Block-based motion estimation speedup for dynamic voxelized point clouds

Motion estimation is a key component in dynamic point cloud analysis and compression. We present a method for reducing motion estimation computation when processing block-based partitions of temporally adjacent point clouds. We propose the use of an occupancy map containing information regarding size or other higher-order local statistics of the partitions. By consulting the map, the estimator may significantly reduce its search space, avoiding expensive block-matching evaluations. To form the maps we use 3D moment descriptors efficiently computed with one-pass update formulas and stored as scalar-values for multiple, subsequent references. Results show that a speedup of 2 produces a maximum distortion dropoff of less than 2% for the adopted PSNR-based metrics, relative to distortion of predictions attained from full search. Speedups of 5 and 10 are achievable with small average distortion dropoffs, less than 3% and 5%, respectively, for the tested data set

Side-information generation for temporally and spatially scalablewyner-ziv codecs

The distributed video coding paradigmenables video codecs to operate with reversed complexity, in which the complexity is shifted from the encoder toward the decoder. Its performance is heavily dependent on the quality of the side information generated by motio estimation at the decoder. We compare the rate-distortion performance of different side-information estimators, for both temporally and spatially scalableWyner-Ziv codecs. For the temporally scalable codec we compared an established method with a new algorithm that uses a linear-motion model to produce side-information. As a continuation of previous works, in this paper, we propose to use a super-resolution method to upsample the nonkey frame, for the spatial scalable codec, using the key frames as reference.We verify the performance of the spatial scalableWZcoding using the state-of-the-art video coding standard H.264/AVC

Effect of different solutions in reversing the damage caused by radiotherapy in dentin structure

Previous studies have shown that radiotherapy of the head and neck region can cause direct changes in dental structure. This study evaluated the effect of different solutions on the dentin chemical composition and collagen structure of irradiated dentin. Sixty maxillary canines were distributed in 2 groups (n=30): non-irradiated and irradiated (radiotherapy: X-rays of 6 MV in 30 cycles of 2 Gy to 60 Gy). The teeth were sectioned, sanded, and polished to obtain 3x3x2 mm fragments, which were redistributed in 3 subgroups (n=10) according to the treatment employed: chlorhexidine 2% (CL), chitosan 0.2% (QT), and 0.5 M carbodiimide (EDC). The samples were analyzed in FTIR at time zero (T0-control) and after 1 (T1), 3 (T3), and 5 (T5) minutes of immersion in the tested solutions. The data for the areas of the carbonate (C), amide I (AI) bands, and the ratio between the areas of the amide III/proline and hydroxyproline (AIII/PH) bands were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test (?=5%). QT showed lower C values at T1, T3, and T5 (P0.05). Radiotherapy changes the secondary structure of collagen, and EDC was able to restore collagen integrity after 1 minute of immersion, without changing dentin inorganic composition

