Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the most common form of preventable mental retardation worldwide. This condition affects children whose mothers excessively consume alcohol whilst pregnant. FASD can be identied by physical and mental defects, such as stunted growth, facial deformities, cognitive impairment, and behavioural abnormalities. Magnetic Resonance Imaging provides a non-invasive means to study the neural correlates of FASD. One such approach aims to detect brain abnormalities through an assessment of volume and shape of sub-cortical structures on high-resolution MR images. Two brain structures of interest are the Caudate Nucleus and Hippocampus. Manual segmentation of these structures is time-consuming and subjective. We therefore present a method for automatically segmenting the Caudate Nucleus and Hippocampus from high-resolution MR images captured as part of an ongoing study into the neural correlates of FASD. Our method incorporates an Active Shape Model (ASM), which is used to learn shape variation from manually segmented training data. A discrete Geometrically Deformable Model (GDM) is rst deformed to t the relevant structure in each training set. The vertices belonging to each GDM are then used as 3D landmark points - effectively generating point correspondence between training models. An ASM is then created from the landmark points. This ASM is only able to deform to t structures with similar shape to those found in the training data. There are many variations of the standard ASM technique - each suited to the segmentation of data with particular characteristics. Experiments were conducted on the image search phase of ASM segmentation, in order to find the technique best suited to segmentation of the research data. Various popular image search techniques were tested, including an edge detection method and a method based on grey prole Mahalanobis distance measurement. A heuristic image search method, especially designed to target Caudate Nuclei and Hippocampi, was also developed and tested. This method was extended to include multisampling of voxel proles. ASM segmentation quality was evaluated according to various quantitative metrics, including: overlap, false positives, false negatives, mean squared distance and Hausdorff distance. Results show that ASMs that use the heuristic image search technique, without multisampling, produce the most accurate segmentations. Mean overlap for segmentation of the various target structures ranged from 0.76 to 0.82. Mean squared distance ranged from 0.72 to 0.76 - indicating sub-1mm accuracy, on average. Mean Hausdorff distance ranged from 2:7mm to 3:1mm. An ASM constructed using our heuristic technique will enable researchers to quickly, reliably, and automatically segment test data for use in the FASD study - thereby facilitating a better understanding of the eects of this unfortunate condition.

The 3D shape and position of objects inside the human body are commonly detected using Computed Tomography (CT) scanning. CT is an expensive diagnostic option in economically disadvantaged areas and the radiation dose experienced by the patient is significant. In this dissertation, we present a technique for reconstructing the 3D shape and position of bullets from multiple X-rays. This technique makes us of ubiquitous X-ray equipment and a small number of X-rays to reduce the radiation dose. Our work relies on Image Segmentation and Volume Reconstruction techniques. We present a method for segmenting bullets out of X-rays, based on their signature in intensity profiles. This signature takes the form of a distinct plateau which we model with a number of parameters. This model is used to identify horizontal and vertical line segments within an X-Ray corresponding to a bullet signature. Regions containing confluences of these line segments are selected as bullet candidates. The actual bullet is thresholded out of the region based on a range of intensities occupied by the intensity profiles that contributed to the region. A simple Volume Reconstruction algorithm is implemented that back-projects the silhouettes of bullets obtained from our segmentation technique. This algorithm operates on a 3D voxel volume represented as an octree. The reconstruction is reduced to the 2D case by reconstructing a slice of the voxel volume at a time. We achieve good results for our segmentation algorithm. When compared with a manual segmentation, our algorithm matches 90% of the bullet pixels in nine of the twelve test X-rays. Our reconstruction algorithm produces an acceptable results: It achieves a 70% match for a test case where we compare a simulated bullet with a reconstructed bullet.

