201,656 research outputs found
TOPS Imaging with TerraSAR-X: Mode Design and Performance Analysis
No full textThis paper reports about the performed investigations for the implementation of the wide swath TOPS imaging mode with TerraSAR-X. The TOPS mode overcomes the limitations imposed by the ScanSAR mode by steering the antenna along-track during the acquisition of a burst. In this way, a uniform signal to noise ratio (SNR) is achieved, and consequently, scalloping and an azimuth-dependent distributed target ambiguity ratio (DTAR) are avoided. However, the use of electronically steered antennas leads to a quantization of the steering law and a non-ideal pattern for squinted angles (grating lobes and main lobe reduction). The former provokes spurious peaks, while the latter introduces a slight scalloping and DTAR deterioration. These effects are analyzed and quantified for TerraSAR-X and a TOPS system design approach is presented. Next, the requirements concerning interferometry are investigated. Finally, several results are shown with TerraSAR-X data, including a comparison between the TOPS and ScanSAR modes and the reporting of first TOPS interferometric results
An optimized TOPS+ comparison method for enhanced TOPS models
No full textThis article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Background
Although methods based on highly abstract descriptions of protein structures, such as VAST and TOPS, can perform very fast protein structure comparison, the results can lack a high degree of biological significance. Previously we have discussed the basic mechanisms of our novel method for structure comparison based on our TOPS+ model (Topological descriptions of Protein Structures Enhanced with Ligand Information). In this paper we show how these results can be significantly improved using parameter optimization, and we call the resulting optimised TOPS+ method as advanced TOPS+ comparison method i.e. advTOPS+.
Results
We have developed a TOPS+ string model as an improvement to the TOPS [1-3] graph model by considering loops as secondary structure elements (SSEs) in addition to helices and strands, representing ligands as first class objects, and describing interactions between SSEs, and SSEs and ligands, by incoming and outgoing arcs, annotating SSEs with the interaction direction and type. Benchmarking results of an all-against-all pairwise comparison using a large dataset of 2,620 non-redundant structures from the PDB40 dataset [4] demonstrate the biological significance, in terms of SCOP classification at the superfamily level, of our TOPS+ comparison method.
Conclusions
Our advanced TOPS+ comparison shows better performance on the PDB40 dataset [4] compared to our basic TOPS+ method, giving 90 percent accuracy for SCOP alpha+beta; a 6 percent increase in accuracy compared to the TOPS and basic TOPS+ methods. It also outperforms the TOPS, basic TOPS+ and SSAP comparison methods on the Chew-Kedem dataset [5], achieving 98 percent accuracy. Software Availability: The TOPS+ comparison server is available at http://balabio.dcs.gla.ac.uk/mallika/WebTOPS/.This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fun
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) among adolescent athletes
No full textThe aim of the present study was to examine the factorial validity of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS; Thomas et al., 1999) among adolescent athletes using confirmatory factor analysis. The TOPS was designed to assess eight psychological strategies used in competition (i.e. activation, automaticity, emotional control, goal-setting, imagery, negative thinking, relaxation and self-talk,) and eight used in practice (the same strategies except negative thinking is replaced by attentional control). National-level athletes (n = 584) completed the 64-item TOPS during training camps. Fit indices provided partial support for the overall measurement model for the competition items (robust comparative fit index = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.88, root mean square error of approximation = 0.05) but minimal support for the training items (robust comparative fit index = 0.86, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.81, root mean square error of approximation = 0.06). For the competition items, the automaticity, goal-setting, relaxation and self-talk scales showed good fit, whereas the activation, emotional control, imagery and negative thinking scales did not. For the practice items, the attentional control, emotional control, goal-setting, imagery and self-talk scales showed good fit, whereas the activation, automaticity and relaxation scales did not. Overall, it appears that the factorial validity of the TOPS for use with adolescents is questionable at present and further development is required
Impact of broom, Cytisus scoparius (Fabaceae), in naturally treeless sub-alpine frost-hollow vegetation communities at the Barrington Tops, south-eastern Australia
