bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
College Selectivity and Degree Completion
Authors: Heil Scott , Reisel Liza , Attewell Paul
Published: August 2014

How much of a difference does it make whether a student of a given academic ability enters a more or a less selective four-year college? Some studies claim that attending a more academically selective college markedly improves one's graduation prospects. Others report the reverse: an advantage from attending an institution where one's own skills exceed most other students. Using multilevel models and propensity score matching methods to reduce selection bias, we find that selectivity does not have an independent effect on graduation. Instead, we find relatively small positive effects on graduation from attending a college with higher tuition costs. We also find no evidence that students not attending highly selective colleges suffer reduced chances of graduation, all else being equal.
Joy in Labour: The Politicization of Craft from the Arts and Crafts Movement to Etsy
Authors: Krugh Michele
Published: August 2014

Abstract:

Since the time of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late nineteenth century, craft production and consumption has been politicized. Craft’s focus on hand making has been used to contrast intentional, individual labour with the division of labour involved in industrial mass production. Through its mission to build a more fulfilling world through ethical commerce, craftsmanship, and fun, the contemporary e-commerce site Etsy participates in the discourse of politicized craft that was articulated over a hundred years ago by William Morris, with his dream of “joy in labour.” While craft’s individualism can limit its political effectiveness, craft’s utopian impulse to build a better world through more fun and through labour that is more fair is a valuable ideal and one that has survived for more than a century.
Special Issue on Spectral Line Shapes in Plasmas
Authors: Stambulchik Evgeny , Calisti Annette , Chung Hyun-Kyung , González Manuel
Published: August 2014

Line-shape analysis is one of the most important tools for diagnostics of both laboratory and space plasmas. Its reliable implementation requires sufficiently accurate calculations, which imply the use of analytic methods and computer codes of varying complexity, and, necessarily, varying limits of applicability and accuracy. However, studies comparing different computational and analytic methods are almost non-existent. The Spectral Line Shapes in Plasma (SLSP) code comparison workshop series [1] was established to fill this gap. Numerous computational cases considered in the two workshops organized to date (in April 2012 and August 2013 in Vienna, Austria) not only serve the purpose of code comparison, but also have applications in research of magnetic fusion, astrophysical, laser-produced plasmas, and so on. Therefore, although the first workshop was briefly reviewed elsewhere [2], and will likely be followed by a review of the second one, it was unanimously decided by the participants that a volume devoted to results of the workshops was desired. It is the main purpose of this special issue.
Precisely Assembled Nanofiber Arrays as a Platform to Engineer Aligned Cell Sheets for Biofabrication
Authors: Beachley Vince , Hepfer R. , Katsanevakis Eleni , Zhang Ning , Wen Xuejun
Published: August 2014

A hybrid cell sheet engineering approach was developed using ultra-thin nanofiber arrays to host the formation of composite nanofiber/cell sheets. It was found that confluent aligned cell sheets could grow on uniaxially-aligned and crisscrossed nanofiber arrays with extremely low fiber densities. The porosity of the nanofiber sheets was sufficient to allow aligned linear myotube formation from differentiated myoblasts on both sides of the nanofiber sheets, in spite of single-side cell seeding. The nanofiber content of the composite cell sheets is minimized to reduce the hindrance to cell migration, cell-cell contacts, mass transport, as well as the foreign body response or inflammatory response associated with the biomaterial. Even at extremely low densities, the nanofiber component significantly enhanced the stability and mechanical properties of the composite cell sheets. In addition, the aligned nanofiber arrays imparted excellent handling properties to the composite cell sheets, which allowed easy processing into more complex, thick 3D structures of higher hierarchy. Aligned nanofiber array-based composite cell sheet engineering combines several advantages of material-free cell sheet engineering and polymer scaffold-based cell sheet engineering; and it represents a new direction in aligned cell sheet engineering for a multitude of tissue engineering applications.
What Personal and Environmental Factors Determine Frequency of Urban Greenspace Use?
Authors: Dallimer Martin , Davies Zoe , Irvine Katherine , Maltby Lorraine , Warren Philip , Gaston Kevin , Armsworth Paul
Published: August 2014

For many people, urban greenspaces are the only places where they encounter the natural world. This is concerning as there is growing evidence demonstrating that human well-being is enhanced by exposure to nature. There is, therefore, a compelling argument to increase how frequently people use urban greenspaces. This may be achieved in two complementary ways by encouraging: (I) non-users to start visiting urban greenspaces; (II) existing users to visit more often. Here we examine the factors that influence frequency of greenspace visitation in the city of Sheffield, England. We demonstrate that people who visit a site least frequently state lower self-reported psychological well-being. We hypothesised that a combination of socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, and the biophysical attributes of the greenspaces that they were visiting, would be important in influencing visit frequency. However, socio-demographic characteristics (income, age, gender) were not found to be predictors. In contrast, some biophysical attributes of greenspaces were significantly related to use frequency. Frequent use was more likely when the time taken to reach a greenspace was shorter and for sites with a higher index of greenspace neglect, but were unrelated to tree cover or bird species richness. We related these results to the motivations that people provide for their visits. Infrequent users were more likely to state motivations associated with the quality of the space, while frequent users gave motivations pertaining to physical, repeated activities. This suggests that there may be no simple way to manage greenspaces to maximise their use across user cohorts as the motivations for visits are very different.
Identification of Bacterial Community Composition in Freshwater Aquaculture System Farming of Litopenaeus vannamei Reveals Distinct Temperature-Driven Patterns
Authors: Tang Yuyi , Tao Peiying , Tan Jianguo , Mu Haizhen , Peng Li , Yang Dandan , Tong Shilu , Chen Lanming
Published: August 2014

