Infinite Simple Bol Loops

If the left multiplication group of a loop is simple, then the loop is simple. We use this observation to give examples of infinite simple Bol loops.Comment: 4 pages, AMS-LaTeX, to appear in Comment. Math. Univ. Carolinae for a special issue: the Proceedings of Loops03. Version 3: more minor changes suggested by the refere

A Joint Intensity and Depth Co-Sparse Analysis Model for Depth Map Super-Resolution

High-resolution depth maps can be inferred from low-resolution depth measurements and an additional high-resolution intensity image of the same scene. To that end, we introduce a bimodal co-sparse analysis model, which is able to capture the interdependency of registered intensity and depth information. This model is based on the assumption that the co-supports of corresponding bimodal image structures are aligned when computed by a suitable pair of analysis operators. No analytic form of such operators exist and we propose a method for learning them from a set of registered training signals. This learning process is done offline and returns a bimodal analysis operator that is universally applicable to natural scenes. We use this to exploit the bimodal co-sparse analysis model as a prior for solving inverse problems, which leads to an efficient algorithm for depth map super-resolution.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Model-based learning of local image features for unsupervised texture segmentation

Features that capture well the textural patterns of a certain class of images are crucial for the performance of texture segmentation methods. The manual selection of features or designing new ones can be a tedious task. Therefore, it is desirable to automatically adapt the features to a certain image or class of images. Typically, this requires a large set of training images with similar textures and ground truth segmentation. In this work, we propose a framework to learn features for texture segmentation when no such training data is available. The cost function for our learning process is constructed to match a commonly used segmentation model, the piecewise constant Mumford-Shah model. This means that the features are learned such that they provide an approximately piecewise constant feature image with a small jump set. Based on this idea, we develop a two-stage algorithm which first learns suitable convolutional features and then performs a segmentation. We note that the features can be learned from a small set of images, from a single image, or even from image patches. The proposed method achieves a competitive rank in the Prague texture segmentation benchmark, and it is effective for segmenting histological images

Records of Clubiona similis L. Koch, 1867 in the Upper Rhine area in Baden Württemberg/Germany (Araneae: Clubionidae)

Die Sackspinne Clubiona similis L. Koch, 1867 wird in der älteren Literatur aus den verschiedensten Gebieten und Lebensraumtypen Mittel- und Osteuropas erwähnt. Nach HEIMER & NENTWIG (1991) ist sie "in feuchtem Gelände auf niedriger Vegetation" zu finden. Bei HANGGI et al. (1995) werden überwiegend Nachweise aus Küstendünen, daneben einzelne aus Wäldern und extensiv oder ungenutzten Lebensraumtypen des Offenlandes genannt

Overlaps in Field Generated Circular Planar Nearrings

We investigate circular planar nearrings constructed from finite fields as well the complex number field using a multiplicative subgroup of order $k$, and characterize the overlaps of the basic graphs which arise in the associated $2$-designs

Comparison of Brief Health Literacy Screens in the Emergency Department

Lower levels of health literacy, the skills needed to appropriately navigate a health care system, are associated with a number of negative health outcomes, from higher rates of Emergency Department visits to decreased vaccination rates. Measuring health literacy is of great interest both clinically and in research to further describe these relationships and to find ways of mitigating these outcomes, but there are many tools available. Their varying characteristics may affect the way we understand these relationships. This paper includes a systematic review and an original research component. In the review, we compare self-reported measures of health literacy to performance-based measures, with an eye towards their differential abilities to predict health outcomes. The evidence from the three included studies suggests that these measures differ in unpredictable ways in their capacities to detect health outcomes, and that instrument choice may determine the presence or magnitude of these associations. In the research study, we compare five brief measures of health literacy (Newest Vital Sign, SILS, brief screening questions, REALM-R and METER) to a longer referent standard (S-TOFHLA) in 400 Southeastern suburban Emergency Department patients. Our findings indicate that the Newest Vital Sign is best able to replicate the S-TOFHLA, but that all tools could be considered for health literacy screening in the ED. We find that cutoffs can be modified to select for test characteristics and the proportion of patients deemed health literate, and suggest that future health literacy screening studies provide a rationale for the measurement tool and cutoff used, based on the skill set targeted and intent behind screening, or even consider using multiple tools. Future research will need to go beyond the validation of these tools in the ED, and shed more light on their associations with health outcomes.Master of Public Healt

Spiders from ecological compensation areas in the Swiss cantons Aargau and Schaffhausen (Arachnida: Araneae) – with remarks on Phrurolithus nigrinus (Corinnidae)

The spider fauna of open habitats adjacent to arable land was investigated in northern Switzerland. The three habitat types were (1) herbaceous edges of fields (Sa), (2) fallow land sowed with flowers (BB), and (3) grass borders of fields (GS). Four funnel pitfall traps (10 cm diameter) were used to catch spiders in three stripe-types in two geographical regions in two years over 5 weeks in May and June: in total 12 sets of data. Spider species typical for open habitats were dominant, mostly lycosids (6 of the 10 most active species). The results were analysed together with environmental factors using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and spiders were compared with carabid beetles (Coeloptera: Carabidae). Geographical region, though not very distant, had the largest influence on both spiders and carabids. The age and type of the habitats had a stronger influence on spiders than on carabids. In spiders a larger part of the total variance was explained by the analysed factors. Finally we discuss briefly a remarkable spider species. A review of all known records of Phrurolithus nigrinus in Switzerland and Germany, together with adjacent regions in France, is given. Its phenology is indicated, its habitat discussed and the overall distribution within Europe is listed