ICICLE: A semantic-based retrieval system for WWW images

In this paper, we present ICICLE (Image ChainNet and Incremental Clustering Engine), a prototype system that we have developed to efficiently and effectively retrieve WWW images based on image semantics. ICICLE has two distinguishing features. First, it employs a novel image representation model called Weight ChainNet to capture the semantics of the image content. A new formula, called list space model, for computing semantic similarities is also introduced. Second, to speed up retrieval, ICICLE employs an incremental clustering mechanism, ICC (Incremental Clustering on ChainNet), to cluster images with similar semantics into the same partition. Each cluster has a summary representative and all clusters' representatives are further summarized into a balanced and full binary tree structure. We conducted an extensive performance study to evaluate ICICLE. Compared with some recently proposed methods, our results show that ICICLE provides better recall and precision. Our clustering technique ICC facilitates speedy retrieval of images without sacrificing recall and precision significantly.

Indexing and integrating multiple features for WWW images

In this paper, we present a novel indexing technique called Multi-scale Similarity Indexing (MSI) to index image's multi-features into a single one-dimensional structure. Both for text and visual feature spaces, the similarity between a point and a local partition's center in individual space is used as the indexing key, where similarity values in different features are distinguished by different scale. Then a single indexing tree can be built on these keys. Based on the property that relevant images have similar similarity values from the center of the same local partition in any feature space, certain number of irrelevant images can be fast pruned based on the triangle inequity on indexing keys. To remove the dimensionality curse existing in high dimensional structure, we propose a new technique called Local Bit Stream (LBS). LBS transforms image's text and visual feature representations into simple, uniform and effective bit stream (BS) representations based on local partition's center. Such BS representations are small in size and fast for comparison since only bit operation are involved. By comparing common bits existing in two BSs, most of irrelevant images can be immediately filtered. To effectively integrate multi-features, we also investigated the following evidence combination techniques-Certainty Factor, Dempster Shafer Theory, Compound Probability, and Linear Combination. Our extensive experiment showed that single one-dimensional index on multi-features improves multi-indices on multi-features greatly. Our LBS method outperforms sequential scan on high dimensional space by an order of magnitude. And Certainty Factor and Dempster Shafer Theory perform best in combining multiple similarities from corresponding multiple features.

Indexing text and visual features for WWW images

In this paper, we present a novel indexing technique called Multi-scale Similarity Indexing (MSI) to index imagersquos multi-features into a single one-dimensional structure. Both for text and visual feature spaces, the similarity between a point and a local partitionrsquos center in individual space is used as the indexing key, where similarity values in different features are distinguished by different scale. Then a single indexing tree can be built on these keys. Based on the property that relevant images haves similar similarity values from the center of the same local partition in any feature space, certain number of irrelevant images can be fast pruned based on the triangle inequity on indexing keys. To remove the ldquodimensionality curserdquo existing in high dimensional structure, we propose a new technique called Local Bit Stream (LBS). LBS transforms imagersquos text and visual feature representations into simple, uniform and effective bit stream (BS) representations based on local partitionrsquos center. Such BS representations are small in size and fast for comparison since only bit operation are involved. By comparing common bits existing in two BSs, most of irrelevant images can be immediately filtered. Our extensive experiment showed that single one-dimensional index on multi-features improves multi-indices on multi-features greatly. Our LBS method outperforms sequential scan on high dimensional space by an order of magnitude.

www.professor.com.br : Experiências do uso da tecnologia na vida profissional e pessoal de professores

Esta pesquisa investiga as experiências dos professores nas Séries Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental no Estado de São Paulo, sobre o uso do computador como uma ferramenta de trabalho, procurando identificar as relações que estão construindo com o uso das tecnologias tanto na organização e no planejamento de suas aulas quanto na construção dos saberes pedagógicos que podem fazer com o uso do computador. Identificam-se nesse trabalho o acesso e o domínio que os professores têm no dia-a-dia em relação ao computador (incluindo o acesso à internet) e as experiências que estão realizando com o auxilio do computador e da internet. Foi utilizado o conceito de familiarização para análise da relação do professor com o computador.Foram realizadas entrevistas e aplicados questionários aos professores que atuam nos sistemas de ensino público e privado, no Estado de São Paulo, primeiro nível do Ensino Fundamental (1ª a 4ª séries / 2° ao 5° ano ), e aos alunos do curso de Pedagogia. O trabalho evidenciou que existe uma relação de familiarização dos professores, e esse nível passa pelo interesse e pela experiência individual antes de passar para o lado profissional do uso do computador e internet na sala de aula. Não há evidências de resistência ao uso do computador, as atividades com alunos avançam à medida que o professor se desenvolve no uso da tecnologia.(AU)

Género, ideología y prensa digital: la construcción informativa del Día Internacional de la Mujer Trabajadora en www.abc.es y www.elpais.com (2001-2010)

