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The automated library system (ALS) has undergone significant changes since its inception in the 1970s. It is no longer simply a database to house and retrieve a library's holdings. It has become an integrated library system (ILS) comprised of robust clusters of systems involving every process and module related to libraries. The Internet, open source, the increase in electronic resources, and the rising expectations of library users are changing the nature of the ILS. Library vendors are at times struggling to keep up with the demand for new services while providing support for existing services. This article details the evolving role of the ILS and discusses where it could and should be headed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the Union List of Monographs (ULM) of Israel's Automated Library Expandable Program Hebrew University (ALEPH) in the context of merging algorithms. Merging goals; Merging disparate formats; Developing the merging algorithm; Theory of merging algorithms; Case studies on merging algorithms; Problems in matching and merging methods.

Filtering is one of the core post-processing steps for Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) point clouds. A segmentation-based filtering (SBF) method is proposed herein. This method is composed of three key steps: point cloud segmentation, multiple echoes analysis, and iterative judgment. Moreover, the third step is our main contribution. Particularly, the iterative judgment is based on the framework of the classic progressive TIN (triangular irregular network) densification (PTD) method, but with basic processing unit being a segment rather than a single point. Seven benchmark datasets provided by ISPRS Working Group III/3 are utilized to test the SBF algorithm and the classic PTD method. Experimental results suggest that, compared with the PTD method, the SBF approach is capable of preserving discontinuities of landscapes and removing the lower parts of large objects attached on the ground surface. As a result, the SBF approach is able to reduce omission errors and total errors by 18.26% and 11.47% respectively, which would significantly decrease the cost of manual operation required in post-processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Region growing is frequently applied in automated individual tree crown delineation (ITCD) studies. Researchers have developed various rules for initial seed selection and stop criteria when applying the algorithm. However, research has rarely focused on the impact of tree-oriented growth order. This study implemented a marker-controlled region growing (MCRG) algorithm that considers homogeneity, crown size, and shape using airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, and investigated the impact of three growth orders (i.e., sequential, independent, and simultaneous) on tree crown delineation. The study also investigated the benefit of combining ALS data and orthoimagery in treetop detection at both plot and individual tree levels. The results showed that complementary data from the orthoimagery reduced omission error associated with small trees in the treetop detection procedure and improved treetop detection percentage on a plot level by 2%-5% compared to ALS alone. For tree crown delineation, the growth order applied in the MCRG algorithm influenced accuracy. Simultaneous growth yielded slightly higher accuracy (about 2% improvement for producer's and user's accuracy) than sequential growth. Independent growth provided comparable accuracy to simultaneous growth in this study by dealing with overlapping pixels among trees according to crown shape. This study provides several recommendations for applying region growing in future ITCD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data registration is a prerequisite for the integration of multi-platform laser scanning in various applications. A new approach is proposed for the semi-automatic registration of airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data with buildings without eaves. Firstly, an automatic calculation procedure for thresholds in density of projected points (DoPP) method is introduced to extract boundary segments from terrestrial laser scanning data. A new algorithm, using a self-extending procedure, is developed to recover the extracted boundary segments, which then intersect to form the corners of buildings. The building corners extracted from airborne and terrestrial laser scanning are reliably matched through an automatic iterative process in which boundaries from two datasets are compared for the reliability check. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed approach provides both high reliability and high geometric accuracy (average error of 0.44 m/0.15 m in horizontal/vertical direction for corresponding building corners) for the final registration of airborne laser scanning (ALS) and tripod mounted terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persönliches: Werner Sobek 60 Jahre. (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Jäger, TU Dresden) Ehrendoktorwürde an Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Holschemacher verliehen. Dekan der Fakultät Bauwesen ist Ehrendoktor der Universität SWSU Kursk Hochschule für Technik ernennt den Baudynamik-Experten Prof. Dr.-Ing. Albrecht Burmeister zum Honorarprofessor Nachrichten: Deutscher Bautechnik-Tag 2013 in Hamburg mit 1200 Teilnehmern ein voller Erfolg Wer billig baut, baut teuer. Ingenieure fordern Leistungs- statt Preiswettbewerb BetonMarketing Nordost begrüßte mehr als 2000 Ingenieure und Architekten Bücher: E. Carrera, G. Giunta, M. Petrolo: Beam Structures. Classical and Advanced Theories. ( Richard Friedrich, Erlangen) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The additive biclustering model for two-way two-mode object by variable data implies overlapping clusterings of both the objects and the variables together with a weight for each bicluster (i.e., a pair of an object and a variable cluster). In the data analysis, an additive biclustering model is fitted to given data by means of minimizing a least squares loss function. To this end, two alternating least squares algorithms ( ALS) may be used: (1) PENCLUS, and (2) Baier's ALS approach. However, both algorithms suffer from some inherent limitations, which may hamper their performance. As a way out, based on theoretical results regarding optimally designing ALS algorithms, in this paper a new ALS algorithm will be presented. In a simulation study this algorithm will be shown to outperform the existing ALS approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Family carers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are presumed to have frequent involvement in decision-making for symptom management and quality of life. To better understand and improve decision-making, we investigated the range and extent of carer participation in decision-making. By focusing on the perspectives of ALS support carers, the study aimed to explore carer participation in decision-making, to identify carer roles, and determine the facilitators and barriers