Browser-based Analysis of Web Framework Applications

Although web applications evolved to mature solutions providing sophisticated user experience, they also became complex for the same reason. Complexity primarily affects the server-side generation of dynamic pages as they are aggregated from multiple sources and as there are lots of possible processing paths depending on parameters. Browser-based tests are an adequate instrument to detect errors within generated web pages considering the server-side process and path complexity a black box. However, these tests do not detect the cause of an error which has to be located manually instead. This paper proposes to generate metadata on the paths and parts involved during server-side processing to facilitate backtracking origins of detected errors at development time. While there are several possible points of interest to observe for backtracking, this paper focuses user interface components of web frameworks.Comment: In Proceedings TAV-WEB 2010, arXiv:1009.330

Mapping paddy rice in Asia: a multi-sensor, time-series approach.

Rice is the most important food crop in Asia and the mapping and monitoring of paddy rice fields is an important task in the context of food security, food trade policy and greenhouse gas emissions modelling. Two countries where rice is of special significance are China, the largest producer and importer of rice, and Vietnam, where rice exports contribute a fifth to the GDP. Both countries are facing increasing pressure in terms of food security due to population and economic growth while agricultural areas are confronted with urban encroachment and the limits of yield increase. Despite the importance of knowledge about rice production the countries official land cover products and rice production statistics are of varying quality and sometimes even contradict each other. Available remote sensing studies focused either on time-series analysis from optical sensors or from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors – the studies using optical sensors faced problems due to either the spatial or temporal resolution and the persistent cloud cover while SAR studies found the limited data availability and large image size to be the biggest drawbacks. We try to address these issues by proposing a paddy rice mapping approach that combines medium spatial resolution, temporally dense time-series from the optical MODIS sensors and high spatial resolution time-series from the recently launched Sentinel-1 SAR sensor. We used the 250m resolution MOD13Q1 and MYD13Q1 products as a basis for our medium resolution rice map. Prevalent cloud cover introduces noise into these timeseries which we reduced by applying a Savitzky-Golay filter. We then derived a number of time-series temporal and phenological metrics for multiple years and classified rice areas with One Class Support Vector Machines. In a next step we used this medium resolution rice map to mask Sentinel-1 Interferometric Wide Swath images and create SAR time-series from which we again derived temporal and phenological metrics and classified rice areas with machine learning algorithms to arrive at a 10m resolution rice map. This method allows concurrent, accurate and high resolution mapping of paddy rice areas from freely available data with limited requirements towards processing infrastructure and can be used as a basis for greenhouse gas and crop modelling as well as providing viable information for decision makers regarding food security, food trade, bioeconomy and mitigation after crop failure. Results of our paddy rice classification will be presented for selected study sites in China and Vietnam

From Past to Present: Investigating Retrofitted GPS Antennas for Multi-GNSS Functionality

This paper investigates the re-use of highly precise equipment through the retrofitting of historical GPS choke ring antennas to accommodate Multi-GNSS systems. Specifically, it focuses on the former "reference" antenna of the International GNSS Service (IGS), the AOAD/M_T NONE antenna in a JPL 2d choke ring design, supported by the the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ). The Institut für Erdmessung (IfE), a calibration institution certified by the International GNSS Service (IGS), had two different types of such antennas available: one delivered with the original Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) and retrofitted with the updated LNA, and another already equipped with the updated LNA. The IfE performed calibrations with both the original and retrofitted LNAs, providing legacy GPS L1/L2 calibrations and Multi-GNSS calibrations for broader variety of signals and frequencies. These calibrations are based on the robot calibration approach with a robot arm on a short baseline with common clock to reduce all external error sources. In this study, we present the different performance of the antenna with the retrofitted LNA based on Signal-to-Noise decrease functions, signal and frequency comparisons, variations in carrier phase, and analysis of code phase (group delays). Furthermore, we have performed an analysis on the basis of the pattern domain of PCC (Phase Center Corrections) and GDV (Group Delay Variations), as well as on the parameter domain, including positioning and other parameters such as clock corrections. Comprehensive performance analysis has been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of such retrofitted antennas to also support Multi-GNSS systems. Additionally, we apply newly developed scalar measures for comparisons and performance analysis, providing a robust framework for assessing the suitability of retrofitted antennas for modern navigation needs. The findings shed light on the practical implications and technical considerations involved in adapting historical GPS choke ring antennas, emphasising responsible equipment re-use and performance optimisation in today's technological landscape

