Color-appearance modeling for cross-media image reproduction

Five color-appearance transforms were tested under a variety of conditions to determine which is best for producing CRT reproductions of original printed images. The transforms included: von Kries chromatic adaptation, CIELAB color space, RLAB color appearance model, Hunt\u27s color appearance model, and Nayatani\u27s color appearance model. It was found that RLAB produced the best matches for changes in white point, luminance level, and background changes, but did not accurately predict the effect of surround. The ability of CIELAB color space was equal to that of RLAB in many cases, and performed better for changes in surround. Expert observers generated CRT images in one viewing condition that they perceived to match an original image viewed in another condition. This technique produced images that were equal to or better than the best color appearance model tested and is a useful technique to generate color appearance data for developing new models and testing existing models

Investigation of Color Appearance Using the Psychophysical Method of Adjustment and Complex Pictoral Images

A technique was developed and tested for generating CRT image reproductions that matched the color-appearance of print originals. Five observers matched two scenes using a memory matching technique. Observers were able to produce accurate matches when originals and reproductions were viewed at the same white point. Observers matched the reproduction at 6500K to originals viewed at 9300K and at 3000K. These matches were compared to the predictions of various color appearance models using a paired-comparison technique in a second psychophysical experiment. The observermatched images were found to be equal or superior to all predictions of the models tested

Characterizing 15 Years of Saharan-like, Dry, Well-Mixed Air Layers in North Africa

The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) is a dry, well-mixed layer (WML) of warm and sometimes dusty air of nearly constant water vapor mixing ratio generated by the intense surface heating and strong, dry convection in the Sahara Desert, which has notable downstream impacts on the surface energy balance, organized convective system development, seasonal precipitation, and air quality. Characterizing both WMLs and SALs from the existing rawinsonde network has proven challenging because of its sparseness and inconsistent data reporting. Spurred on by this challenge, we previously created a detection methodology and supporting software to automate the identification and characterization of WMLs from multiple data sources including rawinsondes, remote sensing platforms, and model products. We applied our algorithm to each dataset at both its native and at a common (most coarse data product) vertical resolution to detect WMLs and their characteristics (temperature, mixing ratio, AOD, etc.) at each of the 53 rawinsonde launch sites in north Africa

Ireland and Iceland in Crisis A: Increasing Risk in Ireland

Ireland went from being the poorest member of the European Economic Community in 1973 to enjoying the second highest per-capita income among European countries by 2007. Healthy growth in the 1990s eventually gave way to a concentrated boom in property-related lending in the 2000s. The growth in the aggregate loan balances of Ireland’s six major banks greatly exceeded the growth in gross domestic product (GDP); as a result, bank loan balances grew from 1.1 times GDP in 2000 to over 2.0 times GDP by 2007. Given the small size of the domestic retail depositor base, the Irish banks increasingly funded loan growth using the wholesale market, despite its risks. The property-related lending boom proved unsustainable during the global financial crisis, and, on September 29, 2008, the government of Ireland took the unprecedented step of guaranteeing the deposits and substantially all other liabilities of the major Irish banks

Basel III C: Internal Risk Models

For financial regulators seeking to use regulatory requirements to manage risk in a banking system, there can be a concern that such requirements crowd out efforts by banks to develop their own risk management systems. One way in which regulators have attempted to solve this problem is to enable banks to use internal risk models to satisfy regulatory requirements. Beginning with the 1996 Market Risk Amendment, the Basel framework has allowed banks to determine the capital charges associated with certain assets using their own internal risk models. But allowing the use of internal risk models has not been without controversy. Where some see an incentive for the development of internal risk management systems better able to address the unique risk profiles of particular banks, others see excessive complexity and uncertainty. And while some financial regulators are beginning to subject banks’ models to greater scrutiny, questions remain about the ability of financial regulators to provide effective oversight of such models

Dificuldades e estratégias de adaptação acadêmica em universitários com transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade na transição para a universidade

