Image and video compression standards. Algorithms and architecture : Second edition. By Vasudev Bhaskaran and Konstantinos Konstantinides Kluwer Academic Publishers

Video compression is one of the topics included in the area of images digital processing. The book gives an introduction to algorithms and architectures used in standard video and audio compressionFacultad de Informátic

Image and video compression standards. Algorithms and architecture : Second edition. By Vasudev Bhaskaran and Konstantinos Konstantinides Kluwer Academic Publishers

Video compression is one of the topics included in the area of images digital processing. The book gives an introduction to algorithms and architectures used in standard video and audio compressionFacultad de Informátic

Meat quality traits of longissimus thoracis, semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles from Chianina beef cattle slaughtered at two different ages

The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of muscle and slaughtering age on some meat quality traits of fortyeight carcasses of Chianina beef cattle raised on the same farm and slaughtered at an age ranging between 18 and 21 months. After the usual commercial ageing period for Chianina carcasses, longissimus thoracis, semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles were taken and analyzed instrumentally for pH, meat color, water holding capacity, tenderness and chemical composition. To compare the quality characteristics of the three muscles at different age, all data were subdivided in two groups: slaughtering age 18-19 months (n=25) and 20-21 months (n=23). Quality characteristics of meat derived from the three muscles analyzed were different: semitendinosus muscle showed higher values of Lightness (L*) and Hue (H*), thus lighter and paler meat, but was less tender and had a higher cooking loss. Meat derived from triceps brachii muscle had the lowest values of Lightness (L*) and Hue (H*) thus meat slightly darker; with regard to the other quality parameters, longissimus thoracis gave more tender meat with better water holding capacity than triceps brachii. The meat analyzed had a very low content of intramuscular fat (expressed as ether extract (%)), a very well-known characteristic of Chianina meat. The comparison between meat derived from 18-19 month old beef and from 20-21 month old beef shows that only redness (a*) and Chroma (C*) increased significantly with the increase in slaughtering age, but these results do not induce differences in meat color appreciation, as shown by the similar values of Lightness (L*) and Hue (H*). Water holding capacity, tenderness and chemical composition were not influenced by slaughtering age

Meat quality traits of longissimus thoracis, semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles from Chianina beef cattle slaughtered at two different ages

The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of muscle and slaughtering age on some meat quality traits of fortyeightcarcasses of Chianina beef cattle raised on the same farm and slaughtered at an age ranging between 18 and 21months. After the usual commercial ageing period for Chianina carcasses, longissimus thoracis, semitendinosus and tricepsbrachii muscles were taken and analyzed instrumentally for pH, meat color, water holding capacity, tenderness andchemical composition. To compare the quality characteristics of the three muscles at different age, all data were subdividedin two groups: slaughtering age 18-19 months (n=25) and 20-21 months (n=23). Quality characteristics of meatderived from the three muscles analyzed were different: semitendinosus muscle showed higher values of Lightness (L*)and Hue (H*), thus lighter and paler meat, but was less tender and had a higher cooking loss. Meat derived from tricepsbrachii muscle had the lowest values of Lightness (L*) and Hue (H*) thus meat slightly darker; with regard to the otherquality parameters, longissimus thoracis gave more tender meat with better water holding capacity than triceps brachii.The meat analyzed had a very low content of intramuscular fat (expressed as ether extract (%)), a very well-known characteristicof Chianina meat.The comparison between meat derived from 18-19 month old beef and from 20-21 month old beef shows that only redness(a*) and Chroma (C*) increased significantly with the increase in slaughtering age, but these results do not inducedifferences in meat color appreciation, as shown by the similar values of Lightness (L*) and Hue (H*).Water holding capacity, tenderness and chemical composition were not influenced by slaughtering age

GKW representation theorem and linear BSDEs under restricted information. An application to risk-minimization

In this paper we provide Galtchouk-Kunita-Watanabe representation results in the case where there are restrictions on the available information. This allows to prove existence and uniqueness for linear backward stochastic differential equations driven by a general c\`adl\`ag martingale under partial information. Furthermore, we discuss an application to risk-minimization where we extend the results of F\"ollmer and Sondermann (1986) to the partial information framework and we show how our result fits in the approach of Schweizer (1994).Comment: 22 page

Detección fenotípica de cultivos con datos relevados a campo

La presente línea de investigación busca realizar un análisis de los datos fenotípicos de cultivos agronómicos que las tecnologías generan y poder, a partir de ello, obtener información. Esto mediante el uso plataformas robóticas de sensado a campo y el uso de imágenes digitales capturadas con cámaras de luz visible o multiespectrales, más la utilización de técnicas de procesamiento digital.Área: TICs, Electrónica e Informática

Laser treatment of 13 benign oral vascular lesions by three different surgical techniques

