Combining anisotropic diffusion, transport equation and texture synthesis for inpainting textured images

In this work we propose a new image inpainting technique that combines texture synthesis, anisotropic diffusion, transport equation and a new sampling mechanism designed to alleviate the computational burden of the inpainting process. Given an image to be inpainted, anisotropic diffusion is initially applied to generate a cartoon image. A block-based inpainting approach is then applied so that to combine the cartoon image and a measure based on transport equation that dictates the priority on which pixels are filled. A sampling region is then defined dynamically so as to hold the propagation of the edges towards image structures while avoiding unnecessary searches during the completion process. Finally, a cartoon-based metric is computed to measure likeness between target and candidate blocks. Experimental results and comparisons against existing techniques attest the good performance and flexibility of our technique when dealing with real and synthetic images. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Economic aspects of combining thermal and hydroelectric plants

Includes bibliography

Combining hydro and thermal capacity results in maximum economic benefits

Includes bibliography

Survey of the needs for technical assistance and the ability to provide such: a discussion of the survey findings and of the principles and mechanism of technical co-operation among developing countries

Includes bibliography

Obtenção de variedades sintéticas de milho

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mexico: Combining monthly inflation predictions from surveys

We examine the problem of combining Mexican inflation predictions or projections provided by a biweekly survey of professional forecasters. Consumer price inflation in Mexico is measured twice a month. We consider several combining methods and advocate the use of dimension reduction techniques whose performance is compared with different benchmark methods, including the simplest average prediction. Missing values in the database are imputed by two different databased methods. The results obtained are basically robust to the choice of the imputation method. A preliminary analysis of the data was based on its panel data structure and showed the potential usefulness of using dimension reduction techniques to combine the experts' predictions. The main findings are: the first monthly predictions are best combined by way of the first principal component of the predictions available; the best second monthly prediction is obtained by calculating the median prediction and is more accurate than the first one.

Utilização de uma matriz híbrida orgânica-inorgânica na dinâmica de liberação controlada de fármacos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The ability of orthodontists and laypeople in the perception of gradual reduction of dentogingival exposure while smiling

OBJETIVO: avaliar a diferença na percepção de ortodontistas e leigos quanto à redução da exposição dentogengival no sorriso. MÉTODOS: no total, 60 avaliadores de ambos os sexos (30 leigos e 30 ortodontistas) avaliaram fotografias do sorriso espontâneo de dois indivíduos, um do sexo masculino e um do feminino. A partir das imagens originais, a altura do sorriso foi modificada usando-se um programa de manipulação de imagens. Os examinadores emitiram notas de 0 a 10, conforme o nível de agradabilidade. A reprodutibilidade do método foi examinada através do teste de Wilcoxon, enquanto os testes de Friedman e Wilcoxon (P<0,05) foram utilizados para observar as diferenças intra e interexaminadores, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: os resultados demonstraram não haver diferença entre os grupos de avaliadores com relação à estética quando a altura de ambos os sorrisos foi modificada. Entretanto, o sorriso do indivíduo do sexo masculino teve menor aceitabilidade do que o sorriso feminino. Uma suave redução na exposição dentogengival no sorriso (2mm) não foi percebida por leigos ou ortodontistas (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: o sorriso do indivíduo do sexo feminino recebeu notas mais altas do que o do masculino; entretanto, amostras envolvendo um maior número de indivíduos em cada grupo são necessárias para confirmar se a observação estaria relacionada ao sexo do indivíduo examinado.

Low shrinkage composite resins: influence on sealing ability in unfavorable C-factor cavities

The present investigation observed the sealing ability of low shrinkage composite resins in large and deep cavities, placed and photocured in one increment. Large, deep cavities (5.0 mm diameter and 2.5 mm deep) surrounded by enamel were prepared in bovine teeth, which were then divided into five groups. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4: acid conditioning + Adper Single Bond (3M/ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA) and restoration with Aelite LS Posterior (BISCO Inc. Schaumburg, IL, USA) (G1); Filtek Z-350 (3M/ESPE,St Paul, MN, USA) (G2); Filtek Z-350 Flow (3M/ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA) (G3); Premisa (KERR Corporation, Orange, CA, USA) (G4). Group 5: Silorane Adhesive system (3M/ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA) + restoration with Filtek Low Shrinkage Posterior P90 (3M/ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA). After polymerization, the teeth were immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsine solution and immediately washed. Using the Imagetool Software, the extent of dye along the margins was calculated as a percentage of total perimeter. The restorations were then transversally sectioned and the depth of dye penetration was calculated in mm, using the same software. Kruskal-Wallis analysis for all groups showed no statistical differences for extent (p = 0.54) or depth (p = 0.8364) of dye penetration. According to this methodology, the so-called low shrinkage composite resins had the same sealing ability compared to regular and flowable nanocomposite materials.

Halotolerance, ligninase production and herbicide degradation ability of basidiomycetes strains

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

Evaluation of Three Formulations of Culture Media for Isolation of Brucella spp. regarding Their Ability to Inhibit the Growth of Contaminating Organisms

Three culture media (Brucella agar, Farrell medium, and CITA) were compared for their effectiveness in inhibiting contamination and for isolating Brucella spp. One hundred lymph nodes from pigs (n = 50) and wild boars (n = 50) with lymphadenitis were collected in slaughterhouses in the State of Sao Paulo and were assessed on these three selective media for Brucella spp. All of the samples were negative for Brucella spp. on the three culture media. On the agar medium, fungal (70 plates) and Gram-positive bacterial (59 plates) contaminants were observed; in the CITA medium, the absence of fungal and Gram-positive bacteria on 15 plates was observed; no bacterial or fungal growth was observed on the Farrell media. The results demonstrated that the CITA and Farrell media inhibited the growth of contaminants better than the Brucella agar.

Ability of Salmonella spp. to Produce Biofilm Is Dependent on Temperature and Surface Material

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

Loss of the Ability to Control Right-to-Left Shunt Does Not Influence the Metabolic Responses to Temperature Change or Long-Term Fasting in the South American Rattlesnake Crotalus durissus

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

Influence of Fc gamma RIIIb polymorphism on its ability to cooperate with Fc gamma RIIa and CR3 in mediating the oxidative burst of human neutrophils

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

Post-partum anoestrus in tropical beef cattle: A systems approach combining gene expression and genome-wide association results

The length of the post-partum anoestrous interval affects reproductive efficiency in many tropical beef cattle herds. In this study, results from genome-wide association studies (Experiment 1: GWAS) and gene expression (Experiment 2: microarray) were combined in a systems approach to reveal genetic markers, genes and pathways underlying the physiology of post-partum anoestrus in tropically adapted cattle. The microarray study measured the expression of 13,964 genes in the hypothalamus of Brahman cows. A total of 366 genes were differentially expressed (DE) in the post-partum period, when acyclic cows were compared to cows that had resumed ovarian cycles. Associated markers (P < 0.05) from a high density GWAS pointed to 2829 genes that were associated with post-partum anoestrous interval (PPAI) in two populations of beef cattle: Brahman and Tropical composite. Together the experiments provided evidence for 63 genes that are likely to influence the resumption of ovulation post-partum in tropically adapted beef cattle. Functional annotation analysis revealed that some of the 63 genes have known roles in hormonal activity, energy balance and neuronal synapse plasticity. Polymorphisms within candidate genes identified by this systems approach could have biological significance in post-partum anoestrus and help select Zebu (Bos indicus) influenced cattle with genetic potential for shorter post-partum anoestrus. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.