrico, obtido por centrifugação, corados pela técnica de coloração de Kinyoun. Parte do sedimento foi submetido à técnica de RFLP-PCR para identificação da espécie de Cryptosporidium. O serpentário é dividido em três seções, por espécie - a primeira com oito jibóias (Boa constrictor amarali), a segunda com dez jararacas (Bothropoides jararaca) e a última com sete cascavéis (Caudisona durissa). A prevalência de C. serpentis encontrada neste estudo para as serpentes C. durissa, B. jararaca e Boa c. amarali, foi de 57,14% (04/07), 40% (04/10) e 37,5% (03/08), respectivamente, revelando importante ocorrência desse protozoário em serpentes de cativeiro. Apesar da alta prevalência encontrada, apenas as jiboias apresentaram sintomas como perda de peso e regurgitação, refletindo uma sensibilidade diferente da espécie para C. serpentis.
Tropical tree growth is correlated with soil phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, though not for legumes
Authors: Baribault Thomas W. , Kobe Richard K. , Finley Andrew O.
Published: November 2011

Tropical forest productivity is widely assumed to be limited by soil phosphorus (P), but biogeochemical processes that deplete P also could deplete base cations, suggesting multiple resource limitation. Limitation by several resources could arise from species and functional diversity and from variation among groups in resource requirements, including ecophysiological strategies that minimize P limitation. We hypothesized that tree growth is positively related to soil base cation and P availability and negatively related to local competition; Fabaceae growth is weakly correlated with soil resources if fixed N is used indirectly to acquire other resources; growth of species with low wood density is more strongly related to soil resource availability than that of species with high wood density. Diameter growth and soil resource availability were measured in five mapped stands situated across natural soil resource gradients in lowland wet tropical forest (La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica). Soil resource availability, and associated uncertainty, was estimated for each tree using a Bayesian multivariate spatial regression model, with individual tree growth being a function of diameter, local neighborhood, and soil resources. Separately, site‐level mean tree growth and resource availability were modeled using linear regression. Individual diameter growth and site mean basal area increment correlated with soil base cations and P, but rarely with N; individual growth correlated negatively with neighborhood index for only three species. Growth of Fabaceae was unrelated to soil resources at both individual and site levels. When species were categorized by wood density, growth was related to soil P or base cation availability, with the strongest correlation between the lowest‐density species and soil P. Several resources may limit tropical forest productivity, because tree growth was similarly correlated with soil P and base cations, but functional groups responded differently. Negligible growth relationships with soil resources in Fabaceae suggest that N fixation may alleviate mineral nutrient limitations. Correlations of soil P with growth of species of low wood density and base cations with species of higher density suggests variation in resource demands among functional groups. Thus, tropical tree growth may be limited by base cations and/or P, with degree and type of resource limitation dependent on functional or taxonomic group.
Lipopolysaccharide and Hypoxia‐Induced HIF‐1 Activation in Human Gingival Fibroblasts
Authors: Li Jing‐Ping , Li François Y. L. , Xu Aimin , Cheng Bin , Tsao Sai Wah , Fung Man‐Lung , Leung W. Keung
Published: November 2011

Background: We previously reported that chronic periodontal inflammation causes the accumulation of the transcriptional activator hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in vivo. Here, evidence is provided that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and cellular hypoxia, both associated with periodontitis, can individually, or in combination, lead to the accumulation and activation of HIF‐1 in HGF in vitro.

Methods: Primary gingival fibroblasts were cultured from human gingival biopsies. HIF‐1α peptide from HGFs treated with Escherichia coli LPS under normoxia or hypoxia was detected by nuclear protein extraction, immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and immunocytofluorescence. HIF‐1α transcripts were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The transcript expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A), a downstream gene of HIF‐1α, were assessed by quantitative real‐time PCR.

Results: Two HIF‐1α splicing transcription variants were found to be constitutively expressed in HGFs. E. coli LPS induced a dose‐ and time‐dependent nuclear accumulation of HIF‐1α peptide in HGFs. This accumulation could be attenuated by treatment with a Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)‐neutralizing antibody. Under hypoxia, LPS further increased HIF‐1α accumulation in HGFs. VEGF‐A transcript expression was upregulated by LPS under both normoxia and hypoxia but was downregulated by pretreatment with TLR4‐neutralizing antibody or the specific HIF‐1α inhibitor 3‐(5′‐hydroxymethyl‐2′‐furyl)‐1‐benzyl indazole.

