Features extraction based on the Discrete Hartley Transform for closed contour

In this paper the authors propose a new closed contour descriptor that could be seen as a Feature Extractor of closed contours based on the Discrete Hartley Transform (DHT), its main characteristic is that uses only half of the coefficients required by Elliptical Fourier Descriptors (EFD) to obtain a contour approximation with similar error measure. The proposed closed contour descriptor provides an excellent capability of information compression useful for a great number of AI applications. Moreover it can provide scale, position and rotation invariance, and last but not least it has the advantage that both the parameterization and the reconstructed shape from the compressed set can be computed very efficiently by the fast Discrete Hartley Transform (DHT) algorithm. This Feature Extractor could be useful when the application claims for reversible features and when the user needs and easy measure of the quality for a given level of compression, scalable from low to very high quality.

Greek by Steven Berkoff (1980): The Risky Transformation of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex into a Love Story

[eng] Can Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex really be transformed into a love story, as in Steven Berkoff’s drama entitled Greek? This article will show that, although Greek may be viewed by some critics as simply a provocative drama by no means intended to justify incest, directors, actors and critics in the end become enthralled by the powerful love story that ensues between Eddy and his wife and mother. This perspective reveals that Berkoff’s adaptation, intended to portray the social degradation of 1980s Great Britain, is in reality a quite risky proposition since it represents a flat denial of the tragic awareness of contemporary men and women. However, if this is the case, the audience, apart from enjoying the performance of Berkoff’s drama, might question, even from a non-fundamentalist perspective within the classical tradition, to what degree it makes sense to take inspiration from a text by Sophocles that precisely illustrates the great tragic awareness of the ancient Greeks.

Greek de Steven Berkoff (1980): L’arriscada conversió de l’Èdip rei de Sòfocles en una love story

[cat] ¿Podem convertir l’Èdip rei de Sòfocles en una història d’amor com ho fa Berkoff a Greek?. Tot i que alguns crítics llegeixen Greek només com un drama provocador que de cap manera intenta justificar l’incest, directors, actors i crítics resten finalment captivats per la impactant història d’amor entre Eddy i la seva esposa-mare. Això demostraria que l’adaptació de Berkoff, pensada per a il·lustrar la degradació social de la Gran Bretanya dels 80s, esdevé una proposta arriscada, car significa negar de fet la consciència tràgica dels homes i dones contemporanis. Tanmateix, si aquest és el cas, lectors i espectadors, a banda de l’indubtable plaer d’assistir a la representació de Greek, poden preguntar-se, fins i tot des d’una perspectiva no fonamentalista de la tradició clàssica, si té sentit inspirar-se en el text de Sòfocles, el qual mostra precisament la gran consciència tràgica dels grecs.

The love marriage : challenging Victorian myths in Anne Brontë’s 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall'

La tesina analitza com Anne Brontë desafia el mite del casament romàntic a la novel·la The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Argumento que aquesta crítica es fa mostrant les conseqüències nefastes d’un matrimoni (entre l’Arthur i l’Helen) basat en l’atracció i en la idea que una dona pot salvar un home de mala vida. Malgrat que la novel·la acaba amb un altre casament (entre l’Helen i en Gilbert), si s’analitza en detall es pot veure que presenta elements subversius. Per exemple, la seva unió està basada en igualtat intel·lectual i compatibilitat de caràcters, enlloc d’igualtat econòmica i social

4 Love Sonnets

Digitoitu 16. 10. 2008.

Combined application of continuous wavelet transform-zero crossing technique in the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of perindopril and indapamid in tablets

Signal processing methods based on the combined use of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and zero-crossing technique were applied to the simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of perindopril (PER) and indapamide (IND) in tablets. These signal processing methods do not require any priory separation step. Initially, various wavelet families were tested to identify the optimum signal processing giving the best recovery results. From this procedure, the Haar and Biorthogonal1.5 continuous wavelet transform (HAAR-CWT and BIOR1.5-CWT, respectively) were found suitable for the analysis of the related compounds. After transformation of the absorbance vectors by using HAAR-CWT and BIOR1.5-CWT, the CWT-coefficients were drawn as a graph versus wavelength and then the HAAR-CWT and BIOR1.5-CWT spectra were obtained. Calibration graphs for PER and IND were obtained by measuring the CWT amplitudes at 231.1 and 291.0 nm in the HAAR-CWT spectra and at 228.5 and 246.8 nm in BIOR1.5-CWT spectra, respectively. In order to compare the performance of HAAR-CWT and BIOR1.5-CWT approaches, derivative spectrophotometric (DS) method and HPLC as comparison methods, were applied to the PER-IND samples. In this DS method, first derivative absorbance values at 221.6 for PER and 282.7 nm for IND were used to obtain the calibration graphs. The validation of the CWT and DS signal processing methods was carried out by using the recovery study and standard addition technique. In the following step, these methods were successfully applied to the commercial tablets containing PER and IND compounds and good accuracy and precision were reported for the experimental results obtained by all proposed signal processing methods.

Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and chemometric techniques for the determination of adulteration in petrodiesel/biodiesel blends

We propose an analytical method based on fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy to detect the adulteration of petrodiesel and petrodiesel/palm biodiesel blends with African crude palm oil. The infrared spectral fingerprints from the sample analysis were used to perform principal components analysis (PCA) and to construct a prediction model using partial least squares (PLS) regression. The PCA results separated the samples into three groups, allowing identification of those subjected to adulteration with palm oil. The obtained model shows a good predictive capacity for determining the concentration of palm oil in petrodiesel/biodiesel blends. Advantages of the proposed method include cost-effectiveness and speed; it is also environmentally friendly.

Application of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chemical and chemometrics analyses to the characterization of agro-industrial waste

Agroindustrial waste in general presents significant levels of nutrients and organic matter and has therefore been frequently put to agricultural use. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and carbon content, as well as the qualitative characteristics through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of four samples of poultry litter and one sample of cattle manure, from the southwestern region of Paraná, Brazil. Results revealed that, in general, the poultry litter presented higher amount of nutrients and carbon than the cattle manure. The infrared spectra allowed identification of the functional groups present and the differences in degree of sample humification. The statistical treatment confirmed the quantitative and qualitative differences revealed.

Dead love, Op. 4 N:o 1

Ei vapaa, vapautuu 2027?. Kosti Vehanen (1887-1957), André Tellier (1902?-??).

Love and rationality: on some possible rational effects of love

In this paper I defend the idea that rather than disrupting rationality, as the common-sense conception has done it, love may actually help us to develop rational ways of thinking and acting. I make the case for romantic or erotic love, since this is the kind of love that is more frequently associated with irrationality in acting and thinking. I argue that this kind of love may make us develop epistemic and practical forms of rationality. Based on an analysis of its characteristic action tendencies, I argue that love may help us to develop an instrumental form of rationality in determining the best means to achieve the object of love. It may also narrow down the number of practical considerations that may help us to achieve our goals. Finally, love may generate rational ways of belief-formation by framing the parameters taken into account in perception and attention, and by bringing into light only a small portion of the epistemic information available. Love may make us perceive reality more acutely.

Lengsel - en kraft til helse

The aim of this study is to explore longing and its implication for health. The overall purpose is to develop a theory model of longing. The research question is: What is the substance of longing in a caring science perspective? The model is developed based on theoretical and empirical studies, which contains three different research materials; hermeneutic reading of texts by Augustine and Kierkegaard, and interpretation of research interviews with nine women in a cancer context. The design of the study is explorative and the ontological hermeneutics of Gadamer is chosen as a guidance for understanding. The main standpoint of the study is performed within the systematic caring science, which through basic research, generates knowledge about the human desire as crucial for the deeper health processes. Through the contextual study there is a link to the clinical caring science. In the ontology of the systematic caring science, the character of longing is in touch with two different aspects. Longing is rooted in the inner source of love of the ethos of the human where the inscrutable depth exists and contains the reality beyond the visible. Further, longing is essential for human being becoming in health and suffering, through holiness as a unit of body, soul and spirit. The results of the study are presented in a theory model. The model has by abduction provided new and deeper understanding of dimensions of longing related to health. On a general level the forces in longing unfolds in two perspectives; suffering and the basis of love. There appears to be a relationship between human and the source of love in all three materials. When human opens up his life in a larger perspective, resting in love, he can manage to stand in the thrill, and acknowledge loss and emptiness. In the transparency of an inner dialogue unfolding dispair, deeper longing can be opened up so that lives are released from the source of love. The holiness of the human desire has such appeal because the holiness of the source of love is always more than the suffering and the particular. The holiness in longing seems to satisfy the hearts deepest searching. The directon of longing is performed in relation to human and the source of love. The study reveals how longing is associated with the source of love, where the holiness of longing seems to drag the human and by that gives the answer to the seeking of the heart. Dynamics forces have direction from the human suffering in the foundation and a release of the power is given back to transform, deepen and reconcile life and suffering. The movements of the power released by longing are keys to understand the suffering of human in relation to the source of love, becoming in health. By this study, results contribute to deepen the ontological core of caring science. Firstly, human in his longing is connected to the inner ethos and by that the most sacred and absolute in itself so that parts of the potential of love can be released to health. Secondly, longing is the road of reconciliation and can further expand to authentic reconciliation, where human is becoming towards unity and holiness. Thirdly, the spirituality is unfolding through longing and the transcendental is received. In longing, human is in touch with the mystery, the longing exceeds the present and moving towards eternity and infinity, and is in what is yet to come. Such deep experience of longing moments leave an impression and show the longing fulfilled.

