Optimization of media processing workflows with adaptive operator behaviors

In this paper, we present the ARIA media processing workflow architecture that processes, filters, and fuses sensory inputs and actuates responses in real-time. The components of the architecture are programmable and adaptable; i.e. the delay, size, and quality/precision characteristics of the individual operators can be controlled via a number of parameters. Each data object processed by qStream components is subject to transformations based on the parameter values. For instance, the quality of an output data object and the corresponding processing delay and resource usage depend on the values assigned to parameters of the operators in the object flow path. In Candan, Peng, Ryu, Chatha, Mayer (Efficient stream routing in quality- and resource-adaptive flow architectures. In: Workshop on multimedia information systems, 2004), we introduced a class of flow optimization problems that promote creation and delivery of small delay or small resource-usage objects to the actuators in single-sensor, single-actuator workflows. In this paper, we extend our attention to multi-sensor media processing workflow scenarios. The algorithms we present take into account the implicit dependencies between various system parameters, such as resource consumption and object sizes. We experimentally show the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithms.

Reduction of disulfide bonds in an amyloidogenic Bence Jones protein leads to formation of "amyloid-like" fibrils in vitro

Motivated by the finding that the amino acid sequence of the Bence Jones protein BJP-DIA was identical to that of the main protein component of the amyloid fibrils obtained from the same patient with AL-amyloidosis, (Klafki, H.-W., Kratzin, H.-D., Pick, A.-I., Eckart, K., Karas, M. & Hilschmann, N. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 3265-3272.), we attempted to create "amyloid-like" fibrils from the Bence Jones protein in vitro, without addition of proteolytic enzymes. Reduction of BJP-DIA, solubilized in PBS, pH 7.4, overnight at 37 degrees C resulted in the formation of a precipitate which had affinity for the dye Congo red. Electron microscopy of negatively stained samples of the reduced protein revealed aggregates of linear unbranched fibrils. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the precipitate consisted almost exclusively of intact light chain molecules. This result makes it possible to deduce a molecular model of these amyloid fibrils generated in vitro.     

Evaluation of the origin of nitrate influencing the Klju? groundwater source, Serbia

This paper describes the use of the dual isotope method involving δ(15)N and δ(18)O measurements of dissolved nitrates to assess the origin and fate of groundwater nitrate at the Klju? groundwater source, Serbia. A sampling campaign was conducted in September 2007 during flow conditions obtaining groundwater from observation wells and river water fed by a shallow aquifer hosted in alluvial (sandy-gravel) sediments. Nitrate isotope ratios ranged from +5.3 to +16.9‰ and δ(18)O(NO(3)) values varied from -2.3 to +5.0‰. Two major contamination sources were identified with isotopic compositions characteristic for nitrate derived from nitrification of soil organic nitrogen (+5.3 to +7.8‰ for δ(15)N) resulting in nitrate concentrations of 33.6 and 78.8 mg/L and nitrate derived from animal wastes or human sewage, e.g. via septic systems, yielding δ(15)N values of +9.9 to +11.9‰ and elevated nitrate concentrations of 31.2-245.8 mg/L. The occurrence of nitrification and denitrification was also revealed based on concentration and isotope data for dissolved nitrate.     

Instructional effectiveness of a computer-supported program for teaching reading comprehension strategies

This article examines the effectiveness of a computer-based instructional program (e-PELS) aimed at direct instruction in a collection of reading comprehension strategies. In e-PELS, students learn to highlight and outline expository passages based on various types of text structures (such as comparison or cause-and-effect) as well as to paraphrase, self-question, and summarize. The study involved 1041 fourth-grade elementary students from 21 schools distributed in three regions in central Chile. Participant teachers integrated this program into the Spanish language curriculum, instructing their students during thirty sessions of 90 min each during one school semester. Pretest-to-posttest gains in reading comprehension scores were significantly greater for students instructed with this program than for students who received traditional instruction (d = .5), with particularly strong effects for lower-achieving students (d = .7). The findings support the efficacy of direct instruction in specific learning strategies in a computer-based environment.     

