A pixel-based complexity model to estimate energy consumption in video decoders

The increasing use of HEVC video streams in diverse multimedia applications is driving the need for higher user control and management of energy consumption in battery-powered devices. This paper presents a contribution for the lack of adequate solutions by proposing a pixel-based complexity model that is capable of estimating the energy consumption of an arbitrary software-based HEVC decoder, running on different hardware platforms and devices. In the proposed model, the computational complexity is defined as a linear function of the number of pixels processed by the main decoding functions, using weighting coefficients which represent the average computational effort that each decoding function requires per pixel. The results shows that the cross-correlation of frame-based complexity estimation with energy consumption is greater than 0.86. The energy consumption of video decoding is estimated with the proposed model within an average deviation range of about 6.9%, for different test sequences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acetylcholine release and choline uptake by cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) optic lobe synaptosomes

Acetylcholine (ACh), which is synthesized from choline (Ch), is believed to hold a central place in signaling mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and other coleoid cephalopods. Although the main elements required for cholinergic function have been identified in cephalopods, the transmembrane translocation events promoting the release of ACh and the uptake of Ch remain largely unsolved. The ACh release and Ch uptake were quantitatively studied through the use of in vitro chemiluminescence and isotopic methods on a subcellular fraction enriched in synaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from cuttlefish optic lobe. The ACh release evoked by K+ depolarization was found to be very high (0.04 pmol ACh.s-(1).mg(-1) protein). In response to stimulation by veratridine, a secretagogue (a substance that induces secretion) that targets voltage-gated Na+ channels, the release rate and the total amount of ACh released were significantly lower, by 10-fold, than the response induced by KCl. The high-affinity uptake of choline was also very high (31 pmol Ch.min(-1).mg(-1) protein). The observed ACh release and Ch uptake patterns are in good agreement with published data on preparations characterized by high levels of ACh metabolism, adding further evidence that ACh acts as a neurotransmitter in cuttlefish optic lobe.FCTPOCTI/BSE/46721/2002SFRH/BPD/14677/2003SFRH/BD/1079/2000SFRH/BD/6403/2001SFRH/BD/18101/2004EC (to Y.D.) - LIPIDIET - QLK1-CT-2002-0017

Fish larvae quality descriptors: an appraisal of methods for red porgy Pagrus pagrus and grouper Epinephelus marginatus produced under different rearing conditions

Quality control in fish hatcheries is of paramount importance to achieve the desired characteristics of larvae and fry, either for the market or release to the wild. Quality programmes are applied in a day to day basis having direct implications for production management and final costs of product. Most common criteria used for larval quality assessment are morphometrics, condition factor, histometrical indices, lipid analysis, nucleic acid ratios, enzyme activity and stress tests

Predicting olive phenology in Portugal in a warming climate

Prediction of flowering of olive trees should account for chilling requirements, using an appropriate chilling unit for the accounting of chilling accumulation. After chilling requirements are satisfied, dormancy break takes place. Thereafter, the trees enter the forcing phase, in which the thermal time approach is used, but an appropriate base temperature must be determined. Such a model was developed, calibrated and validated for many olive cultivars (De Melo-Abreu et al., 2004). After flowering, the occurrence of developmental stages may be predicted using a thermal time approach, but for warm regions a saw-tooth model, which is a model that reduces the effect of supra-optimal temperatures, is mandatory (Garcia-Huidobro et al., :1.982). According to the simulations of the model HadCM3, developed by the Hadley Centre, global climate warming will result in average temperature anomalies in winter, in Continental Portugal, of about 2°C, in SRES scenarios 81 and 82, 3°C in scenario A2, and 4 °C in scenario A:tFI, by the end of XXI century. (Miranda et al., 2006). In this study, we discuss the prediction of flowering and subsequent phenological stages and calculate and map the times of occurrence of flowering under three warming scenarios. No flowering or abnormal flowering events are also predicted.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under Project Futurolive (PTDC/AGR-AAM/:1.04562/2008)

