JPEG decoder implementation on FPGA using dynamic partial reconfiguration

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia de Electrónica e telecomunicaçõesEsta tese descreve o estudo realizado sobre o tema de Sistemas Computacionais Reconfiguráveis utilizando Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Sistemas Computacionais Reconfiguráveis é um conceito tão antigo como a computação utilizando circuitos electrónicos. Para explorar os aspetos práticos do conceito, foi implementado um descodificador de imagens codificadas em sistema Baseline JPEGsobre uma FPGA da família Zynq™-7000. Realizado todo o trabalho de desenho, implementação e depuração do descodificador utilizando métodos tradicionais de implementação estática da lógica na FPGA, foi posteriormente realizado o trabalho de adaptação do descodificador desenvolvido para implementação na mesma FPGA utilizando métodos de implementação com reconfiguração parcialdinâmica. Este novo método tem como objetivo principal a realização de um descodificador funcional utilizando apenas uma parte dos recursos lógicos da FPGA quando comparado com a implementação estática do descodificador. A utilização de reconfiguração dinâmica tem como consequência um incremento da complexidade do sistema, originando, numa perspetiva macro, diferenças entre ambos os descodificadores, mas globalmente baseados nos mesmos critérios de desenho e partilhando grande parte dos módulos internos. São ainda descritos os passos para atingir o objetivo, de forma a clarificar o processo de reconfiguração parcial dinâmica para uma aplicação em eventuais novos critérios de projeto e diferentes cenários de aplicação. Esta tese explora ainda o desenvolvimento de sistemas auxiliares que permitem a descodificação direta de ficheiros .jpg e a sua apresentação num monitor VGA.Abstract: This thesis describes a study conducted in Reconfigurable Computing using a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Reconfigurable Computing is a concept almost as old as high-speed electronic computing itself. To explore the practical aspects of the concept, a Baseline JPEG image decoder was implemented over a Zynq™-7000 family FPGA. After using traditional methods for the design, implementation and debugging of static decoder logic, the work path was set to adapt the decoder to be implemented on the same FPGA using methods based on Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration. Using this approach the main objective was to develop a working decoder with only a subset of the used resources ofthe FPGA when compared to static implementation of the similar decoder. The dynamic partial reconfiguration brings some additional complexity to the system resulting on two different decoders from a macro perspective view but globally relying on the same design considerations and that share the majority of the internal modules. The steps to achieve the objective are described in order to clarify the dynamic partial reconfiguration process and to eventually open new design possibilities that can be exploited in different application scenarios. The thesis also explores the development of auxiliary systems to enable the ability to decode direct .jpg files and present them on a VGA monitor

A single session of aerobic exercise reduces systolic blood pressure at rest and in response to stress in women with rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension (HT). A single session of aerobic exercise may reduce blood pressure (BP) in different clinical groups; however, little is known about the acute effects of exercise on BP in RA patients. This is a randomized controlled crossover study that assessed the effects of a single session of aerobic exercise on resting BP, on BP responses to stressful stimuli, and on 24-h BP in women with RA and HT. Twenty women with RA and HT (53 ± 10 years) undertook sessions of 30-min treadmill exercise (50% VO2max) or control (no exercise) in a crossover fashion. Before and after the sessions, BP was measured at rest, and in response to the Stroop-Color Word Test (SCWT), the Cold Pressor Test (CPT), and an isometric handgrip test. After the sessions, participants were also fitted with an ambulatory BP monitor for the assessment of 24-h BP. A single session of exercise reduced resting systolic BP (SBP) (-5 ± 9 mmHg; p < 0.05), and reduced SBP response to the SCWT (-7 ± 14 mmHg; p < 0.05), and to the CPT (-5 ± 11 mmHg; p < 0.05). Exercise did not reduce resting diastolic BP (DBP), BP responses to the isometric handgrip test or 24-h BP. In conclusion, a single session of aerobic exercise reduced SBP at rest and in response to stressful stimuli in hypertensive women with RA. These results support the use of exercise as a strategy for controlling HT and, hence, reducing cardiovascular risk in women with RA.Clinical Trial Registration: This study registered at the Brazilian Clinical Trials ( https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-867k9g ) at 12/13/2019

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure &lt;= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Excesso de peso e fatores associados em servidores do Sul do Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a prevalência de excesso de peso e verificar a associação com fatores sociodemográficos, nível de atividade física, hipercolesterolemia e diabetes em servidores universitários do Paraná, Brasil. A pesquisa foi realizada com 339 servidores públicos com idade acima de 18 anos. O excesso de peso foi avaliado por meio do Índice de Massa Corporal, autorelatado. O nível de atividade física foi avaliado por meio de questionário. Os dados sociodemográficos (sexo, idade, nível econômico, escolaridade, situação conjugal e jornada de trabalho) e as doenças crônicas (hipercolesterolemia e diabetes) foram avaliados por autorrelato. Para a associação entre o excesso de peso e as demais variáveis foi utilizada a regressão logística binária. A prevalência de excesso de peso foi de 50,6%. Os grupos mais suscetíveis ao excesso de peso foram: sexo masculino (OR: 2,04; IC: 1,30-3,22), escolaridade menor que 12 anos (OR: 2,46; IC: 1,43-4,23), insuficientemente ativos (OR: 1,64; IC: 1,03-2,60) e os que tinham hipercolesterolemia (OR: 2,28; IC: 1,32-3,96). Conclui-se que mais da metade da amostra estava com excesso de peso. Os fatores associados ao excesso de peso foram o sexo masculino, escolaridade menor que 12 anos, prática insuficiente de atividade física e hipercolesterolemia

Batimento sonoro

Apresenta o fenômeno de batimento, abordando seu conceito e características. Além disso, o exemplifica por meio de gráfico e somComponente Curricular::Ensino Médio::FísicaOndas: período, frequência e amplitude. Ondas mecânicas: som e interferência sonor