Calculation of wood volume and stem taper using terrestrial single-image close-range photogrammetry and contemporary software tools

Abstract

ConnectomeViewer - Multi-Modal Multi-Level Network Visualization and Analysis.

Introduction: The field of Connectomic research is growing rapidly, resulting from methodological advances in structural neuroimaging on many spatial scales. Especially progress in Diffusion MRI data acquisition and processing made available macroscopic structural connectivity maps in vivo through Connectome Mapping Pipelines (Hagmann et al, 2008) into so-called Connectomes (Hagmann 2005, Sporns et al, 2005). They exhibit both spatial and topological information that constrain functional imaging studies and are relevant in their interpretation. The need for a special-purpose software tool for both clinical researchers and neuroscientists to support investigations of such connectome data has grown. Methods: We developed the ConnectomeViewer, a powerful, extensible software tool for visualization and analysis in connectomic research. It uses the novel defined container-like Connectome File Format, specifying networks (GraphML), surfaces (Gifti), volumes (Nifti), track data (TrackVis) and metadata. Usage of Python as programming language allows it to by cross-platform and have access to a multitude of scientific libraries. Results: Using a flexible plugin architecture, it is possible to enhance functionality for specific purposes easily. Following features are already implemented: * Ready usage of libraries, e.g. for complex network analysis (NetworkX) and data plotting (Matplotlib). More brain connectivity measures will be implemented in a future release (Rubinov et al, 2009). * 3D View of networks with node positioning based on corresponding ROI surface patch. Other layouts possible. * Picking functionality to select nodes, select edges, get more node information (ConnectomeWiki), toggle surface representations * Interactive thresholding and modality selection of edge properties using filters * Arbitrary metadata can be stored for networks, thereby allowing e.g. group-based analysis or meta-analysis. * Python Shell for scripting. Application data is exposed and can be modified or used for further post-processing. * Visualization pipelines using filters and modules can be composed with Mayavi (Ramachandran et al, 2008). * Interface to TrackVis to visualize track data. Selected nodes are converted to ROIs for fiber filtering The Connectome Mapping Pipeline (Hagmann et al, 2008) processed 20 healthy subjects into an average Connectome dataset. The Figures show the ConnectomeViewer user interface using this dataset. Connections are shown that occur in all 20 subjects. The dataset is freely available from the homepage (connectomeviewer.org). Conclusions: The ConnectomeViewer is a cross-platform, open-source software tool that provides extensive visualization and analysis capabilities for connectomic research. It has a modular architecture, integrates relevant datatypes and is completely scriptable. Visit www.connectomics.org to get involved as user or developer.

Comparison of citrus rooting evaluation methods using root images in soil profiles and root weight

A digitized image method was compared with a standard washing technique for measuring citrus roots in the field. Video pictures of roots were taken in a soil profile. The profile area analyzed was defined by iron rings, which were also used to remove the roots to determine their dry weight. The roots presented in the pictures were quantified using SIARCS software developed by Embrapa. The root length and area determined by digital images provided a good estimate of root quantity present in the profile.

Infarctus myocardique aigu: importance du "networking" dans la prise en charge initiate [Acute myocardial infarction: importance of the networking in the initial management].

Early reperfusion with prompt re-establishment of coronary blood flow improves survival in patients suffering from acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Leaving systemic thrombolysis for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is justified by clinical results in favor of PCI. Nevertheless, primary PCI necessitates additional transfer time and requires an efficient territorial networking. The present article summarizes the up-to-dated management of patients with acute STEMI and/or overt cardiogenic shock.

