A robust nonlinear scale space change detection approach for SAR images

In this paper, we propose a change detection approach based on nonlinear scale space analysis of change images for robust detection of various changes incurred by natural phenomena and/or human activities in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images using Maximally Stable Extremal Regions (MSERs). To achieve this, a variant of the log-ratio image of multitemporal images is calculated which is followed by Feature Preserving Despeckling (FPD) to generate nonlinear scale space images exhibiting different trade-offs in terms of speckle reduction and shape detail preservation. MSERs of each scale space image are found and then combined through a decision level fusion strategy, namely "selective scale fusion" (SSF), where contrast and boundary curvature of each MSER are considered. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using real multitemporal high resolution TerraSAR-X images and synthetically generated multitemporal images composed of shapes with several orientations, sizes, and backscatter amplitude levels representing a variety of possible signatures of change. One of the main outcomes of this approach is that different objects having different sizes and levels of contrast with their surroundings appear as stable regions at different scale space images thus the fusion of results from scale space images yields a good overall performance

The variations of temperature, pressure and wind speedvalues: Effects on gravity waves

According to the theoretical studies, gravity waves, which are excited in the lower atmosphere, can transport momentum and energy on to the upper levels. Gravity waves are attenuated by interacting with the large-scale wind motions in the upper part of the middle atmosphere. Different meteorological parameters and atmospheric circulations are known as one of the sources of excitement of gravity waves. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the onset of some gravity waves (GWs), and seasonal variations of gravity waves over Istanbul. Radiosonda data of Istanbul in troposphere and lower stratosphere (1000 hPa–30 hPa) between 1993 and 1997 is analyzed. Daily, monthly and annual variation of pressure heights, air temperature, horizontal wind speed and deviations from mean values are interpreted. Zonal and meridional wind speed variations show the effects of gravity waves for different pressure levels in the troposphere. These waves lead the meso-scale wave form structures in spring, autumn and winter

Instability and Periodic Deformation in Bilayer Membranes Induced by Freezing

The instability and periodic deformation of bilayer membranes during freezing processes are studied as a function of the difference of the shape energy between the high and the low temperature membrane states. It is shown that there exists a threshold stability condition, bellow which a planar configuration will be deformed. Among the deformed shapes, the periodic curved square textures are shown being one kind of the solutions of the associated shape equation. In consistency with recent expe rimental observations, the optimal ratio of period and amplitude for such a texture is found to be approximately equal to (2)^{1/2}\pi.Comment: 8 pages in Latex form, 1 Postscript figure. To be appear in Mod. Phys. Lett. B. 199

Wavelet transforms of meteorological parameters and gravity waves

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze some characteristics of gravity waves (GWs), and seasonal variations of atmospheric waves over Istanbul by using wavelet techniques. Daily radiosonda data of Istanbul in the troposphere and lower stratosphere (1000hPa-30hPa) between 1993 and 1997 have been considered. Wavelet analysis based on a computer simulation of data is generally close to the real data when Daubechies wavelet series are used. Daily, monthly, seasonal and annual variations of pressure heights, air temperature and deviations from mean values have been analyzed. Variations show the effects of gravity waves for different pressure levels in the troposphere. These waves lead to the meso-scale wave-form structures in spring, autumn and winter. As a result of this study, wavelet series and transforms for data construction, definition of some discontinuities and the local effects on the signal have been compared with the results of previous studies. The most similar structure between temperature, turbulence parameters and geo-potential height deviations has been defined at the 500-hPa pressure level

Embedding Sustainability in Lean Six Sigma Efforts

The emphasis on the concept of sustainability in businesses and operations is growing either due to increasing public interest, regulatory pressures, or corporate social responsibility. However, where and how to integrate sustainability needs further development for broadening its applications. Using Lean and Six Sigma (LSS) principles in sustainability studies is becoming popular in research and practice. The common approach in these studies is to identify a sustainability project followed by current state sustainability performance assessment, and then work towards improving sustainability performance using LSS tools. The goal of this study was to develop a model framework to fully embed sustainability into any LSS project building on current practices. The wide coverage of LSS, its effectiveness record, and its overlap with sustainability goals establish the foundation for expanding LSS methodology to include sustainability concepts. The proposed framework is not specific to an industry, but is intended to be applicable to the wide spectrum of projects where LSS can be applied. Examples were provided from manufacturing and construction industries in the study. The existing methodologies are framed to target only sustainability initiatives while the presented framework aims to integrate sustainability into any type of improvement initiative. Furthermore, existing methodologies focus almost solely on environmental and economic sustainability, whereas the presented study includes social dimension too. Both academicians and professionals will benefit from the presented framework as it provides a different perspective than what is found in literature enabling broader applications, together with concrete steps and examples demonstrating its implementation, use, and potential benefits

