Writ(h)ing Images: Imagination, the Human Form, and the Divine in William Blake, Salman Rushdie, and Simon Louvish

In this paper, we address issues in segmentation Of remotely sensed LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) data. The LIDAR data, which were captured by airborne laser scanner, contain 2.5 dimensional (2.5D) terrain surface height information, e.g. houses, vegetation, flat field, river, basin, etc. Our aim in this paper is to segment ground (flat field)from non-ground (houses and high vegetation) in hilly urban areas. By projecting the 2.5D data onto a surface, we obtain a texture map as a grey-level image. Based on the image, Gabor wavelet filters are applied to generate Gabor wavelet features. These features are then grouped into various windows. Among these windows, a combination of their first and second order of statistics is used as a measure to determine the surface properties. The test results have shown that ground areas can successfully be segmented from LIDAR data. Most buildings and high vegetation can be detected. In addition, Gabor wavelet transform can partially remove hill or slope effects in the original data by tuning Gabor parameters

Impact of disaster-related mortality on gross domestic product in the WHO African Region

BACKGROUND: Disaster-related mortality is a growing public health concern in the African Region. These deaths are hypothesized to have a significantly negative effect on per capita gross domestic product (GDP). The objective of this study was to estimate the loss in GDP attributable to natural and technological disaster-related mortality in the WHO African Region. METHODS: The impact of disaster-related mortality on GDP was estimated using double-log econometric model and cross-sectional data on various Member States in the WHO African Region. The analysis was based on 45 of the 46 countries in the Region. The data was obtained from various UNDP and World Bank publications. RESULTS: The coefficients for capital (K), educational enrolment (EN), life expectancy (LE) and exports (X) had a positive sign; while imports (M) and disaster mortality (DS) were found to impact negatively on GDP. The above-mentioned explanatory variables were found to have a statistically significant effect on GDP at 5% level in a t-distribution test. Disaster mortality of a single person was found to reduce GDP by US$0.01828. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that disaster-related mortality has a significant negative effect on GDP. Thus, as policy-makers strive to increase GDP through capital investment, export promotion and increased educational enrolment, they should always keep in mind that investments made in the strengthening of national capacity to mitigate the effects of national disasters expeditiously and effectively will yield significant economic returns

An evaluation of specific ionic and growth parameters affecting the feasibility of commercially producing red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Typescript (photocopy).Seven experiments were conducted to determine whether red drum might be commercially cultured in inland salt or fresh waters. Four of these were to define specific environmental requirements, absolute and survival ranges, for calcium and magnesium. Two initial and two secondary studies were conducted in salt and fresh waters differing in concentrations of calcium and/or magnesium. Red drum weighing 1-3 g were stocked in each experimental trial at 15/114 l tank; treatments had three replicates. Environmental calcium significantly affected red drum survival in salt and fresh waters; magnesium produced no discernible performance effects. In saltwater (35 g/l total dissolved solids (TDS)) experiments, fish in treatments containing less than 176 mg/l calcium exhibited 100% mortality within 96 hours. Best survivals, 78-84% at 96 hours, were observed in treatments containing 340-465 mg/l calcium. Red drum stocked in fresh water (0.56-1.9 g/l TDS) with calcium concentrations 1.7 mg/l or less performed poorly (0-33% survival within 96 hours). Growth and survival were not significantly affected when calcium was between 9-407 mg/l. Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were significantly higher in saltwater treatments containing trace magnesium. Generally, fish from initial fresh water and saltwater experiments had significantly better long term (42 day) survivals than those from the second set of experiments. This appeared to be related to the use of acid washed biofiltration media (removal of essential trace components perhaps) in the second trials. Three growth feasibility studies were performed, two in ponds with hard (120 mg/l calcium) fresh water and one in a low salinity (5 g/l TDS) closed system. Pond results suggested that red drum fingerlings (35 g) performed better, mean weight 450 g with 90% survival after 215 days, than fry (4-6 g), mean weight 18 g with 9-15% survival after 106-115 days. Apparently, floating catfish feed was not consumed, while crawfish and tilapia fry were. Closed system research demonstrated that red drum fed commercial salmon feeds (44-48% protein) displayed exponential growth. It appears that red drum fingerlings offered crawfish forage or commercial salmon formulations can be pond cultured to market size in one season

An evaluation of specific ionic and growth parameters affecting the feasibility of commercially producing red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Typescript (photocopy).Seven experiments were conducted to determine whether red drum might be commercially cultured in inland salt or fresh waters. Four of these were to define specific environmental requirements, absolute and survival ranges, for calcium and magnesium. Two initial and two secondary studies were conducted in salt and fresh waters differing in concentrations of calcium and/or magnesium. Red drum weighing 1-3 g were stocked in each experimental trial at 15/114 l tank; treatments had three replicates. Environmental calcium significantly affected red drum survival in salt and fresh waters; magnesium produced no discernible performance effects. In saltwater (35 g/l total dissolved solids (TDS)) experiments, fish in treatments containing less than 176 mg/l calcium exhibited 100% mortality within 96 hours. Best survivals, 78-84% at 96 hours, were observed in treatments containing 340-465 mg/l calcium. Red drum stocked in fresh water (0.56-1.9 g/l TDS) with calcium concentrations 1.7 mg/l or less performed poorly (0-33% survival within 96 hours). Growth and survival were not significantly affected when calcium was between 9-407 mg/l. Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were significantly higher in saltwater treatments containing trace magnesium. Generally, fish from initial fresh water and saltwater experiments had significantly better long term (42 day) survivals than those from the second set of experiments. This appeared to be related to the use of acid washed biofiltration media (removal of essential trace components perhaps) in the second trials. Three growth feasibility studies were performed, two in ponds with hard (120 mg/l calcium) fresh water and one in a low salinity (5 g/l TDS) closed system. Pond results suggested that red drum fingerlings (35 g) performed better, mean weight 450 g with 90% survival after 215 days, than fry (4-6 g), mean weight 18 g with 9-15% survival after 106-115 days. Apparently, floating catfish feed was not consumed, while crawfish and tilapia fry were. Closed system research demonstrated that red drum fed commercial salmon feeds (44-48% protein) displayed exponential growth. It appears that red drum fingerlings offered crawfish forage or commercial salmon formulations can be pond cultured to market size in one season

English works: Toxophilus, Report of the affaires and state of Germany, The scholemaster,

With reproductions of original title-pages of the Report of the affaires and state of Germany and The scholemaster.Mode of access: Internet

The authorised version of the English Bible, 1611,

Mode of access: Internet.2 1