Three-dimensional reconstruction of Roman coins from photometric image sets

A method is presented for increasing the spatial resolution of the three-dimensional (3-D) digital representation of coins by combining fine photometric detail derived from a set of photographic images with accurate geometric data from a 3-D laser scanner. 3-D reconstructions were made of the obverse and reverse sides of two ancient Roman denarii by processing sets of images captured under directional lighting in an illumination dome. Surface normal vectors were calculated by a “bounded regression” technique, excluding both shadow and specular components of reflection from the metallic surface. Because of the known difficulty in achieving geometric accuracy when integrating photometric normals to produce a digital elevation model, the low spatial frequencies were replaced by those derived from the point cloud produced by a 3-D laser scanner. The two datasets were scaled and registered by matching the outlines and correlating the surface gradients. The final result was a realistic rendering of the coins at a spatial resolution of 75  pixels/mm (13-μm spacing), in which the fine detail modulated the underlying geometric form of the surface relief. The method opens the way to obtain high quality 3-D representations of coins in collections to enable interactive online viewing

Estádio mais adequado de manejo do milheto para fins de adubação verde.

O milheto [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown] é uma opção importante dentre as espécies vegetais para adubação verde. É uma planta anual, forrageira de verão, de clima tropical, hábito ereto, porte alto, e pode atingir até 5 m de altura. Dentre as principais características do milheto ressaltam-se: tolerância à seca, capacidade em adaptar-se a diferentes solos, facilidade de produzir sementes e boa adaptação à mecanização. Essa espécie vem sendo utilizada com maior intensidade, no Cerrado, no período de safrinha (fevereiro a abril) e na primavera (agosto a outubro), como adubo verde e cobertura do solo para plantio direto e outras finalidades, por exemplo, na integração lavoura-pecuária (BURLE et al., 2006).bitstream/item/51825/1/COT-2011-171.pd

Painful Thyroid Palpation

A 37-years-old woman, complaining of fever, malaise, myalgia, sore throat and dysphagia lasting for 15 days, had been taking antibiotics and paracetamol for 7 days, without symptoms' improvement. The clinical examination revealed hyperaemic oropharynx and enlarged, painful thyroid. Further exams showed increased analytic inflammatory serum parameters as well as thyrotoxicosis. The thyroid gland had heterogeneous echostructure, with markedly hypoechoic areas and significant capsular oedema as well as decreased radionuclide uptake in the scintigraphy. Both symptoms and imaging improved with paracetamol and ibuprofen. Thyroid gland function normalized in two months. The patient remains in follow-up. This case reports the clinical features of subacute or De Quervain's thyroiditis. The differential medical approach to the patient with painful thyroid palpation is discussed. The diagnosis is essentially clinic, highlighting the importance of a rigorous physical exam. These patients' follow-up is required, considering the clinical and analytic progression