Change in temperature is often a major environmental factor in triggering waterborne disease outbreaks. Previous research has revealed temporal and spatial patterns of bacterial population in several aquatic ecosystems. To date, very little information is available on aquaculture environment. Here, we assessed environmental temperature effects on bacterial community composition in freshwater aquaculture system farming of Litopenaeus vannamei (FASFL). Water samples were collected over a one-year period, and aquatic bacteria were characterized by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Resulting DGGE fingerprints revealed a specific and dynamic bacterial population structure with considerable variation over the seasonal change, suggesting that environmental temperature was a key driver of bacterial population in the FASFL. Pyrosequencing data further demonstrated substantial difference in bacterial community composition between the water at higher (WHT) and at lower (WLT) temperatures in the FASFL. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the highest abundant phyla in the FASFL, however, a large number of unclassified bacteria contributed the most to the observed variation in phylogenetic diversity. The WHT harbored remarkably higher diversity and richness in bacterial composition at genus and species levels when compared to the WLT. Some potential pathogenenic species were identified in both WHT and WLT, providing data in support of aquatic animal health management in the aquaculture industry.
Comprehensive Phenolic Profiling of Cyclopia genistoides (L.) Vent. by LC-DAD-MS and -MS/MS Reveals Novel Xanthone and Benzophenone Constituents
Authors: Beelders Theresa , De Beer Dalene , Stander Maria , Joubert Elizabeth
Published: August 2014

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method coupled with diode-array detection (DAD) was optimized for the qualitative analysis of aqueous extracts of Cyclopia genistoides. Comprehensive insight into the phenolic profile of unfermented and fermented sample extracts was achieved with the identification of ten compounds based on comparison with authentic reference standards and the tentative identification of 30 additional compounds by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem MS detection. Three iriflophenone-di-O,C-hexoside isomers, three xanthone-dihydrochalcone derivatives and one dihydrochalcone are herein tentatively identified for the first time in C. genistoides. Of special interest is one iriflophenone-di-O,C-hexoside present in large amounts. New compounds (tentatively) identified for the first time in this species, and also in the genus Cyclopia, include two aromatic amino acids, one flavone, an iriflophenone-di-C-hexoside, a maclurin-di-O,C-hexoside, two tetrahydroxyxanthone-C-hexoside isomers, a tetrahydroxyxanthone-di-O,C-hexoside, two symmetric tetrahydroxyxanthone-C-hexoside dimers, nine glycosylated flavanone derivatives and five glycosylated phenolic acid derivatives. The presence of new compound subclasses in Cyclopia, namely aromatic amino acids and glycosylated phenolic acids, was demonstrated. The HPLC-DAD method was successfully validated and applied to the quantitative analysis of the paired sample extracts. In-depth analysis of the chemical composition of C. genistoides hot water extracts gave a better understanding of the chemistry of this species that will guide further research into its medicinal properties and potential uses.
Synthesis and Characterization of Some New 4-Hydroxy-coumarin Derivatives
Authors: Al-Majedy Yasameen , Kadhum Abdul , Al-Amiery Ahmed , Mohamad Abu
Published: August 2014

Some novel coumarins were synthesized starting from 4-hydroxycoumarin and methyl bromoacetate. The structures of the newly obtained compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, mass, IR and NMR spectra.
Examination of a Mechanical Amplifier in the Incudostapedial Joint Gap: FEM Simulation and Physical Model
Authors: Koch Martin , Eßinger Till , Bornitz Matthias , Zahnert Thomas
Published: August 2014

Implantable assembly components that are biocompatible and highly miniaturized are an important objective for hearing aid development. We introduce a mechanical transducer, which could be suitable as part of a prospective fully-implantable hearing aid. The transducer comprises a sensor and an actuator unit in one housing, located in the joint gap between the middle ear ossicles, the incus and stapes. The setup offers the advantage of a minimally invasive and reversible surgical solution. However, feedback between actuator and sensor due to mechanical coupling limits the available stable gain. We show that the system can be stabilized by digital control algorithms. The transducer is tested both in a finite elements method simulation of the middle ear and a physical model of a human middle ear. First, we characterize the sensor and actuator elements separately. Then, the maximum stable gain (MSG) of the whole transducer is experimentally determined in the middle ear model. With digital feedback control (using a least mean squares algorithm) in place, the total signal gain is greater than 30 dB for frequencies of 1 kHz and above. This shows the potential of the transducer as a high frequency hearing aid.
Social Security Individual Accounts in China: Toward Sustainability in Individual Account Financing
Authors: Chen Tianhong , Turner John
Published: August 2014