Objectives: Benign Oral Vascular Lesions (BOVLs) are a group of vascular diseases characterized by congenital, inflammatory or neoplastic vascular dilations clinically evidenced as more or less wide masses of commonly dark bluish color. If traumatized BOVLs are characterized by a great risk of hemorrhage and their treatment usually requires great caution to prevent massive bleeding. In the last decades lasers have dramatically changed the way of treatment of BOVLs permitting the application of even peculiar techniques that gave interesting advantages in their management reducing hemorrhage risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capabilities and disadvantages of three laser assisted techniques in the management of BOVLs. Study design: In this study 13 BOVLs were treated by three different laser techniques: the traditional excisional biopsy (EB), and two less invasive techniques, the transmucosal thermocoagulation (TMT) and the intralesional photocoagulation (ILP). Two different laser devices were adopted in the study: a KTP laser (DEKA, Florence, Italy, 532nm) and a GaAlAs laser (Laser Innovation, Castelgandolfo, Italy, 808nm) selected since their great effectiveness on hemoglobin. Results: In each case, lasers permitted safe treatments of BOVLs without hemorrhages, both during the intervention and in the post-operative period. The minimally invasive techniques (TMT and ILP) permitted even the safe resolution of big lesions without tissue loss. Conclusions: Laser devices confirm to be the gold standard in BOVLs treatment, permitting even the introduction of minimal invasive surgery principles and reducing the risks of hemorrhage typical of these neoplasms. As usual in laser surgery, it is necessary a clear knowledge of the devices and of the laser-tissue interaction to optimize the results reducing risks and disadvantages

Effect of Islamic ritual slaughter on beef quality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate several quality characteristics of meat obtained from 20 Limousine calves slaughtered either according to conventional methods (n=10) or by the Islamic ritual slaughtering procedure (n=10). After 7 days of ageing under vacuum, pH, drip loss, colour and oxymyoglobin percentage were measured on longissimus dorsi muscle after 2h, 2 and 6 days of storage to study their evolution. With conventional slaughter pH remained stable until the 6th day of storage, while with ritual slaughter it increased from the 2nd to 6th day of storage. Drip loss increased considerably from the 2nd to 6th day of storage in conventional slaughter, while in ritual slaughter the drip loss increase was lower. Meat colour was not influenced by the slaughtering system but only by the different lengths of storage

Evaluation of wound healing and postoperative pain after oral mucosa laser biopsy with the aid of compound with chlorhexidine and sodium hyaluronate: a randomized double blind clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate secondary intention healing process and postoperative pain of oral soft tissues after laser surgery with the use of a compound containing chlorhexidine and sodium hyaluronate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical study included 56 patients affected by benign oral lesions and subjected to excisional biopsy with diode laser and randomly divided into three groups. Study group (SG) received 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate and 0.2% sodium hyaluronate treatment; control group (CG) received 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate; and placebo group (PG) followed the same protocol, taking a neutral solution having the same organoleptic characteristics. Wound healing was evaluated using percentage healing index (PHI). Numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to evaluate postoperative pain. RESULTS: PHI (T1 = 7 days) was 67.25% for SG, 58.67% for CG, and 54.55% for PG. PHI (T2 = 14 days) was 94.35% for SG, 77.79% for CG, and 78.98% for PG. A statistically significant difference was between the groups for PHI at T2 p = 0.001. No difference was detectable for pain index. CONCLUSIONS: A solution containing sodium hyaluronate and chlorhexidine is a good support to increase wound healing by secondary intention after laser biopsy, but no differences were in postoperative perception of pain. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of the tested solution can be recommended after laser oral biopsies, to achieve a healing without suture. About the postoperative pain, the compound has not showed the same results and did not have measurable effects

UV-selective face cream (Acne RA-1,2) in acne patients: clinical study of effects on epidermal barrier function, sebum production, tolerability and adherence to pharmacological therapy.

BACKGROUND: General skin care recommendations such as the use of moisturisers and products with adequate photoprotection are important components of management for acne patients to complement the medical regimen. This study aimed to evaluate the real-life clinical effects of a novel UV-selective face cream (Acne RA-1,2) on acne, epidermal barrier function, sebum production, adherence and tolerability when used together with pharmacological acne treatment. METHODS: 40 patients receiving pharmacological acne treatment applied Acne RA- 1,2 once-daily for 3 months. Investigator's Global Assessment of acne, trans- epidermal water loss, sebum production and tolerability were assessed after 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: After 3 months, there was a 38% significant clinical improvement in mean Investigator Global Assessment score (3.4 to 2.1), a 29% significant reduction in trans-epidermal water loss (13.2 to 9.4 g/h/m2), and a 17% significant decrease in sebum production vs baseline (234.6 to 195.6 μg/cm2; all p<0.01). 100% of patients reported complete adherence to pharmacological therapy over the summer of the study vs 52.5% in the previous summer. 87.5% considered their acne improved over the summer of the study vs 55.0% in the previous summer. Pruritus, erythema, dryness and total tolerability symptom scores were significantly reduced after 3 months vs baseline (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acne RA-1,2 is a useful daily adjunct to pharmacological therapy as it helps to mitigate the irritation these therapies cause, increasing adherence to therapy, and leading to a clinical improvement in acne and epidermal barrier function and a decrease in sebum productio