What we talk about when we talk about love

KORT REFERAT AV AVHANDLINGEN: Finns det skäl för att älska? Kan vi lova att älska någon hela livet? Är ovillkorlig kärlek endast ett ouppnåeligt ideal? Utgångspunkten för denna begreppsliga undersökning av kärlek är att många frågor som uppstår då vi börjar filosofera om begreppet är uttryck för förvirringar om vad vi talar om då vi talar om kärlek. Inspirerad av Ludwig Wittgensteins senare filosofi föreslår Kronqvist att många av dessa förvirringar kan upplösas genom att man reflekterar kring de olika samtal vi för om kärlek. Genom en sådan reflektion kan även vår förståelse för begreppet fördjupas. I avhandlingen behandlas olika frågor om kärlekens roll i vårt liv i ljuset av filosofiska diskussioner om (1) känslor (2) personlig identitet och (3) mening och moral. Diskussionen ger vid handen att många av de frågor vi ställs inför i reflektionen kring kärlek utmärks av att de inte kan ges ett för varje enskild människa giltigt, vetenskapligt svar. Istället ställer de oss inför en moralisk fråga: vilken plats är vi beredda att ge kärleken och andra människor i vårt eget liv? KORT FINSKT REFERAT AV AVHANDLINGEN: Voiko ihminen rakastaa, koska hänellä on siihen hyviä syitä? Voimmeko edes luvata elinikäistä rakkautta? Onko rakkaus ilman ennakkoehtoja vain saavuttamaton ihanne? Tämän rakkauden käsitteellisen tutkimuksen perusajatuksena on, että kysymykset, joita syntyy alkaessamme filosofoida rakkaudesta usein perustuvat väärinkäsityksiin siitä, mistä oikeastaan puhumme, kun puhumme rakkaudesta. Ludwig Wittgensteinin myöhäisfilosofian inspiroimana Kronqvist ehdottaa, että rakkautta koskevien erilaisten keskustelujemme reflektointi voi ratkaista monia näistä sekaannuksista. Tällainen tarkastelu voi myös syventää rakkauden ymmärrystämme. Väitöskirja tarkastelee eri puolilta rakkauden merkitystä elämässämme, vetäen yhteyksiä (1) tunteita (2) identiteettiä ja (3) merkitystä ja moraalia koskeviin filosofisiin keskusteluihin. Voidaan todeta, että monet rakkautta koskevissa tarkasteluissamme esiin nousevat kysymykset ovat luonteeltaan sellaisia, ettei niihin voi antaa jokaista ihmisyksilöä sitovaa, tieteellistä vastausta. Sensijaan ne asettavat meidät moraalisen kysymyksen eteen: minkä aseman olemme valmiita antamaan rakkaudelle ja toisille ihmisille omassa elämässämme?

Point Of No Return: Dope Sick Love and Reindeerspotting as Documentaries of Addiction

In this postgraduate thesis the focus is on two documentary films, Renaud Brothers's Dope Sick Love (2005) and Joonas Neuvonen's Reindeerspotting (2010). In both of these films, addicts are on limelight. The directors of both films follow addicts and their everyday lives on streets with handheld cameras. This thesis will analyze and compare the narratives of these addicts. Do these documentaries affirm to the existing conventions, according to which representations of addicts and addiction are always either miraculous survival stories or stories, which always end up in utter decadence. The main questions this thesis proposes, are how addicts and their narratives are being handled in the two case study films, and how the drug cultures depicted in the films differ from each other. What changes between New York City and Rovaniemi, Northern Finland, and what remains the same. The academic and theoretical framework of this thesis consists of Susanna Helke's doctoral thesis Nanookin jälki, where the history of documentary films' methods and approaches are discussed. Additionally, the thinking is heavily informed by such poststructuralist writers as Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, Louis Althusser, Stuart Hall and Chris Weedon.