Recording of natural head position using stereophotogrammetry: A new technique and reliability study

The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to record physical references and orient digital mesh models to natural head position (NHP) using stereo-photogrammetry (SP). The first step was to record the digital mesh model of a hanging reference board placed at the capturing position of the SP machine. The board was aligned to the true vertical using a plumb bob. It was also aligned with laser plane parallel to the hanging mirror which was located at the center of the machine. Parameter derived from the digital mesh model of the board was then used to adjust the roll, pitch and yaw of the subsequent captures of subjects. This information was valid until the next machine calibration. The board placement was repeatable with standard deviation of less than 0.1 degrees for both pitch and yaw; 0.15 degrees for roll angles.postprin

Regularity scalable image coding based on wavelet singularity detection

In this paper, we propose an adaptive algorithm for scalable wavelet image coding, which is based on the general feature, the regularity, of images. In pattern recognition or computer vision, regularity of images is estimated from the oriented wavelet coefficients and quantified by the Lipschitz exponents. To estimate the Lipschitz exponents, evaluating the interscale evolution of the wavelet transform modulus sum (WTMS) over the directional cone of influence was proven to be a better approach than tracing the wavelet transform modulus maxima (WTMM). This is because the irregular sampling nature of the WTMM complicates the reconstruction process. Moreover, examples were found to show that the WTMM representation cannot uniquely characterize a signal. It implies that the reconstruction of signal from its WTMM may not be consistently stable. Furthermore, the WTMM approach requires much more computational effort. Therefore, we use the WTMS approach to estimate the regularity of images from the separable wavelet transformed coefficients. Since we do not concern about the localization issue, we allow the decimation to occur when we evaluate the interscale evolution. After the regularity is estimated, this information is utilized in our proposed adaptive regularity scalable wavelet image coding algorithm. This algorithm can be simply embedded into any wavelet image coders, so it is compatible with the existing scalable coding techniques, such as the resolution scalable and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) scalable coding techniques, without changing the bitstream format, but provides more scalable levels with higher peak signal-to-noise ratios (PSNRs) and lower bit rates. In comparison to the other feature-based wavelet scalable coding algorithms, the proposed algorithm outperforms them in terms of visual perception, computational complexity and coding efficienc

Corpo-oralidades y territorio en la dramaturgia de Felipe Vergara, de la experiencia del conflicto al correlato artístico

