Shape-based features for cat ganglion retinal cells classification

This article presents a quantitative and objective approach to cat ganglion cell characterization and classification. The combination of several biologically relevant features such as diameter, eccentricity, fractal dimension, influence histogram, influence area, convex hull area, and convex hull diameter are derived from geometrical transforms and then processed by three different clustering methods (Ward's hierarchical scheme, K-means and genetic algorithm), whose results are then combined by a voting strategy. These experiments indicate the superiority of some features and also suggest some possible biological implications.

Comment on 'Relativistic extension of shape-invariant potentials'

This comment criticizes the recently published approach of Alhaidari for solving relativistic problems. It is shown that his gauge considerations are inaccurate and that the class of exactly solvable relativistic problems is not as large as the author claims.

A method for the digital image analysis of ceramic grains based on shape factor segmentation

A very simple and robust method for ceramics grains quantitative image analysis is presented. Based on the use of optimal imaging conditions for reflective light microscopy of bulk samples, a digital image processing routine was developed for shading correction, noise suppressing and contours enhancement. Image analysis was done for grains selected according to their concavities, evaluated by perimeter ratio shape factor, to avoid consider the effects of breakouts and ghost boundaries due to ceramographic preparation limitations. As an example, the method was applied for two ceramics, to compare grain size and morphology distributions. In this case, most of artefacts introduced by ceramographic preparation could be discarded due to the use of perimeter ratio exclusion range.

Derivatives, the shape of international capital flows and the virtues of prudential regulation

Includes bibliography

Some remarks on bifurcation analysis of a nonlinear vibrating system excited by a shape memory alloy material (SMA)

In this paper, the dynamical response of a coupled oscillator is investigated, taking in consideration the nonlinear behavior of a SMA spring coupling the two oscillators. Due to the nonlinear coupling terms, the system exhibits both regular and chaotic motions. The Poincaré sections for different sets of coupling parameters are verified. © 2011 World Scientific Publishing Company.

Nonlinear dynamic model and simulation of morphing wing profile actuated by shape memory alloys

Morphing aircraft have the ability to actively adapt and change their shape to achieve different missions efficiently. The development of morphing structures is deeply related with the ability to model precisely different designs in order to evaluate its characteristics. This paper addresses the dynamic modeling of a sectioned wing profile (morphing airfoil) connected by rotational joints (hinges). In this proposal, a pair of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are connected to subsequent sections providing torque by reducing its length (changing airfoil camber). The dynamic model of the structure is presented for one pair of sections considering the system with one degree of freedom. The motion equations are solved using numerical techniques due the nonlinearities of the model. The numerical results are compared with experimental data and a discussion of how good this approach captures the physical phenomena associated with this problem. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2012.

Signal classification of submerged aquatic vegetation based on the hemispherical-conical reflectance factor spectrum shape in the yellow and red regions

The water column overlying the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) canopy presents difficulties when using remote sensing images for mapping such vegetation. Inherent and apparent water optical properties and its optically active components, which are commonly present in natural waters, in addition to the water column height over the canopy, and plant characteristics are some of the factors that affect the signal from SAV mainly due to its strong energy absorption in the near-infrared. By considering these interferences, a hypothesis was developed that the vegetation signal is better conserved and less absorbed by the water column in certain intervals of the visible region of the spectrum; as a consequence, it is possible to distinguish the SAV signal. To distinguish the signal from SAV, two types of classification approaches were selected. Both of these methods consider the hemispherical-conical reflectance factor (HCRF) spectrum shape, although one type was supervised and the other one was not. The first method adopts cluster analysis and uses the parameters of the band (absorption, asymmetry, height and width) obtained by continuum removal as the input of the classification. The spectral angle mapper (SAM) was adopted as the supervised classification approach. Both approaches tested different wavelength intervals in the visible and near-infrared spectra. It was demonstrated that the 585 to 685-nm interval, corresponding to the green, yellow and red wavelength bands, offered the best results in both classification approaches. However, SAM classification showed better results relative to cluster analysis and correctly separated all spectral curves with or without SAV. Based on this research, it can be concluded that it is possible to discriminate areas with and without SAV using remote sensing. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Improving methods in gap ecology: Revisiting size and shape distributions using a model selection approach

