Um sistema de compressão de imagens digitais.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um sistema modular e compacto de compressão de imagens digitais. O sistema foi projetado para suportar imagens médicas e de sensoriamento remoto. O problema da diversidade de formatos de imagens é discutido, e a solução encontrada por esse sistema é apresentado

Experimental quantum cryptography scheme based on orthogonal states

Since, in general, non-orthogonal states cannot be cloned, any eavesdropping attempt in a Quantum Communication scheme using non-orthogonal states as carriers of information introduces some errors in the transmission, leading to the possibility of detecting the spy. Usually, orthogonal states are not used in Quantum Cryptography schemes since they can be faithfully cloned without altering the transmitted data. Nevertheless, L. Goldberg and L. Vaidman [\prl 75 (1995) 1239] proposed a protocol in which, even if the data exchange is realized using two orthogonal states, any attempt to eavesdrop is detectable by the legal users. In this scheme the orthogonal states are superpositions of two localized wave packets travelling along separate channels. Here we present an experiment realizing this scheme

Effects of different circuit training protocols on body mass, fat mass and blood parameters among overweight adults

The benefits of regular exercise are known for a long time, but the mechanisms underlying the exercise mode recommendations for specific chronic cardiovascular diseases remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of different circuit training protocols in sedentary overweight adults

Self consistent, absolute calibration technique for photon number resolving detectors

Well characterized photon number resolving detectors are a requirement for many applications ranging from quantum information and quantum metrology to the foundations of quantum mechanics. This prompts the necessity for reliable calibration techniques at the single photon level. In this paper we propose an innovative absolute calibration technique for photon number resolving detectors, using a pulsed heralded photon source based on parametric down conversion. The technique, being absolute, does not require reference standards and is independent upon the performances of the heralding detector. The method provides the results of quantum efficiency for the heralded detector as a function of detected photon numbers. Furthermore, we prove its validity by performing the calibration of a Transition Edge Sensor based detector, a real photon number resolving detector that has recently demonstrated its effectiveness in various quantum information protocols.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Classificação de áreas de café em Minas Gerais por meio do novo algoritmo QMAS em imagem espectral Geoeye-1.

Diante do grande desafio que é classificar imagens de sensoriamento remoto de café, o objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar o novo algoritmo QMAS para classificar áreas de café comparando os resultados com o método tradicional de Classificação Supervisionada MAXVER, em imagens Geoeye-1. Os resultados indicam que o algoritmo QMAS obteve mais êxito na classificação das áreas de café do que o MAXVER, configurando-se em uma alternativa viável a classificação de imagens de satélite.SBSR 2011

Mining relevant and extreme patterns on climate time series with CLIPSMiner.

One of the most important challenges for the researchers in the 21st Century is related to global heating and climate change that can have as consequence the intensification of natural hazards. Another problem of changes in the Earth's climate is its impact in the agriculture production. In this scenario, application of statistical models as well as development of new methods become very important to aid in the analyses of climate from ground-based stations and outputs of forecasting models. Additionally, remote sensing images have been used to improve the monitoring of crop yields. In this context we propose a new technique to identify extreme values in climate time series and to correlate climate and remote sensing data in order to improve agricultural monitoring. Accordingly, this paper presents a new unsupervised algorithm, called CLIPSMiner (CLImate PatternS Miner) that works on multiple time series of continuous data, identifying relevant patterns or extreme ones according to a relevance factor, which can be tuned by the user. Results show that CLIPSMiner detects, as expected, patterns that are known in climatology, indicating the correctness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm. Moreover, patterns detected using the highest relevance factor is coincident with extreme phenomena. Furthermore, series correlations detected by the algorithm show a relation between agroclimatic and vegetation indices, which confirms the agrometeorologists' expectations

Nanodiamonds-induced effects on neuronal firing of mouse hippocampal microcircuits

Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FND) are carbon-based nanomaterials that can efficiently incorporate optically active photoluminescent centers such as the nitrogen-vacancy complex, thus making them promising candidates as optical biolabels and drug-delivery agents. FNDs exhibit bright fluorescence without photobleaching combined with high uptake rate and low cytotoxicity. Focusing on FNDs interference with neuronal function, here we examined their effect on cultured hippocampal neurons, monitoring the whole network development as well as the electrophysiological properties of single neurons. We observed that FNDs drastically decreased the frequency of inhibitory (from 1.81 Hz to 0.86 Hz) and excitatory (from 1.61 Hz to 0.68 Hz) miniature postsynaptic currents, and consistently reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency (by 36%), as measured by microelectrode arrays. On the contrary, bursts synchronization was preserved, as well as the amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory and excitatory events. Current-clamp recordings revealed that the ratio of neurons responding with AP trains of high-frequency (fast-spiking) versus neurons responding with trains of low-frequency (slow-spiking) was unaltered, suggesting that FNDs exerted a comparable action on neuronal subpopulations. At the single cell level, rapid onset of the somatic AP ("kink") was drastically reduced in FND-treated neurons, suggesting a reduced contribution of axonal and dendritic components while preserving neuronal excitability.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figure

Acompanhamento de safras de cana-de-açúcar por meio de técnicas de agrupamento em séries temporais de NDVI.

Este artigo propõe o uso da técnica de agrupamento de dados (clustering) para auxiliar no acompanhamento de safras de cana-de-açúcar a partir de séries temporais de NDVI obtidas do satélite AVHRR/NOAA para o estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os experimentos realizados em uma região do estado que concentra áreas com produção alta de cana mostraram que é possível acompanhar a evolução da cultura ao longo da safra identificando regiões com padrões semelhantes. Além disso, pode-se obter uma classificação mensal dos valores de NDVI por região, o que pode servir de subsídio para pesquisas futuras. O restante desse artigo descreve a Metodologia do Trabalho na Seção 2, discute os Resultados na Seção 3 e apresenta as Conclusões na Seção 4.SBSR 2011

Once-Weekly Exenatide as Adjunct Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Receiving Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Therapy

Objective The use of once-weekly exenatide in type 2 diabetes mellitus is well supported, but little is known about its effectiveness in type 1 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of once-weekly exenatide on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes when added to basal-bolus insulin therapy. Methods For this retrospective study, patients with type 1 diabetes, aged 18 years and older, receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, using a continuous glucose monitoring device or regularly measuring blood glucose levels and receiving 2 mg of exenatide once weekly for at least 3 months were included. Demographic information, glycated hemoglobin (A1C), body weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total daily insulin dose, basal and bolus insulin doses, 28-day continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion glucose average and incidence of hypoglycemia were collected at baseline and 3 months after beginning therapy with once-weekly exenatide. Results An electronic medical record search identified 11 patients with type 1 diabetes who met the inclusion criteria. Comparing baseline and 3 months after initiation of once-weekly exenatide revealed reductions of 0.6% in A1C (p=0.013), 3.7% in body weight (p=0.008), 1.7 kg/m2 in body mass index (p=0.003), 13% in total daily insulin dose (p=0.011) and 9.3 units in bolus insulin dose (p=0.015). Conclusions This study revealed that the addition of once-weekly exenatide to insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes patients leads to significant improvements in A1C, body weight, body mass index and insulin doses