Avaliação do AAM - Active Appearance Model para detecção de regiões de interesse em radiografias carpais na estimativa da idade óssea através do método TW

In several areas of health professionals (pediatricians, nutritionists, orthopedists, endocrinologists, dentists, etc.) are used in the assessment of bone age to diagnose growth disorders in children. Through interviews with specialists in diagnostic imaging and research done in the literature, we identified the TW method - Tanner and Whitehouse as the most efficient. Even achieving better results than other methods, it is still not the most used, due to the complexity of their use. This work presents the possibility of automation of this method and therefore that its use more widespread. Also in this work, they are met two important steps in the evaluation of bone age, identification and classification of regions of interest. Even in the radiography in which the positioning of the hands were not suitable for TW method, the identification algorithm of the fingers showed good results. As the use AAM - Active Appearance Models showed good results in the identification of regions of interest even in radiographs with high contrast and brightness variation. It has been shown through appearance, good results in the classification of the epiphysis in their stages of development, being chosen the average epiphysis finger III (middle) to show the performance. The final results show an average percentage of 90% hit and misclassified, it was found that the error went away just one stage of the correct stage.

Courtship behaviour of western hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in a rural landscape in Ireland and the first appearance of offspring

A study was conducted to investigate the timing of the breeding season of western hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in a rural landscape in Ireland, their courtship activity and the first appearance and possible dispersal of juveniles. Between June 2008 and June 2010, 24 hedgehogs (18 ♂ and 6 ♀) were caught and monitored by radio tracking and direct following. A preponderance of males was recorded in both adults and juveniles at the study site and the sex ratio deviated significantly from a 1:1 ratio. Courtship behaviour took place between April and July and occurred almost exclusively in a nine ha pasture. An individual female paired with up to seven males in a season. The first appearance of juveniles was recorded in September (2008) and July (2009). The majority (n=22) of juvenile sightings, both alive and as road kill, occurred in July but they continued to be recorded up until November (n=3). The presence of juveniles at the study site in October 2008 and a pregnant female being found in September 2009 indicated that late litters occur in Ireland.

A biologically inspired appearance model for robust visual tracking

In this work, we propose a biologically inspired appearance model for robust visual tracking. Motivated in part by the success of the hierarchical organization of the primary visual cortex (area V1), we establish an architecture consisting of five layers: whitening, rectification, normalization, coding and polling. The first three layers stem from the models developed for object recognition. In this paper, our attention focuses on the coding and pooling layers. In particular, we use a discriminative sparse coding method in the coding layer along with spatial pyramid representation in the pooling layer, which makes it easier to distinguish the target to be tracked from its background in the presence of appearance variations. An extensive experimental study shows that the proposed method has higher tracking accuracy than several state-of-the-art trackers.

Good looks and good practice: the attitudes of career practitioners to attractiveness and appearance

Empirical evidence attests the impact that career image has on objective career success, yet little is known of how career practitioners conceptualise and operationalise this information. This article presents the quantitative findings of an online survey of career practitioners (n=399, 74% female, 89% white, 75% from the UK) exploring their attitudes and practices towards issues of appearance and attractiveness. Career practitioners who participated in this survey acknowledged that beauty, self-presentation and interpersonal skills influence career success, and 96% of them considered conversations about career image as part of their professional remit. The career practitioners felt relatively comfortable and well informed in their discussions in this arena, but would welcome further guidance and training to inform their practice. Ethical and practical implications for the profession are considered.

Changes in the appearance of stimuli of very high luminance

"Evidence concerning the absorption of light quanta by visual pigment molecules is used to derive a theoretical relationship between the parameters of light incident on the retina and the output of the receptor cells. This relationship leads to the following prediction: when two retinal areas are illuminated, one very intensely and the other still more intensely, there will be a period of time during which the less intensely illuminated region will appear brighter than the more intensely illuminated one. Data verifying this prediction are presented. When the theoretical treatment is expanded to include certain assumptions about retinal color mechanisms, it provides an explanation of some of the changes in hue that occur when a very intense colored stimulus is viewed steadily." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1962 American Psychological Association.

Big data: appearance and disappearance

The mainstay of Big Data is prediction in that it allows practitioners, researchers, and policy analysts to predict trends based upon the analysis of large and varied sources of data. These can range from changing social and political opinions, patterns in crimes, and consumer behaviour. Big Data has therefore shifted the criterion of success in science from causal explanations to predictive modelling and simulation. The 19th-century science sought to capture phenomena and seek to show the appearance of it through causal mechanisms while 20th-century science attempted to save the appearance and relinquish causal explanations. Now 21st-century science in the form of Big Data is concerned with the prediction of appearances and nothing more. However, this pulls social science back in the direction of a more rule- or law-governed reality model of science and away from a consideration of the internal nature of rules in relation to various practices. In effect Big Data offers us no more than a world of surface appearance and in doing so it makes disappear any context-specific conceptual sensitivity.