PRODUCTION AND CASH FLOW OF OIL PALM INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS AN AMAZONIAN DEGRADED AREA

PRODUÇÃO E FLUXO DE CAIXA DE DENDEZEIRO COM CULTURAS INTERCALARES EM ÁREA DEGRADADA NA AMAZÔNIA O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a viabilidade técnica e o fluxo de caixa do cultivo de culturas intercalares nos três primeiros anos após o plantio do dendezeiro em área degradada da Amazônia. Foram testados quatro sistemas de cultivo: SI - dendezeiro + banana; SII - dendezeiro + mandioca; SIII - dendezeiro + abacaxi e SIV - dendezeiro em monocultivo. O cultivo intercalar foi realizado durante os três primeiros anos de cultivo do dendezeiro e o desempenho financeiro dos sistemas avaliado pelo fluxo de caixa neste período. Para verificar a influência das culturas intercalares na produção do dendezeiro na fase adulta foi avaliada a produção de cachos do dendezeiro do 7º ao 10º ano após o plantio. O SIII apresentou melhor desempenho financeiro, com os custos de implantação e manutenção 100% amortizados nos três anos do sistema. Os sistemas SI e SII amortizaram 86,7% e 64,5% dos custos, respectivamente. A produção do dendezeiro não foi afetada pelos cultivos intercalares. A produtividade dos cultivos intercalares foi similar à esperada no monocultivo das espécies. Os cultivos intercalares testados são uma alternativa técnica e economicamente viável para gerar renda e amortizar os custos de implantação e condução do dendezeiro na fase jovem da cultura em áreas degradadas da Amazônia.Keywords: custos; Elaeis guineensis; produção integrada. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to analyze the technical viability and cash flow of intercrop cultivation in the first three years after oil palm planting in a degraded area of the Amazon. Four intercropping systems were tested: SI - oil palm + banana; SII - oil palm + cassava; SIII - oil palm + pineapple, and SIV - oil palm in monoculture. Intercropping was performed during the first three years of oil palm planting and the cash flow of the systems evaluated during this period. The oil palm bunches production was evaluated from 7th to 10th year after planting. SIII had best financial performance, with deployment and maintenance costs 100% amortized over the three years of the system. The SI and SII systems amortized 86.7% and 64.5% of the costs, respectively. Oil palm bunches production was not affected by intercropping. Yield of intercrops was similar to that expected from the crops in monoculture. The intercropping systems evaluated provide a technically and economically viable alternative to generate income and amortize planting and maintenance costs during oil palm juvenile phase in degraded areas of the Amazon.Palavras-chave: costs; Elaeis guineensis; integrated production

Prognostic factors and historical trends in the epidemiology of candidemia in critically ill patients: an analysis of five multicenter studies sequentially conducted over a 9-year period (vol 40, pg 1489, 2014)

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Serv Publ Estadual São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilIrmandade Santa Casa de Misericordia Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Ciencias Saude Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effects of acute exposure of chlorpyrifos on the survival, morphology and swimming ability of Odontophrynus carvalhoi tadpoles

This study examines the survival, mortality, morphology and swimming ability of tadpoles exposed to the organophosphate chlorpyrifos (nominal concentrations of 10, 100, 200 e 400 μg L-1) for 192 h. Odontophrynus carvalhoi tadpoles were used as a biological model. Our findings include decreased survival rates of tadpoles primarily at the highest pesticide concentration (400 μg L-1) and deformities in the caudal muscles, causing spasms and tremors. Tadpoles exposed to chlorpyrifos (10 μg L-1) had the lowest swimming speed compared with that of the control group. Tadpoles the other concentrations (100, 200 and 400 μg L-1) were not evaluated since none of the survived 192 h exposure in concentrations above 10 μg L-1. These adverse effects indicate that this organophosphate can affect the survival of tadpoles even in small doses, compromising the local population

Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) with Bacterial Clinical Stomatitis

Background: Stomatitis is an infectious disease common in serpents and responsible for high mortality rates. It is characterized by the infection of the oral mucosa and neighboring tissues, related to the opportunistic character of bacteria present in the normal microbiota, pathogenic in stressful situations. Few studies have described the profile of sensibility of these agents in serpents of the Brazilian fauna. Therefore, this study has aimed at describing the isolation and identification of the infectious agents involved in the clinic stomatitis in a specimen of green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), and the profile of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.Case: The serpent has been rescued in an urban environment, without previous records and featured erosive injuries in its oral cavity, with the presence of secretion. In a clinical evaluation, it has been assessed that the specimen had erosive injuries in its oral cavity, with hyperemic points in its mucosa and serous secretion. Then the specimen went through a collection of the secretion from its oral cavity for microbiological analysis. Typical colonies of Enterococcus, Citrobacter and Enterobacter were identified by the colony morphology and their typical odor. The results of these tests were able to confirm and identify the Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter spp. and Enterococcus spp. The profile of sensibility to antimicrobials of the isolated microorganisms has been determined through the method of diffusion in the disk of Kirby-Bauer. There was not any sensitive antimicrobial drug for the three agents.Discussion: Immunodepression, malnutrition, and temperatures and humidity outside the animal thermal comfort zone, are predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in reptiles. Little information about pathogen agents affecting constrictor serpents in their native area is available. Most reports on stomatitis in serpents approach cases occurred in captive animals, differently from what has been presented in this case, which is about a free animal rescued when invading an urban area. The bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of the serpent here reported belong to the normal microbiota of the oral cavity of these animals. Notwithstanding, these bacteria may become pathogenic in certain circumstances. Conditions of undernutrition, stress and oral trauma are considered as predisposing factors to the occurrence of stomatitis in serpents, what can be correlated to the occurrence of the disease in this case. The gram-negative agents causing bacterial diseases in serpents are generally resistant to medicines of the most common spectrum used in the clinical routine of wild animals. This way, veterinarians often deal with these diseases in reptiles empirically, using a wide range of antibiotics. This practice might result in the development of resistant bacterial stumps, what stands out due to the potential that resistant bacteria have to generate infections and zoonoses in humans

