Study on the use of oxidant scrubbers for elimination of interferences due to nitrogen dioxide in analysis of atmospheric dimethylsulfide

Neste trabalho foi avaliado o desempenho de filtros para dióxido de nitrogênio, buscando evitar perdas durante a amostragem de sulfetos orgânicos, provocadas por oxidantes atmosféricos. Diferentes compostos e misturas foram usadas para recobrir superfícies sólidas empregadas na preparação destes filtros. Um sistema automatizado de análise em fluxo foi utilizado para comparar a eficiência de retenção de dióxido de nitrogênio pelos filtros. Entre os materiais testados na preparação dos filtros, as melhores escolhas foram papel ou lã de vidro impregnados com a mistura de sulfato de ferro (II), ácido sulfúrico e ácido pirogalico e ainda os filtros feitos de papel impregnados com trietanolamina. Os resultados obtidos em laboratório com mistura de gás padrão de dimetilsulfeto e experimentos em campo confirmaram a qualidade dos filtros e indicaram que eles podem ser utilizados para evitar a oxidação de sulfetos orgânicos durante a sua amostragem.

Automatic segmentation and classification of human intestinal parasites from microscopy images

Human intestinal parasites constitute a problem in most tropical countries, causing death or physical and mental disorders. Their diagnosis usually relies on the visual analysis of microscopy images, with error rates that may range from moderate to high. The problem has been addressed via computational image analysis, but only for a few species and images free of fecal impurities. In routine, fecal impurities are a real challenge for automatic image analysis. We have circumvented this problem by a method that can segment and classify, from bright field microscopy images with fecal impurities, the 15 most common species of protozoan cysts, helminth eggs, and larvae in Brazil. Our approach exploits ellipse matching and image foresting transform for image segmentation, multiple object descriptors and their optimum combination by genetic programming for object representation, and the optimum-path forest classifier for object recognition. The results indicate that our method is a promising approach toward the fully automation of the enteroparasitosis diagnosis. © 2012 IEEE.

Automated diagnosis of human intestinal parasites using optical microscopy images

Intestinal parasitosis constitutes a serious health problem in most tropical countries. The diagnosis of enteroparasites in laboratory routine relies on the examination of stool samples using optical microscopy and the error rates usually range from moderate to high. Approaches based on automatic image analysis have been proposed, but the methods are usually specific for some species, some of them are computationally expensive, and image acquisition and focus are manual. We present a solution to automate the diagnosis of the 15 most common species of enteroparasites in Brazil, using a sensitive parasitological technique, a motorized microscope with digital camera for automatic image acquisition and focus, and fast image analysis methods. The results indicate that our solution is effective and suitable for laboratory routine, in which the exam must be concluded in a few minutes. © 2013 IEEE.

As peculiaridades na escrita pianística de Ronaldo Miranda: sugestões interpretativas e técnico-musicais

Pós-graduação em Música - IA

A disciplina análise musical em instituições de ensino superior da cidade de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Rumos da análise musical no Brasil: análise estilística 1919-84

Pós-graduação em Música - IA

Ambiente data cleaning: suporte extensível, semântico e automático para análise e transformação de dados

Pós-graduação em Ciência da Computação - IBILCE

HTS and HTSn: New shape descriptors based on Hough transform statistics

With the widespread proliferation of computers, many human activities entail the use of automatic image analysis. The basic features used for image analysis include color, texture, and shape. In this paper, we propose a new shape description method, called Hough Transform Statistics (HTS), which uses statistics from the Hough space to characterize the shape of objects or regions in digital images. A modified version of this method, called Hough Transform Statistics neighborhood (HTSn), is also presented. Experiments carried out on three popular public image databases showed that the HTS and HTSn descriptors are robust, since they presented precision-recall results much better than several other well-known shape description methods. When compared to Beam Angle Statistics (BAS) method, a shape description method that inspired their development, both the HTS and the HTSn methods presented inferior results regarding the precision-recall criterion, but superior results in the processing time and multiscale separability criteria. The linear complexity of the HTS and the HTSn algorithms, in contrast to BAS, make them more appropriate for shape analysis in high-resolution image retrieval tasks when very large databases are used, which are very common nowadays. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stability analysis of power systems described with detailed models by automatic method