Distributed Coding/Decoding Complexity in Video Sensor Networks

Video Sensor Networks (VSNs) are recent communication infrastructures used to capture and transmit dense visual information from an application context. In such large scale environments which include video coding, transmission and display/storage, there are several open problems to overcome in practical implementations. This paper addresses the most relevant challenges posed by VSNs, namely stringent bandwidth usage and processing time/power constraints. In particular, the paper proposes a novel VSN architecture where large sets of visual sensors with embedded processors are used for compression and transmission of coded streams to gateways, which in turn transrate the incoming streams and adapt them to the variable complexity requirements of both the sensor encoders and end-user decoder terminals. Such gateways provide real-time transcoding functionalities for bandwidth adaptation and coding/decoding complexity distribution by transferring the most complex video encoding/decoding tasks to the transcoding gateway at the expense of a limited increase in bit rate. Then, a method to reduce the decoding complexity, suitable for system-on-chip implementation, is proposed to operate at the transcoding gateway whenever decoders with constrained resources are targeted. The results show that the proposed method achieves good performance and its inclusion into the VSN infrastructure provides an additional level of complexity control functionality

Diatraea saccharalis history of colonization in the Americas: The case for human-mediated dispersal

The sugarcane borer moth, Diatraea saccharalis, is one of the most important pests of sugarcane and maize crops in the Western Hemisphere. The pest is widespread throughout South and Central America, the Caribbean region and the southern United States. One of the most intriguing features of D. saccharalis population dynamics is the high rate of range expansion reported in recent years. To shed light on the history of colonization of D. saccharalis, we investigated the genetic structure and diversity in American populations using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) markers throughout the genome and sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase (COI). Our primary goal was to propose possible dispersal routes from the putative center of origin that can explain the spatial pattern of genetic diversity. Our findings showed a clear correspondence between genetic structure and the geographical distributions of this pest insect on the American continents. The clustering analyses indicated three distinct groups: one composed of Brazilian populations, a second group composed of populations from El Salvador, Mexico, Texas and Louisiana and a third group composed of the Florida population. The predicted time of divergence predates the agriculture expansion period, but the pattern of distribution of haplotype diversity suggests that human-mediated movement was most likely the factor responsible for the widespread distribution in the Americas. The study of the early history of D. saccharalis promotes a better understanding of range expansion, the history of invasion, and demographic patterns of pest populations in the Americas.Fil: Francischini, Fabricio J. B.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biología; BrasilFil: Cordeiro, Erick M. G.. Universidade do Sao Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz; BrasilFil: Campos, Jaqueline B. de. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biología; BrasilFil: Alves Pereira, Alessandro. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Gomes Viana, João Paulo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biología; BrasilFil: Wu, Xing. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Wei, Wei. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Brown, Patrick. University of Illinois; Estados UnidosFil: Joyce, Andrea. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Murúa, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Fogliata, Sofia Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Clough, Steven J.. University of Illinois; Estados Unidos. United States Department of Agriculture; Estados UnidosFil: Zucchi, María Inmaculada. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasi

Qualidade do azeite e sua relação com a cultivar e o clima em Portugal

A qualidade do azeite pode ser um elemento diferenciador, permitindo a prática de melhores preços num mercado cada vez mais competitivo. Os constituintes que mais têm sido apontados como tendo propriedades benéficas para a saúde são a composição acídica elevada em monoinsaturados, os valores elevados de tocoferóis, nomeadamente do atocoferol (vitamina E), e de polifenóis. A cultivar, a temperatura e o índice de maturação são variáveis que influenciam alguns dos parâmetros que estão associados à qualidade do azeite. No âmbito do projeto Futurolive, financiado pela FCT, as cultivares Arbequina, Cobrançosa, Galega, Picual e Verdeal foram ensaiadas em Mirandela, Santarém, Elvas e/ou Moncarapacho (Algarve) durante 2 anos. Fizeram-se medições nas plantas, na atmosfera e no solo. No azeite extraído em todas as localizações e olivais, fizeram-se análises detalhadas (análise sensorial, acidez, índice de peróxidos, espectrofotometria, horas rancimat, tocoferóis, polifenóis, esteróis, ácidos gordos totais, e triglicéridos). Todas as amostras foram classificadas como azeite Virgem Extra, obtiveram na análise sensorial uma classificação final igual ou superior a 6,5 e índices de peróxidos, na generalidade dos casos, muito inferiores a 20 meq 0 2 kg· 1 . As cultivares Picual e Verdeal distinguiram-se por valores muito superiores de horas de rancimat, A 'Cobrançosa' e 'Galega' apresentam os valores mais elevados de a-tocoferol. A concentração de polifenóis e de ácido oleico foi mais elevada na 'Verdeal' e 'Picual'. A localização parece ter influência nos teores de a-tocoferol, sendo que em Mirandela estes teores foram consistentemente mais elevados. Os teores de polifenóis são muito influenciados pelo índice de maturação. Relações entre a temperatura durante a maturação e as concentrações dos principais parâmetros associados à qualidade são apresentadas e discutidas. Consequências do aumento da temperatura devido às alterações climáticas são discutidas

