Veículos Aéreos não tripulados (VANTs) vêm sendo cada vez mais utilizados em diversos países, tanto na área militar como na civil. O cenário considerado nesse estudo é o de um VANT realizando captura de vídeo em tempo real, transmitindo-o a uma base terrestre por meio de rede sem fio. O problema consiste no fato de não ser possível garantir uma taxa de transmissão contínua, com banda estável. Isso ocorre devido a fatores como a velocidade da aeronave (da ordem centenas de km/h), irregularidades de terreno (impedindo a linha de visada do enlace de transmissão), ou do clima, como tempestades que podem interferir na transmissão da RF. Por fim, os movimentos que o VANT pode realizar no vôo (Rolagem, Arfagem ou Guinada) podem prejudicar a disponibilidade do link. Dessa forma, é necessário que seja realizada adaptação de vídeo de acordo com a banda disponível. Assim, quando a qualidade do enlace for degradada, deverá ser realizada uma redução no tamanho do vídeo, evitando a interrupção na transmissão. Por outro lado, a adaptação também deverá fazer com que a banda disponível seja utilizada, evitando o envio de vídeos com qualidade inferior à que seria possível para determinado valor de largura de banda. Nesse trabalho será considerada a faixa de valores de largura de banda de 8 Mbps até zero. Para realizar a adaptação será utilizado o padrão H.264/AVC com codificação escalável / Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly used in several countries, both in the military and civilian areas. In this study we consider an UAV equipped with a camera, capturing video for a real-time transmission to a ground-base using wireless network. The problem is that its not possible to ensure a continuous transmission rate, with stable bandwidth. That occurs due to factors like the speed of the aircraft, irregularities of terrain, or the weather (as storms, heat and fog, for instance, can interfere with RF transmission). Finally, the movements that the UAV can perform in flight (Roll, pitch and yaw) can impair link availability. Thus, it is necessary to perform an adaptation of video according to the available bandwidth. When the link quality is degraded, a reduction in the resolution of the video must be performed , avoiding interruption of the transmission. Additionally, adaptation must also provide that all the available bandwidth is used, avoiding sending the video with lower quality that would be possible for a given value bandwidth. In this work we propose a system which can vary the total amount of data being transmitted, by adjusting the compression parameters of the video. We manage to produce a system which uses the range from 8 Mbps up to zero. We use the H.264/AVC Codec, with scalable video coding

Veículos Aéreos não tripulados (VANTs) vêm sendo cada vez mais utilizados em diversos países, tanto na área militar como na civil. O cenário considerado nesse estudo é o de um VANT realizando captura de vídeo em tempo real, transmitindo-o a uma base terrestre por meio de rede sem fio. O problema consiste no fato de não ser possível garantir uma taxa de transmissão contínua, com banda estável. Isso ocorre devido a fatores como a velocidade da aeronave (da ordem centenas de km/h), irregularidades de terreno (impedindo a linha de visada do enlace de transmissão), ou do clima, como tempestades que podem interferir na transmissão da RF. Por fim, os movimentos que o VANT pode realizar no vôo (Rolagem, Arfagem ou Guinada) podem prejudicar a disponibilidade do link. Dessa forma, é necessário que seja realizada adaptação de vídeo de acordo com a banda disponível. Assim, quando a qualidade do enlace for degradada, deverá ser realizada uma redução no tamanho do vídeo, evitando a interrupção na transmissão. Por outro lado, a adaptação também deverá fazer com que a banda disponível seja utilizada, evitando o envio de vídeos com qualidade inferior à que seria possível para determinado valor de largura de banda. Nesse trabalho será considerada a faixa de valores de largura de banda de 8 Mbps até zero. Para realizar a adaptação será utilizado o padrão H.264/AVC com codificação escalável / Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly used in several countries, both in the military and civilian areas. In this study we consider an UAV equipped with a camera, capturing video for a real-time transmission to a ground-base using wireless network. The problem is that its not possible to ensure a continuous transmission rate, with stable bandwidth. That occurs due to factors like the speed of the aircraft, irregularities of terrain, or the weather (as storms, heat and fog, for instance, can interfere with RF transmission). Finally, the movements that the UAV can