Conclusion: LPS induces the nuclear accumulation of HIF‐1α in HGFs and induces HIF‐1 biologic activity under normoxia or hypoxia possibly through TLR4.
A Solution to CT Saturation by Gregory Newton's Backward Interpolation
Authors: Das Sukanta , Bandyopadhyay Gautam , Syam Prasid
Published: November 2011

Saturation problem in steel core Current Transformers (CTs) causes dreadful effects in protection systems as true replica of the primary current is not always reflected in CT secondary side under abnormal operating conditions. This is why detection and production of exact replica of primary current in the CT secondary side is very crucial. This paper presents a discrete wavelet transform based application using 'Daubechies3’ as mother wavelet for the detection of saturation. The compensation of saturated signal is done by Gregory Newton's Backward Interpolation (GNBI). The whole scheme of detection of CT saturation and compensation of saturated CT secondary current has been successfully tested on various saturated signals simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK with various case studies. Finally, the scheme is validated in real time using DS1104 controller board of dSPACE. The results obtained are very encouraging.
Prognostic significance of intracranial pressure monitoring and intracranial hypertension in severe brain trauma patients
Authors: Kostic Aleksandar , Stefanovic Ivan , Novak Vesna , Veselinovic Dragan , Ivanov Goran , Veselinovic Aleksandar
Published: November 2011

Since without prospective randomized studies it is not possible to have a
clear attitude towards the importance of intracranial pressure monitoring,
this study was aimed at examining the prognostic effect of the intracranial
pressure monitoring and intracranial pressure oriented therapy in severe
brain trauma patients, and at defining optimal intracranial pressure values
for starting the treatment. Two groups of patients were treated in the study,
one consisted of 32 patients undergoing intracranial pressure monitoring and
the second group of 29 patients without intracranial pressure monitoring in
the control group. The study was prospective with groups randomized. There
were 53% survivals in the intracranial pressure monitored patients and 34% in
the control group, with no significant difference in the survival rate
between the two groups (?2=2.11; p=0.15; p>0.05). The average intracranial
pressure in the patients with intracranial hypertension who died was 27 mm
Hg, while in the patients who survived the average intracranial pressure was
significantly lower (Student?s t test: t=2.91; p=0.008; p<0.01) and it was 18
mm Hg. We recommend starting intracranial pressure oriented therapy when the
patient?s intracranial pressure exceeds 18 mmHg during 2 hours of monitoring.
Comparison of the results of treatment of humeral shaft fractures by different methods
Authors: Ristic Vladimir , Maljanovic Mirsad , Arsic Miroslav , Matijevic Radmila , Milankov Miroslav
Published: November 2011

The aim of this study was to compare the functional results of non-operative
and different operative techniques of managing humeral shaft fractures. The
average follow-up was one year after the trauma in 61 patients with united
fracture, where the initial method of treatment was the definitive one. The
patients were divided into four groups: 22 were treated with hanging cast, 20
with intramedullary nails, 10 with dynamic-compressive plates and screws and
9 with external fixators. We estimated the presence of bone union by
radiographic and clinical evaluation and compared the results with Constant
and Mayo scores. The etiology of injuries was falls and traffic accidents in
87% of cases. The hanging cast group had the most of elbow contractures and
insufficient results of functional scales. The plating group had lower
average values of scores than nails, especially considering the elbow
function. Among subgroups, the locked intramedullary nails had better results
than Ender nails. The most complicated cases treated with Ilizarov and
Mitkovic?s external fixators had good results, especially in the treatment of
open humeral shaft fractures; however, the rehabilitation period was longer.
The best average functional results were recorded in the nailing group
because of rigid fixation, solid callus formation and return to everyday
activities in the shortest time.
A Half Century of Close Encounters with the First Course in Accounting
Authors: Williams Doyle Z.
Published: November 2011

