Noise reduction in speech signals using a TMS320C31 digital signal processor

This paper describes a speech enhancement system (SES) based on a TMS320C31 digital signal processor (DSP) for real-time application. The SES algorithm is based on a modified spectral subtraction method and a new speech activity detector (SAD) is used. The system presents a medium computational load and a sampling rate up to 18 kHz can be used. The goal is load and a sampling rate up to 18 kHz can be used. The goal is to use it to reduce noise in an analog telephone line.

Growth of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. as related with nutrient concentration in the growing media

Dendrobium nobile orchids were grown for three years in different substrates (tree fern fiber, blocks of pressed coconut bark, bark of Eucalyptus grandis, mixtures with coconut bark blocks and eucalyptus bark and mixtures with the latter materials and charcoal. Plant growth increased with higher concentrations of S (up to 1.6 g/kg), Cu (up to 46 mg/kg) and Zn (up to 147 mg/kg), and decreased with higher concentrations of Ca (up to 13.2 g/kg), Mg (up to 6.6 g/kg) and B (up to 19 mg/kg). High Mo (up to 5.3 mg/kg) caused a more intense loss of leaves after planting. Relations between nutrient concentrations also affected plant growth. With exception of eucalyptus bark, all growing media under study were suitable for plant growth.

Digital monitoring of broiler breeder behavior for assessment of thermal welfare

The assessment of welfare issues has been a challenge for poultry producers, and lately welfare standards needs to be reached in order to agree with international market demand. This research proposes the use of continuous behavior monitoring in order to contribute for assessing welfare. A software was developed using the language Clarium. The software managed the recording of data as well as the data searching in the database Firebird. Both software and the observational methodology were tested in a trial conducted inside an environmental chamber, using three genetics of broiler breeders. Behavioral pattern was recorded and correlated to ambient thermal and aerial variation. Monitoring video cameras were placed on the roof facing the used for registering the bird's behavior. From video camera images were recorded during the total period when the ambient was bright, and for analyzing the video images a sample of 15min observation in the morning and 15 min in the afternoon was used, adding up to 30 min daily observation. A specific model so-called behavior was developed inside the software for counting specific behavior and its frequency of occurrence, as well as its duration. Electronic identification was recorded for 24h period. Behavioral video recording images was related to the data recorded using electronic identification.. Statistical analysis of data allowed to identify behavioral differences related to the change in thermal environment, and ultimately indicating thermal stress and departure from welfare conditions.

Border detection in digital images: An approach by fuzzy numbers

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new approach for edge detection in gray shaded images. The proposed approach is based on the fuzzy number theory. The idea is to deal with the uncertainties concerning the gray shades making up the image, and thus calculate the appropriateness of the pixels in relation to an homogeneous region around them. The pixels not belonging to the region are then classified as border pixels. The results have shown that the technique is simple, computationally efficient and with good results when compared with both the traditional border detectors and the fuzzy edge detectors. © 2007 IEEE.

Microhardness and fluoride release of restorative materials in different storage media

This study evaluated the surface microhardness and fluoride release of 5 restorative materials - Ketac-Fil Plus, Vitremer, Fuji II LC, Freedom and Fluorofil - in two storage media: distilled/deionized water and a pH-cycling (pH 4.6). Twelve specimens of each material, were fabricated and the initial surface microhardness (ISM) was determined in a Shimadzu HMV-2000 microhardness tester (static load Knoop). The specimens were submitted to 6- or 18-h cycles in the tested media. The solutions were refreshed at the end of each cycle. All solutions were stored for further analysis. After 15-day storage, the final surface microhardness (FSM) and fluoride release were measured. Fluoride dose was measured with a fluoride-specific electrode (Orion 9609-BN) and digital ion analyzer (Orion 720 A). The variables ISM, FSM and fluoride release were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance and Tukey's test (p<0.05). There was significant difference in FSM between the storage media for Vitremer (pH 4.6 = 40.2 ± 1.5; water = 42.6 ± 1.4), Ketac-Fil Plus (pH 4.6 = 73.4 ± 2.7; water = 58.2 ± 1.3) and Fluorofil (pH 4.6 = 44.3 ± 1.8; water = 38.4 ± 1.0). Ketac-Fil Plus (9.9 ± 18.0) and Fluorofil (4.4 ± 1.3) presented higher fluoride release in water, whereas Vitremer (7.4 ± 7.1), Fuji II LC (5.7 ± 4.7) and Freedom (2.1 ± 1.7) had higher fluoride release at pH 4.6. Microhardness and fluoride release of the tested restorative materials varied according to the storage medium.

Edge detection in digital images using fuzzy numbers

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new approach for edge detection in grey shaded images. The proposed approach is based on the fuzzy number theory. The idea is to deal with the uncertainties concerning the grey shades making up the image and, thus, calculate the appropriateness of the pixels in relation to a homogeneous region around them. The pixels not belonging to the region are then classified as border pixels. The results have shown that the technique is simple, computationally efficient and with good results when compared with both the traditional border detectors and the fuzzy edge detectors. Copyright © 2009, Inderscience Publishers.