China has both mandatory and voluntary individual account pensions that are provided through the government. The experience of China makes a particularly interesting case study concerning the functioning of individual accounts in that its mandatory individual accounts have been defunded to pay for benefits in the associated pay-as-you-go system, while its voluntary individual accounts are fully funded. This paper examines three questions. First, it analyses why the mandatory individual accounts have become defunded and converted largely to notional accounts generally holding little in financial assets, while the voluntary accounts have been fully funded. Second, it examines the merits of funding versus pay-as-you-go financing of pensions in the context of China’s economic and demographic situation. Third, it discusses a policy change to insure the sustainability of financing for the defunded individual accounts. The experience of China, with its two types of individual accounts, and with different outcomes for those accounts, may provide lessons for other countries.
Exploring Future Nurses’ Attitudes and Beliefs Related to Childhood Overweight
Authors: Snethen Julia A. , Treisman Ruth A. , Buseh Aaron G. , Kelber Sheryl T.
Published: August 2014

Millions of American children enjoy good health due to public health interventions addressing childhood-related diseases; however, such gains are being compromised due to the increasing proportion of overweight or obese children. Nurses are positioned to play a pivotal role in addressing the overweight and obesity epidemic among children. This cross-sectional study examined the attitudes and beliefs of undergraduate prenursing students and students in the clinical nursing major about children who are overweight or obese. A secondary aim was to examine whether there are differences or similarities in attitudes and beliefs about children who are overweight or obese between prenursing students and students in the clinical nursing major. Findings indicated that undergraduate prenursing students and students in the clinical nursing major have negative perceptions of overweight children. However, negative perspectives varied between the prenursing and clinical nursing major students on overweight children in relation to perceptions of causative factors for children being overweight and their subsequent quality of life. [J Nurs Educ. 2014;53(9, Suppl.):S101–S105.]
Using Branching Simulations in Treatment Fidelity Plans
Authors: Kovach Christine R. , Rababa Mohammad
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this article is to present a new approach to treatment fidelity using branching simulations. Branching simulations are case scenarios that require the user to generate a series of step-by-step decisions and actions. The user is given immediate feedback on the consequences of his or her decisions and actions. Branching simulations may be a particularly useful fidelity strategy for interventions that require clinical decision making represented in terms of a flow of critical thinking and action steps. Results of fidelity testing in the current study using branching simulations revealed that 15 (22%) of 67 interventionists scored below the study’s a priori 80% criterion for full retraining and retesting. Thirty (45%) interventionists needed partial retraining in using specific components of the intervention. Potential threats to internal validity posed by inadequate or erroneous adherence to multicomponent intervention protocols can be decreased through treatment fidelity using branching simulations.
[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2014; 7(5):216–223.]
Evaluation of Alcohol Use Disorders in Workplace Disability Claims
Authors: Arvig Tyler , Kurtz Jennifer , Zignego Tina
Published: August 2014