Natural history of 39 patients with Achondroplasia

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the natural history of 39 achondroplastic patients diagnosed by clinical, radiological and molecular assessments. METHODS: Observational and retrospective study of 39 patients who were attended at a public tertiary level hospital between 1995 and 2016. RESULTS: Diagnosis was made prenatally in 11 patients, at birth in 9 patients and within the first year of life in 13 patients. The most prevalent clinical findings were short stature, high forehead, trident hands, genu varum and macrocephaly. The most prevalent radiographic findings were rhizomelic shortening of the long bones and narrowing of the interpediculate distance of the caudal spine. There was motor developmental delay in 18 patients and speech delay in 16 patients. The most common clinical intercurrences were middle ear dysfunction, sleep apnea, limb pain and obesity from 2 to 9 years of age. One patient was large for the gestational age but did not develop obesity. One patient developed hydrocephalus at 10 years old. The current age of the patients varies from 15 months to 36 years. The molecular study performed by Sanger sequencing of the common heterozygous mutation 1138G4A in FGFR3 was positive in all patients. Four cases were inherited, and 35 were sporadic (paternal age from 19 to 66 years). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnoses were made early based on clinical and radiographic findings. All cases were confirmed molecularly. Despite presenting a benign course, it is necessary to establish a systematic protocol for the surveillance of these patients due to the common clinical intercurrences

Dermatopathy Caused by Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Boa constrictor amarali

Background: Bacterial diseases are the main cause of the high mortality rates of snakes, especially those caused by gramnegative agents. However, studies on dermatopathy caused by these bacterial agents in snakes are scarce; and no reports have been found on Enterobacter aerogenes as causative agent of dermatopathy in snake species. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the clinical signs, and lesion evolution of a dermatopathy in a male snake (Boa constrictor amarali) specimen of approximately seven years old; and to describe the isolation and identification of the Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa agents involved in the cause of this disease.Case: The Boa constrictor amarali evaluated presented blackened cutaneous lesions in the dorsal, snout-vent and tail regions; and well-defined subcutaneous nodules of 2.0-3.0 cm diameter, with soft consistency, reddish color, cutaneous flaccidity, and areas of scale ulceration in the dorsolateral region. The clinical evaluation of the animal showed dehydration signs and pale mucous membranes. The blackened lesions were subjected to mycological analysis - after procedure of deep scale scraping - which showed presence of septate hyphae. The nodule was punctured for microbiological and biochemical analysis. The sample was collected with a sterilized alginate cotton tip swab, and was stored in a plastic tube containing a semi-solid Stuart transport medium, for microbiological analysis. Then, this sample was incubated in a bacteriological oven at 37°C for 24 h. Typical colonies of Pseudomonas and Enterobacter grew on MacConkey agar medium; these bacteria were identified by the colony morphology and their typical odor. The colonies grown in MacConkey agar were also identified through biochemical tests in the mediums: Phenol red, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Citrate, Urea and SIM (Sulfide, Indole, Motility). The results of these tests were able to confirm and identify the P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes species. The animal died within 36 h, before the identification of the causative agents of the disease, thus, no pharmacological interference was possible.Discussion: Immunodepression, malnutrition, and temperatures and humidity outside the animal thermal comfort zone, are predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in reptiles. Little information about pathogen agents affecting Boa constrictor specimens in their native area is available; however, captive snakes are subject to a wide variety of diseases - most of which caused or intensified by the captivity conditions. Among the bacteria involved in reptile diseases, few are primary causative agents. In general, clinical bacterial infections tend to be secondary to viral infections. The bacterial agents found in this study are commonly described in scientific literature with location in the oral cavity, differently from the results found in this study. Moreover, the bacterium E. aerogenes has not yet been described in other studies as a causative agent of dermatopathy. Reptiles are considered reservoirs of important zoonotic microorganisms, such as P. aeruginosa, which can be transmitted by fecal contact, bites and wounds. However, the little information on P. aeruginosa in captive reptiles indicates the need for further studies to establish its zoonotic potential. A most adequate management conditions for the snake species could have decreased the severity of the lesions. The occurrence of P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes found in this work may alert professionals for future clinical suspicions and adequate therapeutic management