Crime and prejudice: The influence of appearance on blame amongst perpetrators and victims

Stereotypes based on characteristics such as age, race, and gender influence opinions in a criminal context. Yet, to date research has largely assessed whether perpetrators, rather than victims, are judged differently. Furthermore, although facial features can be a source of unconscious bias, research has failed to assess whether perceptions based on facial features affect the criminal context. To better understand the relationship between stereotypic facial features and gender, and whether this varies across perpetrators and victims, participants were asked to answer questions about an aggravated assault scenario after viewing an image of a person described as the victim or the alleged perpetrator. Images varied in gender and in presence or absence of tattoos or gothic makeup. Participants sympathized with the victim regardless of gender, but discrepancies were stronger if the victim was female than male. Neutral and tattooed faces were judged more harshly than faces with gothic makeup, regardless of gender.

γ-Irradiation effects on appearance and aroma of 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit

γ-Irradiation doses of 0.5 (target) and 1.0 (high) kGy were applied as insect disinfestation treatments to 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit. The effects of these treatments on fruit physicochemical properties and aroma volatile production were investigated and compared to non-irradiated controls. There were no significant effects of the irradiation treatments on flesh total soluble solids content. However, the loss of green skin colour usually associated with fruit ripening was inhibited by irradiation at both 0.5 and 1.0 kGy by approximately 32 and 52%, respectively, relative to non-irradiated fruit. Fruit exposed to 0.5 and 1.0 kGy exhibited a 58 and 80% reduction in emission of a-terpinolene volatiles, respectively. Thus, γ-irradiation at 0.5 and 1.0 kGy can have an adverse effect on 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit aroma volatile production and skin colouration.

Factors influencing dental appearance satisfaction in adolescents: a cross-sectional study conducted in Southern Brazil

The perception of dental aesthetic appearance may affect social interaction and psychological status, influencing dental needs and the search for treatments. Aim: To investigate the satisfaction with dental appearance and influencing factors among adolescents. Methods: The study was carried out among adolescents aged 14 to 19 years attending a private high school in Brazil. Data on demographic information, the perception of dental appearance, previous aesthetic treatments and wish to perform dental treatments were collected in the school. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test or Linear Trend. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Poisson regression. Results: A total of 531 adolescents (Response rate = 98.3%) answered the questionnaire. The prevalence of dissatisfaction with dental appearance was 17.4%. Almost 65% had history of previous orthodontic treatment and 16% performed dental bleaching. Approximately 45% of children wished to undergo orthodontics and 54.8% to bleach their teeth. Dissatisfaction with dental appearance was associated with individuals unsatisfied with dental color (95% IC[1.73;4.32]), those perceiving poor dental alignment (PR3.16 95% IC[2.11;4.72]) and those wishing orthodontic treatment (PR2.9; 95% IC[1.79; 4.70]). Conclusions: The prevalence of dissatisfaction was considerable and was associated with aesthetic concerns such as tooth color, dental alignment and with the wish for orthodontics. In this young population, a large part of adolescents had already performed orthodontic and bleaching treatments and wished to perform those treatments again. Satisfaction with dental appearance could affect the adolescents’ behavior regarding search for dental treatment, thus causing possible overtreatment.

Growth Factor Stimulation Improves The Structure And Properties Of Scaffold-free Engineered Auricular Cartilage Constructs.

The reconstruction of the external ear to correct congenital deformities or repair following trauma remains a significant challenge in reconstructive surgery. Previously, we have developed a novel approach to create scaffold-free, tissue engineering elastic cartilage constructs directly from a small population of donor cells. Although the developed constructs appeared to adopt the structural appearance of native auricular cartilage, the constructs displayed limited expression and poor localization of elastin. In the present study, the effect of growth factor supplementation (insulin, IGF-1, or TGF-β1) was investigated to stimulate elastogenesis as well as to improve overall tissue formation. Using rabbit auricular chondrocytes, bioreactor-cultivated constructs supplemented with either insulin or IGF-1 displayed increased deposition of cartilaginous ECM, improved mechanical properties, and thicknesses comparable to native auricular cartilage after 4 weeks of growth. Similarly, growth factor supplementation resulted in increased expression and improved localization of elastin, primarily restricted within the cartilaginous region of the tissue construct. Additional studies were conducted to determine whether scaffold-free engineered auricular cartilage constructs could be developed in the 3D shape of the external ear. Isolated auricular chondrocytes were grown in rapid-prototyped tissue culture molds with additional insulin or IGF-1 supplementation during bioreactor cultivation. Using this approach, the developed tissue constructs were flexible and had a 3D shape in very good agreement to the culture mold (average error <400 µm). While scaffold-free, engineered auricular cartilage constructs can be created with both the appropriate tissue structure and 3D shape of the external ear, future studies will be aimed assessing potential changes in construct shape and properties after subcutaneous implantation.