This paper describes the author's encounters with the first course in accounting in his half century of study, teaching, and service on five campuses, as a student, doctoral teaching assistant, lecturer, professor, accounting department administrator, business dean, and senior scholar. Also described are his encounters with issues surrounding the first course in accounting in a variety of leadership roles with the American Accounting Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Accounting Education Change Commission, Association for Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, the Accounting Programs Leadership Group, and the Federation of Schools of Accountancy. Changes in the nature, content, and teaching of the first course in accounting are discussed. Observations for the future of the first course in accounting are offered.
Abdominal computed radiography for the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in horses: 142 cases (2003–2007)
Authors: Maher Omar , Puchalski Sarah M. , Drake Christiana , le Jeune Sarah S.
Published: November 2011

Objective—To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of abdominal computed radiography (CR) for the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in horses and to examine how these parameters are affected by the number and anatomic location of enteroliths and by gas distension of the gastrointestinal tract.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—Horses ≥ 1 year old that underwent abdominal CR and subsequent exploratory laparotomy or postmortem examination.

Procedures—3 reviewers blinded to signalment, history, clinical signs, and diagnoses separately evaluated abdominal computed radiographs of horses included in the study. Each set of radiographs was evaluated for the presence or absence of enteroliths, the amount of gas distention, and the image quality. Signalment, definitive diagnosis on the basis of findings on exploratory laparotomy or postmortem examination, and the number and location of enteroliths were obtained from medical records.

Results—Of the 142 cases reviewed, 58.4% (83/142) had confirmed enterolithiasis. For the 3 reviewers, overall sensitivity was 85% and specificity was 93%. Sensitivity was lower for small colon enteroliths than for large colon enteroliths (50% and 94.5%, respectively) and was significantly affected by gas distention. Sensitivity was not significantly affected by the number of enteroliths.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Computed radiography provided high sensitivity and high specificity for the diagnosis of enterolithiasis in horses. Caution should be exercised when the radiographic results are negative, as the sensitivity for small colon enterolithiasis was relatively low and gas distension negatively affected detection of enteroliths. Abdominal CR is indicated as a diagnostic test in horses examined for colic in geographic regions in which enterolithiasis is endemic.
Crazy for Bargains: Inventing the Irrational Female Shopper in Modernizing English Canada
Authors: Belisle Donica
Published: November 2011

Abstract:

Between the 1890s and 1930s, anglophone politicians, journalists, novelists, and other commentators living in western, central, and eastern Canada drew upon established connections among greed, luxury, hysteria, and femininity to describe women who went shopping as irrational. Their motivations for doing so included their desires to assuage feelings of guilt about increased abundance; articulate anger caused by spousal conflicts over money; assert the legitimacy of male authority; and assign blame for the decline of small communities' sustainability, the degradation of labour standards, and the erosion of independent shopkeeping. By calling upon stock stereotypes of femininity, and by repositioning them to fit the current capitalist moment, English-Canadian commentators constructed disempowering representations of women to alleviate their anxieties about what they perceived as the ills of modernization.
An Intimate Understanding of Place: Charles Sauriol and Toronto's Don River Valley, 1927–1989
Authors: Bonnell Jennifer
Published: November 2011

Abstract:

Every summer from 1927 to 1968, Toronto conservationist Charles Sauriol and his family moved from their city home to a rustic cottage just a few kilometres away, within the urban wilderness of Toronto's Don River Valley. In his years as a cottager, Sauriol saw the valley change from a picturesque setting of rural farms and woodlands to an increasingly threatened corridor of urban green space. His intimate familiarity with the valley led to a lifelong quest to protect it. This paper explores the history of conservation in the Don River Valley through Sauriol's experiences. Changes in the approaches to protecting urban nature, I argue, are reflected in Sauriol's personal experience – the strategies he employed, the language he used, and the losses he suffered as a result of urban planning policies. Over the course of Sauriol's career as a conservationist, from the 1940s to the 1990s, the river increasingly became a symbol of urban health – specifically, the health of the relationship between urban residents and the natural environment upon which they depend. Drawing from a rich range of sources, including diary entries, published memoirs, and unpublished manuscripts and correspondence, this paper reflects upon the ways that biography can inform histories of place and better our understanding of individual responses to changing landscapes.
It Was All about Me: Making History Relevant
Authors: Conrad Margaret
Published: November 2011

Abstract:

In this article, Margaret Conrad reflects on her four-decade career as a historian. She takes an autobiographical approach, tracing her interest in the past to an evangelical upbringing in rural Nova Scotia and the dramatic changes in post–Second World War Canada that begged historical reflection. On the leading edge of the baby boom, she benefitted from reforms in education that set her on the path to an academic career focusing on Atlantic Canadian history, Women's Studies, and Digital Humanities. History, she argues, is always relevant, serving as a vehicle for wisdom and agency in a world where power struggles are contextualized by the past but the outcome never certain.
Applying Sequence Alignment Methods to Large Activity–Travel Data Sets
Authors: Joh Chang-Hyeon , Timmermans Harry
Published: November 2011

Sequence alignment methods have recently found increasing application in transportation research for segmentation and classification analysis. Because these methods account for the sequential nature of activity–travel diary data, they are valuable for classifying activity–travel diary data. However, computation time requirements are overwhelming, implying that large-scale applications of these methods have not yet been possible. The performance and applicability of a heuristic approach was explored by using smart card data from Seoul, South Korea. Results were promising and suggest that the proposed heuristic approach could be used to perform segmentation analysis of large activity–travel data sets. Avenues for further improvement of the suggested method are discussed.
Are Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers Useful in Predicting the Prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis Patients?
Authors: Gajofatto Alberto , Bongianni Matilde , Zanusso Gianluigi , Benedetti Maria Donata , Monaco Salvatore
Published: November 2011

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the prototypical inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Although many advances have been made in the comprehension of its pathogenesis, the etiology is still unknown. The complexity of MS reflects in the extreme variability of the clinical manifestations and clinical course both between and within patients, in addition to immunopathological mechanisms and response to treatment. Several prognostic factors have been suggested in large scale studies, but predictions in individual cases are difficult to make. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, such as 14-3-3, tau, and cystatin C are promising sources of prognostic information with a good potential of quantitative measure, sensitivity, and reliability. However, none has shown sufficient reproducibility to be applied in clinical practice. Here we review the current literature addressing the above mentioned biomarkers as MS severity predictors at an early stage.
Resorcylidene Aminoguanidine (RAG) Improves Cardiac Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Impaired by Hyperglycaemia in a Model of Experimental Diabetes
Authors: Labieniec-Watala Magdalena , Siewiera Karolina , Jozwiak Zofia
Published: November 2011

Diabetes is associated with a mitochondrial dysfunction. Hyperglycaemia is also clearly recognized as the primary culprit in the pathogenesis of cardiac complications. In response to glycation and oxidative stress, cardiac mitochondria undergo cumulative alterations, often leading to heart deterioration. There is a continuous search for innovative treatment strategies for protecting the heart mitochondria from the destructive impact of diabetes. Aminoguanidine derivatives have been successfully used in animal model studies on the treatment of experimental diabetes, as well as the diabetes-driven dysfunctions of peripheral tissues and cells. Considerable attention has been paid particularly to β-resorcylidene aminoguanidine (RAG), often shown as the efficient anti-glycation and anti-oxidant agent in both animal studies and in vitro experiments. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that RAG improves oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport capacity in mitochondria impaired by hyperglycaemia. Diabetes mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (70 mg/kg body weight). Heart mitochondria were isolated from healthy rats and rats with streptozotocin-diabetes. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity was measured by high resolution respirometry with the OROBOROS Oxygraph-2k according to experimental protocol including respiratory substrates and inhibitors. The results revealed that RAG protects the heart against diabetes-associated injury by improving the mitochondrial bioenergetics, thus suggesting a possible novel pharmacological strategy for cardioprotection.
Nanorod Self-Assembly in High Jc YBa2Cu3O7−x Films with Ru-Based Double Perovskites
Authors: Holesinger Terry G. , Feldmann Matthew D. , Maiorov Boris , Civale Leonardo , Kennison John A. , Coulter Yates J. , Dowden Paul D. , Baca Javier F. , Tobash Paul H. , Bauer Eric D. , Marken Kenneth R.
Published: November 2011