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of an industrial area in semi-arid Uzbekistan: spatial distribution, relationship with trace metals and risk assessment

The concentrations, composition patterns, transport and fate of PAHs in semi-arid and arid soils such as in Central Asia are not well known. Such knowledge is required to manage the risk posed by these toxic chemicals to humans and ecosystems in these regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we determined the concentrations of 21 parent PAHs, 4,5-methylenephenanthrene, 6 alkylated PAHs, and biphenyl in soils from 11 sampling locations (0–10, 10–20 cm soil depths) along a 20-km transect downwind from the Almalyk metal mining and metallurgical industrial complex (Almalyk MMC), Uzbekistan. The concentrations of Σ29 PAHs and Σ16 US-EPA PAHs were 41–2670 ng g$^{-1}$ and 29–1940 ng g$^{-1}$, respectively. The highest concentration of Σ29 PAHs occurred in the immediate vicinity of the copper smelting factory of the Almalyk MMC. The concentrations in topsoil decreased substantially to a value of ≤ 200 ng g$^{-1}$ (considered as background concentration) at ≥ 2 km away from the factory. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the PAH mixtures at less contaminated sites and high molecular weight PAHs at the most contaminated site. The concentration of Σ16 US-EPA PAHs did not exceed the precautionary values set by the soil quality guidelines of, e.g., Switzerland and Germany. Similarly, the benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration in soils near the Almalyk MMC did not exceed the value set by the Canadian guidelines for the protection of humans from carcinogenic PAHs in soils. Consequently, the cancer risk due to exposure to PAHs in these soils can be considered as low

Validation as New Imaging Biomarker

Background In order to select patients most likely to benefit for thrombolysis and to predict patient outcome in acute ischemic stroke, the volumetric assessment of the infarcted tissue is used. However, infarct volume estimation on Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) has moderate interrater variability despite the excellent contrast between ischemic lesion and healthy tissue. In this study, we compared volumetric measurements of DWI hyperintensity to a simple maximum orthogonal diameter approach to identify thresholds indicating infarct size >70 ml and >100 ml. Methods Patients presenting with ischemic stroke with an NIHSS of ≥ 8 were examined with stroke MRI within 24 h after symptom onset. For assessment of the orthogonal DWI lesion diameters (od- values) the image with the largest lesion appearance was chosen. The maximal diameter of the lesion was determined and a second diameter was measured perpendicular. Both diameters were multiplied. Od-values were compared to volumetric measurement and od-value thresholds identifying a lesion size of > 70 ml and > 100 ml were determined. In a selected dataset with an even distribution of lesion sizes we compared the results of the od value thresholds with results of the ABC/2 and estimations of lesion volumes made by two resident physicians. Results For 108 included patients (53 female, mean age 71.36 years) with a median infarct volume of 13.4 ml we found an excellent correlation between volumetric measures and od-values (r2 = 0.951). Infarct volume >100 ml corresponds to an od-value cut off of 42; > 70 ml corresponds to an od-value of 32. In the compiled dataset (n = 50) od-value thresholds identified infarcts > 100 ml / > 70 ml with a sensitivity of 90%/ 93% and with a specificity of 98%/ 89%. The od-value offered a higher accuracy in identifying large infarctions compared to both visual estimations and the ABC/2 method. Conclusion The simple od-value enables identification of large DWI lesions in acute stroke. The cutoff of 42 is useful to identify large infarctions with volume larger than 100 ml. Further studies can analyze the therapeutic utility of this new method

