Linear Versus Geometric Morphometric Approaches for the Analysis of Head Shape Dimorphism in Lizards

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of hadronic event-shape variables in multijet final states in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Confirmatory factor analysis of different versions of the Body Shape Questionnaire applied to Brazilian university students

This study aimed at evaluating the validity, reliability, and factorial invariance of the complete (34-item) and shortened (8-item and 16-item) versions of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) when applied to Brazilian university students. A total of 739 female students with a mean age of 20.44 (standard deviation = 2.45) years participated. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify the degree to which the one-factor structure satisfies the proposal for the BSQ's expected structure. Two items of the 34-item version were excluded because they had factor weights (lambda)< 40. All models had adequate convergent validity (average variance extracted =.43-.58; composite reliability=.85-.97) and internal consistency (alpha =.85-.97). The 8-item B version was considered the best shortened BSQ version (Akaike information criterion = 84.07, Bayes information criterion = 157.75, Browne-Cudeck criterion= 84.46), with strong invariance for independent samples (Delta chi(2)lambda(7)= 5.06, Delta chi(2)Cov(8)= 5.11, Delta chi(2)Res(16) = 19.30). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Statistical and dynamical properties of a dissipative kicked rotator

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

Visuomotor processing and hand force coordination in dyslexic children during a visually guided manipulation task

Developmental Dyslexia negatively affects children's reading and writing ability and, in most cases, performance in sensorimotor tasks. These deficits have been associated with structural and functional alterations in the cerebellum and the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Both neural structures are active during visually guided force control and in the coordination of load force (LF) and grip force (GF) during manipulation tasks. Surprisingly, both phenomena have not been investigated in dyslexic children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare dyslexic and non-dyslexic children regarding their visuomotor processing ability and GF-LF coordination during a static manipulation task. Thirteen dyslexic (8-14YO) and 13 age- and sex-matched non-dyslexic (control) children participated in the study. They were asked to grasp a fixed instrumented handle using the tip of all digits and pull the handle upward exerting isometric force to match a ramp-and-hold force profile displayed in a computer monitor. Task performance (i.e., visuomotor coordination) was assessed by RMSE calculated in both ramp and hold phases. GF-LF coordination was assessed by the ratio between GF and LF (GF/LF) calculated at both phases and the maximum value of a cross-correlation function (r(max)) and its respective time lag calculated at ramp phase. The results revealed that the RMSE at both phases was larger in dyslexic than in control children. However, we found that GF/LF, rmax, and time lags were similar between groups. Those findings indicate that dyslexic children have a mild deficit in visuomotor processing but preserved GF-LF coordination. Altogether, these findings suggested that dyslexic children could present mild structural and functional alterations in specific PPC or cerebellum areas that are directly related to visuomotor processing. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Image Re-Ranking Acceleration on GPUs

Huge image collections are becoming available lately. In this scenario, the use of Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems has emerged as a promising approach to support image searches. The objective of CBIR systems is to retrieve the most similar images in a collection, given a query image, by taking into account image visual properties such as texture, color, and shape. In these systems, the effectiveness of the retrieval process depends heavily on the accuracy of ranking approaches. Recently, re-ranking approaches have been proposed to improve the effectiveness of CBIR systems by taking into account the relationships among images. The re-ranking approaches consider the relationships among all images in a given dataset. These approaches typically demands a huge amount of computational power, which hampers its use in practical situations. On the other hand, these methods can be massively parallelized. In this paper, we propose to speedup the computation of the RL-Sim algorithm, a recently proposed image re-ranking approach, by using the computational power of Graphics Processing Units (GPU). GPUs are emerging as relatively inexpensive parallel processors that are becoming available on a wide range of computer systems. We address the image re-ranking performance challenges by proposing a parallel solution designed to fit the computational model of GPUs. We conducted an experimental evaluation considering different implementations and devices. Experimental results demonstrate that significant performance gains can be obtained. Our approach achieves speedups of 7x from serial implementation considering the overall algorithm and up to 36x on its core steps.

Aspectos reprodutivos e sociais e resistência óssea em ratos machos submetidos ao exercício físico e/ou a um anabolizante esteróide

Nowadays the regular practice of sports is known as a way to obtain a better quality of life. On the other hand, the media has been distorting this idea, determining the ideal body as the hypertrophy phenotype. It is well known that the genetic factor does not allow all individuals to have this body shape. Besides the fact that, the anxiety of these people in obtain quick results, as one of the globalization’s consequence, make use of anabolic steroid to achieve this goal. However the bodybuilding or the strength muscle gain, make anabolic steroids users abuse and in major cases the users do not know the side effects. In front of these considerations, the present study evaluated the effects of the treatment with anabolic steroids and/or high intensity physical training on the corporal developing, the reproductive organs, bone parameters (strength and bone deformation) and seminal parameters as well the social behavior (aggressiveness). In other to obtain the experimental group, male Wistar rats were used, with 75 days old. The groups were divided into: Vehicle Non-Training (NV), Anabolic Steroid-Non-Training (NA), Vehicle-Training (TV) and Anabolic Steroid-Training (TA). These rats received i.m. injections, twice a week, of anabolic steroid (5mg/kg per animal of nandrolona decanoate) or vehicle (the same volume of peanut oil per animal) and the group TV and TA were submitted to physical training three times per week, during eight weeks. The body mass, wet weight of reproductive organs, femur and semen of the different groups were measured. The aggressive test was also realized in two steps: the first, within 4 weeks of the treatment and the other step in the end of the treatment, in this period the animal was isolated. It was not observed alterations in body mass of the groups. Though it was observed a benefic effect on the maximum strength of the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Patch size, shape and edge distance influences seed predation in a keystone palm in tropical rainforests

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Long-range and short-range structures of cube-like shape SrTiO3 powders: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Preferential consumption of larger fruits of Piper arboreum (Piperaceae) by Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) in the Brazilian tropical dry forest

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

New likelihoods for shape analysis

We introduce a new kind of likelihood function based on the sequence of moments of the data distribution. Both binned and unbinned data samples are discussed, and the multivariate case is also derived. Building on this approach we lay out the formalism of shape analysis for signal searches. In addition to moment-based likelihoods, standard likelihoods and approximate statistical tests are provided. Enough material is included to make the paper self-contained from the perspective of shape analysis. We argue that the moment-based likelihoods can advantageously replace unbinned standard likelihoods for the search of nonlocal signals, by avoiding the step of fitting Monte Carlo generated distributions. This benefit increases with the number of variables simultaneously analyzed. The moment-based signal search is exemplified and tested in various 1D toy models mimicking typical high-energy signal-background configurations. Moment-based techniques should be particularly appropriate for the searches for effective operators at the LHC.

Carbon-supported TiO2-Au hybrids as catalysts for the electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide: Investigating the effect of TiO2 shape

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

Body size and allometric shape variation in the molly Poecilia vivipara along a gradient of salinity and predation

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