FABRIC: A Framework for the Design and Evaluation of Collaborative Robots with Extended Human Adaptation

A limitation for collaborative robots (cobots) is their lack of ability to adapt to human partners, who typically exhibit an immense diversity of behaviors. We present an autonomous framework as a cobot's real-time decision-making mechanism to anticipate a variety of human characteristics and behaviors, including human errors, toward a personalized collaboration. Our framework handles such behaviors in two levels: 1) short-term human behaviors are adapted through our novel Anticipatory Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (A-POMDP) models, covering a human's changing intent (motivation), availability, and capability; 2) long-term changing human characteristics are adapted by our novel Adaptive Bayesian Policy Selection (ABPS) mechanism that selects a short-term decision model, e.g., an A-POMDP, according to an estimate of a human's workplace characteristics, such as her expertise and collaboration preferences. To design and evaluate our framework over a diversity of human behaviors, we propose a pipeline where we first train and rigorously test the framework in simulation over novel human models. Then, we deploy and evaluate it on our novel physical experiment setup that induces cognitive load on humans to observe their dynamic behaviors, including their mistakes, and their changing characteristics such as their expertise. We conduct user studies and show that our framework effectively collaborates non-stop for hours and adapts to various changing human behaviors and characteristics in real-time. That increases the efficiency and naturalness of the collaboration with a higher perceived collaboration, positive teammate traits, and human trust. We believe that such an extended human adaptation is key to the long-term use of cobots.Comment: The article is in review for publication in International Journal of Robotics Researc

Kombinierte dorsale und palmare Plattenosteosynthese bei distalen intraartikulären Radiusfrakturen

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Behandlungsziel bei komplexen distalen intraartikulären Radiusfrakturen ist die anatomische Gelenkrekonstruktion. In seltenen Fällen kann dies nur mit einer kombinierten, dorsalen und palmaren Abstützung erreicht werden, trotz der zunehmenden Erfahrung mit winkelstabilen palmaren Implantaten. Diese retrospektive Qualitätskontrollstudie untersucht das funktionelle, radiologische und subjektive Outcome der mit dieser Technik operierten Patienten. Patienten und Methoden : An der Klinik für Unfallchirurgie des Universitätsspital Zürich wurden zwischen März 1999 und Januar 2003 von 360 Patienten mit instabiler distaler Radiusfraktur 30 Patienten mit komplexer C2-/C3-Fraktur über einen kombinierten dorsopalmaren Zugang mit einer 3,5-mm-T-Platte und dorsal mit zwei 1/4-Rohr-Platten behandelt und in die Studie eingeschlossen (9 Frauen, 21Männer, Mittelwert des Alters 52). Nachkontrolliert werden konnten 25 der 30 Patienten im Mittel 29 Monate nach Unfall. Ergebnisse: Die angestrebte anatomische Rekonstruktion gelang nicht bei allen Patienten: 56% zeigten leichte, 28% schwere Zeichen der Arthrose. Die Flexion erreichte 66%, die Extension 75% der gesunden Seite, Pronation und Supination sogar 98 bzw. 91%. Die Kraft beim Faustschluss betrug 75% der kontralateralen Seite. Zehn Patienten (40%) entwickelten im Verlauf ein komplexes regionales Schmerzsyndrom (CRPS). Die Rückkehr zur Arbeit war nach 120 Tagen möglich. Schlussfolgerung: Die dorsopalmare Plattenosteosynthese komplexer, distaler intraartikulärer Radiusfrakturen erlaubt eine Gelenkrekonstruktion mit gutem subjektivem, funktionellem und radiologischem Resultat, dies trotz des durch den beidseitigen Zugang verursachten zusätzlichen Weichteilschaden. Das hohe CRPS-Risiko, aber auch der lange Arbeitsausfall müssen bei der Patientenaufklärung berücksichtigt werde