Proteomic analysis of Chromobacterium violaceum and its adaptability to stress

Chromobacterium violaceum (C. violaceum) occurs abundantly in a variety of ecosystems, including ecosystems that place the bacterium under stress. This study assessed the adaptability of C. violaceum by submitting it to nutritional and pH stresses and then analyzing protein expression using bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and Maldi mass spectrometry. Chromobacterium violaceum grew best in pH neutral, nutrient-rich medium (reference conditions); however, the total protein mass recovered from stressed bacteria cultures was always higher than the total protein mass recovered from our reference culture. The diversity of proteins expressed (repressed by the number of identifiable 2-DE spots) was seen to be highest in the reference cultures, suggesting that stress reduces the overall range of proteins expressed by C. violaceum. Database comparisons allowed 43 of the 55 spots subjected to Maldi mass spectrometry to be characterized as containing a single identifiable protein. Stress-related expression changes were noted for C. violaceum proteins related to the previously characterized bacterial proteins: DnaK, GroEL-2, Rhs, EF-Tu, EF-P; MCP, homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase, Arginine deiminase and the ATP synthase β-subunit protein as well as for the ribosomal protein subunits L1, L3, L5 and L6. The ability of C. violaceum to adapt its cellular mechanics to sub-optimal growth and protein production conditions was well illustrated by its regulation of ribosomal protein subunits. With the exception of the ribosomal subunit L3, which plays a role in protein folding and maybe therefore be more useful in stressful conditions, all the other ribosomal subunit proteins were seen to have reduced expression in stressed cultures. Curiously, C. violeaceum cultures were also observed to lose their violet color under stress, which suggests that the violacein pigment biosynthetic pathway is affected by stress. Analysis of the proteomic signatures of stressed C. violaceum indicates that nutrient-starvation and pH stress can cause changes in the expression of the C. violaceum receptors, transporters, and proteins involved with biosynthetic pathways, molecule recycling, energy production. Our findings complement the recent publication of the C. violeaceum genome sequence and could help with the future commercial exploitation of C. violeaceum

Previsão de estados fenológicos da oliveira, vingamento e qualidade do pólen e respostas ao aumento da temperatura

Os dados para a calibração e validação dos modelos resultam dum projeto FCT que se encontra no terceiro ano. Abrange quatro cultivares (Arbequina, Cobrançosa, Galega, Picual), quatro localizações principais (Mirandela, Santarém, Elvas e Moncarapacho). Os dados das temperaturas horárias foram obtidos a partir de estações meteorológicas localizadas na vizinhança dos ensaios. Os dados do vingamento foram obtidos através da contagem de flores e de frutos vingados em ramos marcados. Durante a época de floração, o pólen das cultivares foi colhido diretamente das flores para placas de petri contendo meio de germinação. Laboratorialmente foi verificado o índice de germinação e com o pólen isolado fizeram-se testes de viabilidade com o diacetato de fluoresceína. Apresentam-se as datas de ocorrência dos estados fenológicos mais importantes. A temperatura base e as durações térmicas para as fases entre estes estados são calculadas e apresentadas. As percentagens de vingamento são apresentadas e discutidas. Os dados da fertilidade polínica são também apresentados. Munidos dos parâmetros para os modelos fenológicos, utilizam-se os modelos apropriados para prever as datas de floração em três cenários de aquecimento global. Estes cenários são construídos partindo das temperaturas máximas e mínimas diárias, durante cerca de 30 anos, verificadas em 32 estações espalhadas por Portugal Continental, em que se somam 2°C, 3°C e 4°C. Em geral, todos os estados sofreram avanços crescentes com o aumento da temperatura, havendo algumas exceções no caso das datas de floração, em algumas variedades e localizações. Em muitos casos, principalmente na 'Cobrançosa' e 'Galega' existem muitos anos que se preveem florações anormais ou inexistente