This article examines alcohol use disorders in the context of work and disability. The authors investigated the problem from a disability perspective and how to determine if alcohol use is functionally impairing the worker and requires workplace disability. Key identifiers for impairment are addressed, including evaluation of treatment intensity, comorbidities, and functional declines. Return to work issues include how an occupational health nurse/nurse case manager can assist employees in planning and managing a successful return to work, because return to work is a key component of reintegration after treatment for an alcohol use disorder.
Time-lagged ensemble simulations of the dispersion of the Eyjafjallajökull plume over Europe with COSMO-ART
Authors: Vogel H. , Förstner J. , Vogel B. , Hanisch T. , Mühr B. , Schättler U. , Schad T.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. An extended version of the German operational weather forecast model was used to simulate the ash dispersion during the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull. As an operational forecast was launched every 6 hours, a time-lagged ensemble was obtained. Sensitivity runs show the ability of the model to simulate thin ash layers when an increased vertical resolution is used. Calibration of the model results with measured data allows for a quantitative forecast of the ash concentration. After this calibration an independent comparison of the simulated number concentration of 3 μm particles and observations at Hohenpeißenberg gives a correlation coefficient of 0.79. However, this agreement could only be reached after additional modifications of the emissions. Based on the time lagged ensemble the conditional probability of violation of a certain threshold is calculated. Improving the ensemble technique used in our study such probabilities could become valuable information for the forecasters advising the organizations responsible for the closing of the airspace.
On the role of circulation and mixing in the ventilation of oxygen minimum zones with a focus on the eastern tropical North Atlantic
Authors: Brandt P. , Banyte D. , Dengler M. , Didwischus S.-H. , Fischer T. , Greatbatch R. J. , Hahn J. , Kanzow T. , Karstensen J. , Körtzinger A. , Krahmann G. , Schmidtko S. , Stramma L. , Tanhua T. , Visbeck M.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Ocean observations carried out in the framework of the Collaborative Research Center 754 (SFB 754) "Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean" are used to study (1) the structure of tropical oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), (2) the processes that contribute to the oxygen budget, and (3) long-term changes in the oxygen distribution. The OMZ of the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA), located between the well-ventilated subtropical gyre and the equatorial oxygen maximum, is composed of a deep OMZ at about 400 m depth with its core region centred at about 20° W, 10° N and a shallow OMZ at about 100 m depth with lowest oxygen concentrations in proximity to the coastal upwelling region off Mauritania and Senegal. The oxygen budget of the deep OMZ is given by oxygen consumption mainly balanced by the oxygen supply due to meridional eddy fluxes (about 60%) and vertical mixing (about 20%, locally up to 30%). Advection by zonal jets is crucial for the establishment of the equatorial oxygen maximum. In the latitude range of the deep OMZ, it dominates the oxygen supply in the upper 300 to 400 m and generates the intermediate oxygen maximum between deep and shallow OMZs. Water mass ages from transient tracers indicate substantially older water masses in the core of the deep OMZ (about 120–180 years) compared to regions north and south of it. The deoxygenation of the ETNA OMZ during recent decades suggests a substantial imbalance in the oxygen budget: about 10% of the oxygen consumption during that period was not balanced by ventilation. Long-term oxygen observations show variability on interannual, decadal and multidecadal time scales that can partly be attributed to circulation changes. In comparison to the ETNA OMZ the eastern tropical South Pacific OMZ shows a similar structure including an equatorial oxygen maximum driven by zonal advection, but overall much lower oxygen concentrations approaching zero in extended regions. As the shape of the OMZs is set by ocean circulation, the widespread misrepresentation of the intermediate circulation in ocean circulation models substantially contributes to their oxygen bias, which might have significant impacts on predictions of future oxygen levels.
Statistical downscaling of a climate simulation of the last glacial cycle: temperature and precipitation over Northern Europe
Authors: Korhonen N. , Venäläinen A. , Seppä H. , Järvinen H.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Earth system models of intermediate complexity (EMICs) have proven to be able to simulate the large-scale features of glacial–interglacial climate evolution. For many climatic applications the spatial resolution of the EMICs' output is, however, too coarse, and downscaling methods are needed. In this study we introduce a way to use generalized additive models (GAMs) for downscaling the large-scale output of an EMIC in very different climatological conditions ranging from glacial periods to current relatively warm climates. GAMs are regression models in which a combination of explanatory variables is related to the response through a sum of spline functions. We calibrated the GAMs using observations of the recent past climate and the results of short time-slice simulations of glacial climate performed by the relatively high-resolution general circulation model CCSM (Community Climate System Model) and the regional climate model RCA3 (Rossby Centre regional Atmospheric climate model). As explanatory variables we used the output of a simulation by the CLIMBER-2 (CLIMate and BiosphERe model 2) EMIC of the last glacial cycle, coupled with the SICOPOLIS (SImulation COde for POLythermal Ice Sheets) ice sheet model, i.e. the large-scale temperature and precipitation data of CLIMBER-2, and the elevation, distance to ice sheet, slope direction and slope angle from SICOPOLIS. The fitted GAMs were able to explain more than 96% of the temperature response with a correlation of >0.98 and more than 59% of the precipitation response with a correlation of >0.72. The first comparison with two pollen-based reconstructions of temperature for Northern Europe showed that CLIMBER-2 data downscaled by GAMs corresponded better with the reconstructions than did the bilinearly interpolated CLIMBER-2 surface temperature.
Limiting the parameter space in the Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System (CCDAS)
Authors: Kemp S. , Scholze M. , Ziehn T. , Kaminski T.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Terrestrial ecosystem models are employed to calculate the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide between land and atmosphere. These models may be heavily parameterised. Where reliable estimates are unavailable for a parameter, it remains highly uncertain; uncertainty of parameters can substantially contribute to overall model output uncertainty. This paper builds on the work of the terrestrial Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System (CCDAS), which, here, assimilates atmospheric CO2 concentrations to optimise 19 parameters of the underlying terrestrial ecosystem model (Biosphere Energy Transfer and Hydrology scheme, BETHY). Previous experiments have shown that the identified minimum may contain non-physical parameter values. One way to combat this problem is to use constrained optimisation and so avoid the optimiser searching non-physical regions. Another technique is to use penalty terms in the cost function, which are added when the optimisation searches outside of a specified region. The use of parameter transformations is a further method of avoiding this problem, where the optimisation is carried out in a transformed parameter space, thus ensuring that the optimal parameters at the minimum are in the physical domain. We compare these different methods of achieving meaningful parameter values, finding that the parameter transformation method shows consistent results and that the other two provide no useful results.
The Budyko and complementary relationships in an idealized model of large-scale land–atmosphere coupling
Authors: Lintner B. R. , Gentine P. , Findell K. L. , Salvucci G. D.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Expressions corresponding to two well-known relationships in hydrology and hydrometeorology, the Budyko and complementary relationships, are derived within an idealized prototype representing the physics of large-scale land–atmosphere coupling. These relationships are shown to hold on long (climatologic) time scales because of the tight coupling that exists between precipitation, atmospheric radiation, moisture convergence and advection. The slope of the complementary relationship is shown to be dependent the Clausius–Clapeyron relationship between saturation specific humidity and temperature, with important implications for the continental hydrologic cycle in a warming climate, e.g., one consequence of this dependence is that the complementary relationship may be expected to become more asymmetric with warming, as higher values of the slope imply a larger change in potential evaporation for a given change in evapotranspiration. In addition, the transparent physics of the prototype permits diagnosis of the sensitivity of the Budyko and complementary relationships to various atmospheric and land surface processes. Here, the impacts of anthropogenic influences, including large-scale irrigation and global warming, are assessed.
