Automatic Face Recognition System Based on Local Fourier-Bessel Features

We present an automatic face verification system inspired by known properties of biological systems. In the proposed algorithm the whole image is converted from the spatial to polar frequency domain by a Fourier-Bessel Transform (FBT). Using the whole image is compared to the case where only face image regions (local analysis) are considered. The resulting representations are embedded in a dissimilarity space, where each image is represented by its distance to all the other images, and a Pseudo-Fisher discriminator is built. Verification test results on the FERET database showed that the local-based algorithm outperforms the global-FBT version. The local-FBT algorithm performed as state-of-the-art methods under different testing conditions, indicating that the proposed system is highly robust for expression, age, and illumination variations. We also evaluated the performance of the proposed system under strong occlusion conditions and found that it is highly robust for up to 50% of face occlusion. Finally, we automated completely the verification system by implementing face and eye detection algorithms. Under this condition, the local approach was only slightly superior to the global approach.Comment: 2005, Brazilian Symposium on Computer Graphics and Image Processing, 18 (SIBGRAPI

Simpleweb/University of Twente Traffic Traces Data Repository

The computer networks research community lacks of shared measurement information. As a consequence, most researchers need to expend a considerable part of their time planning and executing measurements before being able to perform their studies. The lack of shared data also makes it hard to compare and validate results. This report describes our efforts to distribute a portion of our network data through the Simpleweb/University of Twente Traffic Traces Data Repository

Flow whitelisting in SCADA networks

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks are commonly deployed to aid the operation of large industrial facilities. Modern SCADA networks are becoming more vulnerable to network attacks, due to the now common use of standard communication protocols and increased interconnection to corporate networks and the Internet. In this work, we propose an approach to improve the security of these networks based on flow whitelisting. A flow whitelist describes the legitimate traffic solely using four properties of network packets: the client address, the server address, the server-side port, and the transport protocol. The proposed approach consists in learning a flow whitelist by capturing network traffic and aggregating it into flows for a given period of time. After this learning phase is complete, any non-whitelisted connection observed generates an alarm. The evaluation of the approach focuses on two important whitelist characteristics: size and stability. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach using real-world traffic traces, captured in two water treatment plants and a gas and electric utility

Anomaly detection in SCADA systems: a network based approach

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks are commonly deployed to aid the operation of large industrial facilities, such as water treatment facilities. Historically, these networks were composed by special-purpose embedded devices communicating through proprietary protocols. However, modern deployments commonly make use of commercial off-the-shelf devices and standard communication protocols, such as TCP/IP. Furthermore, these networks are becoming increasingly interconnected, allowing communication with corporate networks and even the Internet. As a result, SCADA networks become vulnerable to cyber attacks, being exposed to the same threats that plague traditional IT systems.\ud \ud In our view, measurements play an essential role in validating results in network research; therefore, our first objective is to understand how SCADA networks are utilized in practice. To this end, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of real-world SCADA traffic. We analyze five network packet traces collected at four different critical infrastructures: two water treatment facilities, one gas utility, and one electricity and gas utility. We show, for instance, that exiting network traffic models developed for traditional IT networks cannot be directly applied to SCADA network traffic. \ud \ud We also confirm two SCADA traffic characteristics: the stable connection matrix and the traffic periodicity, and propose two intrusion detection approaches that exploit them. In order to exploit the stable connection matrix, we investigate the use of whitelists at the flow level. We show that flow whitelists have a manageable size, considering the number of hosts in the network, and that it is possible to overcome the main sources of instability in the whitelists. In order to exploit the traffic periodicity, we focus our attention to connections used to retrieve data from devices in the field network. We propose PeriodAnalyzer, an approach that uses deep packet inspection to automatically identify the different messages and the frequency at which they are issued. Once such normal behavior is learned, PeriodAnalyzer can be used to detect data injection and Denial of Service attacks

A pedra talhada do neolítico antigo do povoado das Baútas (Amadora)

Esta tese pretende contribuir para um melhor entendimento do longo processo de neolitização através do estudo das indústrias líticas do Neolítico Antigo do povoado das Baútas, situado no concelho da Amadora. Optou-se por uma abordagem tecnológica, que possibilita aceder a aspetos comportamentais das populações pré-históricas. Do mesmo modo, a utilização do conceito de cadeia operatória revelou ser de grande importância para vislumbrarmos recorrências que permitem determinar padrões de exploração das matérias-primas e estratégias de produção de utensílios. De modo a permitir uma análise rigorosa dos dados foram utilizadas bases de dados e o emprego de estatística, especificamente a análise exploratória de dados. Neste âmbito, o estudo recorreu amplamente à utilização de software livre. A partir desta investigação foi possível reconhecer uma indústria que visava prioritariamente a produção de lascas em sílex sem padronização, que eram frequentemente utilizadas em bruto ou apresentavam apenas retoques marginais. Tais características também são verificadas em outros sítios de mesma cronologia existentes na península de Lisboa, nomeadamente o Carrascal, em Barcarena, e a Encosta de Santana, em Lisboa. Assim, surge um grupo de sítios que tem uma indústria lítica de feição diferente da existente em outras jazidas coevas, estas últimas marcadas por um predomínio das lamelas sobre as lascas. Em suma, parece estarmos perante um processo complexo, no qual os grupos humanos deram diferentes respostas adaptativas mesmo que ocupassem um território muito próximo

