Fast Compression of Imagery with High Frequency Content

Image compression is an active area due to the many applications involving electronic media. Much research has been focused on image quality versus bit rate and/or algorithm speed. Here, we seek an effective image coder with a weighted constraint on speed. However, the compression must not taint the quality of impulsive features on the image. Moreover, the camera is operated in a mode that creates a dominant fixed pattern noise across the image array, degrading visual quality and disrupting compression performance. We propose a method that efficiently compresses such an image. We begin by characterizing and removing the fixed pattern noise from the image, thereby dramatically improving its visual quality

Brake lights at the border: Going international twenty-two miles away (an international marketing/management case): Working paper series--02-13

Russ Clark is a successful NAPA Auto Parts franchisee in Yuma County, Arizona. He sees opportunity in the neighboring Mexican city of San Luis Rio Colorado. But crossing the border with an after-market auto parts store will require building relationships with others, lots of learning to overcome the significant barriers, and some savvy decision-making, in addition to the usual evaluation of business opportunities. Clark must cope with the barriers to doing business in Mexico, a completely foreign environment, even though the projected location of his new store is only 22 miles away from home. Further, his mistrust of lawyers has thoroughly turned him off to the common practice of hiring a lawyer to intercede for him with the Mexican authorities, and he must consider some alternate plan to make the important contacts that could have been easily facilitated by the lawyer. Clark must consider a location decision, product mix, human resource issues, and how to promote the new business in an uncertain context. Clearly, his current American business model will require a great degree of adaptation to make the venture a success. Note: Teaching Notes for this case can be requested from the authors. For contact information, see case

Live Animal Ultrasound Information as a Decision Tool in Replacement Beef Heifer Programs

Real-time ultrasound information taken on beef heifers prior to backgrounding is used to develop a logit model to aid heifer retention decisions. The value of ultrasound data is calculated as the difference in certainty equivalents between a decision rule incorporating ultrasound information and one using only visual cues. The value of ultrasound data is found to be around $10 per head but is influenced by heifer value and backgrounding costs.expected utility, heifer development, logit, real-time ultrasound, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q12, Q13,

Civil Procedure-Title 8.01: Virginia\u27s New Civil Procedure Act

On October 1, 1977, Title 8 of the Code of Virginia was repealed and Title 8.01 became effective. The revisers of Title 8 have produced an extensive, as well as comprehensive, change in the statutes which govern civil procedure in Virginia. Most of the provisions have been rewritten, deleted or moved to other titles. With several notable exceptions, civil procedure in Virginia will remain basically unchanged. Much of the revisers work leaves Title 8 substantively intact. The major changes will be discussed in a chapter by chapter analysis of Title 8.01 in Section II of this article

Live Animal Ultrasound Information as a Decision Tool in Replacement Beef Heifer Programs

Ultrasound data are used to sort heifers for immediate sale or for development as replacement stock. While ultrasound improves predictions about conception, the value of ultrasound the data is relatively small. This value is primarily influenced by heifer development costs and bred heifer premiums over commercial feeder heifers.Livestock Production/Industries,

Terpenoid-Induced Feeding Deterrence and Antennal Response of Honey Bees

Multiple interacting stressors negatively affect the survival and productivity of managed honey bee colonies. Pesticides remain a primary concern for beekeepers, as even sublethal exposures can reduce bee immunocompetence, impair navigation, and reduce social communication. Pollinator protection focuses on pesticide application guidelines; however, a more active protection strategy is needed. One possible approach is the use of feeding deterrents that can be delivered as an additive during pesticide application. The goal of this study was to validate a laboratory assay designed to rapidly screen compounds for behavioral changes related to feeding or feeding deterrence. The results of this investigation demonstrated that the synthetic Nasonov pheromone and its terpenoid constituents citral, nerol, and geraniol could alter feeding behavior in a laboratory assay. Additionally, electroantennogram assays revealed that these terpenoids elicited some response in the antennae; however, only a synthetic Nasonov pheromone, citral, and geraniol elicited responses that differed significantly from control and vehicle detections

Mapping Low-Density Intergalactic Gas: a Third Helium Lyman-alpha Forest

We present a new HST/STIS spectrum of the z=3.18 quasar PKS 1935-692 and summarize the spectral features shortwards of 304A in the rest frame likely to be caused by foreground HeII Lyman-alpha absorption. In accord with previous results on two other quasars at similar redshifts, we demonstrate a correlation with the HI Lyman-alpha forest absorption, and show that much of the helium absorption is caused by a comparable quantity of more diffuse gas with Omega~0.01, that is not detected in HI. The helium ionization zone around the quasar is detected as well as a void seen in both HI and HeII. The properties of the absorption are in broad agreement with those of the other quasars and with models of the protogalactic gas distribution and ionization at this redshift.Comment: 17 pages including 5 figures. As accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal (minor revisions