to carer participation in decision-making for ALS multidisciplinary care. Participants and methods: An exploratory, in-depth study was conducted with eight carers of ALS patients from two specialized ALS multidisciplinary clinics. Carers participated in semi-structured interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed then coded and analyzed for emergent themes. Results: Carers made a significant contribution to ALS decision-making. Their roles were: promoting the patient voice, promoting patient health literacy, and providing emotional support and logistical assistance. Facilitators of carer participation in decision-making were perceived to be: health professional endorsement of patients' decision-making style; access to credible information sources; evidence-based information from the ALS clinic, ALS support association, and health practitioners; supportive relationships with family and friends; spiritual faith; ease of contact with ALS services; and availability of physical and practical support for carers. Barriers to carer participation included: changes to patient communication and cognition; conflict between respect for patients' independence and patients' best interest; communication breakdown between patient, carer, and service providers; the confronting nature of disease information; credibility of Internet sites; carer coping strategies; lack of support for the carer; and the burden of care. Conclusion: Carers enhance ALS patient-centered care through their participation in decision-making. They collaborate with patients and health professionals to form a decision-making triad within specialized multidisciplinary ALS clinical care. Nevertheless, health professional engagement with carers as collaborative partners is acknowledged to be a significant challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The services provided by libraries should be put at the disposal of users for all their fields of interest. Technology and its electronic processing constituent have passed over the critical level and determine libraries to create systems for access to information and to be efficient. Among these, the OPAC system occupies a central position compared to all the other interest axes. Today, the OPAC system functionalities should be at a real standard level and overpass it by innovating its functions requested, on one hand, by the public who uses highly advanced technologically mobile devices, and, on the other hand, by librarians, when solving the information tasks in an objective manner and develop their own services. The standard functionalities as well as the extended ones belonging to a new generation OPAC system presented in the article represent a necessary benchmark for the librarians interested in developing their own automated library system, as well as by the orientation and development of services, taking into consideration their public and how this public influences and it is influenced by technology and communications, in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automated library's readers' desk management system is a modern innovation that is expected to help in the circulation registration of processed books and register users. The existing library management system processes in most institutions of higher learning in the developing countries is not fast enough and it is mainly manually processed. This paper presents a library readers' desk management system with the use of fingerprint biometric and barcode technology to the activities of a library's readers' services. The proposed system is capable of reducing the time spent and errors associated with identification and verification of users and library books as well as charging-in and charging-out of books to library patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including techniques for fusion of airborne laser scanning (ALS), the societal, scientific and industrial impact of ALS, and information extraction methods.

Copyright of Schmollers Jahrbuch is the property of Duncker & Humblot GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on a study regarding the automation of academic libraries in Mexico City in connection with the concept of a Comprehensive Automated Library System called Sistema Integral de Automatización de Bibliotecas (SIAB).

An automated library environment is quite different from that of a library whose operations and services are still done manually. The paper shares Bowen University Library, Iwo, Nigeria automation experiences using Open Source Library Management Software, Koha. The paper explains the automation process such as choice of software, installation and configuration, training of staff and users, retrospective conversion, challenges and experience after automation. The paper carries out survey of library user satisfaction with the system. The result shows that users prefer the automated system to manual system. It also explains how automation has enhanced operations and provision of information services. The paper among others encourages libraries to consider the use of an open source software for their automation project, advises that they should be open to changes that ICT introduces to library profession, and settle the issue of regular power supply with management before embarking on automation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of new useful patterns in data is a core process for intelligent systems. In this work a knowledge discovery methodology to retrieve useful and novel information from data stored in a DBMS is presented. This methodology has been designed to be used in the ALS (Linguistic Atlas of Sicily) Project. The theoretical part of the ALS methodology has been developed jointly from researchers at The Dipartimento di Scienze Filologiche e Linguistiche of the University of Palermo. The main purposes of the project are to track and to study the geo-linguistic and lexicographic processes about the function and usage of the Sicilian dialect. The whole framework is based on The integration of several modules responding to different purposes. The knowledge discovery modules uses an on ontology-based methodology for the creation, retrieval, manipulation and browsing of information. The on-going collaboration process is a perfect example of a domain hybridizing process, enabling the training on-the-field of a group of researchers who participate to the constitution of the a local humanities computing community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on our implementation of a tableau prover for the description logic ALC, which is based on the EXPTIME tableau algorithm using global caching for ALC that was developed jointly by us and Goré [9]. The prover, called TGC for "Tableaux with Global Caching", checks satisfiability of a set of concepts w.r.t. a set of global assumptions by constructing an and-or graph, using tableau rules for expanding nodes. We have implemented for TGC a special set of optimizations which co-operates very well with global caching and various search strategies. The test results on the test set T98-sat of DL'98 Systems Comparison indicate that TGC is an efficient prover for