Many second phase additions to YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) films, in particular those that self-assemble into aligned nanorod and nanoparticle structures, enhance performance in self and applied fields. Of particular interest for additions are Ba-containing perovskites that are compatible with YBCO. In this report, we discuss the addition of Ba2YRuO6 to bulk and thick-film YBCO. Sub-micron, randomly oriented particles of this phase were found to form around grain boundaries and within YBCO grains in bulk sintered pellets. Within the limits of EDS, no Ru substitution into the YBCO was observed. Thick YBCO films were grown by pulsed laser deposition from a target consisting of YBa2Cu3Oy with 5 and 2.5 mole percent additions of Ba2YRuO6 and Y2O3, respectively. Films with enhanced in-field performance contained aligned, self-assembled Ba2YRuO6 nanorods and strained Y2O3 nanoparticle layers. A 0.9 µm thick film was found to have a self-field critical current density (Jc) of 5.1 MA/cm2 with minimum Jc(Q, H=1T) of 0.75 MA/cm2. Conversely, Jc characteristics were similar to YBCO films without additions when these secondary phases formed as large, disordered phases within the film. A 2.3 µm thick film with such a distribution of secondary phases was found to have reduced self-field Jc values of 3.4 MA/cm2 at 75.5 K and Jc(min, Q, 1T) of 0.4 MA/cm2.
One-Pot Synthesis of Novel 2,3-Dihydro-1H-indazoles
Authors: Breton Gary W. , Lepore Antonio J.
Published: November 2011

A copper(I)-mediated one-pot synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-1H-indazole heterocycles has been developed. This synthetic route provides the desired indazoles in moderate to good yields (55%–72%) which are substantially better than those achievable with an alternative two-step reaction sequence. The reaction is tolerant of functionality on the aromatic ring.
An Object-Based Classification of Mangroves Using a Hybrid Decision Tree—Support Vector Machine Approach
Authors: Heumann Benjamin W.
Published: November 2011

Mangroves provide valuable ecosystem goods and services such as carbon sequestration, habitat for terrestrial and marine fauna, and coastal hazard mitigation. The use of satellite remote sensing to map mangroves has become widespread as it can provide accurate, efficient, and repeatable assessments. Traditional remote sensing approaches have failed to accurately map fringe mangroves and true mangrove species due to relatively coarse spatial resolution and/or spectral confusion with landward vegetation. This study demonstrates the use of the new Worldview-2 sensor, Object-based image analysis (OBIA), and support vector machine (SVM) classification to overcome both of these limitations. An exploratory spectral separability showed that individual mangrove species could not be spectrally separated, but a distinction between true and associate mangrove species could be made. An OBIA classification was used that combined a decision-tree classification with the machine-learning SVM classification. Results showed an overall accuracy greater than 94% (kappa = 0.863) for classifying true mangroves species and other dense coastal vegetation at the object level. There remain serious challenges to accurately mapping fringe mangroves using remote sensing data due to spectral similarity of mangrove and associate species, lack of clear zonation between species, and mixed pixel effects, especially when vegetation is sparse or degraded.
Workspace Representation and Optimization of a Novel Parallel Mechanism with Three-Degrees-of-Freedom
Authors: Gao Zhen , Zhang Dan
Published: November 2011

The development of a new parallel mechanism based on simulation driven design is a rapid approach to discover the unique features or advantages of a conceptual model. In this research, one novel parallel mechanism which can generate three degrees-of-freedom translations is proposed. The kinematic model and Jacobian matrix is derived. The workspace generation and mapping is investigated based on simplified boundary searching method. The particle swarm algorithm is applied to search for the optimal volume of workspace.
Valuing Ecosystem Services with Fishery Rents: A Lumped-Parameter Approach to Hypoxia in the Neuse River Estuary
Authors: Smith Martin D. , Crowder Larry B.
Published: November 2011

Valuing ecosystem services with microeconomic underpinnings presents challenges because these services typically constitute nonmarket values and contribute to human welfare indirectly through a series of ecological pathways that are dynamic, nonlinear, and difficult to quantify and link to appropriate economic spatial and temporal scales. This paper develops and demonstrates a method to value a portion of ecosystem services when a commercial fishery is dependent on the quality of estuarine habitat. Using a lumped-parameter, dynamic open access bioeconomic model that is spatially explicit and includes predator-prey interactions, this paper quantifies part of the value of improved ecosystem function in the Neuse River Estuary when nutrient pollution is reduced. Specifically, it traces the effects of nitrogen loading on the North Carolina commercial blue crab fishery by modeling the response of primary production and the subsequent impact on hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen). Hypoxia, in turn, affects blue crabs and their preferred prey. The discounted present value fishery rent increase from a 30% reduction in nitrogen loadings in the Neuse is $2.56 million, though this welfare estimate is fairly sensitive to some parameter values. Surprisingly, this number is not sensitive to initial conditions.
Introduction to Bayesian Networks and Influence Diagrams
Authors: Sucar Luis Enrique
Published: November 2011