Evaluation of errors in alpine skiing video analysis

INTRODUCTION: Video records are widely used to analyze performance in alpine skiing at professional or amateur level. Parts of these analyses require the labeling of some movements (i.e. determining when specific events occur). If differences among coaches and differences for the same coach between different dates are expected, they have never been quantified. Moreover, knowing these differences is essential to determine which parameters reliable should be used. This study aimed to quantify the precision and the repeatability for alpine skiing coaches of various levels, as it is done in other fields (Koo et al, 2005). METHODS: A software similar to commercialized products was designed to allow video analyses. 15 coaches divided into 3 groups (5 amateur coaches (G1), 5 professional instructors (G2) and 5 semi-professional coaches (G3)) were enrolled. They were asked to label 15 timing parameters (TP) according to the Swiss ski manual (Terribilini et al, 2001) for each curve. TP included phases (initiation, steering I-II), body and ski movements (e.g. rotation, weighting, extension, balance). Three video sequences sampled at 25 Hz were used and one curve per video was labeled. The first video was used to familiarize the analyzer to the software. The two other videos, corresponding to slalom and giant slalom, were considered for the analysis. G1 realized twice the analysis (A1 and A2) at different dates and TP were randomized between both analyses. Reference TP were considered as the median of G2 and G3 at A1. The precision was defined as the RMS difference between individual TP and reference TP, whereas the repeatability was calculated as the RMS difference between individual TP at A1 and at A2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For G1, G2 and G3, a precision of +/-5.6 frames, +/-3.0 and +/-2.0 frames, was respectively obtained. These results showed that G2 was more precise than G1, and G3 more precise than G2, were in accordance with group levels. The repeatability for G1 was +/-3.1 frames. Furthermore, differences among TP precision were observed, considering G2 and G3, with largest differences of +/-5.9 frames for "body counter rotation movement in steering phase II", and of 0.8 frame for "ski unweighting in initiation phase". CONCLUSION: This study quantified coach ability to label video in term of precision and repeatability. The best precision was obtained for G3 and was of +/-0.08s, which corresponds to +/-6.5% of the curve cycle. Regarding the repeatability, we obtained a result of +/-0.12s for G1, corresponding to +/-12% of the curve cycle. The repeatability of G2 and G3 are expected to be lower than the precision of G1 and the corresponding repeatability will be assessed soon. In conclusion, our results indicate that the labeling of video records is reliable for some TP, whereas caution is required for others. REFERENCES Koo S, Gold MD, Andriacchi TP. (2005). Osteoarthritis, 13, 782-789. Terribilini M, et al. (2001). Swiss Ski manual, 29-46. IASS, Lucerne.

Residual effects of successive exposure of soybean Bradyrhizobium strains to aluminium on solid defined medium

The aim of these studies was to investigate whether residual toxic effects of exposing soybean root nodule bacteria to Al in a solid defined media (SDM) alter tolerance to Al, survival, sensitivity to antibiotics, N2 fixation effectiveness and genetic diversity of Bradyrhizobium strains. After being exposed four times to Al, strains showed variation in Al tolerance but there was no evidence of change in their original Al tolerance, sensitivity to the antibiotics or genetic diversity. Exposure of Bradyrhizobium strains to SDM plus Al did not alter biological N2 fixation effectiveness of five strains. Strain SEMIA 587 showed a reduction in its N2 fixation effectiveness but it seems that it was just a superficial toxic effect because one single passage through the plant eliminated this effect. Residual Al did not cause increases in Al tolerance and reductions in the survival and N2 fixation effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium strains USDA 143, SEMIA 586, SEMIA 5019, SEMIA 5039 and SEMIA 5073. It also did not alter the resistance to antibiotics of strains USDA 143, SEMIA 5039 and SEMIA 5073, and the genetic diversity of the strains SEMIA 587 and SEMIA 5019.

Machine learning for spatial environmental data. Theory, applications and software

The book presents the state of the art in machine learning algorithms (artificial neural networks of different architectures, support vector machines, etc.) as applied to the classification and mapping of spatially distributed environmental data. Basic geostatistical algorithms are presented as well. New trends in machine learning and their application to spatial data are given, and real case studies based on environmental and pollution data are carried out. The book provides a CD-ROM with the Machine Learning Office software, including sample sets of data, that will allow both students and researchers to put the concepts rapidly to practice.

Open source software in translator training

La formació de traductors implica l´ús de procediments i eines que permetin els estudiants familiaritzar-se amb contextos professionals. El software lliure especialitzat inclou eines de qualitat professional i procediments accessibles per a les institucions acadèmiques i els estudiants a distància que treballen a casa seva. Els projectes reals que utilitzen software lliure i traducció col·laborativa (crowdsourcing) constitueixen recursos indispensables en la formació de traductors.

Optimal CD8 T cell responsiveness is controlled within a defined TCR affinity window

Protective immune responses relyon TCR-mediated recognition of antigenspresented by MHC molecules. Tcells directed against tumor antigensare thought to express TCRs of loweraffinity/avidity than pathogen-specificT lymphocytes. An attractivestrategy to improve anti-tumor T cellresponses is to adoptively transferCD8+ T cells engineered with TCRsof optimized affinity. However, themechanisms that control optimal Tcell activation and responsiveness remainpoorly defined. We aim at characterizingTCR-pMHC binding parametersand downstream signalingevents that regulate T cell functionalityby using an in silico designedpanel of tumor antigen-specific TCRsof incremental affinity for pMHC(Kd100 M- 15 nM).We found that optimalT cell responses (cytokine secretionand target cell killing) occurredwithin a well-defined window ofTCR-pMHC binding affinity (5 M-1 M), while drastic functional declinewas detected in T cells expressingvery low and very high TCRaffinities,which was not caused by any increasein apoptosis. Whole-genomemicroarray analysis revealed that Tcells with optimal TCR affinitieshighly up-regulated transcription ofgenes typical of T cell activation (i.e.IFN-, NF-B and TNFR), while reducedexpression was detected in Tcells of very low or very high TCR affinity.Strikingly, hierarchical clusteringshowed that the latter two variantsclustered together with the un-stimulatedcontrol Tcells.Yet, despite commonclustering, several genes seemedto be differentially expressed, suggestingthat the mechanisms involvedin this "unresponsiveness state" maydiffer between those two variants. Finally,calcium influx assays also demonstratedattenuated responses in Tcells of very high TCR affinity. Ourresults indicate that optimal T cellfunction is tightly controlled within adefinedTCRaffinity window throughvery proximal TCR-mediated mechanisms,possibly at the TCR-pMHCbinding interface. Uncovering themechanisms regulating optimal/maximalT cell function is essential to understandand promote therapeutic designlike adoptive T cell therapy.

