Symbol detection in online handwritten graphics using Faster R-CNN

Symbol detection techniques in online handwritten graphics (e.g. diagrams and mathematical expressions) consist of methods specifically designed for a single graphic type. In this work, we evaluate the Faster R-CNN object detection algorithm as a general method for detection of symbols in handwritten graphics. We evaluate different configurations of the Faster R-CNN method, and point out issues relative to the handwritten nature of the data. Considering the online recognition context, we evaluate efficiency and accuracy trade-offs of using Deep Neural Networks of different complexities as feature extractors. We evaluate the method on publicly available flowchart and mathematical expression (CROHME-2016) datasets. Results show that Faster R-CNN can be effectively used on both datasets, enabling the possibility of developing general methods for symbol detection, and furthermore, general graphic understanding methods that could be built on top of the algorithm.Comment: Submitted to DAS-201

Scrapping subsidies during the financial crisis : evidence from Europe

We study the effects of the car scrapping subsidies in Europe during the financial crisis. We make use of a rich data set of all car models sold in nine European countries, observed at a monthly level during 2005-2011.We employ a difference-in-differences approach, exploiting the fact that different countries adopted their programs at different points in time. We find that the scrapping schemes played a strong role in stabilizing total car sales in 2009: they prevented a total car sales reduction of 17.4% in countries with schemes targeted to low emission vehicles, and they prevented a 14.8% sales reduction in countries with non-targeted schemes. In contrast, the scrapping schemes only had small environmental benefits: without the schemes, average fuel consumption of new purchased cars would have been only 1.3% higher in countries with targeted schemes and 0.5% higher in countries with non-targeted schemes. We do not find evidence of crowding out due to substitution from non-eligible to eligible cars in countries with targeted schemes. Finally, we identify some competitive and trade effects from the schemes: domestic car producers benefited at the expense of foreign competitors in the countries where the schemes were not targeted

Modeling of many-body interactions between elastic spheres through symmetry functions

Simple models for spherical particles with a soft shell have been shown to self-assemble into numerous crystal phases and even quasicrystals. However, most of these models rely on a simple pairwise interaction, which is usually a valid approximation only in the limit of small deformations, i.e. low densities. In this work, we consider a many-body yet simple model for the evaluation of the elastic energy associated with the deformation of a spherical shell. The resulting energy evaluation, however, is relatively expensive for direct use in simulations. We significantly reduce the associated numerical cost by fitting the potential using a set of symmetry functions. We propose a method for selecting a suitable set of symmetry functions that capture the most relevant features of the particle environment in a systematic manner. The fitted interaction potential is then used in Monte Carlo simulations to draw the phase diagram of the system in two dimensions. The system is found to form both a fluid and a hexagonal crystal phase.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure

Properties of 3Y-TZP zirconia ceramics with graphene addition obtained by spark plasma sintering

In this study the influence of graphene addition on the microstructure, phase composition, mechanical, and electrical properties of 3Y-TZP ceramics was investigated. Blends of pure 3Y-TZP and with addition of 1 − 4 vol% graphene were prepared by mixing and milling, and they were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Addition of 3 vol% graphene is necessary to overcome the percolation threshold and obtain electrically conductive composites. However, rising the graphene contents obstructs sinterability. Hence, flexural strength, Young's modulus, and hardness decrease with increasing the graphene content, and the fracture resistance reaches an intermediate maximum at 2 vol% graphene. Graphene lamellae are oriented orthogonally to the pressing direction. They evidently provide some energy dissipation by crack deflection. TZP-graphene interfaces are very weak. Thus, crack bridging can be neglected. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Obradović, N., Kern, F., 2018. Properties of 3Y-TZP zirconia ceramics with graphene addition obtained by spark plasma sintering. Ceramics International 44, 16931–16936. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.06.133

The Queen Bees and the Women's Team - A contextual examination of enmity and friendship between military women

In several studies of women in the Norwegian Armed Forces, we have found an assertion that female groups are so riddled with conflicts and enmity that it is preferable to keep women few in number and mixed up with men, even in dormitories (Hellum 2014; Lilleaas and Ellingsen 2014; Rones 2015). Yet, when the Norwegian Special Operations Command (NORSOC) organized an all-female Special Reconnaissance Platoon, the NORSOC leadership would conclude that they had seen “almost disappointingly little of the conflicts that allegedly should occur in groups of females” (Rones and Steder 2017). Accordingly, this article will critically explore the assertion that women are often so quarrelsome that it is preferable to keep them few in number and mixed with men 24/7.It will be argued that women’s alleged tendency towards enmity is a myth that is made ‘true’ by ‘queen bee behavior’. Queen bee behavior is seen as an act of recognition, whereby women comply with existing gender stereotypes, evaluate women negatively, but set themselves apart from the category of ‘women’ as someone who fits better with men, i.e. a performance of complicit masculinity. It is further argued that queen bee behavior is a response to the social-identity threat women experience when they enter a unit in which their gender has a low reputation and status, and where it is expected that a woman should fit seamlessly in as one of the guys, and accordingly have to make a symbolic ‘change of gender’

The Palaearctic species of the genus Sylvicola Harris, 1776 (Diptera, Anisopodidae).

Die Beschreibungen für 9 bisher bekannte paläarktische Arten von Sylvicola Harris werden präzisiert. Auf der Basis von Exemplaren, die in der Vergangenheit als S. fuscatus (Fabricius) bestimmt wurden, werden mit S. subfuscatus spec. nov. und S. stackelbergi spec. nov. zwei neue Arten beschrieben. Für alle paläarktischen Spezies wird eine Bestimmungstabelle gegeben.Nomenklatorische Handlungenstackelbergi Krivosheina & Menzel, 1998 (Sylvicola (Anisopus)), spec. n.subfuscatus Krivosheina & Menzel, 1998 (Sylvicola (Anisopus)), spec. n.The descriptions of the 9 previously known Palaearctic species of Sylvicola Harris are revised, 2 new species close to S. fuscatus (Fabricius) [S. subfuscatus spec. nov. and S. stackelbergi spec. nov.] are described. A key to all Palaearctic species is given. Nomenclatural Actsstackelbergi Krivosheina & Menzel, 1998 (Sylvicola (Anisopus)), spec. n.subfuscatus Krivosheina & Menzel, 1998 (Sylvicola (Anisopus)), spec. n

Public support to the European auto industry :an integrated analysis

Staatliche Eingriffe in die Automobilindustrie haben eine lange, globale Geschichte. So stellen in Europa häufig sowohl einzelne Mitgliedstaaten als auch die Europäische Union (EU) den Automobilherstellern staatliche Ressourcen mithilfe unterschiedlichster Instrumente und über den Weg verschiedener Institutionen zur Verfügung. Die Bereitschaft, der Automobilindustrie Unterstützung anzubieten, war vor allem während der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise 2009 deutlich zu beobachten, die diesen Sektor besonders hart getroffen hatte. Vor diesem Hintergrund beschäftigt sich eine aktuelle Studie, die gemeinsam vom ZEW-Forschungsprogramm SEEK und dem Kompetenzzentrum "Governments and markets: Institutions and regulation for a changing world" der Universität Leuven (Belgien) finanziert wurde, mit den verschiedenen Arten staatlicher Unterstützung, welche die europäische Automobilindustrie über die letzten zehn Jahre erfahren hat, und quantifiziert diese