perform in flight (Roll, pitch and yaw) can impair link availability. Thus, it is necessary to perform an adaptation of video according to the available bandwidth. When the link quality is degraded, a reduction in the resolution of the video must be performed , avoiding interruption of the transmission. Additionally, adaptation must also provide that all the available bandwidth is used, avoiding sending the video with lower quality that would be possible for a given value bandwidth. In this work we propose a system which can vary the total amount of data being transmitted, by adjusting the compression parameters of the video. We manage to produce a system which uses the range from 8 Mbps up to zero. We use the H.264/AVC Codec, with scalable video coding

This study contributes to the domain of application specific adaptive hardware architectures with a design approach on processing element array, interconnect structure and memory interface concurrently. As summarized below, our architectural design choices push the limits of on-chip data reuse and avoid redundant computations that are essential for the high throughput, small area, and low power demands of the consumer market.Motion estimation (ME) is a key component in the H.264/AVC standard. Full Search (FS) based ME achieves optimal peak signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR), and is the most adopted algorithm for developing hardware motion estimators. In this study, we first design a variable block size motion estimation (VBSME) engine based on hybrid grained processing elements (PEs) and a 2D programmable interconnect structure, which is adaptive to all block size configurations of H.264. PEs operate in bit-serial manner using MSB-first arithmetic for early termination to reduce the amount of computations, and the 2D architecture enables on-chip data reuse between neighboring PEs in a bit-by-bit pipelined fashion. Our design reduces the gate count by 7x compared to its ASIC counterpart, operates at a comparable frequency while sustaining 30 and 60 frames per second (fps); and outperforms bit parallel and bit serial architectures in terms of throughput and performance per gate.Numerous fast search algorithms (diamond, hexagon, three-step, etc.) have been developed to reduce the computation burden and the excessive amount of memory transactions required by FS, with a compromise in compression quality. We improve our VBSME engine and introduce the first adaptive ME architecture that provides the end user with the flexibility of choosing between the high quality video service during power-rich state (FS mode), and extended video service (fast search mode). We resolve the irregular indexing scheme challenge of three-step search (3SS) by introducing an on-chip buffer structure with a memory interface, which is adaptive to data access patterns of the FS and 3SS methods. The architecture sustains the real time CIF format (352x288) video encoding at 30fps with an operational frequency as low as 17.6MHz, and consumes 1.98mW based on the 45nm technology, outperforming all other FS and 3SS architectures.

Introdução: A desnutrição é um problema de saúde frequente, especialmente em pacientes com AVC, que atinge cerca de 16% da população podendo aumentar para 50% em até 3 meses. A Disfagia orofaríngea é considerada um distúrbio de deglutição, com sinais e sintomas específicos, que se caracteriza por alterações em qualquer etapa e/ou entre as etapas da dinâmica da deglutição, podendo ocorrer em 45 a 65% dos casos de AVC. Desnutrição e problemas de deglutição são comuns após acidente vascular encefálico e frequentemente ocorrem juntos. A falha em reconhecer a sua presença resultará em um aumento da morbidade e mortalidade. Pacientes internados em hospital como consequência de um AVC podem já estar desnutridos ou em risco de desnutrição, e muitas vezes estes se tornam mais desnutridos enquanto estão hospitalizados, mantendo este quadro meses depois. Entretanto, apesar da alta taxa de morbidade e mortalidade, estudos que investigam a evolução da desnutrição e disfagia e suas consequências clínicas após a o AVC ainda são escassos. Objetivos: Este estudo tem como objetivos identificar a frequência do estado nutricional e as dificuldades de deglutição em pacientes com AVC além de identificar os fatores preditivos para o estado nutricional e verificar se há associação entre o estado nutricional e os desfechos clínicos nesta população após três meses do ictus. Casuística e Métodos Foram avaliados 102 pacientes com AVC que deram entrada na Unidade de Emergência e que compareceram para consulta no Ambulatório de Doenças Neurovasculares (ADNV) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRPUSP) após