1,546 research outputs found
Rapport de mission d'appui au projet "DĂ©veloppement des recherches menĂ©es en zone de forĂȘt dense humide en agroforesterie : Application Ă la CĂŽte d'Ivoire" et compte-rendu de visite Ă Korhogo
Ce rapport prĂ©sente un rĂ©sumĂ© des travaux rĂ©alisĂ©s en 1991 et fait des propositions d'essais complĂ©mentaires en station ou en milieu rural. Ce sont de simples propositions dans le cas oĂč des financements supplĂ©mentaires pourraient ĂȘtre trouvĂ©s par les partenaires, et oĂč IDEFOR les approuverai
Chain Homotopies for Object Topological Representations
This paper presents a set of tools to compute topological information of
simplicial complexes, tools that are applicable to extract topological
information from digital pictures. A simplicial complex is encoded in a
(non-unique) algebraic-topological format called AM-model. An AM-model for a
given object K is determined by a concrete chain homotopy and it provides, in
particular, integer (co)homology generators of K and representative (co)cycles
of these generators. An algorithm for computing an AM-model and the
cohomological invariant HB1 (derived from the rank of the cohomology ring) with
integer coefficients for a finite simplicial complex in any dimension is
designed here. A concept of generators which are "nicely" representative cycles
is also presented. Moreover, we extend the definition of AM-models to 3D binary
digital images and we design algorithms to update the AM-model information
after voxel set operations (union, intersection, difference and inverse)
A Tool for Integer Homology Computation: Lambda-At Model
In this paper, we formalize the notion of lambda-AT-model (where is
a non-null integer) for a given chain complex, which allows the computation of
homological information in the integer domain avoiding using the Smith Normal
Form of the boundary matrices. We present an algorithm for computing such a
model, obtaining Betti numbers, the prime numbers p involved in the invariant
factors of the torsion subgroup of homology, the amount of invariant factors
that are a power of p and a set of representative cycles of generators of
homology mod p, for each p. Moreover, we establish the minimum valid lambda for
such a construction, what cuts down the computational costs related to the
torsion subgroup. The tools described here are useful to determine topological
information of nD structured objects such as simplicial, cubical or simploidal
complexes and are applicable to extract such an information from digital
pictures.Comment: Journal Image and Vision Computing, Volume 27 Issue 7, June, 200
Scale invariant correlations and the distribution of prime numbers
Negative correlations in the distribution of prime numbers are found to
display a scale invariance. This occurs in conjunction with a nonstationary
behavior. We compare the prime number series to a type of fractional Brownian
motion which incorporates both the scale invariance and the nonstationary
behavior. Interesting discrepancies remain. The scale invariance also appears
to imply the Riemann hypothesis and we study the use of the former as a test of
the latter.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, version to appear in J. Phys.
Toward Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions using Seismic Noise
During inter-eruption periods, magma pressurization yields subtle changes of
the elastic properties of volcanic edifices. We use the reproducibility
properties of the ambient seismic noise recorded on the Piton de la Fournaise
volcano to measure relative seismic velocity variations of less than 0.1 % with
a temporal resolution of one day. Our results show that five studied volcanic
eruptions were preceded by clearly detectable seismic velocity decreases within
the zone of magma injection. These precursors reflect the edifice dilatation
induced by magma pressurization and can be useful indicators to improve the
forecasting of volcanic eruptions.Comment: Supplementary information:
http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguier_SI.pdf Supplementary
video:
http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fbrengui/brenguierMovieVolcano.av
Effects of cytokinins on secondary somatic embryogenesis of selected clone Rayong 9 of Manihot esculenta Crantz for ethanol production
In 2005, the Rayong-FCRC released a new high-yielding cassava cultivar designated Rayong 9 (R9) for ethanol production. However, the rate of distribution to farmers has been limited by the traditional vegetative propagation method of this crop which does not always satisfy the needs in planting material. The objective was to improve secondary somatic embryogenesis of the cassava clone Rayong 9 (R9) selected in Thailand by the Rayong Field Crops Research Center (Rayong-FCRC) for its suitability to produce ethanol. Fragments of cotyledon-stage somatic embryos were subcultured onto MS medium supplemented with the auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at 4 mg/l in sight of inducing secondary somatic embryogenesis. Five different cytokinins, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin, zeatin, isopentenyladenine (2-iP) and adenine were added at 1 mg/l to the induction and maturation media to test their efficiency. Onto cytokinin-free media, 70 to 80% of explants produced embryoids, each explant giving 2 to 4 new embryoids within 7 weeks. The conversion rate of the embryoids into plantlets ranged from 11 to 26% depending on the type of cytokinin. With the exception of adenine, the other cytokinins inhibited the intensity of somatic embryogenesis, by 75% in the case of zeatin and 30% in the case of kinetin. Addition of adenine did not significantly improve the number of embryoids per explant. However, at 10, 20 and 40 mg/l adenine tended to improve the process relatively to embryoid sizes and plantlet survival rates in the greenhouse.Key words: Adenine, biofuel, cassava, cotyledonary-stage, embryoids, icrocuttings, micropropagation