Detection of fallen trees in ALS point clouds by learning the Normalized Cut similarity function from simulated samples
Authors: Polewski P. , Yao W. , Heurich M. , Krzystek P. , Stilla U.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Fallen trees participate in several important forest processes, which motivates the need for information about their spatial distribution in forest ecosystems. Several studies have shown that airborne LiDAR is a valuable tool for obtaining such information. In this paper, we propose an integrated method of detecting fallen trees from ALS point clouds based on merging small segments into entire fallen stems via the Normalized Cut algorithm. A new approach to specifying the segment similarity function for the clustering algorithm is introduced, where the attribute weights are learned from labeled data instead of being determined manually. We notice the relationship between Normalized Cut’s similarity function and a class of regression models, which leads us to the idea of approximating the task of learning the similarity function with the simpler task of learning a classifier. Moreover, we set up a virtual fallen tree generation scheme to simulate complex forest scenarios with multiple overlapping fallen stems. The classifier trained on this simulated data yields a similarity function for Normalized Cut. Tests on two sample plots from the Bavarian Forest National Park with manually labeled reference data show that the trained function leads to high-quality segmentations. Our results indicate that the proposed data-driven approach can be a successful alternative to time consuming trial-and-error or grid search methods of finding good feature weights for graph cut algorithms. Also, the methodology can be generalized to other applications of graph cut clustering in remote sensing.
Automated End-to-End Workflow for Precise and Geo-accurate Reconstructions using Fiducial Markers
Authors: Rumpler M. , Daftry S. , Tscharf A. , Prettenthaler R. , Hoppe C. , Mayer G. , Bischof H.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Photogrammetric computer vision systems have been well established in many scientific and commercial fields during the last decades. Recent developments in image-based 3D reconstruction systems in conjunction with the availability of affordable high quality digital consumer grade cameras have resulted in an easy way of creating visually appealing 3D models. However, many of these methods require manual steps in the processing chain and for many photogrammetric applications such as mapping, recurrent topographic surveys or architectural and archaeological 3D documentations, high accuracy in a geo-coordinate system is required which often cannot be guaranteed. Hence, in this paper we present and advocate a fully automated end-to-end workflow for precise and geoaccurate 3D reconstructions using fiducial markers. We integrate an automatic camera calibration and georeferencing method into our image-based reconstruction pipeline based on binary-coded fiducial markers as artificial, individually identifiable landmarks in the scene. Additionally, we facilitate the use of these markers in conjunction with known ground control points (GCP) in the bundle adjustment, and use an online feedback method that allows assessment of the final reconstruction quality in terms of image overlap, ground sampling distance (GSD) and completeness, and thus provides flexibility to adopt the image acquisition strategy already during image recording. An extensive set of experiments is presented which demonstrate the accuracy benefits to obtain a highly accurate and geographically aligned reconstruction with an absolute point position uncertainty of about 1.5 times the ground sampling distance.
Design of an indoor mapping system using three 2D laser scanners and 6 DOF SLAM
Authors: Vosselman G.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. We present the design for a new indoor mapping system based on three 2D laser scanners as well as a method to process the range measurements such that the pose of the system and the planes of floor, ceiling and walls can be estimated simultaneously. By the combined use of the measurements of all three scanners the pose of the system can be reconstructed in 3D without the need for an IMU. The six pose parameters are modelled as a continuous function over time such that scan line deformations caused by rapid scanner movements do not lead to biases in the estimated poses. The theoretical feasibility of the approach is demonstrated by analysing reconstruction results derived from simulated sensor data of two indoor models. Assuming a perfectly calibrated sensor and ranging noise of 3 cm, the results on data in 10x20 m corridor show that the plane orientation precision is better than 0.1 degree and that the standard deviation of plane-to-plane distances is below 1.5 cm after three loops in the corridor.
Fast global stereo matching via energy pyramid minimization
Authors: Conejo B. , Leprince S. , Ayoub F. , Avouac J. P.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. We define a global matching framework based on energy pyramid, the Global Matching via Energy Pyramid (GM-EP) algorithm, which estimates the disparity map from a single stereo-pair by solving an energy minimization problem. We efficiently address this minimization by globally optimizing a coarse to fine sequence of sparse Conditional Random Fields (CRF) directly defined on the energy. This global discrete optimization approach guarantees that at each scale we obtain a near optimal solution, and we demonstrate its superiority over state of the art image pyramid approaches through application to real stereo-pairs. We conclude that multiscale approaches should be build on energy pyramids rather than on image pyramids.
Object-level Segmentation of RGBD Data
Authors: Huang H. , Jiang H. , Brenner C. , Mayer H.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. We propose a novel method to segment Microsoft™Kinect data of indoor scenes with the emphasis on freeform objects. We use the full 3D information for the scene parsing and the segmentation of potential objects instead of treating the depth values as an additional channel of the 2D image. The raw RGBD image is first converted to a 3D point cloud with color. We then group the points into patches, which are derived from a 2D superpixel segmentation. With the assumption that every patch in the point cloud represents (a part of) the surface of an underlying solid body, a hypothetical quasi-3D model – the "synthetic volume primitive" (SVP) is constructed by extending the patch with a synthetic extrusion in 3D. The SVPs vote for a common object via intersection. By this means, a freeform object can be "assembled" from an unknown number of SVPs from arbitrary angles. Besides the intersection, two other criteria, i.e., coplanarity and color coherence, are integrated in the global optimization to improve the segmentation. Experiments demonstrate the potential of the proposed method.
Localization of Windows and Doors in 3d Point Clouds of Facades
Authors: Nguatem W. , Drauschke M. , Mayer H.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. In this paper, we present a fully automatic approach to localize the outlines of facade objects (windows and doors) in 3D point clouds of facades. We introduce an approach to search for the main facade wall and locate the facade objects within a probabilistic framework. Our search routine is based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MC-Simulation). Templates containing control points of curves are used to approximate the possible shapes of windows and doors. These are interpolated using parametric B-spline curves. These templates are scored in a sliding window style over the entire facade using a likelihood function in a probabilistic matching procedure. This produces many competing results for which a two layered model selection based on Bayes factor is applied. A major thrust in our work is the introduction of a 2D shape-space of similar shapes under affine transform in this architectural scene. This transforms the initial parametric B-splines curves representing the outlines of objects to curves of affine similarity in a strongly reduced dimensionality thus facilitating the generation of competing hypotheses within the search space. A further computational speedup is achieved through the clustering of the search space to disjoint regions, thus enabling a parallel implementation. We obtain state-of-the results on self-acquired data sets. The robustness of our algorithm is evaluated on 3D point clouds from image matching and LiDAR data of diverse quality.
Issues faced by Apple Inc in smart phones industry
Authors: Latif Madiha , Jaskani Jawwad Hassan , Ilyas Tehreem , Babar Zohaib Khan , Gulzar Hina
Published: August 2014

