This paper presents a new algorithm for detection of fixed-valued and random-valued impulses from images based on locally obtained statistics. By incorporating the rank-conditioned median (RCM) and center-weighted median (CWM) filters into an impulse noise detection framework, an adaptive mechanism is formed for effectively reducing impulse noise while preserving image details. The rank-conditi...

There are several possible applications of Semantic Web techniques in Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) and important advantages can be obtained from their application. This paper presents an architecture to combine Semantic Web techniques with ITSs, explaining its elements, relationships, challenges, and the different design criterions, offering some guidelines to make decisions when differe...

The demand for data integration is rapidly becoming larger as more and more information sources appear in modern enterprises. Extensible Mark-up Language is fast becoming the new standard for data representation and exchange on the World Wide Web, e.g., in B2B e-commerce, making it necessary for data analysis tools to handle XML data as well as traditional data formats. This paper presents arch...

Is it possible to generalize relationships between certain plant traits and soil fertility? In particular, are there quantitative community-weighted mean (CWM) trait values of leaf dry-matter content (LDMC), specific area (SLA), height, Grime’s competitor-stress tolerator-ruderal (CSR) strategy scores the generalized fertility, FG (i.e., capacity a produce biomass when all nonsoil variables hel...

There is extensive experimental evidence for the importance of biodiversity in sustaining ecosystem functioning. However, such experiments typically prevent immigration by continuously removing non-target species, thereby questioning generality these findings to real-world ecosystems. This particularly true forest ecosystems where understorey herbaceous species are key components but usually we...