The role of Madīna in the emergence of the Mosque-dār al-Imāra combination. A preliminary note

This contribution aims to complete the debates concerning the Mosque of the Prophet in Madīna with a study focused on the dwelling quarters that populated the surroundings of the blessed building over time (622-711). An in-depth analysis of the sources has allowed us to sketch a reliable plan of the ensemble, finally succeeding in demonstrating that the direct link between the mosque and the caliphal residence - conceivably involving a specific ceremonial purpose - must be post-dated to the Marwānid period

A Style-Based Generator Architecture for Generative Adversarial Networks

We propose an alternative generator architecture for generative adversarial networks, borrowing from style transfer literature. The new architecture leads to an automatically learned, unsupervised separation of high-level attributes (e.g., pose and identity when trained on human faces) and stochastic variation in the generated images (e.g., freckles, hair), and it enables intuitive, scale-specific control of the synthesis. The new generator improves the state-of-the-art in terms of traditional distribution quality metrics, leads to demonstrably better interpolation properties, and also better disentangles the latent factors of variation. To quantify interpolation quality and disentanglement, we propose two new, automated methods that are applicable to any generator architecture. Finally, we introduce a new, highly varied and high-quality dataset of human faces.Comment: CVPR 2019 final versio

Efficient algorithms for occlusion culling and shadows

The goal of this research is to develop more efficient techniques for computing the visibility and shadows in real-time rendering of three-dimensional scenes. Visibility algorithms determine what is visible from a camera, whereas shadow algorithms solve the same problem from the viewpoint of a light source. In rendering, a lot of computational resources are often spent on primitives that are not visible in the final image. One visibility algorithm for reducing the overhead is occlusion culling, which quickly discards the objects or primitives that are obstructed from the view by other primitives. A new method is presented for performing occlusion culling using silhouettes of meshes instead of triangles. Additionally, modifications are suggested to occlusion queries in order to reduce their computational overhead. The performance of currently available graphics hardware depends on the ordering of input primitives. A new technique, called delay streams, is proposed as a generic solution to order-dependent problems. The technique significantly reduces the pixel processing requirements by improving the efficiency of occlusion culling inside graphics hardware. Additionally, the memory requirements of order-independent transparency algorithms are reduced. A shadow map is a discretized representation of the scene geometry as seen by a light source. Typically the discretization causes difficult aliasing issues, such as jagged shadow boundaries and incorrect self-shadowing. A novel solution is presented for suppressing all types of aliasing artifacts by providing the correct sampling points for shadow maps, thus fully abandoning the previously used regular structures. Also, a simple technique is introduced for limiting the shadow map lookups to the pixels that get projected inside the shadow map. The fillrate problem of hardware-accelerated shadow volumes is greatly reduced with a new hierarchical rendering technique. The algorithm performs per-pixel shadow computations only at visible shadow boundaries, and uses lower resolution shadows for the parts of the screen that are guaranteed to be either fully lit or fully in shadow. The proposed techniques are expected to improve the rendering performance in most real-time applications that use 3D graphics, especially in computer games. More efficient algorithms for occlusion culling and shadows are important steps towards larger, more realistic virtual environments.reviewe

A review on anisotropy analysis of spatial point patterns

A spatial point pattern is called anisotropic if its spatial structure depends on direction. Several methods for anisotropy analysis have been introduced in the literature. In this paper, we give an overview of nonparametric methods for anisotropy analysis of (stationary) point patterns in $\mathbf{R}^2$ and $\mathbf{R}^3$. We discuss methods based on nearest neighbour and second order summary statistics as well as spectral and wavelet analysis. All techniques are illustrated on both a clustered and a regular example. Finally, we discuss methods for testing for isotropy as well as for estimating preferred directions in a point pattern.Comment: Submitted to Spatial Statistics -journal's special issue of the Spatial Statistics 2017 conferenc

Herstellung eines biologischen Bypasses zum Einsatz in der peripheren Gefäßchirurgie