Current Discussions in the German Integration Debate

Current integration discussion about the Turkish population in Germany is influenced by cultural essentialism. The political and social components of integration are by and large being neglected. The incorporation of migrants of Turkish origin into the society is praised as a superior target for the cohesion of the whole society‚ whilst cultural – national and religious – identities of Turkish migrants are comprehended as the real hurdles for the achievement of it. The scene is generally dominated by popular culturalist views of different authors‚ who blame the Turks of allegedly homogeneous Turkish group being incapable to be decent members of the society due to their cultural identity. In contrast to these mostly normative and emotional approaches to the issue‚ empirical evidence reveals a different picture : Shortcomings in the overall education system‚ delayed integration policies and structural national – and global – problems in the labour market seem to be the genuine reasons of failures. The migrant integration could be enhanced by creating equal opportunities for all members of the society in all societal levels. To challenge the existent and emerging future problems of migrant incorporation and diversity management‚ which should be free of emotional cultural essentialist views‚ the focus should be placed on the novel opportunities of inner and inter – state partnerships‚ using governance options in trans – national social spaces‚ so to achieve a higher level of social equity and reconciliation within a pluralistic society‚ hence a society‚ which should consist of members with equal rights and duties.Les débats en cours sur l’intégration en Allemagne : Approche culturaliste ou équité sociale ? À l’heure actuelle, les discussions sur la population turque en Allemagne sont sous l’influence d’un essentialisme culturel. Les composantes politiques et sociales de l’intégration sont largement négligées. L’intégration des migrants d’origine turque dans la société est valorisée en tant qu’objectif suprême de cohésion pour la société tout entière, alors que les identités culturelles – nationales et religieuses – des migrants turcs sont considérées comme les véritables obstacles à la mise en œuvre de cette cohésion. D’une façon générale, la scène est dominée par les vues culturalistes fréquemment émises par certains auteurs, qui reprochent aux Turcs supposés appartenir à un groupe homogène d’être incapables de devenir des membres convenables de la société, en raison de leur identité culturelle. À l’opposé de ces approches du problème, essentiellement normatives et émotionnelles, des données empiriques font apparaître une image différente : les insuffisances du système éducatif en général, les retards dans les politiques d’intégration, ainsi que des problèmes structurels nationaux – et généraux – sur le marché du travail semblent être les vraies raisons de ces échecs. L’intégration des immigrants pourrait être améliorée par la création d’une égalité des chances pour tous les membres de la société, à tous les niveaux. Le traitement des problèmes, actuels et émergents pour l’avenir, de l’intégration des immigrants et celui de la diversité, devraient être dépourvus de visions culturelles émotionnellement essentialistes afin de se concentrer sur les nouvelles opportunités de partenariats dans les Länder et entre Länder, en se servant des principes de gouvernance des espaces sociaux transnationaux, afin de parvenir à un degré supérieur d’équité sociale et de réconciliation dans une société pluraliste, c’est-à-dire une société qui serait composée de membres ayant des droits et devoirs égaux.Debates actuales sobre la integración en Alemania: ¿Perspectiva culturalista o equidad social? Hoy en día, el “esencialismo” cultural influye en los debates sobre la población turca en Alemania, desestimando ampliamente los componentes políticos y sociales de la integración. La integración de los emigrantes de origen turco en la sociedad es valorizada en calidad de objetivo supremo de cohesión de la sociedad en su totalidad. Las identidades culturales (nacionales y religiosas) de los inmigrantes turcos son consideradas, por su parte, como los verdaderos obstáculos para el logro de dicha cohesión. De manera general, la escena está dominada por los puntos de vista culturalistas de ciertos autores que reprochan a los turcos, que se supone pertenecen a un grupo homogéneo, de ser incapaces, a causa de su identidad cultural, de convertirse en miembros convenientes de la sociedad. En oposición a estas perspectivas del problema, esencialmente normativas y emocionales, datos empíricos revelan una imagen diferente: las verdaderas razones de estos fracasos parecen ser las insuficiencias del sistema educativo en general, los retrasos en las políticas de integración así como los problemas estructurales nacionales (y generales) del mercado laboral. La integración de los inmigrantes podría ser mejorada a través de la creación de una igualdad de oportunidades para todos los miembros de la sociedad y a todos los niveles. El tratamiento de los problemas (actuales y emergentes) de integración de los inmigrantes y de diversidad debería ser despojado de visiones culturales emocionalmente esencialitas para concentrarse en nuevas oportunidades de partenariado dentro y entre Länders. Para ello, se podría recurrir a principios de gobernanza de espacios sociales transnacionales con el objetivo de alcanzar un grado superior de equidad social y de reconciliación en una sociedad pluralista ; es decir, una sociedad que seria compuesta por miembros que gozan de iguales derechos y deberes