Efficient Approach for OS-CFAR 2D Technique Using Distributive Histograms and Breakdown Point Optimal Concept applied to Acoustic Images

In this work, a new approach to improve the algorithmic efficiency of the Order Statistic-Constant False Alarm Rate (OS-CFAR) applied in two dimensions (2D) is presented. OS-CFAR is widely used in radar technology for detecting moving objects as well as in sonar technology for the relevant areas of segmentation and multi-target detection on the seafloor. OS-CFAR rank orders the samples obtained from a sliding window around a test cell to select a representative sample that is used to calculate an adaptive detection threshold maintaining a false alarm probability. Then, the test cell is evaluated to determine the presence or absence of a target based on the calculated threshold. The rank orders allows that OS-CFAR technique to be more robust in multi-target situations and less sensitive than other methods to the presence of the speckle noise, but requires higher computational effort. This is the bottleneck of the technique. Consequently, the contribution of this work is to improve the OS-CFAR 2D with the distributive histograms and the optimal breakdown point optimal concept, mainly from the standpoint of efficient computation. In this way, the OS-CFAR 2D on-line computation was improved, by means of speeding up the samples sorting problem through the improvement in the calculus of the statistics order. The theoretical algorithm analysis is presented to demonstrate the improvement of this approach. Also, this novel efficient OS-CFAR 2D was contrasted experimentally on acoustic images.Fil: Villar, Sebastian Aldo. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería Olavarría. Departamento de Electromecánica. Grupo INTELYMEC; ArgentinaFil: Menna, Bruno Victorio. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería Olavarría. Departamento de Electromecánica. Grupo INTELYMEC; ArgentinaFil: Torcida, Sebastián. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Gerardo Gabriel. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería Olavarría. Departamento de Electromecánica. Grupo INTELYMEC; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. - Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentin

A resistant method for landmark-based analysis of individual asymmetry in two dimensions

Background: Symmetry of biological structures can be thought as the repetition of their parts in different positions and orientations. Asymmetry analyses, therefore, focuses on identifying and measuring the location and extent of symmetry departures in such structures. In the context of geometric morphometrics, a key step when studying morphological variation is the estimation of the symmetric shape. The standard procedure uses the least-squares Procrustes superimposition, which by averaging shape differences often underestimates the symmetry departures thus leading to an inaccurate description of the asymmetry pattern. Moreover, the corresponding asymmetry values are neither geometrically intuitive nor visually perceivable. Methods: In this work, a resistant method for landmark-based asymmetry analysis of individual bilateral symmetric structures in 2D is introduced. A geometrical derivation of this new approach is offered, while its advantages in comparison with the standard method are examined and discussed through a few illustrative examples. Results: Experimental tests on both artificial and real data show that asymmetry is more effectively measured by using the resistant method because the underlying symmetric shape is better estimated. Therefore, the most asymmetric (respectively symmetric) landmarks are better determined through their large (respectively small) residuals. The percentage of asymmetry that is accounted for by each landmark is an additional revealing measure the new method offers which agrees with the displayed results while helping in their biological interpretation. Conclusions: The resistant method is a useful exploratory tool for analyzing shape asymmetry in 2D, and it might be the preferable method whenever a non homogeneous deformation of bilateral symmetric structures is possible. By offering a more detailed and rather exhaustive explanation of the asymmetry pattern, this new approach will hopefully contribute to improve the quality of biological or developmental inferences.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoInstituto de Genética Veterinari

An Integrated Approach for Landmark-Based Resistant Shape Analysis in 3D

Fil: Torcida, Sebastián. Departamento de Matemática. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Campus. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Sergio Iván. División Antropología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La PlataFil: González, Paula Natalia. División Antropología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Santa María de Siones

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 2009-201

New data on sauropod palaeobiodiversity at the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition of Spain (Burgos)

The present paper studies a humerus (MDS-VPCR, 214) recovered from the site of Valdepalazuelos-Tenadas del Carrascal (Burgos, Spain). Geologically, it is located at the base of the Rupelo Formation (Cameros Basin), which is Tithonian-Berriasian in age. This formation is interpreted as shallow lacustrine/palustrine deposits with low-gradient margins and periodic changes in the water level. MDS-VPCR, 214 is gracile and straight, and has a larger mediolateral expansion at its proximal end than at the distal end. The deltopectoral crest is well expanded anteroposteriorly and extends towards the midline of the shaft. The distal articular head has radial and ulnar condyles similar in degree of development and there is a narrow groove between them. The distal articular surface is not divided between the ulnar and radial condyles; this surface extends towards the anterior and posterior surfaces of the humerus. MDS-VPCR, 214 shows significant morphological differences with respect to the humeri of the Iberian sauropods of the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition such as the turiasaurians Losillasaurus, Zby and Turiasaurus, the basal macronarians Lourinhasaurus and Aragosaurus, and the titanosauriforms Lusotitan, Galvesaurus.A phylogenetic analysis of MDS-VPCR, 214 relates it to Titanosauriformes probably a basal brachiosaurid related with the english genus of Kimmeridgian Duriatitan. Therefore MDS-VPCR, 214 is assigned provisionally to aff. Duriatitan