Evaluación y optimización de los servicios de un taller de mantenimiento mediante el software de simulación ARENA

Debido a la necesidad de diferenciarse y hacer frente a la competencia, las empresas han apostado por desarrollar operaciones que den valor al cliente, por eso muchas de ellas han visto en las herramientas lean la oportunidad para mejorar sus operaciones. Esta mejora implica la reducción de dinero, personas, equipos grandes, inventario y espacio, con dos objetivos: eliminar despilfarro y reducir la variabilidad. Para conseguir los objetivos estratégicos de la empresa es imprescindible qué éstos estén alineados con los planes de la gerencia a nivel medio y a su vez con el trabajo realizado por los empleados para asegurar que cada persona está alineada en la misma dirección y al mismo tiempo. Ésta es la filosofía de la planificación estratégica. Por ello uno de los objetivos de este proyecto será el desarrollar una herramienta que facilite la exposición de los objetivos de la empresa y la comunicación de los mismos a todos los niveles de la organización para a partir de ellos y tomando como referencia la necesidad de reducir inventarios en la cadena de suministro se realizará un estudio de la producción de un componente de control del aerogenerador para conseguir nivelarla y reducir su inventario de producto terminado. Los objetivos particulares en este apartado serán reducir el inventario en un 28%, nivelar la producción reduciendo la variabilidad del 31% al 24%, mantener un stock máximo de 24 unidades garantizando el suministro ante una demanda variable, incrementar la rotación del inventario en un 10% y establecer un plan de acción para reducir el lead time entre un 40-50%. Todo ello será posible gracias a la realización del mapa de valor presente y futuro para eliminar desperdicios y crear un flujo continuo y el cálculo de un supermercado que mantenga el stock en un nivel óptimo.

Las TIC como instrumento para la colaboración en red, en el ámbito de la Formación Profesional: Una aplicación de Software Libre para colaboración entre centro-empresa en el I.E.S El Palau.

En la era digital actual, Internet forma parte de nuestras vidas, y ha aportado cambios a lasociedad globalizada. Algunos de estos cambios nos permiten nuevas formas de relacionarnos y degestionar el conocimiento, dando sentido al término que hoy entendemos como sociedad-red.Por eso, en el entorno que nos envuelve existen continuamente acciones colaborativas globales quefomentan la comunicación y se comparte información de diversos tipos, con la finalidad deaprender y mantenerse constantemente informado. Específicamente, los centros educativos no sequedan al margen ya que requiere preparar estudiantes para esta sociedad.Estos cambios en la sociedad presentan grandes desafíos para el centro educativo, que nopermiten ser afrontados solamente desde el aula. Los centros requieren adaptarse a un modelocompatible con la sociedad-red, y por ello, se sugieren un modelo centro-red, que presente unaestructura de una organización compatible con la era en el que estamos inmersos.Las redes de colaboración en los centros permite intercambiar información y aportar valor a laeducación con el objetivo de la mejora educativa. En este sentido, los centros educativos debendisponer de características que permitan ser flexibles, adaptarse a los agentes y organizaciones quele envuelven. Pero la estructura actual de un centro educativo es rígida y por tanto esta evoluciónrepresenta uno de los mayores desafíos para el sistema educativo.En esta linea, en los centros de Formación Profesional existe una tendencia hacia modeloscolaborativos con el tejido empresarial, entre otros agentes, y es en este punto donde este proyectopretende centrar el foco de la investigación. Con más exactitud, en la creación de una red decolaboración con el agente que el centro educativo seleccione.Específicamente las TIC forman un papel esencial, y se deben poner al servicio del problemaque apuntábamos para ayudar a solventarlo. En este sentido, es adecuado un diseño del artefactocon Software Libre que tiene múltiples beneficios para este objetivo, pero que destacamos el que ami parecer es el más importante; la vinculación con la filosofía de compartir el conocimiento, quegarantiza la simbiosis con la red colaborativa y es por esta razón que el tema de la investigación esrelevante para el centro educativo.Tal y como se mencionaba previamente, las TIC pueden ayudar a fomentar la red colaborativa,pero no sólo el artefacto TIC generado en este proyecto debe cumplir características como laflexibilidad, también es crítico que el centro educativo y los agentes de la red interioricen la culturacolaborativa en sus acciones con la implicación y compromiso que se requiere. Pero como podemosPágina 6Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Trabajo Final de Máster - Software Libreimaginar, ese cambio de cultura, no es una tarea sencilla y presenta problemas. Para mitigarlos yfomentar la cultura en red, se requieren procesos específicos que permitan incorporarla en la medidade lo posible. Para ello, la combinación de la innovación sistémica y el diseño de la investigación eneducación resultan metodologías apropiadas.Por eso, investigaremos durante este proceso cómo las redes de colaboración y el SoftwareLibre permiten adaptar el centro al entorno, cómo pueden ayudar al centro a potenciar la FormaciónProfesional y garantizar la durabilidad de las acciones, con el objetivo que perdure el conocimientoy la propia red de colaboración para una mejora educativa.