In this chapter we will cover the fundamentals of probabilistic graphical models, in particular Bayesian networks and influence diagrams, which are the basis for some of the techniques and applications that are described in the rest of the book. First we will give a general introduction to probabilistic graphical models, including the motivation for using these models, and a brief history and general description of the main types of models. We will also include a brief review of the basis of probability theory. The core of the chapter will be the next three sections devoted to: (i) Bayesian networks, (ii) Dynamic Bayesian networks and (iii) Influence diagrams. For each we will introduce the models, their properties and give some examples. We will briefly describe the main inference techniques for the three types of models. For Bayesian and dynamic Bayesian nets we will talk about learning, including structure and parameter learning, describing the main types of approaches. At the end of the section on influence diagrams we will briefly introduce sequential decision problems as a link to the chapter on MDPs and POMDPs. We conclude the chapter with a summary and pointers for further reading for each topic.
An Introduction to Fully and Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Poupart Pascal
Published: November 2011

The goal of this chapter is to provide an introduction to Markov decision processes as a framework for sequential decision making under uncertainty. The aim of this introduction is to provide practitioners with a basic understanding of the common modeling and solution techniques. Hence, we will not delve into the details of the most recent algorithms, but rather focus on the main concepts and the issues that impact deployment in practice. More precisely, we will review fully and partially observable Markov decision processes, describe basic algorithms to find good policies and discuss modeling/computational issues that arise in practice.
Automatically Generated Explanations for Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Khan Omar Zia , Poupart Pascal , Black James P.
Published: November 2011

Explaining policies of Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) is complicated due to their probabilistic and sequential nature. We present a technique to explain policies for factored MDPs by populating a set of domain-independent templates. We also present a mechanism to determine a minimal set of templates that, viewed together, completely justify the policy. These explanations can be generated automatically at run-time with no additional effort required from the MDP designer. We demonstrate this technique using the problems of advising undergraduate students in their course selection and assisting people with dementia in completing the task of handwashing. We also evaluate these automatically generated explanations for course-advising through a user study involving students.
Relational Representations and Traces for Efficient Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Morales Eduardo F. , Zaragoza Julio H.
Published: November 2011

This chapter introduces an approach for reinforcement learning based on a relational representation that: (i) can be applied over large search spaces, (ii) can incorporate domain knowledge, and (iii) can use previously learned policies on different, but similar, problems. The underlying idea is to represent states as sets of first order relations, actions in terms of those relations, and to learn policies over such generalized representation. It is shown how this representation can produce powerful abstractions and that policies learned over this generalized representation can be directly applied, without any further learning, to other problems that can be characterized by the same set of relations. To accelerate the learning process, we present an extension where traces of the tasks to be learned are provided by the user. These traces are used to select only a small subset of possible actions increasing the convergence of the learning algorithms. The effectiveness of the approach is tested on a flight simulator and on a mobile robot.
A Decision-Theoretic Tutor for Analogical Problem Solving
Authors: Muldner Kasia , Conati Cristina
Published: November 2011

We describe a decision-theoretic tutor that helps students learn from Analogical Problem Solving (APS), i.e., from problem-solving activities that involve worked-out examples. This tutor incorporates an innovative example-selection mechanism that tailors the choice of example to a given student so as to trigger studying behaviors that are known to foster learning. The mechanism relies on a two-phase decision-theoretic process, as follows. First, a probabilistic user model corresponding to a dynamic Bayesian network simulates how a given student will use an example to solve a problem and what she will learn from doing so. Second, this simulation is quantified via an expected utility calculation, enabling the tutor to select the example with the highest expected utility for maximizing learning and problem-solving outcomes. Once an example is presented to a student, the user model generates an assessment of the student’s APS, enabling the selection mechanism to have up to date information on the student. Our empirical evaluation shows that this selection mechanism is more effective than standard selection approaches for fostering learning from APS. Here, we provide a comprehensive technical description of the example-selection mechanism, as well as an overview of its evaluation and a discussion of some of the challenges related to our decision-theoretic approach.
An Intelligent Assistant for Power Plant Operation and Training Based on Decision-Theoretic Planning
Authors: Reyes Alberto , Elizalde Francisco
Published: November 2011

