Study of Target Enhancement Algorithms to Counter the Hostile Nuclear Environment

A necessary requirement of strategic defense is the detection of incoming nuclear warheads in an environment that may include nuclear detonations of undetected or missed target warheads. A computer model is described which simulates incoming warheads as distant endoatmospheric targets. A model of the expected electromagnetic noise present in a nuclear environment is developed using estimates of the probability distributions. Predicted atmospheric effects are also included. Various image enhancement algorithms, both linear and nonlinear, are discussed concerning their anticipated ability to suppress the noise and atmospheric effects of the nuclear environment. These algorithms are then tested, using the combined target and noise models, and evaluated in terms of the stated figures of merit

Image Processing Using FPGAs

This book presents a selection of papers representing current research on using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for realising image processing algorithms. These papers are reprints of papers selected for a Special Issue of the Journal of Imaging on image processing using FPGAs. A diverse range of topics is covered, including parallel soft processors, memory management, image filters, segmentation, clustering, image analysis, and image compression. Applications include traffic sign recognition for autonomous driving, cell detection for histopathology, and video compression. Collectively, they represent the current state-of-the-art on image processing using FPGAs

Ecological determinants of depth zonation in reef-building corals

Natural gradients in altitude, depth or latitude capture systematic variation in environmental variables that can be exploited to test hypotheses on the role of various processes in generating and maintaining patterns of biodiversity. The depth zonation of reef-building corals is one such pattern, where species rich assemblages vary across a small spatial scale that includes rapid and predictable changes in key environmental variables, such as light. These attributes allow a strong test of general hypotheses predicting biodiversity patterns, free from many of the confounding factors found in terrestrial habitats. Here, I first develop a novel method of data collection, referred to as the modified Point-Count Transect method, which is derived from avian survey methods. This approach avoids many of the pitfalls of previous sampling approaches, such as inconsistent sampling effort, poor detection of rare species, and limited sampling coverage of the gradient. I then utilise this methodology to assemble a dataset of 9,576 coral colonies representing over 300 corals species, on six reefs in three positions within Kimbe Bay, PNG to 1) test the validity of the Species Energy theory and the Mid-Domain Effect; two preeminent predictive theories of species richness gradients 2) identify the reef-scale community assembly processes which maintain the depth-diversity pattern and 3) quantify how individual species abundances vary over depth. I found that species richness is not consistent with the predictions of either theory, and instead shows a left-skewed hump consistent with results from terrestrial habitats. Examination of species turnover suggested that the hump-shaped pattern is maintained by large-scale processes acting on the regional species pool, rather than differential levels of reef-scale processes, such as competition and environmental filtering. These results demonstrate that the hump-shaped pattern is not an artefact of scale or sampling design. Finally, species-specific abundance distributions across depth revealed species' depth use to be far more specialized than previously thought, demonstrating how commonly used metrics such as depth range, are very poor descriptions of how species use this domain. In conclusion, many of the preconceptions on the patterns and processes behind the depth zonation of corals on reefs are demonstrably flawed, and should be re-examined using suitable data and analysis. Although there remains no generally applicable explanation for how the hump-shaped pattern is created and maintained, this thesis provides new ways to overcome obstacles to continued research and move the field forwards

Landscape genomics of tropical high altitude plant species

Changes to species distributions involve demographic processes that occur over generations and affect allele frequencies within populations, leading to patterns of genetic restructuring. The specific genetic structuring patterns that will be observed as a consequence depend on explicit geographical features, such as topography and latitude. Over the first decades of phylogeography, the effect of climate history and geography on species genomes was examined at low resolution with DNA sequences and other traditional molecular markers. However, During the last five years it has become feasible to obtain genomic data for non-model organisms and large sample sizes. The present thesis spans the transition years between phylogeographic studies being restricted to low resolution molecular markers, and new methods facilitating the generation of genomic data for non-model species. As such, this thesis focuses on two main points. First, on the methodological aspects of utilising double digest RAD-seq (ddRAD) for individual-based population genetics and phylogeography of plant species. Second, on applying the obtained data to examine one of the classic. but as yet not fully explained, biodiversity patterns: the biodiversity excess within tropical mountains. The main contributions of this thesis at the methodological level are; (1) demonstrating the utility of DNA replicates for the estimation of genotyping error and optimisation of de novo assembly; (2) proposing a method for identifying paralogous loci resulting from recent gene duplications; and (3) showing that such logi provide a measure of population differentiation. Regarding the drivers of biodiversity excess within tropical mountains, I used landscape genomic analyses and ddRAD data to examine two plant species from the alpine grasslands of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt. As a main result, this thesis supports from a population-level perspective that tropical mountains; (1) allow for long-term in situ population persistence; and (2) promote population differentiation as a function of topographic isolation

Proceedings of the ECCS 2005 satellite workshop: embracing complexity in design - Paris 17 November 2005

Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr). Embracing complexity in design is one of the critical issues and challenges of the 21st century. As the realization grows that design activities and artefacts display properties associated with complex adaptive systems, so grows the need to use complexity concepts and methods to understand these properties and inform the design of better artifacts. It is a great challenge because complexity science represents an epistemological and methodological swift that promises a holistic approach in the understanding and operational support of design. But design is also a major contributor in complexity research. Design science is concerned with problems that are fundamental in the sciences in general and complexity sciences in particular. For instance, design has been perceived and studied as a ubiquitous activity inherent in every human activity, as the art of generating hypotheses, as a type of experiment, or as a creative co-evolutionary process. Design science and its established approaches and practices can be a great source for advancement and innovation in complexity science. These proceedings are the result of a workshop organized as part of the activities of a UK government AHRB/EPSRC funded research cluster called Embracing Complexity in Design (www.complexityanddesign.net) and the European Conference in Complex Systems (complexsystems.lri.fr)

Analysis of the Adriatic macrobenthic assemblages along a spatio-temporal gradient. Habitat mapping as a tool to address restoration and recovery of marine resources

Il mare Adriatico è una delle regioni del bacino Mediterraneo più impattate poiché soggetto a multipli fattori di stress, come cambiamenti climatici e una lunga storia di intenso sfruttamento delle risorse. Allo stesso tempo ospita una grande varietà di endemismi, aree di riproduzione, nursery e foraggiamento. Il drammatico declino delle risorse target e non del mare Adriatico richiede un urgente sviluppo di nuove ed idonee misure di gestione e conservazione degli ecosistemi marini. Il cambiamento delle comunità macrobentoniche di fondo mobile può innescare un’alterazione delle reti trofiche, della qualità delle acque, del riciclo dei nutrienti. Pertanto, un’efficiente gestione degli ecosistemi marini non può prescindere dal recupero degli habitat bentonici. I risultati di questo lavoro di dottorato hanno permesso di evidenziare i principali cambiamenti avvenuti sulle comunità bentoniche dei fondali del largo del mare Adriatico (centro e nord) nel corso di circa 60 anni (1934 – 1998). Si è osservato un declino degli organismi dell’epifauna e delle specie macrobentoniche più fragili con Spugne ed Echinodermi che si sono ridotti fino ad un 90-70%. Tuttavia, lo sviluppo di modelli di preferenza degli habitat dei pennatulacei ha confermato che i fondi mobili del largo Adriatico sono habitat ideali per le specie Funiculina quadrangularis e Pennatula phosphorea. Virgularia mirabilis, invece, predilige le zone sabbiose-fangose del nord e della costa occidentale. Una dettagliata descrizione morfologica di P. phosphorea e Pteroeides spinosum è stata condotta per cercare di fornire uno strumento che possa agevolare il riconoscimento di specie ancora oggi spesso confuse a causa di descrizioni finora poco dettagliate. La tesi è stata disegnata al fine di fornire utili elementi scientifici a supporto del progetto “Adriatic Marine Ecosystem Recovery” (AMER), avente lo scopo di avviare processi utili al recupero degli ormai sovrasfruttati e degradati habitat marini del mare Adriatico.The Adriatic Sea is one of the most depleted regions of the Mediterranean Sea due to a cumulative impact of multiple stressors, such as climate change and a long history of intense exploitation. At the same time it hosts a variety of endemism, of vulnerable marine ecosystems and essential fish habitats. Severe decline of target and by-catch species call for urgent conservation measures. The ecological importance of soft bottoms macrobenthic community have been increase and their changes can lead to an alteration of food-webs, reduction of water quality, or nutrient cycling. An efficient ecosystem-based management focusing on the recovery of key benthic habitats is needed to promote recovery of stocks and to develop a sustainable exploitation of marine resources. The results of this PhD work gives a picture of the main changes occurred on macrobenthic soft bottoms communities of the north and central Adriatic Sea during 60 years (1934 – 1998). Overall change are the decline of epifauna organisms and of the most fragile macrobenthos species with sponges and echinoderms declined by 90-70% since the 1900s. However, the study of the spatial and bathymetric distribution of Adriatic sea-pens and the development of suitability habitats models have confirmed that the soft bottoms of the central offshore Adriatic Sea are favourable bottoms for Funiculina quadrangularis and Pennatula phosphorea. Virgularia mirabilis prefers the northern basin and the sandy-muddy occidental coastlines. A detailed morphological description of P. phosphorea and Pteroeides spinosum was also provided as a useful tool to sea-pens classification, usually misidentify because a lack of clear available taxonomical descriptions. The thesis has been designed in order to provide useful scientific elements to support the ‘Adriatic Marine Ecosystem Recover’ (AMER) project, which main aim is provide processes to promote recovery of depleted and overexploited fish stocks and habitats of the Adriatic Sea

The Benefits to People of Expanding Marine Protected Areas

This study focuses on how the economic value of marine ecosystem services to people and communities is expected to change with the expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs). It is recognised, however, that instrumental economic value derived from ecosystem services is only one component of the overall value of the marine environment and that the intrinsic value of nature also provides an argument for the conservation of the marine habitats and biodiversity