High‐resolution diffusion‐weighted imaging identifies ischemic lesions in a majority of transient ischemic attack patients

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is defined as focal neurological deficit caused by ischemia resolving within 24 hours. In a secondary analysis of a large monocentric cohort of 446 TIA patients, we explored the frequency and determinants of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Overall, 240 (54%) of all TIA patients presented with DWI lesions. These patients had higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and ABCD2 scores and presented more frequently with vessel occlusion and perfusion deficits, but had similar functional outcome at 3 months. Taken together, high-resolution DWI provides evidence of ischemic brain injury in the majority of TIA patients. ANN NEUROL 201

How are social stressors at work related to well-being and health? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Social relationships are crucial for well-being and health, and considerable research has established social stressors as a risk for well-being and health. However, researchers have used many different constructs, and it is unclear if these are actually different or reflect a single overarching construct. Distinct patterns of associations with health/well-being would indicate separate constructs, similar patterns would indicate a common core construct, and remaining differences could be attributed to situational characteristics such as frequency or intensity. The current meta-analysis therefore investigated to what extent different social stressors show distinct (versus similar) patterns of associations with well-being and health. Methods: We meta-analysed 557 studies and investigated correlations between social stressors and outcomes in terms of health and well-being (e.g. burnout), attitudes (e.g. job satisfaction), and behaviour (e.g. counterproductive work behaviour). Moderator analyses were performed to determine if there were differences in associations depending on the nature of the stressor, the outcome, or both. To be included, studies had to be published in peer-reviewed journals in English or German; participants had to be employed at least 50% of a full-time equivalent (FTE). Results: The overall relation between social stressors and health/well-being was of medium size (r = -.30, p < .001). Type of social stressor and outcome category acted as moderators, with moderating effects being larger for outcomes than for stressors. The strongest effects emerged for job satisfaction, burnout, commitment, and counterproductive work behaviour. Type of stressor yielded a significant moderation, but differences in effect sizes for different stressors were rather small overall. Rather small effects were obtained for physical violence and sexual mistreatment, which is likely due to a restricted range because of rare occurrence and/or underreporting of such intense stressors. Conclusions: We propose integrating diverse social stressor constructs under the term "relational devaluation" and considering situational factors such as intensity or frequency to account for the remaining variance. Practical implications underscore the importance for supervisors to recognize relational devaluation in its many different forms and to avoid or minimize it as far as possible in order to prevent negative health-related outcomes for employees

Debating the Quad

In this Centre of Gravity paper, six of Australia’s leading scholars and policy experts debate Australian participation in the ‘Australia-India-Japan-United States consultations on the Indo-Pacific’ - known universally as the ‘Quad’. A decade since its first iteration, the revival of the Quad presents significant questions for Australia and the regional order. Is the Quad a constructive partnership of the region’s major powers to safeguard regional stability, uphold the rules-based order and promote security cooperation? Is it a concert of democracies seeking to contain China? Or is it an emerging strategic alignment that risks precipitating the very confrontation with China it seeks to avoid? Or is it something else entirely

HypoRiPPAtlas as an Atlas of hypothetical natural products for mass spectrometry database search

Recent analyses of public microbial genomes have found over a million biosynthetic gene clusters, the natural products of the majority of which remain unknown. Additionally, GNPS harbors billions of mass spectra of natural products without known structures and biosynthetic genes. We bridge the gap between large-scale genome mining and mass spectral datasets for natural product discovery by developing HypoRiPPAtlas, an Atlas of hypothetical natural product structures, which is ready-to-use for in silico database search of tandem mass spectra. HypoRiPPAtlas is constructed by mining genomes using seq2ripp, a machine-learning tool for the prediction of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). In HypoRiPPAtlas, we identify RiPPs in microbes and plants. HypoRiPPAtlas could be extended to other natural product classes in the future by implementing corresponding biosynthetic logic. This study paves the way for large-scale explorations of biosynthetic pathways and chemical structures of microbial and plant RiPP classes