Purpose:This case suggests the development of financial reporting of Apple Inc. in comparison with the industry over the period of 2004 to 2013. This study is helpful for different field of researchers e.g., management, technology, etc. Apple Inc. was found in 1976 by Steve Jobs. In 2007, Apple introduced smartphones and iOS and was the pioneer in this industry. But after the rising competition in this industry Androids snatched the market share from the Apple.Methodology:This study illustrates the reasons and the current performance of the company in the industry. The performance has been measured through actual financial data and through various financial techniques.Findings:This study has found that the company is losing share in the market because of the features in its products whereas the features offered by other competitors are relative consumer friendly and according to their demand.Suggestions:To retain the market share Apple should offer more products that are more affordable for the consumers.
Assessing the impacts of reservoir operation to floodplain inundation by combining hydrological, reservoir management, and hydrodynamic models
Authors: Mateo Cherry May , Hanasaki Naota , Komori Daisuke , Tanaka Kenji , Kiguchi Masashi , Champathong Adisorn , Sukhapunnaphan Thada , Yamazaki Dai , Oki Taikan
Published: August 2014

A catastrophic flood event which caused massive economic losses occurred in Thailand, in 2011. Several studies have already been conducted to analyze the Thai floods, but none of them have assessed the impacts of reservoir operation on flood inundation. This study addresses this gap by combining physically based hydrological models to explicitly simulate the impacts of reservoir operation on flooding in the Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand. H08, an integrated water resources model with a reservoir operation module, was combined with CaMa‐Flood, a river routing model with representation of flood dynamics. The combined H08‐CaMa model was applied to simulate and assess the historical and alternative reservoir operation rules in the two largest reservoirs in the basin. The combined H08‐CaMa model effectively simulated the 2011 flood: regulated flows at a major gauging station have high daily NSE‐coefficient of 92% as compared with observed discharge; spatiotemporal extent of simulated flood inundation match well with those of satellite observations. Simulation results show that through the operation of reservoirs in 2011, flood volume was reduced by 8.6 billion m3 and both depth and area of flooding were reduced by 40% on the average. Nonetheless, simple modifications in reservoir operation proved to further reduce the flood volume by 2.4 million m3 and the depth and area of flooding by 20% on the average. By modeling reservoir operation with a hydrodynamic model, a more realistic simulation of the 2011 Thai flood was made possible, and the potential of reducing flood inundation through improved reservoir management was quantified.
Terrestrial water storage response to the 2012 drought estimated from GPS vertical position anomalies
Authors: Chew Clara C. , Small Eric E.
Published: August 2014

Historically, drought monitoring systems have not incorporated observations of terrestrial water storage (TWS). Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments can be used to estimate TWS variations in near real time because the solid Earth responds elastically to changes in hydrologic loading. Here GPS vertical position data, u, are used to assess the timing and duration of TWS anomalies in the High Plains caused by the 2012 drought; u indicates an initial TWS minimum in 2012, consistent with GRACE TWS, several months after the most severe meteorological forcing. Standard drought indices show recovery from drought during spring 2013. In contrast, u indicates that the TWS anomaly intensified by approximately 15% during summer 2013, an interval when no GRACE data are available. Hydrologic observations indicate that depletion of groundwater, not soil moisture, is the source of the persistent TWS anomaly. These results show that GPS data could be used to monitor drought‐induced variations in TWS in near real time.
Dinophyceae (Dinoflagellates)
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

