Iris Recognition: The Consequences of Image Compression

Iris recognition for human identification is one of the most accurate biometrics, and its employment is expanding globally. The use of portable iris systems, particularly in law enforcement applications, is growing. In many of these applications, the portable device may be required to transmit an iris image or template over a narrow-bandwidth communication channel. Typically, a full resolution image (e.g., VGA) is desired to ensure sufficient pixels across the iris to be confident of accurate recognition results. To minimize the time to transmit a large amount of data over a narrow-bandwidth communication channel, image compression can be used to reduce the file size of the iris image. In other applications, such as the Registered Traveler program, an entire iris image is stored on a smart card, but only 4 kB is allowed for the iris image. For this type of application, image compression is also the solution. This paper investigates the effects of image compression on recognition system performance using a commercial version of the Daugman iris2pi algorithm along with JPEG-2000 compression, and links these to image quality. Using the ICE 2005 iris database, we find that even in the face of significant compression, recognition performance is minimally affected

Knowledge integration in One Health policy formulation, implementation and evaluation

The One Health concept covers the interrelationship between human, animal and environmental health and requires multistakeholder collaboration across many cultural, disciplinary, institutional and sectoral boundaries. Yet, the implementation of the One Health approach appears hampered by shortcomings in the global framework for health governance. Knowledge integration approaches, at all stages of policy development, could help to address these shortcomings. The identification of key objectives, the resolving of trade-offs and the creation of a common vision and a common direction can be supported by multicriteria analyses. Evidence-based decision-making and transformation of observations into narratives detailing how situations emerge and might unfold in the future can be achieved by systems thinking. Finally, transdisciplinary approaches can be used both to improve the effectiveness of existing systems and to develop novel networks for collective action. To strengthen One Health governance, we propose that knowledge integration becomes a key feature of all stages in the development of related policies. We suggest several ways in which such integration could be promoted

Environmental justice and the SDGs: from synergies to gaps and contradictions

Through their synergies, trade-offs, and contradictions, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) have the potential to lead to environmental justices and injustices. Yet, environmental justice (EJ), and social justice more broadly, are not currently embedded within the language and spirit of the SDGs. We part from the premise that “many ‘environmental’ problems are, by their very nature, problems of justice” (Lele, Wiley Interdiscip Rev Water 4:e1224, 2017). We review progress in EJ frameworks in recent years, arguing for the need to move beyond a focus on the four principles of mainstream EJ (distribution, procedure, recognition, and capabilities) towards a more intersectional decolonial approach to environmental justice that recognises the indispensability of both humans and non-humans. EJ frameworks, and the SDGs should recognise power dynamics, complex interactions among injustices, and listens to the different ‘senses of justice’ and desires of theorists, activists, and other stakeholder from the Global South. We analyze how EJ frameworks are, or fail to be, incorporated in the SDGs with a focus on the food–water–health nexus (SDG2, 3, 6); climate-energy (SDG7, 13), conservation (SDG14, 15); and poverty and inequality (SDG1, 10). We call attention to the ‘elephant in the room’—the failure to go beyond GDP but instead include economic growth as a goal (SDG8). We argue that sustainable degrowth and intersectional decolonial environmental justices would create better conditions for the transformative changes needed to reach the broader aim of the SDGs: to leave no one behind

"All You Need is Love" - and What about Gender? Engendering Burton's Human Needs Theory

Ye

Multiple Attributes Decision Fusion for Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set

Decision fusion is an important issue in wireless sensor networks (WSN), and intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) is a novel method for dealing with uncertain data. We propose a multi-attribute decision fusion model based on IFS, which includes two aspects: data distribution-based IFS construction algorithm (DDBIFCA) and the category similarity weight-based TOPSIS intuitionistic fuzzy decision algorithm (CSWBT-IFS). The DDBIFCA is an IFS construction algorithm that transforms the original attribute values into intuitionistic fuzzy measures, and the CSWBT-IFS is an intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation algorithm improved by the traditional TOPSIS algorithm, which combines intuitionistic fuzzy values of different attributes and obtains a final decision for the monitoring target. Both algorithms have benefits, such as low energy consumption and low computational complexity, which make them suitable for implementation in energy-constrained WSNs. Simulation results show the efficiency of intuitionistic fuzzification for the DDBIFCA and a high classification accuracy, compared with traditional fuzzy fusion and other intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation algorithms, for the CSWBT-IFS

Fusing horizons: Standpoint hermeneutics and invitational rhetoric

This essay emends Foss, Foss, and Griffin's invitational rhetoric to strenghten its philosophical undergirdings and release it from unfounded criticisms Standpoint hermeneutical rhetoric is the framework offered to position the theory more solidly in the canons Three strategic moves include discovering and revising its epistemological stance to reflect Lorraine Code's concepts of knowing others and second personhood: connecting Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics to rhetoric: and using Gadamer's emphasis on position and historicity to develop the connection to feminist standpoint theorys Conclusions point toward the implications of invitational rhetoric as dialogue linked to practical application in public communication and pedagogy

Comprehensive Discursive Organizing: Rethinking Political Representation and Community Organizing through a Discursive Lens

Currently, grassroots community organizers aim to promote the particular claims of marginalized and oppressed individuals, groups or points of views that do not receive just representation in the political system. This thesis contends that organizers ought to develop a comprehensive practice of democracy in their local communities rather than focus entirely on advancing particularized interests. By entering into a relationship with the powerless, community organizers find themselves implicated in the representation of these entities, as the institutional representative structure often fails those lacking political power and voice. As such, this theoretical study of community organizers within broader democratic theory must turn first to applicable theories of representation. This thesis will examine three theories in particular: the individualistic approach that dominates mainstream liberal thought; the group-based approach as defended by Iris Young and others on the Left; and the discourse-based approach as advanced by John Dryzek, drawing on a critical or post modern analysis. This thesis will argue that all three of these theories should be seen as discourses, insofar as they are all grounded in assumptions that are not themselves defensible by reference to objective facts or neutral philosophical principles. Particular community organizing nonprofits ground themselves in one of these three theories of representation. Individual-based representation appears in ACORN; group-based in both DART and IAF; and U.S. PIRG exemplifies nonprofits attempting to represent a particular discourse. Despite the differences in these organizations, they all maintain the traditional aim of particularized representation of specific individuals, groups and discourses over this project\u27s ideal of comprehensive discursive representation. As this thesis contends, instead of restricting themselves to representing these narrow interests, grassroots organizers should embrace a comprehensive discursive†position that seeks to advance democracy as a complete whole within local communities