社区GIS数据模型的设计与应用研究

城市社区的发展需要社区GIS提供强有力的服务工具,运用关系数据库的理论并结合郑州市社区GIS的开发,探讨了社区GIS数据的分类和数据组织,按照关系数据库设计的方法,建立了社区GIS数据模型.郑州市社区GIS的成功运行,表明采用这种方法设计社区GIS数据模型的方法是行之有效的.     

DRM

Two proposals on digital rights management (DRM) may be broughtinto law in the next couple of years:     

Testing homogeneous spreadsheet grids with the "what you see iswhat you test" methodology

Although there has been recent research into ways to design environments that enable end users to create their own programs, little attention has been given to helping these end users systematically test their programs. To help address this need in spreadsheet systems (the most widely used type of end-user programming language), we previously introduced a visual approach to systematically testing individual cells in spreadsheet systems. However, the previous approach did not scale well in the presence of largely homogeneous grids, which introduce problems somewhat analogous to the array-testing problems of imperative programs. We present two approaches to spreadsheet testing that explicitly support such grids. We present the algorithms, time complexities, and performance data comparing the two approaches. This is part of our continuing work to bring to end users at least some of the benefits of formalized notions of testing without requiring knowledge of testing beyond a naive level     

A low-cost near-infrared digital camera for fire detection and monitoring

The human visualization system is not optimally suited for fire detection. Smoke occlusion heavily limits flame visibility and low flames can be difficult to see. Thermal infrared (TIR) sensors mitigate these effects but come at high costs (>$3000) that limit use. Digital cameras modified to record near-infrared (NIR) are potential alternatives and are much more affordable (<$500). We examined the effectiveness of a converted NIR camera for fire detection. Eleven burning slash piles were simultaneously imaged with both a NIR and a camera-sensitive visible or red, green, and blue (RGB) light to compare performance. Quantitative differences in image fire-to-background contrast and flame size were compared between the paired NIR and RGB images. Quantitative analysis was facilitated by Maximum Likelihood Classifier in ENVI. Differences between contrast ratios and flame sizes were assessed for statistical significance by randomization test. Results showed statistically significant (p < 0.01) increases in both contrast ratio and flame size in all NIR images. The low-cost alternative offered by this technology relative to proven thermal sensors is attractive and immediately accessible. NIR sensors will never be as effective as TIR, but at a fraction of the cost, these cameras can fill a significant void in fire line situational awareness.     

The impact of map orientation and generalisation on congestion decisions: a comparison of schematic-egocentric and topographic-allocentric maps

Map information for drivers is usually presented in an allocentric-topographic form (as with printed maps) or in an egocentric-schematic form (as with road signs). The advent of new variable message boards on UK motorways raises the possibility of presenting road maps to reflect congestion ahead. Should these maps be allocentric-topographic or egocentric-schematic? This was assessed in an eye tracking study, with participants viewing maps of a motorway network in order to identify whether any congestion was relevant to their intended route. The schematic-egocentric maps were responded to most accurately with shorter fixation durations suggesting easier processing. In particular, the driver's entrance and intended exit from the map were attended to more in the allocentric maps. Individual differences in mental rotation ability also seem to contribute to poor performance on allocentric maps. The results favour schematic-egocentric maps for roadside congestion information, but also provide theoretical insights into map-rotation and individual differences. Statement of Relevance: This study informs designers and policy makers about optimum representations of traffic congestion on roadside variable message signs and, furthermore, demonstrates that individual differences contribute to problems with processing certain sign types. Schematic-egocentric representations of a motorway network produced the best results, as noted in behavioural and eye movement measures.     

Scaling up visual programming languages

The directness, immediacy, and simplicity of visual programming languages are appealing. The question is, can VPLs be effectively applied to large scale programming problems while retaining these characteristics. In scaling up, the problem is how to expand applicability without sacrificing the goals of better logic expression and understanding. From a size standpoint, scaling up refers to the programmer's ability to apply VPLs in larger programs. Such programs range from those requiring several days' work by a single programmer to programs requiring months of work, large programming teams, and large data structures. From a problem domain standpoint, scaling up refers to suitability for many kinds of problems. These range from visual application domains-such as user interface design or scientific visualization-to general purpose programming in such diverse areas as financial planning, simulations, and real time applications with explicit timing requirements. To illustrate the scaling up problem, we discuss nine major subproblems and describe emerging solutions from existing VPL systems. First, we examine representation issues, including static representation, screen real estate, and documentation. Next, we examine programming language issues-procedural abstraction, interactive visual data abstraction, type checking, persistence, and efficiency. Finally, we look at issues beyond the coding process     

MPEG-21 in backpack journalism scenario

The vision of MPEG-21-the multimedia framework-is to enable transparent and augmented use of multimedia resources across a wide range of networks and devices used by different communities. As the initial standardization effort for MPEG-21 reaches its conclusion, this article explores one case scenario and examines whether MPEG-21 can achieve its vision.     

Ovine arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in the pineal and pituitary glands: differences in function and regulation

The enzyme arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT; EC 2.3.1.87) has been conventionally linked with the biosynthesis of melatonin within the pineal gland and retina. This study establishes that AANAT messenger RNA (mRNA) and functional enzyme occurs within the pars tuberalis (PT) and to a lesser degree within the pars distalis (PD) of the sheep pituitary gland; expression in these tissues is approximately 1/15th (PT) and 1/300th (PD) of that in the ovine pineal gland. AANAT mRNA in the PT appears to be expressed in the same cells as the Mel1a receptor. No evidence was obtained to indicate that either PT or PD cells have the ability to synthesize melatonin, suggesting that this enzyme plays a different functional role in the pituitary. We also found that cAMP regulation of the abundance of AANAT mRNA differs between the PT and pineal gland. Forskolin (10 microM) has no effect on pineal AANAT mRNA levels, yet represses expression in the PT. This suppressive influence could be mediated by ICER (inducible cAMP response early repressor), which is induced by forskolin in both tissues. Although it appears that the specific function and regulation of AANAT in the pituitary gland differ from that in the pineal gland, it seems likely that AANAT may play a role in the broader area of signal transduction through the biotransformation of amines.     

Mean-shape vector quantizer for ECG signal compression

A direct waveform mean-shape vector quantization (MSVQ) is proposed here as an alternative for electrocardiographic (ECG) signal compression. In this method, the mean values for short ECG signal segments are quantized as scalars and compression of the single-lead ECG by average beat substraction and residual differencing their waveshapes coded through a vector quantizer. An entropy encoder is applied to both, mean and vector codes, to further increase compression without degrading the quality of the reconstructed signals. In this paper, the fundamentals of MSVQ are discussed, along with various parameters specifications such as duration of signal segments, the wordlength of the mean-value quantization and the size of the vector codebook. The method is assessed through percent-residual-difference measures on reconstructed signals, whereas its computational complexity is analyzed considering its real-time implementation. As a result, MSVQ has been found to be an efficient compression method, leading to high compression ratios (CR's) while maintaining a low level of waveform distortion and, consequently, preserving the main clinically interesting features of the ECG signals. CR's in excess of 39 have been achieved, yielding low data rates of about 140 bps. This compression factor makes this technique especially attractive in the area of ambulatory monitoring.