Numerical trials of HISSE

The mathematical description and implementation of the statistical estimation procedure known as the Houston integrated spatial/spectral estimator (HISSE) is discussed. HISSE is based on a normal mixture model and is designed to take advantage of spectral and spatial information of LANDSAT data pixels, utilizing the initial classification and clustering information provided by the AMOEBA algorithm. The HISSE calculates parametric estimates of class proportions which reduce the error inherent in estimates derived from typical classify and count procedures common to nonparametric clustering algorithms. It also singles out spatial groupings of pixels which are most suitable for labeling classes. These calculations are designed to aid the analyst/interpreter in labeling patches with a crop class label. Finally, HISSE's initial performance on an actual LANDSAT agricultural ground truth data set is reported

Vorsicht, Schönheit!

Article on critical bio-political dimensions of beauty. It discusses somatic informed performance making and teaching practices with a focus on applications of the the work of movement educational pioneer Moshe Feldenkrais( 1904 -1984)

Entangled histories, part 2: releasing the de-generate body

This second part of writing on the research project Releasing the Archive, undertaken by Carol Brown and Thomas Kampe in collaboration with dancers of New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC), aims to discuss notions of contemporary somaticinformed re-transmission of the work of Gertrud Bodenwieser (Vienna 1890 – Sydney 1959) as acts of cultural repair. The article unpacks, through historical texts and dancers’ notebooks, how the diasporic work of Gertrud Bodenwieser, influenced by Modernist body-culture pioneer Bess Mensendieck (c. 1866–1957 ), aimed to construct a practice of somatic realism concerned with emancipatory perspectives on twentieth century western personhood. The author discusses proto-somatic and proto-feminist roots of Bodenwieser’s corporeal practices as critical processes, and reveals how Bodenwieser’s discovery-based pedagogies invite and foster dancers’ psycho-physical agency within collaborative modes of creation. The article critiques the application of The Feldenkrais Method as a contemporary somatic modality to support the revitalizing of a re-emerging ecstatic and eccentric highly dynamic bodycoding. It contextualizes Releasing the Archive as a trans-cultural and intergenerational articulation of coming to terms with the complexities of a nearly forgotten European exiled dance legacy

Stochastic analysis of preferential attachment models

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht ausgewählte Eigenschaften von Preferential Attachment-Graphen. Darunter verstehen wir eine Klasse komplexer zufälliger Graphen, die mit einer vorgegebenen Konfiguration gestartet werden und anschließend mit jedem Zeitschritt um eine Ecke und m Kanten wachsen. Die Wachstumsregeln sind so gestaltet, dass eine neue Ecke ihre Kanten bevorzugt an Ecken sendet, die bereits mit vielen anderen Ecken verbunden sind, woraus sich die Bezeichnung Preferential Attachment (PA) ableitet. Die Arbeit stellt zunächst heuristisch die Eigenschaft der Skalenfreiheit von PA-Modellen vor und bespricht anschließend einen Beweis zu dieser These. Weiter betrachten wir den Durchmesser von PA-Graphen und untersuchen das Verhalten bei Anwachsen des Graphen. Wir erkennen, dass der Durchmesser bei wachsendem Graphen deutlich langsamer wächst, was wir als Small World-Phänomen bezeichnen. Die zentralen Aussagen und Beweise orientieren sich an den Arbeiten von Remco van der Hofstad, der die bekannten PA-Modelle um einen Parameter erweitert hat. Damit ist es möglich, sowohl logarithmische als auch doppelt-logarithmische Schranken für den Durchmesser zu erhalten

An Exploratory Examination of the Digital Marijuana Policy Messaging of Liberal, Governmental, and Conservative Organizations Utilizing Websites

The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to examine whether differences exist between the digital media promotion of marijuana policies by organizations based on their type (liberal, federal government, or conservative ). Concerns about illicit drug use in America are apparent when looking at the current discourse on marijuana policy. This discourse has been impacted by the media\u27s construction of the drug problem and how that problem is defined by different sources. This messaging has the potential to impact societal views on crime, justice, and related policies. In the process of media persuasion, there are various organizations conveying divergent marijuana policies through strategic efforts utilizing digital media. These campaigns are instruments through which goals of enacting social change and influencing policy are pursued. This study is an exploratory investigation into how organizations are using digital media (specifically Internet websites) to promote marijuana policies. Constructivist inquiry was employed to provide knowledge about how the selected organizations included in the sample are using digital media to advance agendas (the goal of which is to influence support for different marijuana policies). Although similarities were found when the content analysis was conducted, there was divergence on most measures. Variation between the messaging strategies of organizations, based on their type, may impact who is the recipient of the organizations\u27 messages, how they are received, and potentially how they influence future behaviors and policies

Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlation and Path Coefficients in Rainfed Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes at Guraferda, Southwest Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted with the objective of determining the magnitude of association between yield and yield component characters. Fifteen rainfed upland rice genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design in three replications for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) in southwest Ethiopia. Correlation coefficient analysis of grain yield showed positive and significant association with days to 85% maturity and number of fertile tillers per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. At phenotypic level, thousand seed weight displayed positive and significant correlation with grain yield, while at genotypic level, panicle length and plant height exhibited positive and significant relationships. Thus, these traits could play pivotal role in the development of high yielding rainfed upland rice genotypes. Separation of correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects of component traits on grain yield revealed that days to 85% maturity and number of fertile tillers per plant exerted the maximum positive direct effect on grain yield at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. The direct contribution of days to 85% maturity supported indirectly by panicle length and thousand seed weight at phenotypic level. At genotypic level, panicle length assisted the direct contribution of days to 85% maturity to the grain yield. Therefore, while making selection these characters would be reliable criteria for improving grain yield of upland rice genotypes at southwestern Ethiopia. Keywords: Direct and Indirect effect, Positive and negative correlation, Yield component traits

Bodily undoing: somatics as practices of critique

This co-authored volume of The Journal for Dance and Somatic Practices (JDSP) focuses on construction and articulating the field of Somatics as critical practices. Glenna Batson (2017) argues towards the need for a new critique to fully address Somatics in the face of neoliberal globalization and an increasing planetary poly-crisis. How do we locate our embodied practices beyond commodification as critical and empowering practices? How do we question relevance, access, inclusion, and modes of knowledge production within our work? How do we articulate a critical stance toward elitism, Euro-centrism and under-theorisation historically associated with the field? Somatic practices can be understood as reflective processes of undoing existing patterns so that new ones can emerge. How can this transformative undoing be extended beyond the body of the individual to the body politic or the social body? How might we construct Somatics and affiliated transdisciplinary arts practices as practices of critique that might contribute to an alternative social imaginary or way of world-making? Can somatic processes and performance practices foster a capacity for self-reflection and criticality as feature of the ‘democratic citizen’ as ‘a member of the body politic’ (Morin 1999) within growing totalitarian socio-cultural contexts

Estimation of Genetic Variability, Hertability and Genetic Advance in Upland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Genotypes at Guraferda, South West Ethiopia

A field experiment was executed using fifteen rain fed upland rice genotypes for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015) during the main cropping season in South Western Ethiopia, to estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. The experiment was laid down in a randomized complete block design with three replications and data on seven quantitative phenotypic traits were collected and subjected to various statistical analysis. Combined analysis of variance across years revealed significant (P≤0.05) difference of year, genotype and genotype x year interaction effects for most of the traits evaluated. The phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 2.76% for days 85% to maturity to 15.21% for grain yieldha-1, while the genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 1.52% for days 85% to maturity to 9.67% for plant height. Heritability estimates in broad sense were high for days to 50% heading (89.98%), plant height (84.49%), thousand seed weight (77.00%) and panicle length (65.10%) and moderate and low for days to 85% maturity (30.38%) and grain yield ha-1 (8.40%), respectively. Days to 50% heading, plant height and thousand seed weight displayed high heritability along with moderate genetic advance as percent of mean estimates and days to 85% maturity and grain yield exhibited low GCV, heritability and genetic advance estimates. The present study revealed reasonable amount of genetic variability for the majority of the considered quantitative traits in rain fed upland rice genotype, indicating that it could be used in future rice breeding programs. However, it is recommended that the experiment could be replicated at more locations with more number of genotypes to assure the obtained results. In addition, it is better if more number of quantitative and qualitative traits included for widening the scope inference. Keywords: Genetic advance, Genetic variability, Heritability, Upland Ric

Genetic Improvement Strategies for Increasing Rice Yield: A Review Article

A review article was aimed to summarize various conventional and biotechnological breeding strategies that increased rice yield in major rice producing counties having strong breeding programs. An increase in productivity is always one of the main goals of any crop breeding program including rice. Even though there was a series of breakthroughs the main breeding goals in most international programs remain similar since a long time ago: increasing grain yield potential, resistance to blast disease, grain quality, and drought tolerance. Increase in grain yield potential is the major goal of almost all rice breeding programs. The major impacts are related to the development of new strategies to increase the genetic grain yield potential of the varieties. Rice breeders have been very successful in improving the crop. The main breeding method used to improve rice is the pedigree, but development of hybrids, new plant types and mutation breeding are added to the breeder’s portfolio. Breeders have been taking advantage of biotechnology tools in order to accelerate rice improvement programs as the main additional tool to conventional rice breeding strategies; however, many programs are still struggling on how to integrate them into the breeding programs especially in developing countries