Water Stress Reveals Differential Antioxidant Responses Of Tolerant And Non-tolerant Sugarcane Genotypes.

The biochemical responses of the enzymatic antioxidant system of a drought-tolerant cultivar (IACSP 94-2094) and a commercial cultivar in Brazil (IACSP 95-5000) grown under two levels of soil water restriction (70% and 30% Soil Available Water Content) were investigated. IACSP 94-2094 exhibited one additional active superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD VI) isoenzyme in comparison to IACSP 95-5000, possibly contributing to the heightened response of IACSP 94-2094 to the induced stress. The total glutathione reductase (GR) activity increased substantially in IACSP 94-2094 under conditions of severe water stress; however, the appearance of a new GR isoenzyme and the disappearance of another isoenzyme were found not to be related to the stress response because the cultivars from both treatment groups (control and water restrictions) exhibited identical changes. Catalase (CAT) activity seems to have a more direct role in H2O2 detoxification under water stress condition and the shift in isoenzymes in the tolerant cultivar might have contributed to this response, which may be dependent upon the location where the excessive H2O2 is being produced under stress. The improved performance of IACSP 94-2094 under drought stress was associated with a more efficient antioxidant system response, particularly under conditions of mild stress.

Preference Mapping Of Dulce De Leche Commercialized In Brazilian Markets.

Dulce de leche samples available in the Brazilian market were submitted to sensory profiling by quantitative descriptive analysis and acceptance test, as well sensory evaluation using the just-about-right scale and purchase intent. External preference mapping and the ideal sensory characteristics of dulce de leche were determined. The results were also evaluated by principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, partial least squares regression, artificial neural networks, and logistic regression. Overall, significant product acceptance was related to intermediate scores of the sensory attributes in the descriptive test, and this trend was observed even after consumer segmentation. The results obtained by sensometric techniques showed that optimizing an ideal dulce de leche from the sensory standpoint is a multidimensional process, with necessary adjustments on the appearance, aroma, taste, and texture attributes of the product for better consumer acceptance and purchase. The optimum dulce de leche was characterized by high scores for the attributes sweet taste, caramel taste, brightness, color, and caramel aroma in accordance with the preference mapping findings. In industrial terms, this means changing the parameters used in the thermal treatment and quantitative changes in the ingredients used in formulations.

[access To Information About How To Prevent Oral Problems Among School Children In The Public School Network].

The scope of this study is to identify the prevalence of access to information about how to prevent oral problems among schoolchildren in the public school network, as well as the factors associated with such access. This is a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted among 12-year-old schoolchildren in a Brazilian municipality with a large population. The examinations were performed by 24 trained dentists and calibrated with the aid of 24 recorders. Data collection occurred in 36 public schools selected from the 89 public schools of the city. Descriptive, univariate and multiple analyses were conducted. Of the 2510 schoolchildren included in the study, 2211 reported having received information about how to prevent oral problems. Access to such information was greater among those who used private dental services; and lower among those who used the service for treatment, who evaluated the service as regular or bad/awful. The latter use toothbrush only or toothbrush and tongue scrubbing as a means of oral hygiene and who reported not being satisfied with the appearance of their teeth. The conclusion drawn is that the majority of schoolchildren had access to information about how to prevent oral problems, though access was associated with the characteristics of health services, health behavior and outcomes.

[need For Orthodontic Treatment Among Brazilian Adolescents: Evaluation Based On Public Health].

To identify the prevalence and the severity of malocclusions and to analyze factors associated with the need for orthodontic treatment of Brazilian adolescents. This exploratory, cross-sectional study was carried out based on secondary data from the national epidemiological survey on oral health in Brazil (2002-2003). Socio-demographic conditions, self-perception, and the existence and degree of malocclusion, using the Dental Aesthetic Index, were evaluated in 16,833 adolescent Brazilians selected by probabilistic sample by conglomerates. The dependent variable - need orthodontic treatment - was estimated from the severity of malocclusion. The magnitude and direction of the association in bivariate and multivariate analyzes from a Robust Poisson regression was estimated RESULTS: The majority of the adolescents needed orthodontic treatment (53.2%). In the multivariate analysis, the prevalence of the need for orthodontic treatment was larger among females, non-whites, those that perceived a need for treatment, and those that perceived their appearance as normal, bad, or very bad. The need for orthodontic treatment was smaller among those that lived in the Northeast and Central West macro-regions compared to those living in Southeast Brazil and it was also smaller among those that perceived their chewing to be normal or their oral health to be bad or very bad. There was a high prevalence of orthodontic treatment need among adolescents in Brazil and this need was associated with demographic and subjective issues. The high prevalence of orthodontic needs in adolescents is a challenge to the goals of Brazil's universal public health system.