três meses do ictus. Os seguintes procedimentos foram realizados com todos os pacientes selecionados para o estudo: aplicação da NIHSS para avaliação da gravidade do AVC; escala de Rankin modificada, para avaliação da capacidade funcional; aplicação do Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) que avalia sintomas de disfagia; aplicação da Mini-Avaliação Nutricional (MNA®) para avaliação do estado Nutricional e avaliação da cognição com o Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) Resultados: De acordo com a Análise multivariada (Correlação de Pearson) entre os instrumentos de avaliação é possível determinar que o estado nutricional associou-se com a gravidade do AVC na admissão (r=-0,38; p=0,001) e ambos se correlacionaram com incapacidade funcional aos 3 meses (r=-0,5; p=0,001), (r=0,45; p=0,001). A gravidade do AVC na admissão associou-se significativamente com maior número de noites no hospital. (r=0,41 p=0,001). E que a presença de alteração cognitiva associou-se significativamente com a incapacidade funcional aos 3 meses (rankin de 3 meses) (r=-0,51; p=0,001). Na análise de regressão logística, utilizando o método Backward a gravidade do AVC na admissão hospitalar foi fator preditivo independente de desnutrição nesta população (p=0,001) Portanto, os pacientes com pior estado nutricional possuíam maior gravidade do AVC na admissão, tiveram maior tempo de internação, (noites no hospital) e possuíam pior capacidade funcional e pior cognição aos 3 meses. / Introduction: Malnutrition is a frequent health problem, especially in patients with stroke, which affects about 16% of the population and can increase to 50% within 3 months. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is considered a swallowing disorder, with specific signs and symptoms, which is characterized by changes at any stage and / or between the stages of swallowing dynamics which can occur in 45 to 65% of stroke cases. Malnutrition and swallowing problems are common after a stroke and often occur together. Failure to recognize their presence will result in increased morbidity and mortality. Patients hospitalized as a consequence of a stroke may already be malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and often become more malnourished while hospitalized, maintaining this condition months later. However, despite the high rate of morbidity and mortality studies that investigate the evolution of malnutrition and dysphagia and its clinical consequences after stroke are still scarce. Objectives: This study aims to identify the frequency of nutritional status and swallowing difficulties in stroke patients in addition to identifying the predictive factors for nutritional status and to verify if there is an association between nutritional status and clinical outcomes in this population after three months of the stroke. Casuistry and Methods: We evaluated 102 stroke patients admitted to the Emergency Unit and attending the Neurovascular Diseases Outpatient Clinic (ADNV) at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Medical School of Ribeirão Preto at the University of São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP) After three months of the stroke. The following procedures were performed with all patients selected for the study: application of the NIHSS to evaluate the severity of stroke; Modified Rankin scale for functional capacity assessment; Application of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) evaluating symptoms of dysphagia; Application of the Nutritional Mini-Assessment (MNA®) to evaluate the nutritional status and evaluation of cognition with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: According to the Multivariate Analysis (Pearson\'s Correlation) among the evaluation instruments it was possible to determine that the nutritional status was associated with the severity of stroke on admission (r = - 0.38, p = 0.001) and both Correlated with functional disability at 3 months (r = -0.5, p = 0.001), (r = 0.45, p = 0.001). The severity of stroke on admission was significantly associated with greater number of nights in the hospital. (R = 0.41 p = 0.001). And that the presence of cognitive alteration was significantly associated with functional disability at 3 months (Rankin of 3 months) (r = -0.51; p = 0.001). In the logistic regression analysis using the Backward method the severity of stroke at hospital admission was an independent predictor of malnutrition in this population (p = 0.001). Therefore, patients with worse nutritional status had a greater severity of stroke on admission, had a longer (Nights in the hospital) and had worse functional capacity and worse cognition at 3 months.