World wide focus has over the years been shifting towards security issues, not in least due to recent world wide terrorist activities. Several researchers have proposed state of the art surveillance systems to help with some of the security issues with varying success. Recent studies have suggested that the ability of these surveillance systems to learn common environmental behaviour patterns as wells as to detect and predict unusual, or anomalous, activities based on those learnt patterns are possible improvements to those systems. In addition, some of these surveillance systems are still run by human operators, who are prone to mistakes and may need some help from the surveillance systems themselves in detection of anomalous activities. This dissertation attempts to address these suggestions by combining the fields of Image Understanding and Artificial Intelligence, specifically Bayesian Networks, to develop a prototype video surveillance system that can learn common environmental behaviour patterns, thus being able to detect and predict anomalous activity in the environment based on those learnt patterns. In addition, this dissertation aims to show how the prototype system can adapt to these anomalous behaviours and integrate them into its common patterns over a prolonged occurrence period. The prototype video surveillance system showed good performance and ability to detect, predict and integrate anomalous activity in the evaluation tests that were performed using a volunteer in an experimental indoor environment. In addition, the prototype system performed quite well on the PETS 2002 dataset 1, which it was not designed for. The evaluation procedure used some of the evaluation metrics commonly used on the PETS datasets. Hence, the prototype system provides a good approach to anomaly detection and prediction using Bayesian Networks trained on common environmental activities.

The German Protestant church composer and organist, Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785), is recognized primarily for his sacred compositions written during his time as cantor at the Kreuzkirche and the director of music at the three main churches in Dresden. The forerunner of Homilius research, Uwe Wolf, together with Carus-Verlag, brought forth Gottfried August Homilius: Studien zu Leben und Werk mit Werkverzeichnis (2008) and his thematic catalogue (2014) as products of the public’s renewed interest and research in the composer and his music. Homilius’ oratorio passion, Johannespassion, represents one of the valuable discoveries of this recent revival of Homilius research. While musicologists celebrate such an exciting expansion of the music library of the mid-eighteenth century, a bigger task ensues before us: the equal sharing of joy with the performers. Indeed, the resonance of Homilius’ music in the concert halls and churches beyond the bounds of the research papers and music p / Music Performance

This research evaluates Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) implementation strategies to improve the safety of a freeway once a potential of a crash is detected. Among these strategies are Variable Speed Limit (VSL) and ramp metering. VSL are ITS devices that are commonly used to calm traffic in an attempt to relieve congestion and enhance throughput. With proper use, VSL can be more cost effective than adding more lanes. In addition to maximizing the capacity of a roadway, a different aspect of VSL can be realized by the potential of improving traffic safety. Through the use of multiple microscopic traffic simulations, best practices can be determined, and a final recommendation can be made. Ramp metering is a method to control the amount of traffic flow entering from on-ramps to achieve a better efficiency of the freeway. It can also have a potential benefit in improving the safety of the freeway. This thesis pursues the goal of a best-case implementation of VSL. Two loading scenarios, a fully loaded case (90% of ramp maximums) and an off-peak loading case (60% of ramp maximums), at multiple stations with multiple implementation methods are strategically attempted until a best-case implementation is found. The final recommendation for the off-peak loading is a 15 mph speed reduction for 2 miles upstream and a 15 mph increase in speed for the 2 miles downstream of the detector that shows a high crash potential. The speed change is to be implemented in 5 mph increments every 10 minutes. The recommended case is found to reduce relative crash potential from .065 to -.292, as measured by a high-speed crash prediction algorithm (Abdel-Aty et al. 2005). A possibility of crash migration to downstream and upstream locations was observed, however, the safety and efficiency benefits far outweigh the crash migration potential. No final recommendation is made for the use of VSL in the fully loaded case (low-speed case); however, ramp metering indicated a promising potential for safety improvement.

Autonomous reconnaissance missions are called for in extreme environments, as well as in potentially hazardous (e.g., the theatre, disaster-stricken areas, etc.) or inaccessible operational areas (e.g., planetary surfaces, space). Such future missions will require increasing degrees of operational autonomy, especially when following up on transient events. Operational autonomy encompasses: (1) Automatic characterization of operational areas from different vantages (i.e., spaceborne, airborne, surface, subsurface); (2) automatic sensor deployment and data gathering; (3) automatic feature extraction including anomaly detection and region-of-interest identification; (4) automatic target prediction and prioritization; (5) and subsequent automatic (re-) deployment and navigation of robotic agents. This paper reports on progress towards several aspects of autonomous (CISR)-I-4 systems, including: Caltech-patented and NASA award-winning multi-tiered mission paradigm, robotic platform development (air, ground, water-based), robotic behavior motifs as the building blocks for autonomous telecommanding, and autonomous decision making based on a Caltech-patented framework comprising sensor-data-fusion (feature-vectors), anomaly detection (clustering and principal component analysis), and target prioritization (hypothetical probing).