The power system stability analysis is approached taking into explicit account the dynamic performance of generators internal voltages and control devices. The proposed method is not a direct method in the usual sense since conclusion for stability or instability is not exclusively based on energy function considerations but it is automatic since the conclusion is achieved without an analyst intervention. The stability test accounts for the nonconservative nature of the system with control devices such as the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) and automatic generation control (AGC) in contrast with the well-known direct methods. An energy function is derived for the system with machines forth-order model, AVR and AGC and it is used to start the analysis procedure and to point out criticalities. The conclusive analysis itself is made by means of a method based on the definition of a region surrounding the equilibrium point where the system net torque is equilibrium restorative. This region is named positive synchronization region (PSR). Since the definition of the PSR boundaries have no dependence on modelling approximation, the PSR test conduces to reliable results. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the distances covered by first division Brazilian soccer players obtained with an automatic tracking method

Methods based on visual estimation still is the most widely used analysis of the distances that is covered by soccer players during matches, and most description available in the literature were obtained using such an approach. Recently, systems based on computer vision techniques have appeared and the very first results are available for comparisons. The aim of the present study was to analyse the distances covered by Brazilian soccer players and compare the results to the European players', both data measured by automatic tracking system. Four regular Brazilian First Division Championship matches between different teams were filmed. Applying a previously developed automatic tracking system (DVideo, Campinas, Brazil), the results of 55 outline players participated in the whole game (n = 55) are presented. The results of mean distances covered, standard deviations (s) and coefficient of variation (cv) after 90 minutes were 10,012 m, s = 1,024 m and cv = 10.2%, respectively. The results of three-way ANOVA according to playing positions, showed that the distances covered by external defender (10642 ± 663 m), central midfielders (10476 ± 702 m) and external midfielders (10598 ± 890 m) were greater than forwards (9612 ± 772 m) and forwards covered greater distances than central defenders (9029 ± 860 m). The greater distances were covered in standing, walking, or jogging, 5537 ± 263 m, followed by moderate-speed running, 1731 ± 399 m; low speed running, 1615 ± 351 m; high-speed running, 691 ± 190 m and sprinting, 437 ± 171 m. Mean distance covered in the first half was 5,173 m (s = 394 m, cv = 7.6%) highly significant greater (p < 0.001) than the mean value 4,808 m (s = 375 m, cv = 7.8%) in the second half. A minute-by-minute analysis revealed that after eight minutes of the second half, player performance has already decreased and this reduction is maintained throughout the second half. ©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2007).

Aquatic weed automatic classification using machine learning techniques

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of different analysis techniques for the determination of muscle onset in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Power performance evaluation of an electric home fan with triac-based automatic speed control system

In order to provide a low cost system of thermal comfort, a common model of home fan, 40 cm diameter size, had its manual four-button control system replaced by an automatic speed control. The new control system has a temperature sensor feeding a microcontroller that, by using an optic coupling, DIAC or TRIAC-based circuit, varies the RMS value of the fan motor input voltage and its speed, according to the room temperature. Over a wide range of velocity, the fan net power and the motor fan input power were measured working under both control system. The temperature of the motor stator and the voltage waveforms were observed too. Measured values analysis showed that the TRIAC-based control system makes the fan motor work at a very low power factor and efficiency values. The worst case is at low velocity range where the higher fan motor stator temperatures were registered. The poor power factor and efficiency and the harmonics signals inserted in the motor input voltage wave by the TRIAC commutation procedure are correlated.

A Parameterization Technique for the Continuation Power Flow Developed from the Analysis of Power Flow Curves

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)