Worship as a Formative Practice:The Worship Practices of Methodists, Baptists, and Free Brethren in Emerging Protestantism in Argentina (1867-1930)

Harinck, G. [Promotor]Witvliet, J. [Promotor]Kooi, C. van der [Copromotor

Tracking with Stereo-vision System for Low Speed Following Applications

International audienceResearch in adaptative cruise control (ACC) is currently one of the most important topics in the field of intelligent transportation systems. The main challenge is to perceive the environment, especialy at low speed. In this paper, we present a novel approach to track the 3-D trajectory and speed of the obstacles and the surrounding vehicles through a stereo-vision system. This tracking method extends the classical patch-based Lucas-Kanade algorithm [9], [1] by integrating the geometric constraints of the stereo system into the motion model: the epipolar constraint, which enforces the tracked patches to remain on the epipolar lines, and the magnification constraint, which links the disparity of the tracked patches to the apparent size of these patches. We report experimental results on simulated and real data showing the improvement in accuracy and robustness of our algorithm compared to the classical Lucas-Kanade tracker

Two-dimensional resonances in Alpine valleys identified from ambient vibration wavefields

Although numerical simulations have for long shown the importance of 2-D resonances in site effect estimations of sediment-filled valleys, this phenomenon is usually not taken into account by current hazard assessment techniques. We present an approach to identify the resonance behaviour of a typical Alpine valley by analysis of ambient noise recorded simultaneously on a dense array. The applicability of the method is evaluated further using synthetic ambient noise acquired with current 3-D numerical simulation techniques. Resonance frequencies of the fundamental mode SV and the fundamental and first higher mode of SH are identified from measured data with the reference station method, verifying results of previous studies. Patterns of spectral amplitude and phase behaviour obtained from observed and synthetic noise correlate well with properties expected for 2-D resonance. Application of a frequency-wavenumber technique shows that the noise wavefield is dominated by standing waves at low frequencies (0.25 to 0.50 Hz). The different 2-D resonance modes are creating prominent peaks in horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios, which can not be interpreted in terms of 1-D resonance. We conclude that ambient noise records measured simultaneously on a linear array perpendicular to the valley axis may be used for identification of resonance modes in sediment-filled valley

Individual variation and repeatability of methane production from dairy cows estimated by the CO₂ method in automatic milking system

The objectives of this study were to investigate the individual variation, repeatability and correlation of methane (CH(4)) production from dairy cows measured during 2 different years. A total of 21 dairy cows with an average BW of 619±14.2 kg and average milk production of 29.1±6.5 kg/day (mean±s.d.) were used in the 1(st) year. During the 2(nd) year, the same cows were used with an average BW of 640±8.0 kg and average milk production of 33.4±6.0 kg/day (mean±s.d.). The cows were housed in a loose housing system fitted with an automatic milking system (AMS). A total mixed ration was fed to the cows ad libitum in both years. In addition, they were offered concentrate in the AMS based on their daily milk yield. The CH(4) and CO(2) production levels of the cows were analysed using a Gasmet DX-4030. The estimated dry matter intake (EDMI) was 19.8±0.96 and 23.1±0.78 (mean±s.d.), and the energy-corrected milk (ECM) production was 30.8±8.03 and 33.7±5.25 kg/day (mean±s.d.) during the 1(st) and 2(nd) year, respectively. The EDMI and ECM had a significant influence (P<0.001) on the CH(4) (l/day) yield during both years. The daily CH(4) (l/day) production was significantly higher (P<0.05) during the 2(nd) year compared with the 1(st) year. The EDMI (described by the ECM) appeared to be the key factor in the variation of CH(4) release. A correlation (r=0.54) of CH(4) production was observed between the years. The CH(4) (l/day) production was strongly correlated (r=0.70) between the 2 years with an adjusted ECM production (30 kg/day). The diurnal variation of CH(4) (l/h) production showed significantly lower (P<0.05) emission during the night (0000 to 0800 h). The between-cows variation of CH(4) (l/day, l/kg EDMI and l/kg ECM) was lower compared with the within-cow variation for the 1(st) and 2(nd) years. The repeatability of CH(4) production (l/day) was 0.51 between 2 years. In conclusion, a higher EDMI (kg/day) followed by a higher ECM (kg/day) showed a higher CH(4) production (l/day) in the 2(nd) year. The variations of CH(4) (l/day) among the cows were lower than the within-cow variations. The CH(4) (l/day) production was highly repeatable and, with an adjusted ECM production, was correlated between the years

Ambient noise energy bursts observation and modelling: Trapping of harmonic structure-soil induced-waves in a topmost sedimentary layer.

We study the nature of energy bursts that appeared in the frequency range 3-5 Hz in ambient seismic noise recorded in the Grenoble basin (French Alps) during a seismological array experiment. A close agreement is found between the identified azimuths of such noise bursts with the location of an industrial chimney. In-situ measurements of the chimney dynamic characteristics show a coincidence between the frequency of the first harmonic mode of the chimney and the fundamental frequency of a thin surficial layer that overlay the deep sediment fill. The interaction between the chimney and the surfical layer is then numerically simulated using simple impedance models, and two geotechnical profiles. Simulations exhibit a satisfactory agreement with observations and suggest that energy bursts result of inertial structure-soil interaction favored by resonance effects between the first harmonic mode of the structure and the fundamental frequency of the topmost layer

Dynamic production monitoring in pig herds II:Modeling and monitoring farrowing rate at herd level

Abstract:Good management in animal production systems is becoming of paramount importance. The aim of this paper was to develop a dynamic moni-toring system for farrowing rate. A farrowing rate model was implemented us-ing a Dynamic Generalized Linear Model (DGLM). Variance components were pre-estimated using an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm applied on a dataset containing data from 15 herds, each of them including insemination and farrowing observations over a period ranging from 150 to 800 weeks. The model included a set of parameters describing the parity-specific farrowing rate and the re-insemination effect. It also provided reliable forecasting on weekly basis. Sta-tistical control tools were used to give warnings in case of impaired farrowing rate. For each herd, farrowing rate profile, analysis of model components over time and detection of alarms were computed. Together with a previous model for litter size data and a planned similar model for mortality rate, this model will be an important basis for developing a new, dynamic, management tool