Implantación de un sistema VoIP basado en software libre con Asterisk

Este proyecto busca analizar, diseñar e implementar una nueva solución de telefonía para el Centro Social de Oficiales de la Policía Nacional contemplando la posibilidad de optar por una migración hacia un sistema VoIP bajo software libre con Asterisk. En consecuencia, se deben evaluar las tecnologías actuales buscando proveer nuevas funcionalidades en el servicio telefónico generando bajos costos en su implementación, funcionamiento y mantenimiento.

Methods for Estimating Annual Exceedance-Probability Discharges for Streams in Iowa, Based on Data through Water Year 2010, TR-519, 2013

A statewide study was performed to develop regional regression equations for estimating selected annual exceedance- probability statistics for ungaged stream sites in Iowa. The study area comprises streamgages located within Iowa and 50 miles beyond the State’s borders. Annual exceedanceprobability estimates were computed for 518 streamgages by using the expected moments algorithm to fit a Pearson Type III distribution to the logarithms of annual peak discharges for each streamgage using annual peak-discharge data through 2010. The estimation of the selected statistics included a Bayesian weighted least-squares/generalized least-squares regression analysis to update regional skew coefficients for the 518 streamgages. Low-outlier and historic information were incorporated into the annual exceedance-probability analyses, and a generalized Grubbs-Beck test was used to detect multiple potentially influential low flows. Also, geographic information system software was used to measure 59 selected basin characteristics for each streamgage. Regional regression analysis, using generalized leastsquares regression, was used to develop a set of equations for each flood region in Iowa for estimating discharges for ungaged stream sites with 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities, which are equivalent to annual flood-frequency recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 years, respectively. A total of 394 streamgages were included in the development of regional regression equations for three flood regions (regions 1, 2, and 3) that were defined for Iowa based on landform regions and soil regions. Average standard errors of prediction range from 31.8 to 45.2 percent for flood region 1, 19.4 to 46.8 percent for flood region 2, and 26.5 to 43.1 percent for flood region 3. The pseudo coefficients of determination for the generalized leastsquares equations range from 90.8 to 96.2 percent for flood region 1, 91.5 to 97.9 percent for flood region 2, and 92.4 to 96.0 percent for flood region 3. The regression equations are applicable only to stream sites in Iowa with flows not significantly affected by regulation, diversion, channelization, backwater, or urbanization and with basin characteristics within the range of those used to develop the equations. These regression equations will be implemented within the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web-based geographic information system tool. StreamStats allows users to click on any ungaged site on a river and compute estimates of the eight selected statistics; in addition, 90-percent prediction intervals and the measured basin characteristics for the ungaged sites also are provided by the Web-based tool. StreamStats also allows users to click on any streamgage in Iowa and estimates computed for these eight selected statistics are provided for the streamgage.

Iowa Bridge Backwater Software User Manual, Version 2.0, TR-564, 2010

This manual describes how to use the Iowa Bridge Backwater software. It also documents the methods and equations used for the calculations. The main body describes how to use the software and the appendices cover technical aspects. The Bridge Backwater software performs 5 main tasks: Design Discharge Estimation; Stream Rating Curves; Floodway Encroachment; Bridge Backwater; and Bridge Scour. The intent of this program is to provide a simplified method for analysis of bridge backwater for rural structures located in areas with low flood damage potential. The software is written in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. It will run under Windows 95 or newer versions (i.e. Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP and later).

Pintoresco : Evaluación de los procesos de aprendizaje conceptual

El documento recoge los hitos del desarrollo de Pintoresco, una aplicación orientada a la evaluación de los procesos de aprendizaje conceptual que se examinan a partir de su uso por usuario ordinario. La aplicación permite obtener datos del proceso de aprendizaje conceptual en un contexto en que la estructura interna de las clases en que se produce una partición no depende de las propiedades específicas de los patrones de estímulo que son distintos para cada usuario sino de la forma lógica de la propia partición.