Holistic Processing of Colour Images Using Novel Quaternion-Valued Wavelets on the Plane

We investigate the applicability of quaternion-valued wavelets on the plane to holistic colour image processing. We present a methodology for decomposing and reconstructing colour images using quaternionic wavelet filters associated to recently developed quaternion-valued wavelets on the plane. We consider compression, enhancement, segmentation, and denoising techniques to demonstrate quaternion-valued wavelets as a promising tool for holistic colour image processing

Factors that contribute to social media influence within an Internal Medicine Twitter learning community

Medical societies, faculty, and trainees use Twitter to learn from and educate other social media users. These social media communities bring together individuals with various levels of experience. It is not known if experienced individuals are also the most influential members. We hypothesize that participants with the greatest experience would be the most influential members of a Twitter community. We analyzed the 2013 Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine Twitter community. We measured the number of tweets authored by each participant and the number of amplified tweets (re-tweets). We developed a multivariate linear regression model to identify any relationship to social media influence, measured by the PageRank. Faculty (from academic institutions) comprised 19% of the 132 participants in the learning community (p < 0.0001). Faculty authored 49% of all 867 tweets (p < 0.0001). Their tweets were the most likely to be amplified (52%, p < 0.01). Faculty had the greatest influence amongst all participants (mean 1.99, p < 0.0001). Being a faculty member had no predictive effect on influence (β = 0.068, p = 0.6). The only factors that predicted influence (higher PageRank) were the number of tweets authored (p < 0.0001) and number of tweets amplified (p < 0.0001) The status of “faculty member� did not confer a greater influence. Any participant who was able to author the greatest number of tweets or have more of his/her tweets amplified could wield a greater influence on the participants, regardless of his/her authority

Design Optimization of DR3AM Vapor Polishing Device for ABS 3D-Printed Parts

3D printing is an additive manufacturing method that turns digital design into an actual product. A 3D-printed part sometimes requires post-processing to enhance its physical and mechanical properties. Acetone vapor polishing is one of those techniques which is highly beneficial in smoothing ABS 3D-printed parts. Previously, an acetone vapor polishing device has been developed which uses a mist maker. However, for a more efficient polishing method, an optimized vapor polishing device using heat has been fabricated in this study. To assess the efficiency of this device, the researchers test the dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, tensile strength, and impact strength of polished and unpolished ABS 3D-printed specimens. The findings showed that the surface smoothness of the polished cube specimens did not significantly alter its physical geometry. The tensile test reveals that the overall elasticity of the polished tensile specimen has increased significantly while the impact test also shows that the polished specimens have the capacity to sustain a resistive impact from a swinging pendulum. Thus, all testing procedures indicated that post-processing using the optimized vapor polishing device has improved the overall physical and mechanical properties of the polished specimens

3D-Printed Ergonomic Tool Handles

Although hand tools serve as an instrument for extending one’s capabilities through the use of hands, the comfort it brings is important especially since the welfare of the user is at stake. Aside from using the hand tools repetitively and with an awkward posture, the tool handle compositions and design also contribute to accumulating some work-related musculoskeletal disorders that require further attention in the long run. To provide a long-term solution, 3D-printed new designs of six commonly used hand tools that fit the average hand measurements of Filipinos have been developed. The hand tools are printed using two filaments namely; thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) which was found to be skin-friendly and polylactic acid (PLA) which is proven to be more functional, both are used on the outer and inner layer of the handle, respectively. The 3D-printed tool handles were evaluated through the use of a comfort questionnaire for hand tools distributed to 10 respondents per tool handle testing, results show that 3D-printed tool handles are found to be more comfortable and convenient rather than the commercial ones. Meanwhile, the researchers note that the adequate length of tool handles may also vary according to functions and not rely alone on the average hand measurements

Water user fee for households in Metro Manila, Philippines

This report provides an assessment of whether residents in Metro Manila would be willing to pay a fee for the protection and conservation of the four main watershed areas that provide them with water. It also investigates how such a ‘water user fee’ would best be organized and implemented and suggests a potential mechanism for its management. The research was done in response to the growing water supply problem in the Philippines. This problem is partly caused by the environmental destruction of watershed areas, which in turn is exacerbated by a lack of finance for watershed management. The report finds that a majority of residents would be willing to pay such a fee. It shows that this is due to a general desire for both a regular and sustainable water supply and for the conservation of the watersheds themselves. The report also finds that most people questioned would prefer the fee to be added to their water bills and would be happiest if the money was channeled into a special fund earmarked for watershed conservation – not merely absorbed by central government, which many do not trust. The report therefore recommends that such a fee be introduced and concludes that if it is put in place, it should go a long way towards ensuring a sustainable supply of water for Metro Manila

Population Genetics of Franciscana Dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei): Introducing a New Population from the Southern Edge of Their Distribution

Due to anthropogenic factors, the franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, is the most threatened small cetacean on the Atlantic coast of South America. Four Franciscana Management Areas have been proposed: Espiritu Santo to Rio de Janeiro (FMA I), São Paulo to Santa Catarina (FMA II), Rio Grande do Sul to Uruguay (FMA III), and Argentina (FMA IV). Further genetic studies distinguished additional populations within these FMAs. We analyzed the population structure, phylogeography, and demographic history in the southernmost portion of the species range. From the analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences, 5 novel haplotypes were found, totalizing 60 haplotypes for the entire distribution range. The haplotype network did not show an apparent phylogeographical signal for the southern FMAs. Two populations were identified: Monte Hermoso (MH) and Necochea (NC)+Claromecó (CL)+Río Negro (RN). The low levels of genetic variability, the relative constant size over time, and the low levels of gene flow may indicate that MH has been colonized by a few maternal lineages and became isolated from geographically close populations. The apparent increase in NC+CL+RN size would be consistent with the higher genetic variability found, since genetic diversity is generally higher in older and expanding populations. Additionally, RN may have experienced a recent split from CL and NC; current high levels of gene flow may be occurring between the latter ones. FMA IV would comprise four franciscana dolphin populations: Samborombón West+Samborombón South, Cabo San Antonio+Buenos Aires East, NC+CL+Buenos Aires Southwest+RN and MH. Results achieved in this study need to be taken into account in order to ensure the long-term survival of the species.Fil: Gariboldi, María Constanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Tunez, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján; ArgentinaFil: Dejean, Cristina Beatriz. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Ciencias Antropológicas. Sección Antropología Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Failla, Mauricio. Fundación Cethus; ArgentinaFil: Vitullo, Alfredo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Negri, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Cappozzo, Humberto Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Maimónides. Área de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Biotecnológicas. Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y de Diagnóstico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; Argentin