Objetivos A estimulação magnética transcraniana (TMS, do inglês: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) e as imagens funcionais por ressonância magnética (fMRI, do inglês: functinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging) são duas técnicas não invasivas de investigação de atividade do sistema nervoso central. Porém essas duas técnicas utilizam estratégias diferentes para mensurar a atividade cerebral, sendo que a TMS avalia a resposta elétrica enquanto que a fMRI a resposta hemodinâmica. Nosso intuito nesse trabalho foi criar ferramentas para a comparação dessas duas técnicas no mapeamento do córtex motor, bem como utilizando as ferramentas desenvolvidas, fazer uma comparação dos mapas motores de pacientes com AVC com sujeitos assintomáticos, e nesses dois grupos, também realizar uma avaliação nos efeitos no córtex motor da eletroestimulação sensorial (SES, do inglês: Sensory Electric Stimulation) pelas técnicas de TMS e fMRI. Métodos Paro o mapeamento vetorial do campo magnético produzido pela bobina de TMS utilizamos fantomas que simulavam o tecido cerebral e realizamos medidas de imagens de ressonância magnética (MRI, do inglês: Magnetic Resonance Imaging) de fase em três direções para a construção do mapa vetorial. Uma vez dominada a técnica de mapeamento por imagens de fase, a utilizamos para auxiliar na construção de bobinas para estimulação periférica e pequenos animais. Para realização do mapeamento do córtex motor com TMS desenvolvemos um sistema de neuronavegação (Neuronavegador InVesalius) e um programa para análise dos sinais de eletromiografia (MEPHunter), bem como um segundo programa para fazer o corregistro dos mapas de produzidos pela TMS com os mapas de fMRI (TMSProjection). Em posse dessas ferramentas, pudemos realizar o mapeamento do córtex motor de pacientes com AVCi crônicos. Para tanto estimulamos uma área quadrada de 25cm2 do escalpo sobre o córtex motor e coletamos o potencial evocado nos músculos abdutor curto do polegar ipsi e contralateral à TMS, e nos músculos flexor e extensor radial do carpo, contralaterais à TMS. Para a realização das fMRIs realizamos um paradigma evento-relacionada com um protocolo de abrir e fechar a mão. Por fim avaliamos os efeitos da SES à 3Hz com um única sessão de 30 minutos, realizando medidas de potencial evocado e fMRI imediatamente antes e imediatamente após à SES. Resultados O sistema de neuronavegação juntamente com o conjunto de programas computacionais possibilitou a realização dos estudos clínicos. Nossos dados mostraram uma correlação maior entre os mapas de MEP e os mapas de fMRI nos sujeitos normais do que nos pacientes com AVC, principalmente no hemisfério afetado. Nossos resultados também sugerem que a SES pode provocar modulação na excitabilidade cortical, causando redução da excitabilidade cortical das regiões motoras, quando aplicados na frequência e duração utilizadas nesse estudo. Conclusão O mapeamento de campo magnético por MRI é uma boa alternativa para medir campos complexos e pode ser utilizado no desenvolvimento de novas bobinas de estimulação magética. O neuronavegador Invesalius, o MEPHunter e o TMSProjection são ferramentas poderosas para estudos em neuroimagens podendo ser ampliado seu uso para outras áreas como neurologia e fisioterapia. Quanto aos estudos clínicos acreditamos que o fator que mais colabora para a pior correlação dos mapas dos pacientes é a redução de fibras corticoespinhais e a plasticidade, e que a SES aplicada a 3Hz em uma única sessão tem um efeito agudo de redução da excitabilidade do córtex motor. / Background and Purpose - Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) are two noninvasive techniques to investigate the central nervous system activity. These two techniques use different strategies to measure brain activity, once the TMS evaluates the electrical response while the fMRI studies hemodynamic response. Our purpose in this study was to create tools for the comparison of these two techniques for mapping the motor cortex. Latter, using these tools, we compared the motor maps of stroke patients and healthy subjects. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of electrical stimulation in the sensory motor cortex (SES) by TMS and fMRI techniques. Methods - In order to map the magnetic field vector produced by the TMS coil, we used phantoms that simulated brain tissue and performed measurements of magnetic resonance phase images in three directions, in this way, composing the vector map. Then, we used this technique for helping to build small coils for peripheral and small animals stimulation. For the TMS mapping, we developed a neuronavigation system (InVesalius neuronavigator) and a program to analyze the electromyogram responses (MEPHunter). Secondly, a program to co-register the TMS and fMRI maps (TMSProjection) was created. Using these tools, we mapped the motor cortex of the chronic ischemic stroke patients. For this, we stimulated a