Orientadores: Marcelo Brocchi, Gustavo Bueno Gregoracci / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T09:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SartiSprogis_AdrianeCristina_M.pdf: 1852459 bytes, checksum: 397af9ee41d085346189ca76eee83f96 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A salmonelose é uma zoonose que representa um sério problema de saúde pública mundial, devido: à sua alta prevalência, à dificuldade de seu controle, ao seu caráter endêmico, à morbidade e à mortalidade. O conhecimento da ocorrência das diferentes sorovariedades de S. enterica em diferentes regiões e países pode ajudar no rastreamento e reconhecimento de patógenos emergentes, e assim implementar políticas de tratamento e prevenção. A grande maioria das sorovariedades expressa dois tipos diferentes de antígenos flagelares codificados pelos genes fliC (fase 1) e fljB (fase 2), sendo assim denominadas bifásicas. Contudo, algumas sorovariedades expressam apenas uma das fases, e são denominadas monofásicas. É possível que a variação de fase flagelar em S. enterica esteja associada a uma função de escape do sistema imunológico, por aumentar o repertório de antígenos expressos pela célula bacteriana, evitando temporariamente a resposta imune celular. Assim sendo, S. enterica bifásicas possuiriam uma vantagem seletiva sobre as monofásicas, porém isso não é totalmente verificado nos estudos epidemiológicos, pois no Estado de São Paulo, S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:-, (monofásica) é uma das mais comumente associadas aos casos de diarreia e/ou infecções sistêmicas em pacientes humanos. De fato, a partir da década de 1990 houve um aumento significativo da S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:- em muitos países. Sequências de profagos são muito comuns em S. enterica, sendo de conhecimento que esses fagos codificam vários fatores que contribuem para patogenicidade, diversidade genética e/ou características que aumentam o fitness. Coculturas experimentais de linhagens de S. enterica podem induzir espontaneamente profagos, que matam bactérias sensíveis, e assim a indução espontânea de fagos em uma população lisogênica acentua a competitividade entre populações. Neste estudo foram analisadas culturas puras de S. enterica Enteritidis (bifásica) adicionadas de fagos líticos induzidos de S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:-, bem como coculturas entre as duas sorovariedades citadas, nas quais foram observadas induções espontâneas de fagos associados à alta densidade populacional e alterações das taxas de crescimento em ambos os estudos, corroborando a hipótese de que S. enterica monofásica pode alterar a dinâmica populacional a seu favor, pela liberação de fagos líticos à outra sorovariedade, interferindo no crescimento populacional de S. enterica Enteritidis, e que o sucesso evolutivo de S. enterica I,4,[5],12.:i:- pode estar associado a fagos líticos atuando como um regulador na ecologia bacteriana. Esses dados podem mudar nosso conhecimento sobre a interação bactéria-fago de uma simples relação parasita-hospedeiro para uma coevolução de duas vias entre seus genomas / Abstract: Salmonellosis is a zoonosis that is a serious public health problem worldwide, due to its high prevalence, difficulty controlling, their endemicity, morbidity and mortality. The knowledge of the occurrence of different serovars of S. enterica in different regions and countries can help in tracking and recognition of emerging pathogens and thus implement policies for treatment and prevention. The majority of serovars express two different types of flagellar antigens encoded by genes: fliC (phase 1) and fljB (phase 2), so called biphasic. However, some serovars express only one of the phases and are termed monophasic. It is possible that flagellar phase variation of S. enterica is associated with an escape function of the immune system to increase the repertoire of antigens expressed by the bacterial cell temporarily preventing cellular immune response. Thus, S. enterica biphasic would have a selective advantage over monophasic, but this is not fully verified in epidemiologic studies, because in the State of São Paulo, S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:-, (monophase) is the one most commonly associated with cases of diarrhea and/or systemic infections in human patients, in fact, from the 1990s there was a significant increase of S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:- in many countries. Prophages sequences are very common in S. enterica, with the knowledge that these phages encode several factors that contribute to pathogenicity, genetic diversity and/or characteristics that increase fitness. Cocultures experimental strains of S. enterica prophages can induce spontaneous, killing susceptible bacteria, and thus the spontaneous induction in a population of lysogenic phage enhances the competitiveness between populations. This study analyzed pure cultures of S. enterica Enteritidis ( biphasic ) added lytic phage induced from S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:-, as well as cocultures between the two serovars cited where inductions were observed spontaneous phage associated with high population density and changes in growth rates in both studies, supporting the hypothesis that S. enterica monophase can alter the population dynamics to their advantage by releasing lytic phage to another serovar, interfering with the population growth of S. enterica Enteritidis and the evolutionary success of S. enterica I,4,[5],12:i:- may be associated with lytic phages acting as a regulator in bacterial ecology. These data may change our understanding of bacteria- phage from a simple parasite-host coevolution for a two-way between their genomes / Mestrado / Clinica Medica / Mestra em Clínica Médica