En este trabajo diseccionamos los elementos que integraron las representaciones mediáticas del Día Internacional de la Mujer Trabajadora en dos de las principales cabeceras digitales españolas durante la última década (2001 – 2010). Cada uno de los ciberdiarios significó una tendencia informativa, orientada en función de determinadas características contextuales: www.abc.es construyó una cobertura centrada en el simbolismo conmemorativo de esta fecha, mientras que www.elpais.com diseñó una escenificación crítica, preocupada por temas o problemas más que por alusiones nominales. Junto a las conclusiones de tipo general se proponen algunos hallazgos instrumentales, ya que utilizamos como metodología principal el análisis de contenido informatizado, una técnica pionera en el ámbito de los estudios de género y los medios de comunicación. El análisis de las frecuencias léxicas no jerarquizadas permite la reconstrucción del sentido de una representación mediática mediante la deconstrucción de sus vestigios. Y en ese aspecto mostramos algunas escalas que pueden ser incorporadas a otros análisis específicos porque, entre otros logros, estimulan la objetividad, favorecen la precisión y evitan en gran medida las injerencias personales del investigador.

La World Wide Web como herramienta eficiente de comunicación empresarial: análisis Web de la firma española de moda www.margalariz.es

Tesis inédita presentada en la Universidad Europea de Madrid. Facultad de Artes y Comunicación. Programa de Doctorado en Comunicación

Hemorrhagic Shock Secondary To Button Battery Ingestion.

Button battery ingestion is a frequent pediatric complaint. The serious complications resulting from accidental ingestion have increased significantly over the last two decades due to easy access to gadgets and electronic toys. Over recent years, the increasing use of lithium batteries of diameter 20 mm has brought new challenges, because these are more detrimental to the mucosa, compared with other types, with high morbidity and mortality. The clinical complaints, which are often nonspecific, may lead to delayed diagnosis, thereby increasing the risk of severe complications. A five-year-old boy who had been complaining of abdominal pain for ten days, was brought to the emergency service with a clinical condition of hematemesis that started two hours earlier. On admission, he presented pallor, tachycardia and hypotension. A plain abdominal x-ray produced an image suggestive of a button battery. Digestive endoscopy showed a deep ulcerated lesion in the esophagus without active bleeding. After this procedure, the patient presented profuse hematemesis and severe hypotension, followed by cardiorespiratory arrest, which was reversed. He then underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy and presented a new episode of cardiorespiratory arrest, which he did not survive. The battery was removed through rectal exploration. This case describes a fatal evolution of button battery ingestion with late diagnosis and severe associated injury of the digestive mucosa. A high level of clinical suspicion is essential for preventing this evolution. Preventive strategies are required, as well as health education, with warnings to parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Pipkiiα Is Widely Expressed In Hematopoietic-derived Cells And May Play A Role In The Expression Of Alpha- And Gamma-globins In K562 Cells.

Characterized for the first time in erythrocytes, phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIP kinases) belong to a family of enzymes that generate various lipid messengers and participate in several cellular processes, including gene expression regulation. Recently, the PIPKIIα gene was found to be differentially expressed in reticulocytes from two siblings with hemoglobin H disease, suggesting a possible relationship between PIPKIIα and the production of globins. Here, we investigated PIPKIIα gene and protein expression and protein localization in hematopoietic-derived cells during their differentiation, and the effects of PIPKIIα silencing on K562 cells. PIPKIIα silencing resulted in an increase in α and γ globins and a decrease in the proliferation of K562 cells without affecting cell cycle progression and apoptosis. In conclusion, using a cell line model, we showed that PIPKIIα is widely expressed in hematopoietic-derived cells, is localized in their cytoplasm and nucleus, and is upregulated during erythroid differentiation. We also showed that PIPKIIα silencing can induce α and γ globin expression and decrease cell proliferation in K562 cells.

The Clinical Impact Of Cerebellar Grey Matter Pathology In Multiple Sclerosis.

The cerebellum is an important site for cortical demyelination in multiple sclerosis, but the functional significance of this finding is not fully understood. To evaluate the clinical and cognitive impact of cerebellar grey-matter pathology in multiple sclerosis patients. Forty-two relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 30 controls underwent clinical assessment including the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and cerebellar functional system (FS) score, and cognitive evaluation, including the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a 3T scanner and variables of interest were: brain white-matter and cortical lesion load, cerebellar intracortical and leukocortical lesion volumes, and brain cortical and cerebellar white-matter and grey-matter volumes. After multivariate analysis high burden of cerebellar intracortical lesions was the only predictor for the EDSS (p<0.001), cerebellar FS (p = 0.002), arm function (p = 0.049), and for leg function (p<0.001). Patients with high burden of cerebellar leukocortical lesions had lower PASAT scores (p = 0.013), while patients with greater volumes of cerebellar intracortical lesions had worse SDMT scores (p = 0.015). Cerebellar grey-matter pathology is widely present and contributes to clinical dysfunction in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, independently of brain grey-matter damage.