General Aspects

Classification of Dinoflagellates

Photosynthetic Pigments

Sulfated Exopolysaccharides

Sterols

Fatty Acids

Glycolipids

Amphidinols and other Polyhydroxylated Polyenic Derivatives

Toxic Proliferations: Endotoxins and Exotoxins

Main Types of Dinoflagellate Toxins

Cyclic Polyethers

Okadaic Acid and Derivatives

Toxic Macrolides: Amphidinolides, Caribenolide, GoniodominA, Hoffmanniolide

Complexity of the Biosynthesis of Polyketides

Saxitoxin and its Derivatives

Nitrogenous Toxins with Imine Function

Zooxanthellatoxins (ZTs) and other Nitrogenous Toxins

Pfiesteria piscicida: A Particularly Toxic Dinoflagellate

Sulfur‐Containing Derivatives

Phosphorus Derivatives and other Unusual Compounds
Rhodophyceae (Red Algae)
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

Special Features of Red Algae

Classification of Rhodophyceae

Photosynthetic Pigments

Storage Monosaccharides and Polysaccharides

Skeleton Polysaccharides

Matrix Polysaccharides: Carrageenans and Agars

Carrageenophytes and Agarophytes

Gelling Agents and Thickeners

Other Types of Matrix Polysaccharides

Phospholipids and Fatty Acids

Oxylipins and Prostaglandins

Sterols and Ecdysteroids

General Comments on the Secondary Metabolites

Secondary Metabolites of Cryptonemiales

Secondary Metabolites of Gelidiales

Secondary Metabolites of Rhodymeniales

Polyhalogenated Monoterpenes of Gigartinales

Diterpenes ofSphaerococcus coronopifolius(Gigartinales, Sphaerococcaceae)

Macrocyclic Pyrones ofPhacelocarpus labillardieri(Gigartinales, Sphaerococcaceae)

Polycavernosides ofPolycavernosa tsudai(Gigartinales, Gracilariaceae)

Brominated Meroditerpenes ofCallophycus serratus(Gigartinales, Solieriaceae)

Halogenated Phloroglucinols ofRhabdonia verticillata(Gigartinales, Solieriaceae)

Sulfated Aromatic Derivatives ofTichocarpus crinitus(Gigartinales, Tichocarpaceae)

Nitrogen‐Containing Derivatives of Gigartinales

Halogenated Compounds of Ceramiales: General Comments

Polyhalogenated Monoterpenes ofPantoneura plocamioides(Ceramiales, Delesseriaceae)

Sesquiterpenes ofLaurencia(Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae)

Halogenated Diterpenes ofLaurencia

Squalenoids ofLaurenciaspecies andChondria armata

Cyclic HalogenatedC15Ethers and Polyethers ofLaurenciaandChondria

Bromo‐ and Polybromophenols of Ceramiales

Nitrogen‐Containing Bromophenols ofRhodomela confervoidesandOsmundaria colensoi

Other Nitrogen‐Containing Derivatives of Ceramiales

Cyclic Polysulfides ofChondria californica

Arsenic‐Containing Derivative ofChondria crassicaulis

Some Atypical Derivatives ofLaurenciaSpecies

Macrocyclicα‐Pyrones ofNeurymenia fraxinifolia

Halogenated Derivatives of Nemaliales

Acetylenic Acids ofLiagora farinosa

Sulfated Triterpene Alcohols ofTricleocarpa fragilis

Cyclic Peptide fromGalaxaura filamentosa
Fungi
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

The Fungal Kingdom: The Concept of Marine Fungi

Mastigomycetes and Eumycetes (True Fungi)

Elements of Classification of Eumycetes

Background Information on the Structure of Chitin

Fatty Acids

Sterols

Membrane Peptides of Fungi: Peptaibols

General Comments on Secondary Metabolites of Marine Fungi

Substances Isolated from Fungi Collected from the Surface of the Sea

Substances Isolated from Fungi from Sediments and other Inert Substrates

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Cyanobacteria

Algicolous Fungi: General Remarks

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Green Algae and Marine Spermatophyta

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Red Algae

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Brown Algae

Substances Isolated from Lignicolous Fungi

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Sponges

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Cnidarians

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Mollusks

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Bryozoans

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Echinoderms

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Crustaceans

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Tunicates (Ascidians)

Substances Isolated from Fungi Associated with Fish

Summary of Marine‐Derived Fungi
Introduction to Marine Biotechnology
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

Introduction

Recent Developments in the Culture of Invertebrates

Lipids and Pigments: Examples of Nutritional Applications

New Substances and Biomaterials: Examples of Biomedical Applications

Bioremediation and Biofouling: Examples of Environmental Applications

Dialkylphthalates in Marine Organisms

Another Type of Application: Bioadhesives

Some Examples of Biotechnology in Prokaryotes
Porifera (Sponges)–1
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

Overview of the Universe of Sponges

Metabolites of Calcarea (Calcareous Sponges)

General Characteristics of Calcarea

Fatty Acids

Sterols

Non‐Nitrogenous Derivatives of Species of the GenusLeucetta

Imidazole Alkaloids and Zinc Complexes Isolated from the GeneraLeucetta,Leucosolenia, andClathrina