Organizational and institutional environment in wheat production chain in Mozambique

Wheat’s production chain is one of the sectors that have received a lot of attention not only by the Mozambican government, but also by its national and international partners alike. This is due to the interest of the government and its partners to raise production levels and as such, lower the need of importing these goods in the coming years. Due to efforts from Mozambican government to elevate production levels of wheat, the objectives of this research are to analyze the organizational and institutional effects on the development of Mozambican wheat production chain. The foundation of this project consists mainly of a new institutional economy as this institution recognizes the economic development of certain institutions. The primary and secondary data have been collected through interviews conducted with wheat producers and members of research institutes in the agrarian field in Mozambique. Some of the data have also been collected using the internet. Through the data collected and compiled, it was discovered that Mozambique in fact does not have specific policies concerned with the production of wheat, but rather information related to this exact matter are found in a greater policy which concerns itself with the promotion of agriculture itself. Therefore, the data indicates that concerning the production of wheat, there have been certain failures in the process of commercializing it, such as the inexistence of formal contracts, as well as failure in compliance with the few informal contracts which are in place. There has also been poor negotiation of pricing by the producers themselves, thus the need for an intervention in the matter by the Mozambican government

Development of an educational game about risk management

RESUMEN: La gestión de riesgos es una parte muy importante dentro de la gestión de proyectos, no solo usada dentro del campo de la informática sino en cualquier área. Todo proyecto está sujeto a ciertos riesgos que pueden o no materializarse provocando una cantidad de daño al proyecto. Todos estos riesgos deben de identificarse, analizarlos y planificar una respuesta para evitarlos o minimizarlos. Por lo tanto, la gestión de riesgos es necesaria si se quiere reducir al máximo la posibilidad de que el proyecto sufra algún daño por algún factor no controlado. Por otro lado, tenemos la industria de los videojuegos. Un mercado que está asentando como uno de los mayores proveedores de entretenimiento para jóvenes y mayores, y el cuál no deja crecer cada año aumentando el número de juegos distribuidos y el número de personas que juegan a ellos cada año. La idea clave de todo esto es juntar un mundo llamativo y popular como el de los videojuegos con un mundo de gran importancia en el día a día como la gestión de riesgos. El objetivo de este videojuego, por lo tanto, es el de educar a través de una herramienta vistosa y con la que se disfrute el aprendizaje.ABSTRACT: Risk management its an essential part inside every project. Nowadays, it’s not only used in the computer science field, but in any area. Every project is subject to some kind of risk that can or cannot materialize, causing damage to the project. All of this risk should be indentify and analized. This way, an answer in order to avoid or minimize any posible damage can be planify. Therefore, risk management is necessary if we want to decrease to minimum the possibility of the project suffering any harm by some uncontrolled factor. Furthermore, we have the video games industry, a market that nowadays is becoming one of the biggest providers of entertainment for both young and elder. Every year, the amount of games distributed and the number of players in them is increasing hevily, which is opening the opportunity for new ideas and companies to use them as tools for further proposes. The key idea of this project is to merge a popular world as video games with an important part of every work, such as risk management. The main objetive of this video game is to educate through an enjoyable tool that provides both, learning new skills and fun.Grado en Ingeniería Informátic

Utilización de la lactancia materna como medida de analgesia no farmacológica en los procedimientos dolorosos en lactantes

Introducción: el dolor evoca en los niños respuestas negativas fisiológicas, metabólicas y de conducta. A lo largo de su primer año de vida, se estima que los lactantes van a sufrir alrededor de 15 procedimientos sanitarios dolorosos. Los métodos de analgesia no farmacológica en lactantes están encaminados a proporcionarles comodidad y tranquilidad, reduciendo el estrés que suponen los procedimientos a los que se ven sometidos, siendo la lactancia materna el más recomendado. Objetivos: valorar el uso de la lactancia materna para el alivio del dolor en lactantes al llevar a cabo procedimientos sanitarios dolorosos. Material y métodos: revisión bibliográfica en las bases de datos “Pubmed”, “Scielo”, “Cuiden” y “Cochrane”. Se obtuvieron 11 artículos. Resultados: las medidas que se han mostrado efectivas en la disminución del dolor han sido las siguientes, como primera opción amamantar antes, durante y después de la aplicación del proceso sanitario doloroso. Como segunda opción, la administración de glucosa o soluciones azucaradas. Habiendo prácticamente consenso en todos los estudios. Existen más métodos no farmacológicos que se pueden aplicar como cambios posturales o distracción. A pesar de no haberse notificado efectos adversos, de ser medidas económicas y de la relativa facilidad en la aplicación, siguen siendo tratamientos muy poco aplicados, incluso no conocidos por gran parte del personal sanitario. Discusión: Todos los artículos apoyan el uso de la lactancia materna en los procedimientos. Existe una necesidad de mayor información y formación sobre el tema tanto al personal sanitario como a los padres de los niños. Conclusiones: la lactancia se debe utilizar para aliviar el dolor de los procedimientos dolorosos en los neonatos. No se han notificado efectos adversos. Existen multitud de profesionales sanitarios que desconocen este tipo de intervenciones, y gran parte de los conocedores no lo aplica.Grado en Enfermerí