Einleitung: Aufgrund der steigenden Prävalenz von arteriellen Gefäßerkrankungen, nimmt der Bedarf an Gefäßprothesen stetig zu. Da die Verfügbarkeit von allogenen und autologen Transplantaten stark limitiert ist und alloplastische Prothesen keine zufriedenstellenden Langzeitergebnisse liefern, ist die Entwicklung neuartiger, biologischer Gefäßprothesen erforderlich. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Entwicklung einer azellulären, xenogenen Gefäßprothese aus der bovinen Arteria carotis (BAC), die biokompatibel und mechanisch belastbar ist. Methodik: Zur Entfernung aller tierischen Zellen aus der BAC wurden verschiedene chemische Dezellularisierungsverfahren systematisch untersucht und anhand des verbliebenen DNA-, RNA- sowie Protein-Gehalts in behandelten BACs verglichen. Zellfreie BACs wurden zur Beurteilung der Biokompatibilität auf Toxizität sowie Immunkompatibilität untersucht. Letztere erfolgte anhand von Immunfärbungen auf bekannte Xenoantigene, wie das αGal-Epitop (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) und das MHC-I (Haupthistokompatibilitätskomplex-I), sowie mittels Humanserum auf unbekannte Immunogene. Ferner wurde die mechanische Belastbarkeit in Zugbelastungstests analysiert. Zur Senkung des thrombogenen Potenzials wurden Gefäßfragmente Heparin-beschichtet und im subkutanen Rattenmodell auf Biokompatibilität geprüft. Ergebnisse: Von den vier angewendeten Detergenzien konnten BACs nur mit 1 % 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate vollständig dezellularisiert werden. Der DNA-Gehalt wurde auf 0,2 ± 0,2 % (p<0,001) und der Protein-Gehalt auf 0,6 ± 0,3 % (p<0,001) im Vergleich zu nativen BACs reduziert. RNA- sowie toxische Rückstände konnten nicht nachgewiesen werden. Das immunogene Potenzial dezellularisierter BAC konnte, bezogen auf die native Kontrolle, um 99,9 % (p<0,01) gesenkt werden. Bekannte Immunogene wie αGal und MHC-I waren nach der Dezellularisierung nicht mehr nachzuweisen. Eine Beeinträchtigung der mechanischen Stabilität dezellularisierter BACs konnte ebenfalls nicht festgestellt werden. Durch die Heparin-Beschichtung wurde die Wiederbesiedlungsfähigkeit der Gefäße signifikant reduziert (p<0,05). Toxische Effekte konnten nicht nachgewiesen werden. Schlussfolgerung: Die mit dem neu entwickelten Protokoll hergestellte, azelluläre Gefäßprothese aus BAC ist biokompatibel (nicht-toxisch, nicht-immunogen) und mechanisch (zugfest) belastbar. Jedoch sind weitere Untersuchungen zur Thrombogenität und zur mechanischen Belastbarkeit sowie die Überprüfung der Prothese im Tiermodell ausstehend. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit sind vielversprechend, sodass die dezellularisierte BAC möglicherweise zukünftig in der Gefäßersatztherapie Anwendung finden kann.Introduction: Due to the increasing prevalence of arterial vascular diseases, the need for vascular prostheses is constantly increasing. Since the availability of allogeneic and autologous grafts is limited and alloplastic prostheses lack satisfactory long-term results, the development of novel biological vascular prostheses is necessary. Aim of this project was the development of an acellular, xenogeneic vascular prosthesis from the bovine carotid artery (BAC), which is biocompatible and mechanically resistant. Methods: To remove all xenogeneic cells from BAC, various chemical decellularization methods were systematically investigated and compared by remaining DNA, RNA and protein residues. Cell-free BACs were tested for toxicity and immunocompatibility to verify biocompatibility. Immunocompatibility was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of known xenoantigens such as the αGal epitope (Galα-3αGal-4GlcNAc-R) and the MHC-I (main histocompatibility complex I). Furthermore, human serum staining was established to additionally identify unknown immunogens. Mechanical stability was investigated by measuring the ultimate tensile strength. To reduce the thrombogenic potential, vascular fragments were coated with heparin and tested for biocompatibility in a subcutaneous rat model. Results: Four detergents were tested for decellularization of BACs, only 1 % 3-[(3-Chol-amidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate removed all xenogeneic cells. DNA content was reduced to 0.2 ± 0.2% (p<0.001) and protein content to 0.6 ± 0.3% (p<0.001) compared to native BACs. RNA and toxic residues were not detectable. The immunogenic potential of decellularized BACs was reduced by 99.9% (p<0.01) and known immunogens such as αGal and MHC-I were not detectable after decellularization. The decellularization process did not affect the mechanical stability of BACs. The heparin coating significantly reduced the recellularization of the vessels (p<0.05), but toxic effects were not identified. Conclusion: The acellular vascular prosthesis made of BAC is biocompatible (non-toxic, non-immunogenic) and mechanically resistant (tensile strength). However, further investigations on thrombogenicity and mechanical strength as well as testing in animal models are necessary. Nevertheless, the results are promising and the decellularized BAC may be used in vascular replacement therapies in the near future

