Image quality assessment based on harmonics gain/loss information

We present an objective reduced-reference image quality assessment method based on harmonic gain/loss information through a discriminative analysis of local harmonic strength (LHS). The LHS is computed from the gradient of images, and its value represents a relative degree of the appearance of blockiness on images when it is related to energy gain within an image. Furthermore, comparison between local harmonic strength values from an original, distortion-free image and a degraded, processed, or compressed version of the image shows that the LHS can also be used to indicate other types of degradations, such as blurriness that corresponds with energy loss. Our simulations show that we can develop a single metric based on this gain/loss information and use it to rate the quality of images encoded by various encoders such as DCT-based JPEG, wavelet-based JPEG 2000, or various processed images. We show that our method can overcome some limitations of the traditional PSNR

The Determinants of Rice Variety Choice in Indonesia

This paper investigates the determinants of rice seed variety choice in Indonesia with respect to a meta-profit function. Varietal choice is modeled as depending on the profitability of high yielding varieties of seed relative to traditional varieties of seed, the schooling of cultivators and factors associated with yield uncertainty and risk aversion. Careful attention is paid to the stochastic structure of the estimated simultaneous equations switching regimes model. The maximum likehood method applied to Indonesian farm-level data is complicated by endogenous regressors and heteroskedastic errors. Adoption of high yielding varieties was found to be positively associated with its relative profitability, the likelihood of flooding, quality of irrigation conditional on its effect on relative profit, and the availability of credit, and negatively associated with land owned and the likelihood of drought. Schooling was not found to be a significant determinant of variety choice. Sources of interregional differences in cultivator behaviors in Indonesia were calculated as an application of the estimated model. Interregional differences in employment in rice cultivation but not HYV adoption were largely due to differences in wages.Crop Production/Industries,

The Compliment Responses Used by Herbalife's Male and Female Customers in Surabaya

This journal mainly deals with the males' and females' compliment responses from Herbalife following up system. The focus of my analysis is the types of the males' and females' compliment responses that occurred most frequently by both genders, the differences or/and similarities of males' and females' compliment responses types. To analyze the data, I used Holmes' (1995&2006) and Wolfson's (1989) theories. I used Lesmana's research (2009) as well the contrast between an online communication research and an offline communication research as supporting thesis. For the methods, I used a descriptive qualitative approach to be supported by quantitative data in developing my research.Then, from my analysis, I found that the both male and female interlocutors tended to accept the compliments given by me as the female complimenter

Codes Used by Two Pairs of Identical Twins

This study is about the codes used by two pairs of identical twins to their co-twin in their daily conversation. It is supported by Wardaugh's (2006) and Stromswold's theories (2004) of codes and language development. The data was gathered from the utterances produced in the given role plays. The findings reveal that seven types of codes were used by these pairs of twins. The similarities are all of them did not use secret language and both pairs mostly used Indonesian codes. The differences are the frequency of each code used and in general, Pair 2 is more formal than Pair 1. In conclusion, having Javanese parents does not always mean using Javanese codes when communicating with others and although they are twins, they do not always use similar codes. These differences might happen because of the differences in religion and travel experience

Evaluasi dan Penataan Trayek Angkutan Umum Wilayah Mandau dan Pinggir

Penanganan transportasi di wilayah Mandau dan Pinggir, Kabupaten Bengkalis mempunyai perbedaan dengan penanganan transportasi di wilayah lainnnya, hal ini dikarenakan pada daerah ini mempunyai karakteristik yang spesifik, yaitu penataan angkutan umum sebelum masa kritis muncul. Adanya perbedaan antara karakteristik transportasi antar wilayah dengan karakteristik transportasi dalam kabupaten merupakan pertimbangan utama perlunya transportasi kabupaten khususnya diwilayah perkotaan dikelola secara khusus. Berdasarkan analisis kebutuhan armada, dengan jumlah rute dibagi menjadi 4 (empat), dengan mengurangi nilai tumpang tindih, serta menstandarkan waktu antara