This paper presents a method to segment the hand over complex backgrounds, such as the face. The similar colors and texture of the hand and face make the problem particularly challenging. Our method is based on the concept of an image force field. In this representation each individual image location consists of a vector value which is a nonlinear combination of the remaining pixels in the imag...

There is a long tradition in ecology of evaluating the relative contribution of the regional species pool and local interactions on the structure of local communities. Similarly, a growing number of studies assess the phylogenetic structure of communities, relative to that in the regional species pool, to examine the interplay between broad-scale evolutionary and fine-scale ecological processes...

I n this study, the Regional Input- Output Structural Decomposition Analysis (I-O SDA) is used to investigate the effects of technological changes on employment in Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran during 2006-2011. This paper develops the SDA method to decompose the technological change from two viewpoints of supply and demand for intermediate inputs in each sector. These chan...

Background Left ventricular rotational deformation, which arises from contraction of myofibers arranged in a helical structure, plays a crucial role in cardiac mechanics. Myocardial dysfunction in cardiomyopathies is usually associated with altered diastolic rotation [1-3]. However, regional myocardial abnormalities in various cardiomyopathies may result in regional alterations of both systolic...

when the tunisian revolution triggered the domino of the collapse arab leaders, it was not anticipated to reach to syria creating a deep conflict with local, regional and trans-regional dimensions. however, when the protests speared to syria, various players try to exploit it to their own advantage, and an all-out conflict began. due to syria's geopolitical location, regional powers such as ira...

According to the research status of regional agriculture industry structure adjustment information system and the current development of information technology, this paper takes web-based regional agriculture industry structure optimization tool as research target. This paper introduces Ajax technology and related application frameworks to build an auxiliary toolkit of decision support system f...

Streams and rivers only contain a small proportion of the Earth’s freshwater, but nevertheless harbour much biodiversity. Headwater streams are the most prevalent running water environments, but despite their wide distribution, they are often excluded from important freshwater legislation and national monitoring programmes. This thesis investigated biodiversity patterns of benthic macroinverteb...

Seismic isolation is a method to reduce the destructive effects of earthquakes on a structure in which the structure is separated from its foundation by devices called seismic isolators. As a result, the horizontal movements of the earthquake transmitted to the structure are reduced. The seismic isolation is used for both newly constructed structures as well as for retrofitting the existing bui...