In this chapter we present AsistO, a simulation-based intelligent assistant for power plant operators that provides on-line guidance in the form of ordered recommendations. These recommendations are generated using the formalism of Markov decision processes over an approximated factored representation of the plant. The decision model approximation is based on machine learning tools. We also described an explanation mechanism over these recommendations based on i) the selection of a relevant variable and ii) the automated construction of graphical explanations for operators. The explanation module analyzes the recommender system’s decision model to support the reason why a recommendation should be followed.
Task Coordination for Service Robots Based on Multiple Markov Decision Processes
Authors: Corona Elva , Sucar L. Enrique
Published: November 2011

Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) provide a principled framework for planing under uncertainty. However, in general they assume a single action per decision epoch. In service robot applications, multiple tasks are required simultaneously, such as navigation, localization and interaction. We have developed a novel framework based on functional decomposition that divides a complex problem into several sub-problems. Each sub-problem is defined as an MDP and solved independently, and their individual policies are combined to obtain a global policy. In contrast to most previous approaches for hierarchical MDPs, in our approach all the MDPs work in parallel, so we obtain a reactive system based on a decision theoretic framework. We initially solved each MDP independently and combined their policies assuming no conflicts. Then we defined two kinds of conflicts, resource and behavior conflicts, and proposed solutions for both. The first kind of conflict is solved off-line using a two phase process which guarantees a near-optimal global policy. Behavior conflicts are solved on-line based on a set of restrictions specified by the user, and a constraint satisfaction module that selects the action set with higher expected utility. We have used these methods for task coordination in service robots, and present experimental results for a messenger robot.
Functional Form, Elasticity and Lexical Richness
Authors: Panas Epaminondas E.
Published: November 2011

One may ask whether these theoretical notions have any practical importance. For instance, does the specification of the elasticity produce appropriate indexes of lexical richness estimates? Apparently the answer is yes, as evidenced by the empirical results reported in this study.
Automatic Identification of the Writer of Ancient Greek Inscriptions, Employing Methods of Computer Engineering and Mathematics
Authors: Papaodysseus Constantin , Panagopoulos Michail , Rousopoulos Panayotis , Arabadjis Dimitris , Panopoulou Fivi , Zannos Solomon , Giannopoulos Fotios , Tracy Steven
Published: November 2011

Automatic handwriting identification/classification is a major problem in graphology analysis. In this chapter the authors present an automated writer identification system applied to ancient Greek inscriptions. The need of such a system which classifies the hands that carved the inscriptions is important, because it helps scholars to date these inscriptions and deduce proper historical conclusions. The proposed system consists of two different and quasi complementary approaches. The first approach is based on pattern recognition methods in order to help us compute an ideal representative (platonic prototype) of each letter symbol in every inscription. Next, pair wise comparisons, based on statistical criteria, are made and the final decision for the classification of the inscriptions to the corresponding hands, is taken. The second approach also uses statistical criteria to accept/reject statistical hypotheses; nevertheless this methodology employs geometric characteristics of all letters in hand and computes specific values in order to make the decision for the writer identification. Both methods were applied to 33 ancient Athenian inscriptions of the classical era and offered 100% correct classification into 8 different hands. The combination of the application of both approaches and the fact that their results are consistent in themselves and agree with prominent epigraphists’ opinion, show that the system may substantially contribute to ancient inscriptions’ dating, in a robust and reliable manner.
Multi-Threaded Architectures
Authors: Girotto Ivan , Farber Robert M.
Published: November 2011

This chapter focuses on the technical/commercial dynamics of multi-threaded hardware architecture development, including a cost/benefit account of current and future developments, and the implications for scientific practice.
High-Performance Computing for Theoretical Study of Nanoscale and Molecular Interconnects
Authors: Topaloglu Rasit O. , Manjari Swati R. , Nayak Saroj K.
Published: November 2011

