Dynamic Euler Diagram Drawing

In this paper we describe a method to lay out a graph enhanced Euler diagram so that it looks similar to a previously drawn graph enhanced Euler diagram. This task is non-trivial when the underlying structures of the diagrams differ. In particular, if a structural change is made to an existing drawn diagram, our work enables the presentation of the new diagram with minor disruption to the user's mental map. As the new diagram can be generated from an abstract representation, its initial embedding may be very different from that of the original. We have developed comparison measures for Euler diagrams, integrated into a multicriteria optimizer, and applied a force model for associated graphs that attempts to move nodes towards their positions in the original layout. To further enhance the usability of the system, the transition between diagrams can be animated

Some Results for Drawing Area Proportional Venn3 With Convex Curves

Many data sets are visualized effectively with area proportional Venn diagrams, where the area of the regions is in proportion to a defined specification. In particular, Venn diagrams with three intersecting curves are considered useful for visualizing data in many applications, including bioscience, ecology and medicine. To ease the understanding of such diagrams, using restricted nice shapes for the curves is considered beneficial. Many research questions on the use of such diagrams are still open. For instance, a general solution to the question of when given area specifications can be represented by Venn3 using convex curves is still unknown. In this paper we study symmetric Venn3 drawn with convex curves and show that there is a symmetric area specification that cannot be represented with such a diagram. In addition, by using symmetric diagrams drawn with polygons, we show that, if area specifications are restricted so that the double intersection areas are no greater than the triple intersection area then the specification can be drawn with convex curves. We also propose a construction that allows the representation of some area specifications when the double intersection areas are greater than the triple intersection area. Finally, we present some open questions on the topic

Drawing Area-Proportional Euler Diagrams Representing Up To Three Sets

Area-proportional Euler diagrams representing three sets are commonly used to visualize the results of medical experiments, business data, and information from other applications where statistical results are best shown using interlinking curves. Currently, there is no tool that will reliably visualize exact area-proportional diagrams for up to three sets. Limited success, in terms of diagram accuracy, has been achieved for a small number of cases, such as Venn-2 and Venn-3 where all intersections between the sets must be represented. Euler diagrams do not have to include all intersections and so permit the visualization of cases where some intersections have a zero value. This paper describes a general, implemented, method for visualizing all 40 Euler-3 diagrams in an area-proportional manner. We provide techniques for generating the curves with circles and convex polygons, analyze the drawability of data with these shapes, and give a mechanism for deciding whether such data can be drawn with circles. For the cases where non-convex curves are necessary, our method draws an appropriate diagram using non-convex polygons. Thus, we are now always able to automatically visualize data for up to three sets

Semis expérimentaux dans deux sites de mangrove dépérissante : intérêt pour les aires protégées de Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe, mangrove stands may locally suffer long-lasting massive mortality. This study was designed to gather experimental data regarding dispersal, survival and growth of mangrove seedlings within such sites. Two contrasting situations were compared; one located landward, facing high salinity, and the other one in a seaward position, under marine influence. By late October 2000, 50 fruits of each specie were sowed in 10 x 1.5 m plots set nearby mature trees at the edge of the sites towards their center. Dispersal was driven by winds (landward) and by tides (seaward), thus limiting seedling spread throughout the sites. Survival was better in the seaward site, especially for the dominant species Rhizophora mangle; in the landward site, most of Avicennia germinans, though dominant, died because of a severe dry period. Growth surveys revealed differences between species and sites. Development of small-sized seedlings (i.e. Laguncularia racemosa) was earlier and faster but long term survival seemed eased by the amount of reserves available in larger seedlings (i.e. Rhizophora). Within protected areas including these sites, the slow forest recovery rate has to be challenged to ensure the stability of this ecosystem prone to increasing both natural and man-induced threatsLes formations de palétuviers de Guadeloupe connaissent localement des périodes plus ou moins durables de dépérissement massif. Cette étude avait pour but de préciser les modalités de dissémination, de survie et de croissance des plantules de palétuviers dans de tels sites, en comparant deux situations contrastées : l'une sursalée (amont), et l'autre sous influence maritime permanente (aval). 50 plantules de chaque espèce ont été semées fin octobre 2000 dans des parcelles (10 x 1,5 m) proches des semenciers potentiels et orientées vers le centre des sites. La dissémination, gouvernée par les vents (amont) et les courants de marée (aval), a limité la dispersion autour des semenciers. La survie des plantules a été meilleure en aval, surtout pour l'espèce dominante Rhizophora mangle ; en amont, la majorité des Avicennia germinans, pourtant dominants, ont péri victimes d'une intense sécheresse. Les suivis de croissance ont révélé des différences entre espèces et entre sites. Le développement des petites plantules (cf. Laguncularia racemosa) fut plus précoce et rapide mais la survie à plus long terme sembla favorisée par l'abondance des réserves des grosses diaspores (cf. Rhizophora). La lenteur de la reforestation dans les aires protégées est un défi à relever pour garantir la pérennité de cet écosystème sensible aux changements climatiques et soumis à une pression anthropique multiforme et croissante