O impacto da nova lei de falências no mercado de crédito brasileiro

Este artigo avalia as mudanças no mercado de créditobrasileiro em decorrência da Nova Lei de Falências, identificando seus impactos sobre inadimplência, spread bancário, volume de crédito e número de falências. Para isso, utilizaram-se séries disponíveis pelo Banco Central durante o período de 2000 a 2012, avaliando o impacto da lei por meio de regressões lineares e de um método de quebras endógenas. Além de uma diminuição significativa do número de falências, identificou-se um aumento nas concessões de crédito para pessoa jurídica, embora o volume total não tenha sido afetado. Os resultados também indicam que a Nova Lei de Falências não foi eficaz no sentido de diminuir as taxas de inadimplência das pessoas jurídicas e o spread bancário.Este artigo avalia as mudanças no mercado de crédito brasileiro em decorrência da Nova Lei de Falências, identificando seus impactos sobre inadimplência, spread bancário, volume de crédito e número de falências. Para isso, utilizaram-se séries disponíveis pelo Banco Central durante o período de 2000 a 2012, avaliando o impacto da lei por meio de regressões lineares e de um método de quebras endógenas. Além de uma diminuição significativa do número de falências, identificou-se um aumento nas concessões de crédito para pessoa jurídica, embora o volume total não tenha sido afetado. Os resultados também indicam que a Nova Lei de Falências não foi eficaz no sentido de diminuir as taxas de inadimplência das pessoas jurídicas e o spread bancário

ATTRIBUTES OF DYSTROPHIC LATOSOL IN SOUTHERN MINAS GERAIS AFTER APPLICATION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE

In general, tropical soils present low natural fertility, which results in a greatamount of degraded areas if it is associated with improper handling. Sewagesludge, due to its high levels of organic matter and nutrients, can improve soilproperties. Thus, this study evaluated the conditioning and fertilizing effectsof sewage sludge on the attributes of a typical dystrophic latosol in SouthernMinas Gerais. The experiment evaluated the application of sludge fromSantana wastewater treatment plant in Varginhas (Minas Gerais, Brazil) inpots, with concentrations equivalent to 60, 120, and 180 t ha-1, and a controltreatment without sludge. The sewage sludge has increased the levels oforganic matter, cation-exchange capacity, sum of the bases and nutrients,as well as increased porosity and decreased soil density, thus indicating thepotential for conditioning and fertilizing agricultural soils

DA NECESSIDADE DE POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS BRASILEIRAS EFETIVAS PARA OS PACIENTES COM ESCLEROSE LATERAL AMIOTRÓFICA - ELA

The Federal Constitution is based on the principle of the dignity of the human person, contemplating the right to health and social welfare. However, the patients affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ALS, rare, neurodegenerative and progressive disease, find obstacles to universal and necessary access. To review and propagate the reality faced by patients with ALS, such as physical and psychological challenges, as well as judicial and extrajudicial obstacles to the resolution of their demands, aiming at unfolding the patients' quality of life, are the objectives of this study, using as a methodology the bibliographic research. The recognized high vulnerability of patients with ALS and the State's obligation to provide public policies to assist them have been verified. The possibility of adopting specific and effective public policies in the area (fostering basic and applied research, spreading a general education, incorporating new technologies, procedures and medicines into the public health system, among others) is envisaged as an important tool in increasing quality of life (including the self- esteem of patients and their families, who, in most cases, are also their caregivers) of all actors involved in health care, in line with dignity of human person.A Constituição Federal fundamenta-se no princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana, contemplando o direito à saúde e ao bem-estar social. Entretanto, os pacientes acometidos pela Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica - ELA, doença rara, neurodegenerativa e progressiva, encontram óbices ao acesso universal e necessário. Revisar e propagar a realidade enfrentada pelos pacientes com ELA, como os desafios físicos e psicológicos, assim como os entraves judiciais e extrajudiciais para a resolução das suas demandas, visando desdobramentos no incremento da qualidade de vida dos pacientes, configuram-se objetivos do presente trabalho, empregando-se como metodologia a pesquisa bibliográfica. Verificou-se a reconhecida elevada vulnerabilidade dos pacientes com ELA e a obrigação estatal de prover políticas públicas que os assistam. Vislumbra-se a possibilidade, com a adoção de políticas públicas específicas e efetivas na área (fomentando pesquisas básicas e aplicadas; difundindo uma educação generalizada; incorporando novas tecnologias, procedimentos e medicamentos no sistema de saúde público, entre outras) como importante ferramenta no incremento da qualidade de vida (aqui incluída a própria autoestima dos pacientes e dos seus familiares que, na maioria das vezes, são também os seus cuidadores) de todos os atores envolvidos com os cuidados em saúde, alinhando-se aos princípios constitucionais norteadores, especialmente a dignidade da pessoa humana