Caseous Stomatitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Boa constrictor amarali

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that belongs to the microbiota of snakes, but it may also be an opportunistic pathogen and contaminate humans through fecal contact, bites, and injuries. In snakes, this microorganism may present high pathogenicity at certain conditions and have been associated with high morbidity and mortality. Reports of infection of Boa constrictor by this pathogen are rare. Thus, this study aimed to describe the P. aeruginosa oral infection in a snake specimen (Boa constrictor amarali), approaching the isolation and identification of the infectious agents involved, the antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance, and the therapeutic protocol adopted.Case: A free-living adult female specimen of Boa constrictor amarali (Amaral's boa), with no described previous history was rescued in an urban area by the Environmental Police. Clinical evaluations showed structures of caseous aspect in the oral cavity, with hyperemia spots in the mucosa. Samples of these lesions were sent for mycological examination, and fungal forms were not found. Samples were collected for isolation and culture. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated microorganisms was determined by the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. P. aeruginosa was isolated and showed susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin, and polymyxin-B; intermediate susceptibility to azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin; and resistance to cephalexin, ceftiofur, chloramphenicol, and enrofloxacin. The treatment consisted of cleaning of the oral cavity, local infiltration of lidocaine for debridement of the caseous area that were later cauterized with iodine. Systemic antibiotic therapy was used, with intramuscular administration of amikacin (5 mg/kg) for the first dose and (2.5 mg/kg) for the other doses with intervals of 72 h, and oral administration of metronidazole (20 mg/kg) with intervals of 48 h, both during 21 days. Daily subcutaneous fluid therapy was performed as support treatment, using Lactated Ringer's solution (25 mg/kg) and Vitamin C (10 mg/kg) with intervals of 24 h, being the cure observed at the end of treatment.Discussion: This paper presents the pathological findings of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa oral infection in a B. constrictor amarali. This bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen that is commonly found  in snakes, thus, humans in contact with these animals may be contaminated with this pathogen. However, oral cavity lesions associated with P. aeruginosa had not yet been related to Boa constrictor amarali, which is a non-venomous species. Few bacteria associated with reptile diseases are primary causative agents. Clinical bacterial infections generally tend to be secondary to viral infections. Predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in these reptiles include immunodepression, malnutrition, poor adaptation to captivity, and the maintenance of these animals at temperatures and humidities outside their thermal comfort range. In the present study, the P. aeruginosa behaved as an opportunistic pathogen, resulting in clinical manifestations with caseous lesions in the oral cavity, probably due to an imbalance of the microbiota caused by stress or immunodepression. The antibiogram allowed the adoption of a correct therapeutic protocol based on the susceptibility of the pathogen, resulting in remission of lesions and clinical signs after 21 days of treatment