No full textThe exotic shrub Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (family Fabaceae), known as broom, is having a major impact on native vegetation in naturally treeless sub-alpine frost-hollow areas (c. 32o 01’ 37” S, 151o 26’ 12” E’, 1440 m elevation) at the Barrington Tops, New South Wales, in south-eastern Australia. This vegetation is of limited extent and has significant biogeographical and ecological importance. Nine paired 10 m line transects were compared, with one of the pair in areas of almost 100% Cytisus scoparius and the other in adjacent areas without Cytisus scoparius. Results were compared with species recorded from this area in the 1930s. There are obvious differences in native vegetation in areas with and without Cytisus scoparius. On average there were 5.1 (range 2–10) species per 10 m in areas of almost 100% Cytisus scoparius cover and 17.0 (12–25) species per 10 m in areas adjacent to infested areas but without Cytisus scoparius. Other than Cytisus scoparius, the area surveyed had little in the way of exotic species and these were only present at low densities. Native species present in 2008 are similar to those recorded in the 1930s; there were no records of Cytisus scoparius in the area in the 1930s. The study suggests that control of Cytisus scoparius in naturally treeless areas at the Barrington Tops should be a priority to prevent a decline in the distribution and abundance of many plant species, many of which only occur in treeless areas of the Barrington Tops
Tops-Only Domains
No full textIn this paper we consider the standard voting model with a finite set of alternatives A and n voters and address the following question : what are the characteristics of domains D that induce the property that every strategy-proof social choice function f : Dn -> A satisfying unanimity, has the tops-only property? We first impose a minimal richness condition which ensures that for every alternative a, there exists an admissible ordering where a is maximal. We identify conditions on D that are sufficient for strategy-proofness and unanimity to imply tops onlyness in the general case of n voters and in the special case, n = 2. We provide an algorithm for constructing tops-only domains from connected graphs with elements of A as nodes. We provide several applications of our results. Finally, we relax the minimal richness assumption and partially extend our results.Voting, social choice, tops-only domain
Economic Issues in the Management of Plants Invading Natural Environments: Scotch Broom in Barrington Tops National Park
No full textScotch broom (Cytisus scoparius, L.), is an exotic leguminous shrub, native to Europe, which invades pastoral and woodland ecosystems and adjoining river systems in cool, high rainfall regions of southeastern Australia. Broom has invaded 10,000 hectares of eucalypt woodland at Barrington Tops National Park in New South Wales, and is having a major impact on the natural ecology of the sub-alpine environment. It is extremely competitive with the native flora, retarding their growth and in many areas blanketing the ground and preventing growth of many understorey species in open forest areas. An active program to manage this invasion is being implemented by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The management issues include whether eradication or containment is economically desirable, and when biological control is economically desirable. Management choices depend on the marginal costs of increments of government intervention, effects of uncertain budgets on the control of broom, choice of control measures and effects of uncertain values of biodiversity. These issues are addressed through the application of a detailed bioeconomic model of broom management.Scotch broom, economic issues, management issues, natural environments, bioeconomic model, Environmental Economics and Policy,
NASA TOPS Open Science 101
No full text<h1>Open Science 101 v1.0.0</h1>
<p>Welcome to version 1.0.0 of the Open Science 101 curriculum. The open science curriculum will introduce those beginning their open science journey to important definitions, tools, and resources; and provide participants at all levels recommendations on best practices.</p>
<p>This is the initial v1.0.0 release of <a href="https://nasa.github.io/Transform-to-Open-Science/">NASA’s Open Science 101</a> curriculum converted into Markdown from openscience101.org. Changelogs will be available with future versions. </p>
<p>TOPS would like to give a special thanks to all the dedicated contributors that helped review this curriculum in its early stages.</p>
Caring About Errors: Effects of Simulated Interpersonal Touch and Trait Intrinsic Motivation on the Error-Related Negativity
No full textThese data form the basis of the article: Tjew-A-Sin, M., Tops, M., Heslenfeld, D. J., & Koole, S. L. (2016). Effects of simulated interpersonal touch and trait intrinsic motivation on the error-related negativity. Neuroscience letters, 617, 134-138.
Abstract: The error-related negativity (ERN or Ne) is a negative event-related brain potential that peaks about 20 to 100 ms after people perform an incorrect response in choice reaction time tasks. Prior research has shown that the ERN may be enhanced by situational and dispositional factors that promote intrinsic motivation. Building on and extending this work the present authors hypothesized that simulated interpersonal touch may increase task engagement and thereby increase ERN amplitude. To test this notion, a group of participants (N= 20) performed a Go/No-Go task while holding a teddy bear or a same-sized cardboard box. As expected, the ERN was significantly larger when participants held a teddy bear rather than a cardboard box. The latter effect was especially pronounced for people high (rather than low) in trait intrinsic motivation. These findings highlight simulated interpersonal touch as a motivational factor that may influence error processing, especially among people with high intrinsic motivation to perform a task.
These data are referenced by:
Tjew-A-Sin, M., Tops, M., Heslenfeld, D. J., & Koole, S. L. (2016). Data on simulated interpersonal touch, individual differences and the error-related negativity. Data in Brief, 7, 1327-1330
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