square scalp area of 25cm2 over the motor cortex and collected the motor evoked potential (MEP) in the abductor pollicis brevis, ipsilateral and contralateral to TMS, and the flexor and extensor carpi radialis, contralateral to TMS. FMRI was also acquired using an event-related paradigm where the volunteers were asked to open and close their hand. Finally, we evaluated the effects of 3Hz SES in a single 30-minute session, performing measurements of TMS and fMRI before and immediately after the SES. Results - The neuronavigation system and the developed softwares made possible clinical studies. We also found a higher correlation between the MEP and fMRI maps in normal subjects than in stroke patients, especially in the affected hemisphere. Additionally, Our results suggested that SES may cause reduction in cortical excitability of motor regions, when applied with the frequency and duration used in this study. Conclusion - The magnetic field MRI mapping is an efficient alternative for complex fields measuring and can be utilized in the development of new TMS coils geometry. The neuronavigator InVesalius, MEPHunter and TMSProjection are powerful tools for neuroimaging studies and other areas as neurology and physiotherapy. We believe that the most important factor that contributes to the correlation decrease between the MEP and fMRI maps of the patients is the reduction of functional corticospinal fibers and the plasticity of motor areas. In this sense, the 3 Hz SES showed to be a potential technique as therapy in spastic patients.

This thesis proposes a strategy for enhancing the efficiency of scalable H.264/AVC video transmission over multi-input multi-output (MIMO) and cooperative communication systems. For scalable video coding (SVC) transmission over MIMO wireless systems, a channel selection algorithm is used to enhance transmission rate. The proposed algorithm allows SVC layers to select channels individually in wireless MIMO systems based on channel state information for transmission rate enhancement. Here, this difficult problem is converted into a mathematical optimization problem to improve SVC performance during video transmission. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a higher transmission rate over MIMO systems compared to the existing scheme. For SVC transmission over cooperative communication systems, the algorithm allows each SVC layer to choose an appropriate relay based on channel conditions and SVC layer priority. Thus, SVC data is protected effectively. Experimental results show that video quality obtained by the algorithm exceeds that of non-cooperative systems.

Scalable video coding (SVC) supports full scalability by extracting a partial bitstream to adapt to transmission and display requirements in multimedia applications. Most conventional video content is stored in non-scalable format, e.g., H.264/AVC, necessitating the development of an efficient video transcoding from a conventional format to a scalable one. This work describes a fast video transcoding architecture that overcomes the complexity of different coding structures between H.264/AVC and SVC. The proposed algorithm simplifies the mode decision process in SVC owing to its heavy computations. The current mode in SVC is selected by the highest conditional probability of SVC¡¦s mode given the H.264/AVC¡¦s mode. Exactly when an error prediction occurs is then detected using Bayesian theorem, followed by its refinement using the Markov model. Experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm saves on average 75.28% of coding time with 0.13 dB PSNR loss over that when using a cascaded pixel domain transcoder.

In order to speedup the encoding process of H.264/AVC and Scalable Video Coding (SVC), Temporal and Spatial Correlation-based Merging and Splitting (TSCMS) fast mode decision algorithm and Coded Block Pattern (CBP)-based fast mode decision algorithm are proposed in this thesis. TSCMS and CBP-based fast mode decision algorithms are applied to H.264/AVC and SVC, respectively. In TSCMS, Temporal Correlation (TC) is used to predict the Motion Vectors (MVs) of 8¡Ñ8 blocks in each macroblock. In addition, the merging and splitting procedure is adopted to predict the motion vectors of other blocks. Afterwards, the spatial correlation is performed to merge 16¡Ñ16 blocks instead of the conventional merge scheme. CBP value is the syntax used at each Macroblock (MB) header to indicate whether an MB contains residual information or not in CBP-based fast mode decision algorithm. The proposed algorithm can exclude the invalid modes for the mode prediction of the current MB in Enhancement Layer (EL) through the CBP values and MB modes of adjacent MBs in EL and the co-located Base Layer (BL) MB modes. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithms reduce computations significantly with negligible PSNR degradation and bit increase when compared to JM 12.3, JSVM 9.12, and the other existing methods.