From industrial economics to digital economics: an introduction to the transition

Includes bibliography

Synchronizing Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) on videos for Open Digital TV with educational purposes

The TV is a potential midia of communication that affects all social classes and it is available in 98% of Brazilian homes. It has been used as a distributor of educational materials since the 1950s. By 2016 the Open Digital TV (ODTV) in Brazil might cover the entire national territory, replacing the TV with analog signals. Concerns about accessibility for People with Special Needs (PSN) in that media have become more intense since the 1990s worldwide. In Brazil, it is estimated 24.6 million of PSN, 23% of them having some type of hearing loss. Of these, 2.9% are reported as deafs. Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) is considered the first literacy language for deaf people in Brazil. In this context, this paper presents a proposal to facilitate the generation of educational content for ODTV based on two components. One is called SynchrLIBRAS and allows subtitles synchronization in Portuguese and a LIBRAS translator window of videos downloaded from the Web. The second component allows the visualization of this content through the Brazilian System of Digital TV and IPTV - environments that implement the middleware Ginga-NCL. The main focus of this paper is the presentation of the first component: SynchrLIBRAS. This proposal has educational purposes, contributing to teach LIBRAS to people who may collaborate with social inclusion of the deaf people.

Color stability of composites: effect of immersion media.

Coloring in drinks decreases the color stability of composite restorations, reducing their longevity. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of immersion media on color stability of seven different composite resins (Solidex - Shofu, Resilab-Wilcos, Signum - Heraeus, Epricord - Tokuyama, Adoro - Ivoclar Vivadent, Admira - Voco and Sinfony - 3MESPE). Seven resin-based composite specimens were prepared using a cylindrical teflon mold 2 mm thick and 10 mm in diameter Fifteen specimens of each resin were light-cured according to manufacturers' instructions and randomized into 3 groups (n= 5) according to immersion media: coffee, cola beverage and water A digital spectrophotometer Easy Shade (VITA) was used to evaluate the color changes at baseline and 7 days after immersion in each solution. Specimens were stored in the different staining media for 24 h/day during one week. The color differences were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey 's test (p< 0.05). Color change was observed after one week of immersion and there were statistical differences in staining, composite and interaction factors. The least staining was observed in Admira (deltaE= 3.934+/-0.814) and Resilab (deltaE= 3.993+/-0.735), followed by Adoro (deltaE= 4.044+/-1.001), Epri-cord (deltaE= 4.049+/-1.234), Signum (deltaE= 4.260+/-1.785), Solidex (deltaE=5,122+/-0.534) and Sinfony (deltaE=5.126+/-0.838). All of the composites tested except Adoro were susceptible to staining by substances present in coffee and cola, when stored in beverage for seven days. The lowest deltaE means were obtained with Admira.

Impacto das tecnologias de informação e comunicação: cultura digital e mudanças sócio-culturais

The contemporaneous culture presents new con ditions of interaction with the information flows in the knowledge construction. Multidimensional codifications stimulate the brain and impress meaning to concepts initially empty. Culture is redefined as mosaic-culture, composed by a diversity of media and by immersion in the messages' sphere. In emerge nt countries like Brazil that propose to capacitate citizens for action and for interaction, the aims should imply the respect to the cultural specificities and in the real improvement of the citizens welfare. Information Science in this context must seek theorizations and practices that contribute to social improvements, capacitating and a better understanding of the challenges of Social Web. If the PISA examination demonstrates the County's frailness relating to the information, the 2011 Unicef report point to opportunities. The Universities have an essential role in the capacitating and in the creation of professional contingents, developing their own potentialities in the study, research and knowledge production for a better use of the Information and Communication Technologies. The man-machinery interfaces offer new problems to be dealt together with the literacy lags in Brazil: if information needs to be communicated to re-elaborate in knowledge, its representational supports need to be learnt as technological processes. Implementing informational ambiences studies will produce material for analyses, for the understanding and for the cultural practices importation, converting them to the contextualization of the Country's needs.

Tooth embedding medium influences the accuracy of electronic apex locator

This study evaluated the influence of tooth embedding media on the accuracy ofan electronic apex locator. The root canal length of 20 human mandibular canines was measured by inserting a 15 K-file into the root canal up to the apical foramen. The distance was measured with a digital caliper. The embedding media evaluated were alginate, saline, floral foam or gauze soaked in saline. Electronic root canal length measurement was performed with Root ZX II. Data were analysed using ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey test, at a significance level of 5%. There was no difference between the actual root canal length measurement and the electronic reading recorded with alginate medium. The readings obtained with the other media differed from the actual root canal length measurements. Alginate provided greater accuracy in electronic root canal length determination by Root ZX II than saline, floral foam and gauze.

Desenvolvimento de uma Plataforma de Software para a Modelagem Digital de Terrenos baseada em TIN

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Restabelecimento funcional do tendão extensor digital longo submetido à tenectomia em eqüinos: observação macroscópica, ultra-sonográfica e histopatológica

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Videoclipe 2.0: interatividade e regimes de interação na era digital

Pós-graduação em Comunicação - FAAC

Conteúdo educativo para a televisão digital interativa

Pós-graduação em Televisão Digital: Informação e Conhecimento - FAAC