Self-similarity Based Editing of 3D Surface Textures Using Height and Albedo Maps

This paper presents an inexpensive method for self-similarity based editing of real-world 3D surface textures by using height and albedo maps. Unlike self-similarity based 2D texture editing approaches which only make changes to pixel color or inten- sity values, this technique also allows surface geometry and reflectance of the captured 3D surface textures to be edited and relit us- ing illumination conditions and viewing angles that differ from those of the original. A single editing operation at a given location affects all similar areas and produces changes on all images of the sample rendered under different conditions. Since surface height and albedo maps can be used to describe seabed topography and geologic features, which play important roles in many oceanic proc- esses, the proposed method can be effectively employed in applications regarding visualization and simulation of oceanic phenom- ena.

Correlates of women's environmental behaviors: a study in Pawe Woreda,Northwest Ethiopia

Available cross-country, macro-level evidence regarding gender differences in environmental behaviors shows women are more environmentally concerned and responsive than men.However, while such macro-level evidence helps understand patterns of women's environmental behaviors at a much broader level, it does not allow deeper insights into particular patterns at a single location or in much smaller areas. Tailor-made interventions needed to address livelihood and environmental strategies of poor rural women become meaningful if studies aim at revealing context specific, local variations in women's environmental behaviors. In this context, there is only little research for Ethiopia regarding what influences women's response to environmental problems. The objective of this research was to describe women's response to environmental problems in Pawe Woreda and examine the demographic, socioeconomic, and institutional correlates of this response, with particular emphasis to forest resources. Data were primarily obtained from a sample of 363 households in a multi-stage sample survey and were analyzed mainly using a multivariate logistic regression model. We found that all except one of the demographic and socioeconomic variables included in the model were found to be statistically significant correlates of woman's environmental response, but the institutional variable was not significantly associated with a woman's environmental response. However, the qualitative result for additional institutional issues revealed the importance of land tenure. Many of the results are in line with the existing literature.

Holocene aeolian stratigraphic sequences in the eastern portion of the desert belt(sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China and their palaeoenvironmental implications

This paper presents the environmental history and its responses to palaeoclimatic changes since the start of the Holocene in the eastern portion of the desert belt(sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China by comparing the aeolian sandpalaeosol sequences and their palaeoclimatic proxies. The optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) ages of the aeolian sandpalaeosol sedimentary sequences and a series of palaeoenvironmental proxies show that:(1) The large-scale dune landscape currently in the Kubuqi Sand Sea was formed during the Holocene in general;and the palaeosol was generally developed during the period of 4–2 ka, indicating conditions favorable for vegetation growth, soil development, and organic carbon accumulation due to increased precipitation or effective moisture and weakened aeolian activities;the large-scale expansion of dunes in the recent 2 ka is closely linked to human activities. The variable discharge of the Yellow River with diversions for irrigation may have resulted in a more consistent supply of aeolian particles for dune field expansion.(2) The dune landscape of the Hunshandake Sandy Land was likely formed around 12 ka, and before this, the western part of the Hunshandake Sandy Land would have been covered by a single large lake;it was obviously wetter than today in the sandy land during the period of 9.6–3 ka and the palaeosols were developed at the same time. But the aeolian activities have not been completely dormant in this long-lasting wetter epoch;because the Holocene wetter period was likely time-transgressive across the region.(3) The palaeosol of the Hulunbuir Sandy Land began to develop as early as 14.5 ka, probably continuing until the last 2 ka. The palaeosol development of various dune fields in the eastern portion of the desert belt(sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China is spatially heterogeneous, and even the palaeosol development time in different locations within each sandy land is inconsistent. During the middle Holocene(especially the 7.5–3.5 ka), all the sandy lands were stabilized in general and the intensity of aeolian activities was significantly weakened. The number of palaeoenvironmental records in the eastern portion of the desert belt(sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China has increased rapidly in the past decade, but the amount of published data still does not match the vast extent of the dune fields. It does require much more in-depth palaeoenvironmental studies for a full understanding of the relationship between aeolian activities and climate change in northern China.

The Relationship between Students’Problem Posing and Problem Solving Abilities and Beliefs:A Small-Scale Study with Chinese Elementary School Children

The goal of the present study is to investigate the relationship between pupils’problem posing and problem solving abilities,their beliefs about problem posing and problem solving,and their general mathematics abilities,in a Chinese context.Five instruments,i.e.,a problem posing test,a problem solving test,a problem posing questionnaire,a problem solving questionnaire,and a standard achievement test,were administered to 69 Chinese fifth-grade pupils to assess these five variables and analyze their mutual relationships.Results revealed strong correlations between pupils’problem posing and problem solving abilities and beliefs,and their general mathematical abilities.