Interconnects in semiconductor integrated circuits have shrunk to nanoscale sizes. This size reduction requires accurate analysis of the quantum effects. Furthermore, improved low-resistance interconnects need to be discovered that can integrate with biological and nanoelectronic systems. Accurate system-scale simulation of these quantum effects is possible with high-performance computing (HPC), while high cost and poor feasibility of experiments also suggest the application of simulation and HPC. This chapter introduces computational nanoelectronics, presenting real-world applications for the simulation and analysis of nanoscale and molecular interconnects, which may provide the connection between molecules and silicon-based devices. We survey computational nanoelectronics of interconnects and analyze four real-world case studies: 1) using graphical processing units (GPUs) for nanoelectronic simulations; 2) HPC simulations of current flow in nanotubes; 3) resistance analysis of molecular interconnects; and 4) electron transport improvement in graphene interconnects. In conclusion, HPC simulations are promising vehicles to advance interconnects and study their interactions with molecular/biological structures in support of traditional experimentation.
Developing Software for a Scientific Community
Authors: Segal Judith , Morris Chris
Published: November 2011

There are significant challenges in developing scientific software for a broad community. In this chapter, we discuss how these challenges are somewhat different both from those encountered when a scientist end-user developer develops software to address a very specific scientific problem of his/her own, and from those encountered in many commercial developments. However, many developers of scientific community software are steeped in the culture of either scientific end-user or commercial development. As we shall discuss herein, neither background provides sufficient experience so as to meet the challenges of developing software for a scientific community. We make various proposals as to which development approaches, methods, techniques and tools might be useful in this context, and just as importantly, which might not.
Some Illustrations of Information Geometry in Biology and Physics
Authors: Dodson C. T. J.
Published: November 2011

Many real processes have stochastic features which seem to be representable in some intuitive sense as `close to Poisson’, `nearly random’, `nearly uniform’ or with binary variables `nearly independent’. Each of those particular reference states, defined by an equation, is unstable in the formal sense, but it is passed through or hovered about by the observed process. Information geometry gives precise meaning for nearness and neighbourhood in a state space of processes, naturally quantifying proximity of a process to a particular state via an information theoretic metric structure on smoothly parametrized families of probability density functions. We illustrate some aspects of the methodology through case studies: inhomogeneous statistical evolutionary rate processes for epidemics, amino acid spacings along protein chains, constrained disordering of crystals, distinguishing nearby signal distributions and testing pseudorandom number generators.
Visualizing Indicators of Debt Crises in a Lower Dimension
Authors: Sarlin Peter
Published: November 2011

Since the 1980s, two severe global waves of sovereign defaults have occurred in less developed countries (LDCs): the LDC defaults in the 1980s and the LDC defaults at the turn of the 21st century. To date, the topic is contemporary, while the forecasting and monitoring results of debt crises are still at a preliminary stage. This chapter explores whether the application of the Self-Organizing Map (SOM), a neural network-based visualization tool, facilitates the monitoring of multidimensional financial data. Thus, this chapter presents a SOM model for visualizing the evolution of sovereign debt crises’ indicators. The results of this chapter indicate that the SOM is a feasible tool for visualization of early warning signals of sovereign defaults.
IT/IS Readiness Maturity Model
Authors: Alshawi Mustafa , Salleh Hafez
Published: November 2011

This chapter explains the concept of an IT/IS readiness maturity model including particular requirements in terms of four domains, embracing nine attributes: IT infrastructure (top management perception, systems and communication), people (skills, roles and responsibility of IT staff, user involvement), process, and work environment (organization behaviour, IT department, leadership). Each of the attributes consists of 14 factors: top management perception (drivers, systems requirements definition), systems and communication (focus, network communication), skills (type of skills, capability building), roles and responsibility of IT staff (position of IT/IS heads, roles of IT staff), user involvement, process (practices), organizational behaviour (characteristics), IT policy (control of IT/IS activities), and leadership (communication, participation). The following section describes the concept of readiness and maturity, the resources used for element extraction/adoption and the description of the model.
Improving the Tendering Process
Authors: Salleh Hafez
Published: November 2011

Construction sector is unique in a way because more than 90% companies are Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME). This chapter presents a case study of a construction company with past and current projects valued up to £15 million, and has completed a number of construction projects both in private and the public sectors including housing, commerce, leisure, health, education, retail, et cetera. The company operates out of multiple locations and decided to improve the tendering process using a new IT system. On applying the IT readiness model it was found that almost all the attributes identified were not at lower level 1. The practice achieved maturity in three areas – skills and leadership are identified at level 5, and roles & responsibility were identified at the top of the level.