Questions: We assess gap size and shape distributions, two important descriptors of the forest disturbance regime, by asking: which statistical model best describes gap size distribution; can simple geometric forms adequately describe gap shape; does gap size or shape vary with forest type, gap age or the method used for gap delimitation; and how similar are the studied forests and other tropical and temperate forests? Location: Southeastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Methods: Analysing over 150 gaps in two distinct forest types (seasonal and rain forests), a model selection framework was used to select appropriate probability distributions and functions to describe gap size and gap shape. The first was described using univariate probability distributions, whereas the latter was assessed based on the gap area-perimeter relationship. Comparisons of gap size and shape between sites, as well as size and age classes were then made based on the likelihood of models having different assumptions for the values of their parameters. Results: The log-normal distribution was the best descriptor of gap size distribution, independently of the forest type or gap delimitation method. Because gaps became more irregular as they increased in size, all geometric forms (triangle, rectangle and ellipse) were poor descriptors of gap shape. Only when small and large gaps (> 100 or 400m2 depending on the delimitation method) were treated separately did the rectangle and isosceles triangle become accurate predictors of gap shape. Ellipsoidal shapes were poor descriptors. At both sites, gaps were at least 50% longer than they were wide, a finding with important implications for gap microclimate (e.g. light entrance regime) and, consequently, for gap regeneration. Conclusions: In addition to more appropriate descriptions of gap size and shape, the model selection framework used here efficiently provided a means by which to compare the patterns of two different types of forest. With this framework we were able to recommend the log-normal parameters μ and σ for future comparisons of gap size distribution, and to propose possible mechanisms related to random rates of gap expansion and closure. We also showed that gap shape varied highly and that no single geometric form was able to predict the shape of all gaps, the ellipse in particular should no longer be used as a standard gap shape. © 2012 International Association for Vegetation Science.

Aggregate shape and tensile strength measurement

Tensile strength (TS) of soil aggregates is an important indicator of soil quality. However, TS varies with aggregate shape. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify the influence of aggregate shape on TS and propose a shape standardization protocol to increase accuracy in the measurement of TS. The latter was determined on 7,560 aggregates divided into three shapes, (i) irregular shape (IS), (ii) spherical shape (SS), and (iii) flat surface (FS), while preserving the inherent structure of the aggregate. The aggregates with IS had a larger range in the TS (306 kPa) because of the shape variability when compared with SS (238 kPa) and FS (129 kPa). The TS determined in aggregates with FS had smaller coefficient of variation (46%) in comparison with those of IS (70%) and SS (66%), indicating that the aggregate uniformity reduced the influence of shape on the TS. A smaller force (42.12 kPa) was needed to rupture aggregates with FS than IS (58.43 kPa) and SS (56.89 kPa) because of better force distribution in causing the tensile stress. The use of aggregates with the FS enables an accurate assessment of TS in relation to a wide range of management treatments. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

HTS: A new shape descriptor based on Hough Transform

In this paper we propose a novel method for shape analysis called HTS (Hough Transform Statistics), which uses statistics from Hough Transform space in order to characterize the shape of objects in digital images. Experimental results showed that the HTS descriptor is robust and presents better accuracy than some traditional shape description methods. Furthermore, HTS algorithm has linear complexity, which is an important requirement for content based image retrieval from large databases. © 2013 IEEE.