Die Stadtbiotopkartierung hat sich in Deutschland als die Methode zur Schaffung einer ökologischen Datenbasis für den urbanen Raum etabliert. Sie dient der Untersuchung naturschutzfachlicher Fragen, der Vertretung der Belange des Naturschutzes in zahlreichen räumlichen Planungsverfahren und ganz allgemein einer ökologisch orientierten Stadtplanung. Auf diese Weise kommen die Städte ihrem gesetzlichen Auftrag nach, Natur und Landschaft zu schützen, zu pflegen und zu entwickeln (§ 1 BNatSchG), den es explizit auch innerhalb der besiedelten Fläche zu erfüllen gilt. Ein Großteil der heute bestehenden 228 Stadtbiotoptypenkarten ist in der Etablierungsphase der Methode in den 80er Jahren entstanden und wurde häufig durch Landesmittel gefördert. Der Anteil der Städte, die jemals eine Aktualisierung durchgeführt haben, wird jedoch auf unter fünf Prozent geschätzt. Dies hängt vor allem mit dem hohen Kosten- und Zeitaufwand der Datenerhebung zusammen, die durch visuelle Interpretation von CIR-Luftbildern und durch Feldkartierungen erfolgt. Um die Aktualisierung von Stadtbiotoptypenkarten zu vereinfachen, wird in der vorliegenden Arbeit das Automatisierungspotenzial von Stadtbiotopkartierungen durch Nutzung von Fernerkundungsdaten untersucht. Der Kern der Arbeit besteht in der Entwicklung einer Methode, die einen wichtigen Arbeitsschritt der Stadtbiotopkartierung automatisiert durchführt: Die Erkennung des Biotoptyps von Biotopen. Darüber hinaus zeigt die Arbeit das Automatisierungspotenzial bei der flächenhaften Erhebung von quantitativen Parametern und Indikatoren zur ökologischen Bewertung von Stadtbiotopen auf. Durch die automatische Biotoptypenerkennung kann die Überprüfung und Aktualisierung einer Biotoptypenkarte in weiten Teilen der Stadt automatisiert erfolgen, wodurch der Zeitaufwand reduziert wird. Das entwickelte Verfahren kann in den bestehenden Ablauf der Stadtbiotopkartierung integriert werden, indem zunächst die Kartierung ausgewählter Biotoptypen automatisch erfolgt und die verbleibenden Flächen der Stadt durch visuelle Luftbildinterpretation und Feldbegehung überprüft und zugeordnet werden. Die thematische Einteilung der Biotoptypen orientiert sich im urbanen Raum in erster Linie an der anthropogenen Nutzung, da diese den dominierenden Faktor für die biologische Ausstattung der Biotope darstellt. Die entwickelte Methode eignet sich vor allem zur Erkennung von baulich geprägten Biotopen, da die Nutzung - und dadurch der Biotoptyp einer Fläche - durch eine automatische Analyse der Geoobjekte innerhalb der Biotopfläche ermittelt werden kann. Die Geoobjekte wiederum können durch eine Klassifizierung von multisensoralen Fernerkundungsdaten (hyperspektrale Flugzeugscannerdaten und digitale Oberflächenmodelle) identifiziert werden. Die Analyse der Geoobjekte und der urbanen Oberflächenarten innerhalb der Biotopfläche erfolgt anhand von räumlichen, morphologischen und quantitativen Merkmalen. Auf Basis dieser Merkmale wurden zwei Varianten eines automatischen Biotopklassifizierers entwickelt, die unter Verwendung von Fuzzy Logik und eines neu entwickelten, paarweise arbeitenden Maximum Likelihood Klassifizierers (pMLK) implementiert wurden. Für die bisher implementierten 10 Biotoptypen, die zusammen etwa die Hälfte des Stadtgebiets abdecken, wurde eine Erkennungsgenauigkeit von über 80 % ermittelt. Der pMLK wurde erfolgreich in zwei Städten (Berlin, Dresden) erprobt, wodurch seine Übertragbarkeit nachgewiesen werden konnte.

