Showing papers by "University of Applied Sciences, Mainz published in 2011"

Non-pharmacological, multicomponent group therapy in patients with degenerative dementia: a 12-month randomized, controlled trial

Abstract: Background Currently available pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments have shown only modest effects in slowing the progression of dementia. Our objective was to assess the impact of a long-term non-pharmacological group intervention on cognitive function in dementia patients and on their ability to carry out activities of daily living compared to a control group receiving the usual care.

Business Creativity – Innovating European Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract: The Business Creativity Module (BCM) is an innovative EU-funded module jointly offered by six European higher education institutions, which have worked together since 2004. The goal is the promotion of European entrepreneurship culture to students pursuing management-based degrees at schools providing programmes in business education. The clear focus is on the first phase in the Business Evolution Process: Business Creativity. Annual ‘Idea Generation Workshops’ have been held since 2004, where students form multicultural teams in order to generate innovative entrepreneurial ideas. A successful experience led to the development of the BCM in order to harvest the benefits for regular university curricula. The module was implemented in the 2007 - 08 academic session. Students receive lectures on-site at their own institutions through the use of an e-learning platform that allows interactive group working, regular assessment and feedback from each university's module coordinator. New networks are exp...

GeoVisualAnalytics in the public health sector

Abstract: This document focuses on the application of GeoVisu-alAnalytics to the public health sector. The intention is to show how to design and implement innovative geo-business intelligence methods and procedures to be used in the public health sector for decision support in analysis and planning processes. We address the specific requirements from the health care application domain including the consideration of its various stakeholders and end users. The targeted user groups mainly include smaller corporations, medical associations and the public at large. The technical objective of our research is to develop a public health sector specific GeoVisualAnalytics solution. In this paper we focus on the integration aspect of the various components. Our widget approach to address the demand for flexibility and extensibility is presented and first results of our prototype are shown.

Taylor Rule Revisited: from an Econometric Point of View 1

Abstract: Based on a more realistic assumption, we modify the Taylor regression. The modified Taylor regression gives an explanation of why the (standard) Taylor regression is spurious (in the econometric sense, i.e. no stable relationship among the variables of interest) and, at the same time, a solution as to how central bank monetary policy can still be described by the Taylor rule. An empirical example using euro-area data confirms the compatibility of our modification with empirical data.

3D‐Sutra—Interactive Analysis Tool for a Web Atlas of Scanned Sutra Inscriptions in China

Abstract: Buddhist stone inscriptions of the 8th to 12th centuries ad are important cultural assets of China that need to be documented, analysed and interpreted archaeologically, art-historically and linguistically. On the one hand, such Buddhist stone inscriptions have to be conserved for future generations, but on the other hand, further possibilities for analysing the data could be achieved if the inscriptions were made accessible to a wider community, for instance, for understanding of the historical growth of Buddhism in China. In this paper, innovative techniques for the documentation of stone inscriptions located in the province of Sichuan, in the south-west of China, are demonstrated. The tasks to be performed include capturing the stone inscriptions by using high precision measuring techniques to generate copies of the original inscriptions, together with processing of the data enabling improvement in the legibility of characters and thus aiding the interpretation of the inscriptions. The concept and features of image processing as applied to the captured inscriptions are outlined. In order to present the outcome to as many people as possible and to allow individual interpretations of the results of the stone inscription reconstruction, their current interpretation and additional 2D/3D maps are published within an interactive web platform. Resume Les gravures bouddhiques des 8eme–12eme siecles font partie des richesses culturelles importantes de la Chine et elles ont besoin d’etre documentees, analysees et interpretees du point de vue de l’archeologie, de l’histoire de l’art et de la linguistique. D’une part, ces gravures bouddhiques doivent etre conservees pour les generations a venir. D’autre part, l’analyse des donnees pourrait progresser si les inscriptions etaient rendues accessibles a une vaste communaute, notamment pour la comprehension du developpement du bouddhisme dans l’histoire de la Chine. Cet article presente des techniques novatrices pour la documentation de gravures sur pierre situees dans la province de Sichuan, au sud-ouest de la Chine. Les operations mises en œuvre comprennent l’enregistrement des gravures par des techniques de mesure de haute precision, principalement photographiques, afin de fournir des copies des inscriptions originales, ainsi que le traitement des donnees afin d’ameliorer la lisibilite des caracteres et donc de faciliter l’interpretation des inscriptions. Les methodes de traitement d’image mises en œuvre sur les photographies de ces inscriptions sont detaillees. Afin de rendre les resultats accessibles a un public aussi vaste que possible et de permettre des interpretations personnelles des gravures ainsi reconstituees, l’interpretation qui en est proposee ainsi que des cartes annexes en 2D et 3D sont publiees sur une plate-forme interactive en ligne. Zusammenfassung Die buddhistischen Steinschriften (8.–12. Jh.) der Provinz Sichuan gelten als ein bedeutendes Kulturgut Chinas, welches archaologisch, kunsthistorisch und textwissenschaftlich dokumentiert, analysiert, interpretiert und visualisiert werden muss. Dadurch sollen zum einen diese buddhistischen Steinschriften fur zukunftige Generationen konserviert werden, zum anderen die geschichtliche Entwicklung des Buddhismus in China von anderer Seite beleuchtet und interpretiert werden. In diesem Artikel werden die verwendeten Verfahren zur Dokumentation der Steinschriften sowie die durchgefuhrten Aufbereitungsverfahren zur Steigerung der Lesbarkeit der Schriftzeichen und zur Unterstutzung der Interpretation der Inschriften vorgestellt. Wir zeigen Methoden der Bildbearbeitung, die an den gemessenen Inschriften angewandt werden. In einer interaktiven Web-Anwendung werden die Ergebnis einer breiteren Offentlichkeit prasentiert. Es eroffnet dem Nutzen die Moglichkeit die Steininschrift individuell zu analysieren, zusatzliche werden weiter Informationen u.a. uber 2D/3D-Karten zuganglich gemacht. Resumen Las inscripciones budistas en piedra de los siglos VII a XII en la provincia de Sichuan son patrimonio cultural de China que ha de ser documentado, analizado e interpretado arqueologica, historica y linguisticamente. Por un lado estas inscripciones han de ser conservadas para futuras generaciones. Por otra parte si se diera acceso a una mayor comunidad de especialistas estas inscripciones podrian ser ampliamente estudiadas, por ejemplo para comprender la evolucion del Budismo en China. Se han aplicado tecnicas innovadoras para la documentacion de las inscripciones de Sichuan en el suroeste China. Las tareas realizadas incluyen la adquisicion, mediante tecnicas de medida de alta precision, de las inscripciones para generar copias de los originales conjuntamente con procesos de mejora que permitan la legibilidad de los caracteres y por tanto faciliten la interpretacion de las inscripciones. Se delinean el concepto y las caracteristicas del proceso de imagen tal como se han aplicado en la captacion de las inscripciones. Para facilitar el acceso de los resultados al mayor publico posible y permitir interpretaciones individuales de la reconstruccion de las inscripciones en piedra se han publicado en una plataforma interactiva web la interpretacion actual asi como los mapas 2D/3D de las inscripciones.

Miex – MIDI evolved

Abstract: Miex behandelt die Beziehung zwischen Musizierendem und Musikroboter; zwischen Low-Floor Controlling und High-Ceiling Musikerzeugung. Ziel ist die einfache Erstellung von Musikpartituren, ihrer Aufnahme und Editierbarkeit mit den Moglichkeiten softwarebasierter Musikanwendungen, sowie der Klangerzeugung durch automatisierte Instrumente.