A consolidação da formação do professor-pesquisador da Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFPA: o(s) produto(s) científico(s) em foco

Este estudo cujo tema perpassa o campo da Educação Superior teve a tarefa de dissertar sobre o objeto a consolidação da formação do professor-pesquisador da Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFPA, que traduziu uma inquietação epistemológica em compreender a ação educativa desenvolvida no espaço pós-graduado e que atualmente vem se desenvolvendo pela relação entre pesquisa-trabalho-produtividade que encontra suas raízes ainda na gênese da Pós-Graduação no Brasil na década de 60. O objetivo geral foi analisar o trabalho docente do professor-pesquisador da Pós-Graduação em Educação da Universidade Federal do Pará – UFPA, a partir do processo de consolidação da sua formação pós-graduada, e os específicos que incidiram nos cinco capítulos da Dissertação, a saber: identificar os aspectos legais e epistemológicos que dão voz ao trabalho docente no Ensino Superior tendo como elo o conceito de professor-pesquisador; verificar os dispositivos institucionais que regulam o trabalho docente na Pós-Graduação; analisar o processo de consolidação da formação dos professores-pesquisadores da Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFPA; examinar o nível de produtividade científica dos professores-pesquisadores da Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFPA e; observar como o trabalho docente desses pesquisadores vem sendo avaliado pela Comissão Externa de Avaliação da CAPES. Dedicando-se a seguinte problematização: Como o trabalho do professor-pesquisador se constitui após o processo de consolidação da sua formação pós-graduada? A qual desencadeou as questões-problemas discutidas em cada capítulo: De que modo o trabalho docente desenvolvido no Ensino Superior vem se caracterizando dentro da abordagem epistemológica que envolve o conceito de professor-pesquisador? Em que medida os aspectos institucionais configuram a atividade docente desenvolvida na Pós-Graduação, particularmente no Instituto de Ciências da Educação da UFPA? O que revela a introdução das teses de doutoramento dos professores-pesquisadores? Como a produtividade científica desses professores-pesquisadores vem se constituindo dentro do Currículo Lattes? Como a CAPES avaliou o trabalho docente na Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFPA no lapso temporal de 2003 a 2010? Dada as questões, o estudo foi construído sob uma abordagem teórico-metodológica ancorada no enfoque histórico-educativo, neste momento autores como Carvalho (2003) e Lombardi (2004) compuseram o diálogo necessário para justificar a opção que desencadeou também na escolha das cinco fontes históricas examinadas no estudo, as bibliográficas sobre a epistemologia do professor-pesquisador, as prescrições oficiais, as introduções das teses de Doutorado do atual corpo docente do PPGED da UFPA, os currículos lattes desses sujeitos e por último, as fichas de avaliação da CAPES aplicadas ao PPGED nos anos de 2004 e 2007 referentes à avaliação trienal coordenada pelo Órgão. Tratou-se de um estudo de caso instrumental interessado em compreender a ação educativa no espaço pós-graduado, tendo como lapso temporal os anos de 2003 a 2010. Dentre os resultados alcançados, concluiu-se, principalmente, que a consolidação do professor-pesquisador tem na etapa de conclusão do Doutorado a consolidação da formação pós-graduada, logo do ponto de partida, uma vez que é na experiência construída no trabalho docente, no ambiente pós-graduado em seu contato com os diferentes processos investigativos que cercam esse campo de significados e contradições que o professor consolida de fato sua atividade investigativa.

Estudo longitudinal das alterações dentoesqueléticas à longo prazo da má oclusão de classe II, divisão 1ª tratada com o Bionator de Balters utilizando-se a cefalometria radiográfica e a morfometria geométrica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An automatic methodology for obtaining optimum shape factors for the radial point interpolation method

In this letter, a methodology is proposed for automatically (and locally) obtaining the shape factor c for the Gaussian basis functions, for each support domain, in order to increase numerical precision and mainly to avoid matrix inversion impossibilities. The concept of calibration function is introduced, which is used for obtaining c. The methodology developed was applied for a 2-D numerical experiment, which results are compared to analytical solution. This comparison revels that the results associated to the developed methodology are very close to the analytical solution for the entire bandwidth of the excitation pulse. The proposed methodology is called in this work Local Shape Factor Calibration Method (LSFCM).

Modular Hyperthermostable Bacterial Endo-beta-1, 4-Mannanase: Molecular Shape, Flexibility and Temperature-Dependent Conformational Changes

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