Dispelling the myths of online education: learning via the information superhighway
There continues to be a perception that online education is inferior to traditional education. In the U.S. online learning is more developed than in the U.K. This paper provides insights into a U.S. provision and takes a close look at what are perceived as weaknesses of on line learning and argues that these are not necessarily inherent weaknesses of this form of educational delivery. Then, results of two major studies, undertaken in the U.S. are provided comparing the effectiveness of online education to traditional education as perceived by current MBA students and past graduates. Results of these studies suggest that students of MBA modules and MBA graduates perceive the quality and effectiveness of online education to be similar to, if not higher than, the quality and effectiveness of traditional modules and programmes
Improved Internal Wave Spectral Continuum in a Regional Ocean Model
Recent work demonstrates that highâresolution global models forced simultaneously by atmospheric fields and the astronomical tidal potential contain a partial internal (gravity) wave (IW) spectral continuum. Regional simulations of the MITgcm forced at the horizontal boundaries by a global run that carries a partial IW continuum spectrum are performed at the same grid spacing as the global run and at finer grid spacings in an attempt to fill out more of the IW spectral continuum. Decreasing only the horizontal grid spacing from 2 to 0.25âkm greatly improves the frequency spectra and slightly improves the vertical wavenumber spectra of the horizontal velocity. Decreasing only the vertical grid spacing by a factor of 3 does not yield any significant improvements. Decreasing both horizontal and vertical grid spacings yields the greatest degree of improvement, filling the frequency spectrum out to 72âcpd. Our results suggest that improved IW spectra in regional models are possible if they are run at finer grid spacings and are forced at their lateral boundaries by remotely generated IWs. Additionally, consistency relations demonstrate that improvements in the spectra are indeed due to the existence of IWs at higher frequencies and vertical wavenumbers when remote IW forcing is included and model grid spacings decrease. By being able to simulate an IW spectral continuum to 0.25âkm scales, these simulations demonstrate that one may be able to track the energy pathways of IWs from generation to dissipation and improve the understanding of processes such as IWâdriven mixing.Plain Language SummaryModels of internal waves (IWs) may help us to better understand the spatial geography of mixing in the ocean and are playing an increasingly important role in the planning of satellite missions. Following recent work showing that highâresolution global models contain a partial IW spectrum, this paper describes further improvements in the spectrum seen in a highâresolution regional model forced at the boundaries by a previously performed global IW simulation. Decreasing only the horizontal grid spacing greatly improves the frequency spectra and slightly improves the vertical wavenumber spectra of velocity. Increasing only the number of vertical levels does not yield any significant improvements. Decreasing both horizontal and vertical grid spacings yields the greatest improvement in both spectra. Our results suggest that regional models can exhibit improved IW spectra over global models if two conditions are metâthey must have higher horizontal and vertical resolutions, and they must have remotely generated IWs at their boundaries. Application of the soâcalled consistency relations demonstrates that the model is indeed carrying a field of highâfrequency IWs. Being able to simulate a fuller IW spectrum demonstrates that one may be able to use these models to improve the understanding of IWâdriven processes and energy pathways.Key PointsInternal gravity wave spectra in regional models are more realistic as model grid spacing decreasesThe vertical wavenumber spectra improve less dramatically than the frequency spectraInternal gravity wave consistency relations are applied to modeled spectraPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154917/1/jgrc23947_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154917/2/jgrc23947.pd
Tuning the structure, stability and responsivity of polymeric arsenical nanoparticles using polythiol cross-linkers
The use of organic arsenicals in polymer chemistry and biomaterials science is limited despite the distinctive and versatile chemistry of arsenic. The interchangeable oxidation states of arsenic and the subsequent changes in chemical properties make it a promising candidate for redox-responsive materials. Thus, reversible additionâfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been employed for the first time to synthesize thermoresponsive organic arsenical containing block copolymers. The polymers undergo simultaneous self-assembly and cross-linking, via the organic arsenical pendant groups, under reductive conditions (to reduce As(V) to As(III)) in the presence of polythiol reagents as cross-linkers. The formation of AsâS bonds stabilizes the nanoparticles formed (Dh = 19â29 nm) and enables the stability and responsivity to oxidative stress of the particles, in aqueous and model biological solutions, to be tuned as a function of the number of thiols in the cross-linker or the [SH]/[As] stoichiometric ratio. The parent block copolymers and nanoparticles are nontoxic in vitro, and the tunable responsivity of these nanoparticles and the (bio)chemical activity of organic arsenical reagents could be advantageous for targeted drug delivery and the other bio(nano)medical applications. To the best our knowledge, this is the first time that arsenicâthiolate (AsâS) bonding has been employed for stimuli-responsive cross-linking of polymeric nanoparticles
- âŠ