αω‐Bis Long‐Chain Aminoalcohols

Nitrogen‐Containing Macrolides and Cyclic Peptides

Other Nitrogen‐Containing Compounds of Calcarea

Metabolites of Hexactinellida

Classification and Membrane Constituents of Demospongiae

Classification

Some Physical Observations on Demosponges

Shape and Size

Consistency

Color and Odor

Diversity of Membrane Constituents: Some Examples

Phospholipids and “Demospongic Acids”

Fatty Acids with 5,9 Dienic Structure

Other Mono‐ and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Branched Fatty Acids

Isoprenic Acids

Cyclopropanic Acids

Brominated Acids

2‐OSubstituted Acids

Sulfur Derivatives of Demospongic Acids

Intracellular Localization and Biological Activity of Demospongic Acids

Brief Reminder About Conventional Sterols

Unconventional Sterols Produced by Changes in the Tetracyclic System

Unconventional Sterols Produced by Polymethylation of the Side Chain

Sterols with Degraded Side Chains

Sterols and Stanols with Cyclopropanic and Cyclopropenic Side Chains

Secosterols

Polyhydroxylated Steroids and Derivatives, Peroxysterols

Sulfated Sterols

Chlorinated Sterols and Sterones

Nitrogen‐Containing Sterols

Glycolipids

Secondary Metabolites of Homoscleromorpha

Fatty Acids, Polyketides and Oxylipins ofPlakinastrellaandPlakortis

Cyclic Peroxides and Peroxylactones fromPlakinastrellaandPlakortis

Glycosides

Polyhydroxylated Sterols ofOscarella lobularis

Alkaloids and Other Original Nitrogen Derivatives ofPlakortisandCorticium

Secondary Metabolites of Astrophorida

Acetylenic Fatty Acids ofStelletta

Cyclitol Derivatives

Glycolipids: Caminosides and Pachymosides

Triterpenes of Malabaricane and Isomalabaricane: Sesterterpenes

Triterpenic Glycosides and Steroidal Glycosides

Substituted Tetramic Acids and Derived Glycosides

Erylusamines, Erylusine, and Erylusidine

Cyclic Depsipeptides, Peptolides, and Macrolactones

Nitrogen‐Containing Terpenes

Bengazoles and Bengamides

Atypical Nitrogenous Derivatives

Phosphorus‐Containing Derivatives

Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Sulfated Derivatives

Isotactic Polymethoxydienes ofMyriastra clavosa
Cnidaria and Ctenophora–1
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

General Introduction

Simplified Classification of Cnidaria

Hermatypic and Ahermatypic Corals: Coral Bleaching

General Information on Metabolites of Cnidaria

Membrane Constituents and Secondary Metabolites of Octocorallia (Anthozoa)

Prostaglandins and Prostanoids

Phospholipid Fatty Acids, Glycolipids, and Other Lipidic Derivatives

General Remarks on the Sterols of Octocorallia

Gorgosterol and Other Cyclopropane‐Containing Sterols

19‐Oxygenated‐ and 19‐nor‐Steroids

Polyoxygenated Steroids

Sterones and Chlorinated Sterones

Sulfur‐Containing Steroids

Cyclized Side‐Chain Sterols

Secosterols

Sterosides, Pregnane, andnor‐Pregnane Derivatives

Sesquiterpenic Hydrocarbons

Halogen‐, Nitrogen‐, and Sulfur‐Containing Sesquiterpenes

Sesquiterpenes with Original Carbon Skeletons

Examples of Sesquiterpenes with a Classical Carbon Skeleton

General Account of Diterpenes

Linear and Monocyclic Diterpenes

General Information on Bicyclic Diterpenes

Chlorinated Diterpenes

Other examples of Briarane Derivatives

Nitrogen‐Containing Diterpenes of Cladiellane/Eunicellane: Eleutherobin and Analogs, Labiatamides

Other Examples of Cladiellane/Eunicellane Diterpenes

Diterpenes of Serrulatane and Other Bicyclic Carbon Skeletons

Bicyclic C5/C11Diterpenes

Bicyclic Diterpenes Containing a Cyclopropane

Some Other Examples of Bicyclic Diterpenes

General Account of Tricyclic Diterpenes

Pseudopterosins, Other Amphilectane Derivatives and Analogs

Other Examples of Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Diterpenes

Comments on the Origin of Terpenes

Non‐Terpenic Nitrogenous Derivatives of Octocorallia

Uncommon Sulfur‐Containing Compounds
Wormlike Organisms: 1
Authors: Kornprobst Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2014

The article contains sections titled:

Platyhelminthes

Macrolides and Other Compounds from Symbiosis withAmphidiniumsp

Staurosporine Derivatives and Other Metabolites from Platyhelminthes

Nemertea

Background on Annelida and Echiura

Lipids and Sexual Pheromones of Polychaetes

Pigments of Polychaetes and Echiurans

Bromophenols of Polychaetes and of the PhoronidPhoronopsis viridis

Examples of Nitrogen‐ and Sulfur‐Containing Derivatives from Polychaetes

Peptides and Proteins

Hemerythins and Extracellular Hemoglobins