O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH) caracteriza-se por uma série de sintomas relacionados à desatenção e/ou hiperatividade e impulsividade. Por muito tempo, pensava-se que o TDAH era um transtorno exclusivo da infância. Contudo, pesquisas apontam que cerca de 70% dos casos diagnosticados nessa idade persistem ao longo da vida, causando prejuízos em diversos contextos. Considerando que a entrada na universidade vem se tornando realidade para um número cada vez maior de pessoas, dentre ela indivíduos com TDAH, o objetivo desse estudo foi investigar as percepções de estudantes universitários diagnosticados com TDAH sobre as dificuldades enfrentadas no processo de transição do ensino médio para universidade e as estratégias utilizadas por eles para lidar com as mesmas. Essa pesquisa está dividida em dois estudos. No primeiro, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre o processo de transição do ensino médio para o ensino superior. Os resultados mostram que há uma série de fatores que podem influenciar de maneira positiva e negativa esse momento. A escassez de estudos brasileiros aponta para uma lacuna a ser preenchida sobre a temática. No segundo, foi realizado um estudo qualitativo com o objetivo de investigar as percepções de estudantes universitários diagnosticados com TDAH sobre as dificuldades enfrentadas no processo de adaptação à universidade e as estratégias utilizadas por eles para lidar com as mesmas. Os participantes foram seis estudantes universitários com TDAH, de ambos os sexos, cursando diferentes cursos e períodos da graduação em uma universidade federal do Sul do Brasil. Os resultados foram analisados sob a perspectiva da análise temática e possibilitaram uma compreensão do da experiência dos participantes em ter TDAH, bem como as dificuldades e as estratégias de enfrentamento desenvolvidas ao longo da trajetória acadêmica dos mesmos. Limitações e implicações dos resultados obtidos são discutidas ao final da dissertação.Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a series of symptoms related to inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. For a long time, it was thought that ADHD was an exclusive disorder of childhood. However, studies indicate about 70% of cases diagnosed at this age persist throughout life, causing damage in several contexts. Considering that college has become a reality for an increasing number of people, including individuals with ADHD, the aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of college students diagnosed with ADHD on the difficulties in the transition from high school to college and strategies used by them to deal with these difficulties. This research is divided into two studies. In the first one, a systematic review of the literature on the transition process from high school to higher education was carried out. There are several factors that can influence in a positive and negative way this period. A lack of Brazilian studies indicates a gap to be filled on the subject. In the second, a qualitative study aimed to investigate the perceptions of college students with ADHD on the difficulties faced in the college adjustment process and the strategies used by them to deal with it. Participants were six university students with ADHD, of both sexes, attending different majors and graduation periods at a federal university in the South of Brazil. The results were analyzed from the perspective of the thematic analysis and enable to understand participants' experiences with ADHD, as well as difficulties and coping strategies developed along their academic trajectory. Limitations and implications of the results are discussed in the end of the thesis

Interdépendance du potentiel d'exploitation et la structure d'habitat dans la région de l'Atakora

Le département de l’Atakora est une région très contrastée et jusqu’à présent très peu explorée. Son élément le plus saillant est la Chaîne de l’Atakora, une des rares élévations montagneuses de cette partie de l’Afrique occidentale. Le haut-plateau de l’Atakora est caractérisé par une densité de la population relativement basse, comparée au reste de la région, et une végétation variée, qui est jusqu’à présent extrêmement mal connu. Il contraste fortement avec son piémont à l’ouest de la chaîne qui est très densément peuplé et exploité de manière intensive. Notre recherche a été consacrée à la question de savoir si ce sont des facteurs dépendant du géopotentiel ou plutôt des données socio-économiques qui sont responsables pour la disparité actuelle de ce paysage. Partant de l’hypothèse que non seulement les conditions socio-économiques mais aussi les conditions naturelles sont beaucoup plus favorables dans le piémont que sur le plateau, nous avons - par une approche interdisciplinaire - effectué une analyse et une évaluation de ces facteurs. Des méthodes de la télédétection, de la pédologie, de la botanique et de la géographie agraire ont été employées

Co-creation of information leaflets to meet the support needs of people living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) through innovative use of wiki technology

Objective: People living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) experience frustration with the lack of knowledge and understanding of CRPS as a pain condition. We report on our attempt to address this issue. Method: People living with CRPS taking part in a larger study were invited to co-construct a CRPS wiki page that addressed the areas in which they had experienced the most difficulty. A blank wiki page was set up for participants to populate with issues they felt needed to be raised and addressed. Results: Participants failed to engage with the wiki technology. We modified our procedure and completed an inductive analysis of a sister-forum which participants were using as part of the larger study. Six issues of importance were identified. We used the discussion forum threads to populate the themes. Due to a continued lack of engagement with the wiki technology, the team decided to create a suite of leaflets which were piloted with delegates at a CRPS patient conference. Conclusions: Future work should be mindful of the extent to which patients are able and willing to share their experiences through such technology. Striking the balance between patient-endorsed and researcher-driven co-creation of such material is imperative