ITC/USA 2012 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Eighth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 22-25, 2012 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / In this paper, a novel zigzag scanning concept of quantized coefficients for H.264/AVC is introduced. In order to scan the quantized coefficients efficiently, the statistical occurrence values of the quantized coefficients after the final mode decision are utilized. We develop a zigzag scanning pattern by reordering the statistical occurrence values in descending order. In addition, we consider the temporal and spatial correlation among the frames to classify the zigzag scanning pattern. In particular, we focus on the macroblock level zigzag scanning so that the proposed method will have the different zigzag scanning pattern based on the macroblock. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme reduces the total bits up to 4.05% and 3.67% while introducing either negligible loss of video quality for intra- and inter mode, respectively.

Le prendre-soin à domicile des personnes atteintes de maladie chronique est de plus en plus assuré par les aidants familiaux, mais leur mode de vie crée un risque pour leur santé. Mener une recherche sur leur capabilité de santé, en d’autres termes sur leur aptitude à adopter un mode de vie favorable à la santé, est d’un intérêt scientifique majeur. L’opérationnalisation de ce paradigme développé en 2010 par Ruger pour comprendre les facteurs du maintien d’un état de santé optimal est au cœur de nos travaux de recherche. A partir d’une collecte de données quantitative menée au Luxembourg et en Lorraine (France), un outil de Capabilité de Santé des Aidants (CSA-20 items) a été élaboré et testé. Il explore huit domaines: santé physique, santé psychologique, valeur accordée au mode de vie, sentiment d’auto-efficacité, soutien familial, capital social, conditions matérielles/sentiment de sécurité, satisfaction à l’égard des informations et des services de soins. Des enquêtes qualitatives complémentaires ont permis de compléter le CSA-20 par 77 items couvrant des domaines tels que la motivation, les compétences psychosociales et les styles de coping. Cet instrument permet d’élaborer des diagnostics personnalisés et d’évaluer des programmes de promotion de la santé. Nos analyses préliminaires ont aussi montré que les répercussions de la maladie chronique sont vécues de manière conjointe dans les dyades aidant-aidé; et que la valeur accordée au rôle d’aidant est favorisée par le soutien venant des professionnels et du réseau social. Pour améliorer la capabilité de santé des aidants, la prise en compte à la fois de leur autonomie et de leur besoin de soutien est dès lors requise / Home care of persons with a chronic disease is increasingly provided by family caregivers, but their lifestyle creates a risk to their health. Therefore, leading a research on their "health capability", in other words, on their ability to adopt a healthy lifestyle is of major scientific interest. The operationalization of this paradigm, developed by Ruger in 2010 to understand the factors of maintaining a state of optimal health, has been the heart of our research. Based on a quantitative data collection conducted in Luxembourg and Lorraine (France), a Health Capability of Family Caregivers instrument (HCFC-20 items) was developed and tested. It explores eight areas: physical health, psychological health, lifestyle value, sense of self-efficacy, family support, social capital, material conditions/sense of security, satisfaction with information and healthcare services. Additional qualitative surveys have completed the HCFC-20 with 77 items covering areas such as motivation, life skills and coping styles. This instrument allows to develop personalized diagnoses and to evaluate health-promoting programs. Our preliminary analyses have also indicated that the impacts of a chronic disease are experienced jointly in patient-caregiver dyads; and the value placed on the role of caregiver is encouraged by the support from professionals and a social network. In order to improve the health capability of caregivers, taking into account both their autonomy and their need for support is therefore required