ALC. This suggests that global caching together with the set of optimizations used for TGC is worth implementing and experimenting also for other modal/description logics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of motor neurons. While the most common form of ALS is sporadic and has no known cause, a small subset of cases is familial because of underlying genetic mutations. The best-studies example of familial ALS is that caused by mutations in the protein copper–zinc superoxide dismutase. The formation of SOD1-rich inclusions in the spinal cord is an early and prominent feature of SOD1-linked familial ALS in human patients and animal models of this disease. These inclusions have been shown to consist of SOD1-rich fibrils, suggesting that the conversion of soluble SOD1 into amyloid fibrils may play an important role in the etiology of familial ALS. SOD1 is also present in inclusions found in spinal cords of sporadic ALS patients, allowing speculations to arise regarding a possible involvement of SOD1 in the sporadic form of this disease. We here review the recent research on the significance, causes, and mechanisms of SOD1 fibril formation from a biophysical perspective. Antioxid. Redox Signal.11, 1603–1614. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because digital libraries (DLs) are treated as determinant information centers, libraries especially their managers are thinking about how phenomenon "DLs" can be effectively managed. So, the present article aims to provide managers of DLs with an approach. To do this, two main pillars considered in definition offered by Digital Library Federation namely staff and users are debated. Accordingly, some skills, instructional programs and qualities needed both for users and staff of DLs with which they can interact more effectively with new technologies such as DLs are included in the text. In fact, this paper emphasizes on educational function of DLs and thus offers an approach for its implementation from a managerial standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The explosion of information communication technology (ICT) since the beginning of the 20th century has been rendering manual-based library system in academic, research, special and public libraries less relevant. This is because using and implementing information communication technology in the library depend largely on the librarian attitude toward the current digital age. This study examined the attitudinal correlates of some selected Nigerian Librarian towards the use and application of ICT in their various libraries. A total of 41 librarians from all the four censured automated libraries in Oyo state of Nigeria formed the study's population. Two research questions were developed to guide the study. The results indicate that all the four out of the five variables age, gender, educational qualifications and prior knowledge of ICT significantly correlate with librarian attitude towards ICT; while the other variable ICT anxiety correlate negatively with the librarian attitude towards ICT. Findings further show that all the 5 variables significantly predict librarian's attitude towards ICT with prior ICT experience showing the greatest predictive effect. Based on these findings, it is recommended that libraries in the developing countries should consider training those librarians who do not have knowledge of ICT in order to remove the fear and anxiety hindering them from developing good attitude towards the use of ICT in their libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extension to the penalty alternating least squares (P-ALS) method, called multi-way penalty alternating least squares (NWAY P-ALS), is presented. Optionally, hard constraints (no deviation from predefined constraints) or soft constraints (small deviations from predefined constraints) were applied through the application of a row-wise penalty least squares function. NWAY P-ALS was applied to the multi-batch near-infrared (NIR) data acquired from the base catalyzed esterification reaction of acetic anhydride in order to resolve the concentration and spectral profiles of l-butanol with the reaction constituents. Application of the NWAY P-ALS approach resulted in the reduction of the number of active constraints at the solution point, while the batch column-wise augmentation allowed hard constraints in the spectral profiles and resolved rank deficiency problems of the measurement matrix. The results were compared with the multi-way multivariate curve resolution (MCR)-ALS results using hard and soft constraints to determine whether any advantages had been gained through using the weighted least squares function of NWAY P-ALS over the MCR-ALS resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Sozialreform is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Library consortia have been very important in enhancing library services offered to patrons. These institutions have promoted the acceptance and use of library standards and formats, thus guaranteeing data exchange between libraries. Library consortia also have supported specific technological developments to solve patron needs and, more importantly, have played a very important role in managing economic resources and in improving collection management. This article discusses the impact of library consortia by concentrating on two main aspects: union catalogues and e-resource management within a consortia environment. The consolidation of new library systems in the coming years will change the course of libraries by allowing progress to be made on internal management of e-resources and by altering the way in which collections are presented to patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the Advanced Light Source (ALS) Users' Meeting which was held on October 21-22, 2005. The meeting includes 13 workshops. Berkeley laboratory director Steven Chu gave a speech on the planned on-site user lodging facility. Acting ALS director Janus Kirz gave his report on the aim of ALS to support users in promoting outstanding science in a safe environment.

A study was undertaken to determine the ramification of maize shank, cob and kernel tissues by Stenocarpella maydis. Trials consisting of inoculated and uninoculated treatments were planted at two localities. Shank, cob and kernels of each treatment were divided into segments and S. moydis colonization was determined. Infection of the pedicel portion of maize kernels was significantly higher than the apical portion. Preferential colonization of the embryo's of kernels was observed. Colonization of cobs occurred primarily at the attachment end of the cob, with sclerenchymatous tissues showing the greatest re-isolation frequency. Shank segments did not show significant differences in S. maydis re-isolation frequency, although a tendency for higher re-isolations was observed at the stalk-attachment end. It is concluded that S. maydis colonization occurs at the base of the ear with mycelial ramification toward the tip of the ear. The sclerenchyma and placentae were the primary colonized cob tissues, as were the embryos in the kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]