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós- Graduação em Literatura Comparada da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, como requisito parcial à obtenção do título de Mestre em Literatura Comparada. Orientador: Andrea Ciacchi (Pós-Doutor Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Doutor em Iberistica, Università di Bologn , a Mestro em Letras, Universidade Federal da Paraíba , Graduação em Antropologia, Università di Roma)Propongo una lectura de la poética teatral de Felipe Vergara desde el estudio de tres piezas: Kilele, una epopeya artesanal; Arimbato, el camino del árbol; y Coragyps Sapiens, partiendo por considerar el teatro como un encuentro vital entre los artistas y su público, que instala escrituras permeadas por el tiempo, la historia y el contexto de su surgimiento. En ese sentido planteo que la dramaturgia Vergara funciona como un correlato que revive el rastro de la experiencia de guerra de las comunidades del Pacífico colombiano, a la vez que toma una posición autónoma de resistencia artística, social y cultural, y que porta en su discurso las versiones silenciadas históricamente, las versiones subterráneas. Para el análisis abordo: la relación indisoluble de las comunidades con su territorio, manifiesta en las obras; las representaciones de cuerpo y su fragmentación tanto a nivel individual como colectivo; y su reconstrucción a través de los duelos que se encarnan en transmisiones rituales, corporales y orales, en actos de memoria viva. Presento así un recorrido por la propuesta artística de Felipe Vergara y un acercamiento a algunas propuestas teatrales las comunidades del Pacífico colombiano, en las que curiosamente, Vergara trabajó de la mano de Inge Kleutgens, Catalina Medina y otros colaboradores. Retomaremos tres obras de Vergara, así como tres de las creaciones colectivas de las comunidades con las que , rastreando en ellas los procesos y procedimientos para la reconstrucción de una porción de los relatos alternativos de la historia social de las vivencias del conflicto social y armado colombiano, traducidas en las relaciones entre los imaginarios y las representaciones simbólicas de las obras, que asocian las gamas de sentido del texto y de la puesta en escena, con el cauce efectivo que propicia su escritura.Proponho uma leitura da poesia teatral de Felipe Vergara a partir do estudo de três obras: Kilele, una epopeya artesanal; Arimbato, el camino del árbol; y Coragyps Sapiens, começando por considerar o teatro como um encontro vital entre os artistas e seu público, que instala escritos permeados pelo tempo, pela história e pelo contexto de seu surgimento. Nesse sentido, proponho que a dramaturgia de Vergara funcione como um correlato que revive o traço da experiência de guerra das comunidades do Pacífico colombiano, ao mesmo tempo em que assume uma posição autônoma de resistência artística, social e cultural, e que carrega em seu discurso as versões silenciadas historicamente, as versões subterrâneas. Pela análise a bordo: a relação indissolúvel das comunidades com seu território, manifestada nos trabalhos; representações corporais e sua fragmentação individual e coletiva; e sua reconstrução através dos duelos que se encarnam em transmissões rituais, corporais e orais, em atos de memória viva. Apresento um encontro com a proposta artística de Felipe Vergara, propostas teatrais das comunidades do Pacífico colombiano, nas quais curiosamente, Vergara trabalhou com Inge Kleutgens, Catalina Medina e outros colaboradores. Retornaremos a três obras de Vergara, bem como a três das criações coletivas das comunidades com as quais traçamos os processos e procedimentos para a reconstrução de uma parte dos relatos alternativos da história social das experiências do conflito social e armado colombiano , traduzido nas relações entre o imaginário e as representações simbólicas das obras, que associam as faixas de significado do texto e da encenação, ao canal efetivo que propicia sua escrit

An Efficient Strategy for Broad-Range Detection of Low Abundance Bacteria without DNA Decontamination of PCR Reagents

BACKGROUND: Bacterial DNA contamination in PCR reagents has been a long standing problem that hampers the adoption of broad-range PCR in clinical and applied microbiology, particularly in detection of low abundance bacteria. Although several DNA decontamination protocols have been reported, they all suffer from compromised PCR efficiency or detection limits. To date, no satisfactory solution has been found. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We herein describe a method that solves this long standing problem by employing a broad-range primer extension-PCR (PE-PCR) strategy that obviates the need for DNA decontamination. In this method, we first devise a fusion probe having a 3'-end complementary to the template bacterial sequence and a 5'-end non-bacterial tag sequence. We then hybridize the probes to template DNA, carry out primer extension and remove the excess probes using an optimized enzyme mix of Klenow DNA polymerase and exonuclease I. This strategy allows the templates to be distinguished from the PCR reagent contaminants and selectively amplified by PCR. To prove the concept, we spiked the PCR reagents with Staphylococcus aureus genomic DNA and applied PE-PCR to amplify template bacterial DNA. The spiking DNA neither interfered with template DNA amplification nor caused false positive of the reaction. Broad-range PE-PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene was also validated and minute quantities of template DNA (10-100 fg) were detectable without false positives. When adapting to real-time and high-resolution melting (HRM) analytical platforms, the unique melting profiles for the PE-PCR product can be used as the molecular fingerprints to further identify individual bacterial species. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Broad-range PE-PCR is simple, efficient, and completely obviates the need to decontaminate PCR reagents. When coupling with real-time and HRM analyses, it offers a new avenue for bacterial species identification with a limited source of bacterial DNA, making it suitable for use in clinical and applied microbiology laboratories