Enigmatic tracks of solitary sauropods roaming an extensive lacustrine megatracksite in Iberia

Sauropod remains are abundant on the Iberian Peninsula across the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition. Where the osteological record shows a high diversity of this kind of dinosaur, the ichnological findings are mainly limited to sauropod tracks characterized by kidney-shaped manus (with or without pollex impressions) and pes impressions with three claw imprints oriented laterally. Here, we present a new sauropod ichnotaxon, Iniestapodus burgensis, found at several exposures within the Las Sereas megatracksite (Burgos, Spain). These are preserved within lacustrine limestone strata of the Rupelo Formation (Tithonian-Berriasian). Iniestapodus burgensis is characterized by: semicircular manus tracks with small pollex impressions; unusual tetradactyl pes tracks with evidence of four claws oriented anteriorly (I-II) and laterally (III-IV), of variable sizes (short claw I and IV impressions, claw II and III being the largest). The combination of features and comparison with the osteological record allows us to propose a non-titanosaurian titanosauriform as a possible trackmaker. All the Iniestapodus tracks are represented by at least two different size classes of small and medium-sized individuals, and their trackways show different multidirectional orientations. The paleoenvironmental and paleoecological data suggest that Iniestapodus trackmakers were solitary individuals, likely representing different age classes, that crossed and used the Las Sereas shallow lacustrine-palustrine areas as their preferred habitat

Unusual sauropod tracks in the Jurassic-Cretaceous interval of the Cameros Basin (Burgos, Spain)

The Las Sereas site includes at least 14 ichnological outcrops along 5.6 km, in the Lara area, southwest Burgos Province. 67 ichnites of dinosaurs are documented at Las Sereas 7, identified as theropod and sauropod trackways occurring in shallow carbonates of lacustrine environment. Sauropod trackways have intermediate-gauge and low heteropody, and show different anatomical features to other tracks found in the ichnological record, especially in the disposition and orientation of pes digits. They are similar to Polyonyx from the Middle Jurassic of Portugal. However, since they do not preserve reliable manus data they are classified as aff. Polyonyx. The three sauropod trackways are related to the same kind of trackmaker. They differ from each other only in size, and gregarious behavior has not been detected. Analysis of these trackways reveals changes in travel direction even when there are few tracks in each sequence. At the Las Sereas 7 tracksite, the pace length (PL), width of the angulation pattern (WAP) and the WAP/PL ratio and depth analysis via photogrammetry show a direction change in two sauropod trackways. This tracksite and that at La Pedraja are unique in the Tithonian-Berriasian interval of the Iberian Peninsula that occur in a lacustrine environment, and could be indicate of the relationship between the diversity of Iberian, Tithonian-Berriasian sauropod tracks and sedimentary environments.El yacimiento de Las Sereas se compone de al menos 14 afloramientos icníticos que se localizan a lo largo de 5,6 Km de longitud en la comarca de Lara, en el sureste de la provincia de Burgos. En el afloramiento de Las Sereas 7 se han documentado 67 icnitas de dinosaurios, identificadas como terópodas y saurópodas, producidas en un ambiente lacustre carbonatado somero. Las rastros saurópodos son de anchura intermedia y heteropodia baja mostrando caracteres anatómicos diferentes a los encontrados en el registro icnológico conocido, en especial en lo referente a la disposición y orientación de los dedos del pie. La mayor semejanza de estas icnitas saurópodas se establece con Polyonyx del Jurásico Medio de Portugal, pero al carecer de datos fiables sobre la anatomía de las manos en Las Sereas, clasificamos estas icnitas de Burgos como aff. Polyonyx. Los tres rastros saurópodos de Burgos se atribuyen a un mismo icnopoyeta, diferenciándose entre sí sólo por el tamaño, y sin que se haya detectado un comportamiento gregario. En el estudio de estos rastros pueden recogerse datos que informen sobre trayectos con cambio de dirección, incluso cuando lo que se conserva es una serie relativamente corta de pasos. En Las Sereas 7 la combinación de los valores de varios parámetros - longitud de paso (PL), pauta de anchura de angulación (WAP) y relación WAP/PL - y el estudio de la profundidad de las icnitas por fotogrametría permiten interpretar un cambio de dirección en dos de los rastros saurópodos. Este yacimiento y el de La Pedraja son los únicos conocidos en el registro del intervalo Titoniense-Berriasiense de la Península Ibérica que se formaron en un medio lagunar. En este sentido, podría haber una relación entre la diversidad de icnitas saurópodas ibéricas del intervalo Titoniense-Berriasiense y la presencia de éstas en distintos medios sedimentarios