Situative Managementunterstützungssysteme

Digital natives increasingly populate organizations?? management. These new-generation managers more naturally accept management support systems (MSS), but also have higher expectations about how they should accommodate their individual user preferences. As a result, managers question MSS that have been developed without configuration mechanisms to accommodate their working style, relevant MSS use cases, and different MSS access modes. The objective of this article is to reveal managers?? different MSS use situations and propose levers for tailoring (conceptual) MSS design to them. Use situations generalize classes of similar user-group preferences. We first apply findings from a literature review to cluster managers?? user-group preferences into 36 MSS use situations. Second, we propose that the selection of end-user devices can serve as a main lever for MSS configuration. Third, we complete the configuration with a MSS user-interface design. Finally, we demonstrate utility of our configuration model by presenting and evaluating a prototype.     

Trennung von Muskelprotein, Kollagen und Elastin durch fraktionierte Extraktion mit Na-dodecylsulfat(SDS)-L?sungen

Zusammenfassung Die fraktionierte Extraktion mit Na-dodecylsulfat(SDS)-Lösungen ermöglicht die Trennung von Muskel- und Bindegewebs-Protein. In einem zweiten Schritt kann auch Kollagen von Elastin getrennt werden. Muskelprotein löst sich unter Schütteln bei Zimmertemperatur in einer SDS(2%)-ME(1%)-Lösung in einem Boratpuffer pH 9. Zur Lösung des Kollagens sind 100°C, intensives Rühren und eine SDS(8%)-ME(1%)-Lösung in einem Citratpuffer pH 5 notwendig. Das Verfahren wurde an nativem und hitzedenaturiertem Material angewendet. Die Möglichkeit zur Bestimmung des BEFFE-Wertes in Brühwürsten mit dieser Methode wird untersucht und die Anwendung auf andere Fleischprodukte diskutiert.

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Fractionation of muscle protein, collagen and elastin by extraction with buffers containing dodecylsulfat (SDS)

Summary Dodecylsulfate (SDS) containing buffers were used for stepwise extraction of proteins from muscle and connective tissue. The first step was done at room temperature with borate buffer pH 9 and the muscle proteins were extracted. The second treatment (citrate buffer pH 5 at 100°C) dissolved collagen and left elastin as residue. All extracts were analysed by electrophoresis to identify the proteins and evaluated by a biuret method insensitive to SDS and ME. This method was applied to native and heatdenatured proteins and to Brühwdrste. The possibility of applying this method to the determination of the BEFFE-content is discussed.

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Benutzte Abkürzungen NPN Nichteiweißstickstoffverbindungen - ATM Acetontrockenmasse - BEFFE bindegewebseiweißfreies Fleischeiweiß - OH-Pro Hydroxyprolin - SDS Natrium(Sodium)-dodecylsulfat - ME 2-Mercapto-äthanol - Tris Tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethan - PAGE Polyacrylamid-Gelelektrophorese - Vk Variationskoeffizient - S Standardabweichung - Mittelwert Die Arbeit ist Teil der Dissertation von I. de WreedeWir danken der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft für ihre finanzielle Unterstützung und Herrn Dr. H. H. Heinert, Leiter des Staatl. Veterinär-Untersuchungsamtes Braunschweig, der freundlicherweise die Brühwurstproben zur Verfügung gestellt hat     

A proximate-time-optimal-control design and its application to a hard disk drive dual-stage actuator system

We propose a compensator-based strategy for design of a track-seeking and track-following control system for a dual-stage servo actuator in hard disk drives. A well-known decoupling structure is employed to disconnect the control of the primary voice coil motor (VCM) actuator from the loop for a secondary high-bandwidth actuator. The compensator is placed in the secondary loop and suitably combined with a saturation nonlinearity in order to obtain actuator signal boundedness. The design procedure consists of four steps: 1) design of an established nonlinear seek-settle-track following controller for the VCM; 2) design of a linear track following controller for the secondary actuator; 3) observer design; and 4) design of a compensator to retain global stability and to improve performance. The proposed control system improves performance of both long-span seeking (proximate-time-optimal controller) and short-span seeking. In addition, it achieves high-bandwidth track following performance. The experimental results show good track-following performance, and short-span/long-span-seeking performance with fast settling time. The overshoot during track seeking can be made negligible for a suitably tuned VCM-actuator control loop.