Cyclic bordism and rack spaces

This thesis falls into two parts, the first explores a cyclic version of bordism and the second studies the homotopy groups of rack spaces. In chapters 2-5 we begin by reviewing some theory of cyclic homology but we present it in a topological framework. Then cyclic bordism is introduced as a parallel theory. In particular we prove the equivalence of cyclic and equivariant theories. This enables us to reduce the question of representation of cyclic homology by cyclic bordism to that of representation of ordinary homology by bordism. Finally, we state a fixed point theorem of periodic bordism. In chapters 6-10 we study rack spaces, or the classifying spaces of racks. The homotopy groups of rack spaces are invariants of the rack up to rack isomorphism, and give invariants of semiframednon-split (irreducible) links ill the three-sphere. We describe methods for calculating the second homotopy group in chapter 7 and in the next chapter we apply one of the methods to find generators for the second homotopy of a class of racks, the finite Alexander quotients. Chapter 9 discusses topological racks. The classifying spaces of racks with a non-discrete topology have a cell structure and, although it fails to be a CVV cell structure, it can be used to calculate homotopy groups. The third homotopy group of a rack space is seen to be in one-to-one correspondence with bordism classes of framed labelled immersed surfaces in the three-sphere. We finish in chapter 10 by simplifying such surfaces within bordism to calculate the third homotopy group of the trivial rack and the cyclic racks, [pie]3(B(Cn))=Z2

Understanding Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation in Rural Communities: A Combined Qualitative/Quantitative Approach

To determine factors associated with breastfeeding in rural communities

Evidence from the Florida Straits for Younger Dryas ocean circulation changes

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2011. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Paleoceanography 26 (2011): PA1205, doi:10.1029/2010PA002032.The waters passing through the Florida Straits today reflect both the western portion of the wind-driven subtropical gyre and the northward flow of the upper waters which cross the equator, compensating North Atlantic Deep Water export as part of the large-scale Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. It has been postulated from various lines of evidence that the overturning circulation was weaker during the Younger Dryas cold event of the last deglaciation. We show here that the contrast in the oxygen isotopic composition of benthic foraminiferal tests across the Florida Current is reduced during the Younger Dryas. This most likely reflects a decrease in the density gradient across the channel and a decrease in the vertical shear of the Florida Current. This reduced shear is consistent with the postulated reduction in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. We find that the onset of this change in density structure and flow at the start of the Younger Dryas is very abrupt, occurring in less than 70 years.We thank the National Science Foundation (grants OCE‐0648258 and OCE‐0096472) and the Comer Science and Education Foundation for supporting this research. MWS was supported by a NOAA Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship

Attitudes and behaviour towards convenience food and food waste in the United Kingdom

Households in the UK discard much food. A reduction in such waste to mitigate environmental impact is part of UK government policy. This study investigated whether household food waste is linked to a lifestyle reliant on convenience food in younger consumers. A survey of 928 UK residents aged 18-40 years and responsible for the household food shopping (male n = 278; female n = 650) completed an online questionnaire designed to measure attitudes to convenience food and to quantify household food waste. Cluster analysis of 24 food-related lifestyle factors identified 5 consumer groups. General linear modelling techniques were used to test relationships between the purchase frequency of convenience food and household food waste. From the cluster analysis, five distinct convenience profiles emerged comprising: ‘epicures’ (n = 135), ‘traditional consumers’ (n = 255), ‘casual consumers’ (n = 246), ‘food detached consumers’ (n = 151) and ‘kitchen evaders’ (n = 141). Casual consumers and kitchen evaders were the most reliant on convenience food and notably were the most wasteful. The demographic profile of kitchen evaders matched the population groups currently targeted by UK food waste policy. Casual consumers represent a new and distinct group characterised by “buy a lot and waste a lot” behaviour. Household size, packaging format, price-awareness and marketing all appear to influence levels of food waste. However, it seems that subtle behavioural and sociocultural factors also have impact. Further research is needed to elucidate the factors that mediate the positive association between the purchase of convenience food and reported food waste in order to inform food waste policy and initiatives