With the form on ,,Krankensegnung [mit -salbung]'" (blessing the sick [including anointment]) in the book of liturgy on ,,Dienst an Kranken" (ministering to the sick), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony has put the anointing of the sick back into tocus while still stating some "unfamiliarity" with this topic. Is the anointing of the sick therefore rather a biblical possibility than a practised reality? The ''practised reality" is examined qualitatively using expert interviews with six theoretically sampled ministers of the Church of Saxony. The results obtained show a wide range of practice. They are subsequently compared with theoretical results (history and fundamentals from systematic theology) under the primacy of James 5:14-15. The interpretation shO\vs the observed practice partially corresponding to James 5. From this, conclusions for practice are drawn followed by an evaluation of the survey / Das Thema ,Krankensalbung" wird in der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche durch das Formular Krankensegnung [mit -salbung] in der Agende .. Dienst an Kranken'' liturgisch neu ins Blickfeld geri.ickt, zugleich aber eine gewisse .. Fremdheit'' beztiglich des Themas konstatiert. Deshalb ergibt sich die Frage, ob Krankensalbung eher eine biblische Moglichkeit als eine gelebte Wirklichkeit ist. Die ,gelebte Wirklichkeit" wird mit Hilfe eines qualitativen Forschungsdesigns untersucht. Dabei wird die Praxis der Krankensalbung durch Experteninterviews mit sechs bewusst ausgewahlten Ptarrern der sachsischen Landeskirche erhoben. Die Darstellung der hierbei gewonnenen Ergebnisse Hisst ein breites Praxisspektrum erkennen. In einem weiteren Schritt folgt die Interpretation der Resultate. Der lnterpretationsrahmen besteht aus den Ergebnissen der Theorie (Geschichte und systematisch-theologischen Grundlagen) unter dem Vorrang von Jak 5,14-15. Die Interpretation zeigt, dass die vorgefundene Praxis teilweise Jak 5 entspricht. lnfolgedessen werden Schlussfolgerungen als Hilfen fur die Praxis gezogen. Den Abschluss bildet die Evaluation der Untersuchung. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

With the form on ,,Krankensegnung [mit -salbung]'" (blessing the sick [including anointment]) in the book of liturgy on ,,Dienst an Kranken" (ministering to the sick), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony has put the anointing of the sick back into tocus while still stating some "unfamiliarity" with this topic. Is the anointing of the sick therefore rather a biblical possibility than a practised reality? The ''practised reality" is examined qualitatively using expert interviews with six theoretically sampled ministers of the Church of Saxony. The results obtained show a wide range of practice. They are subsequently compared with theoretical results (history and fundamentals from systematic theology) under the primacy of James 5:14-15. The interpretation shO\vs the observed practice partially corresponding to James 5. From this, conclusions for practice are drawn followed by an evaluation of the survey / Das Thema ,Krankensalbung" wird in der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche durch das Formular Krankensegnung [mit -salbung] in der Agende .. Dienst an Kranken'' liturgisch neu ins Blickfeld geri.ickt, zugleich aber eine gewisse .. Fremdheit'' beztiglich des Themas konstatiert. Deshalb ergibt sich die Frage, ob Krankensalbung eher eine biblische Moglichkeit als eine gelebte Wirklichkeit ist. Die ,gelebte Wirklichkeit" wird mit Hilfe eines qualitativen Forschungsdesigns untersucht. Dabei wird die Praxis der Krankensalbung durch Experteninterviews mit sechs bewusst ausgewahlten Ptarrern der sachsischen Landeskirche erhoben. Die Darstellung der hierbei gewonnenen Ergebnisse Hisst ein breites Praxisspektrum erkennen. In einem weiteren Schritt folgt die Interpretation der Resultate. Der lnterpretationsrahmen besteht aus den Ergebnissen der Theorie (Geschichte und systematisch-theologischen Grundlagen) unter dem Vorrang von Jak 5,14-15. Die Interpretation zeigt, dass die vorgefundene Praxis teilweise Jak 5 entspricht. lnfolgedessen werden Schlussfolgerungen als Hilfen fur die Praxis gezogen. Den Abschluss bildet die Evaluation der Untersuchung. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)