TERVEYSLIIKUNTA OSAKSI KANGASALAN KOTIHOIDON TARJOAMIA PALVELUJA -OPAS KOTIHOIDON TYÖNTEKIJÖILLE

Tämän toiminnallisen opinnäytetyön tarkoitus oli luoda terveysliikuntaopas Kangasalan kunnan kotihoidolle. Oppaan tavoitteena on, että sen avulla kaikki kotihoidon organisaatiossa työskentelevät pystyvät antamaan terveysliikuntapalveluja kotihoidon yli 65-vuotiaille asiakkaille heidän fyysisen toimintakykynsä huomioiden. Oppaan tekemiseen luotiin projekti, jonka avulla oppaan sisältö rakentui. Projektissa haastateltiin kuutta kotihoidon asiakasta. Heidän fyysinen kuntonsa testattiin ja heille tehtiin henkilökohtaiset terveysliikuntaohjelmat huomioiden heidän yksilölliset tavoitteensa. Projektitehtäviin kuului antaa asiakkaille terveysliikuntatietoa ja ohjausta liikkumisessa. Oppaan lopullinen versio perustuu projektista saatuihin kokemuksiin sisältäen koko terveysliikuntapalveluprosessin kotihoidolle. Oppaan ulkoasu noudattelee Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulun suosittamia dokumentointiohjeita. Oppaan terveysliikuntateoria ja terveysliikuntapalveluprosessi toimivat apuvälineinä asiakkaan ja kotihoidon välisessä keskustelussa. Opas sisältää ohjeet kahdeksaan fyysisen kunnon testiliikkeeseen valokuvineen, internetlinkkejä liikuntaohjelmien suunnittelua varten sekä paikallisia vanhuksille suunnattujen liikuntapaikkojen yhteystieoja. Asiakkaan aktiivisuuden seurantaan oppaassa on kopioitavaksi liikuntakortti, johon merkitään kaikki päivittäiset liikkumiset.The goal of this bachelor’s thesis was to create a work orientation guide for health exercise at Kangasala municipal home care. The aim of this guide was to provide information for all employees who work in the organization how to guarantee health exercises and home care services for customers over 65 years by taking into account their physical abilities to function. The work orientation guide was created with a setup project. The project interviewed six home care clients. Their physical conditions were tested and a personal health exercise program was made taking into account their individual goals. The project task was to provide customers with information and guidance on health exercise movement. The final version of the guide is based on the customers' experiences of the project, including the entire service process in health exercise in home care. The layout of the guide follows the recommended documentation instructions of the University of Applied Sciences. The health theory and the service process in the guide work as tools for assisting the client and home care. The guide contains instructions for eight physical fitness tests, including photographs, internet links for planning physical activity programs as well as local sports facilities for elderly people. In order to monitor a client’s activities, the guide includes so called physical card which records all the activities during the day

Innovations in Opioid Law and Policy Interventions Workshop: Summary of Proceedings

In 2017, Indiana University, in cooperation with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and community partners, launched the Grand Challenge: Responding to the Addictions Crisis initiative, a university-wide effort to advance interdisciplinary research and interventions in response to the substance abuse crisis affecting Indiana and the nation. The “Legal and Policy Best Practices in Response to the Substance Abuse Crisis” project is one of sixteen funded under Phase 1 of the Grand Challenge. In July 2018, and as part of this project, the research team convened a group of national experts to discuss legal and policy innovations to respond to the opioid use disorder (OUD) crisis. This report summarizes the proceedings of this workshop and updates some of the recommendations made by the team in their March 2018 Preliminary Report. During the workshop, experts answered targeted questions relating to the challenges in implementing law and policy recommendations to respond to the addiction crisis, as well as identified gaps in the current research. Participants provided examples of innovative interventions to respond to this crisis across four primary topic categories: (1) Criminalization; (2) Public Health; (3) Treatment; and (4) Effectuating Change