Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T16:00:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo6834_1.pdf: 2552234 bytes, checksum: ff18190fd071f2e26f6470e29f084e5a (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Com a crescente popularidade das redes sem fio e as tecnologias Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), surgiu a necessidade de se promover uma convergência entre elas, visando oferecer ao usuário diversas oportunidades de conectividade e a possibilidade de estabelecer uma comunicação sem interrupções. Neste contexto, o trabalho tem como objetivo propor um mecanismo de seleção de rede baseado na qualidade de experiência do usuário (QoE - Quality of Experience). A partir dos resultados coletados nas simulações realizadas no Network Simulator (ns-2), foi construída uma base de dados com o histórico de valores obtidos com a métrica de Relação Sinal/Ruído (PSNR Peak Signal Noise Ratio), utilizada com o auxilio do protocolo IEEE 802.21 para a execução da tomada de decisão de handover. Dentre as contribuições deste trabalho, a principal consiste na seleção de redes heterogêneas em que a decisão de handover considera a percepção do usuário, com uso da métrica de QoE. Os resultados demonstram que a decisão de handover baseada em QoE reflete no aumento de 15 % na qualidade do vídeo

Determining auditory functioning in difficult-to-test populations such as cerebral palsy (CP) remains a challenge in paediatric audiology. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is favoured as the procedure to assess auditory functioning in difficult-to-test populations such as CP. The CP population, however, offers unique challenges for the ABR procedure due to the presence of involuntary muscular movements that may compromise the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ABR. Conventional ABR technology attempts to improve the SNR by the modification of acquisition parameters e.g. adjusting the low cut filter or implementing stricter artifact rejection criteria. However, such modifications may compromise the waveform morphology of the ABR. Furthermore, sedation or general anesthesia can also be used to improve the SNR by reducing excessive muscular movements. The CP population, however, displays a high risk for developing upper airway obstruction when being sedated or anesthetized. Thus, the feasibility and reliability of the conventional ABR may be compromised when being employed in the CP population. In recent years a novel ABR system, the Vivosonic Integrity (VS) ABR has become clinically available. The device incorporates features such as pre-amplification of the ABR signal, Kalman filtering and wireless recording. These features promise to address the limitations of conventional ABR technology to obtain a reliable recording in the midst of excessive myogenic artifact. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the clinical utility of the VS system when assessing a sample of children with CP without the use of sedation. The clinical utility of the VS ABR system was determined by comparing its success rates, the threshold correspondence to behavioural pure tone (PT) thresholds and recording time to a conventional ABR system when using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli. A cross-sectional within-subject comparison research design was selected in order to compare thresholds obtained with different procedures. The experimental part of this study was represented by the within-subject control condition where the VS ABR system and the conventional ABR system were simultaneously conducted in each subject. This unique setup was important in the research as equivalent test conditions in terms of EEG and environmental conditions had to be ensured for both ABR systems. 15 CP subjects between the ages of 12 and 18 years were included in the project. A diagnostic audiological test battery including immittance, distortion product otoacoustic emissions and behavioural audiometry was conducted on each subject prior the administration of the ABR procedures. The variability of the audiological test battery results – between the subjects and when compared to previous research – emphasized the heterogeneity of the CP population. Furthermore, more than half of the research sample (53%; n=15) responded inconsistently to behavioural pure tone (PT) stimuli. It was suggested that the severity of physical impairments as well as additional impairments such as mental retardation might have influenced the consistency of the subjects’ responses during behavioural PT audiometry. The ABR results indicated that there were no significant differences with regards to threshold correspondence and recording time between the two ABR systems when using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli (p>0.05). With regards to the success rates, the VS system was successful in more cases than the conventional ABR system using click and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli. Although results also showed no statistically significant value for click p=.1121) and 0.5 kHz TB stimuli p=.1648), there was a tendency towards the 95% confidence level in both cases suggesting that the VS ABR system may produce a statistically significant success rate for click as well as for 0.5 kHz TB stimuli, provided a larger sample is tested. The research indicated that, since the VS ABR system was more successful across a wider range of subjects during click-evoked and 0.5 kHz TB recordings, it may increase the clinical usefulness of the ABR especially in terms of hearing screening in the CP population. The research suggested that excessive muscular movements during the recordings influenced not only the VS ABR’s, but also the conventional ABR’s threshold correspondences to PT thresholds as well as the recording time of the measurements. Therefore it may still be necessary to use a light sedative in some CP patients to reduce excessive myogenic interference despite the possible advantages of the VS ABR system. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Images are relevant sources of information in many areas of science and technology. The processing of such information improves and optimizes its use. The image compression causes the information representation is more efficient, reducing the amount of data required to represent an image. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of Fractal Compression technique onto mammograms through an association between the objective criteria, provided by Peak Signal Noise Ration (PSNR); and the subjective criteria, given by visual analysis of an expert physician. Visual analysis was performed comparing mammograms compressed to different extents (compression rate) with the original image, where experts classified the compressed images as unacceptable , acceptable , good or great . In doing so, the optimal compression rate and PSNR values of mammograms was achieved, where images are considered acceptable according to experts. In order to compare the performance of fractal compression technique with another compression method, visual analysis was also done on images compressed by JPEG2000 method. / As imagens são fontes relevantes de informação em diversas áreas da ciência e tecnologia. O processamento dessas informações melhora e otimiza sua utilização. A compressão de imagens faz com que a representação da informação seja mais eficiente, reduzindo a quantidade de dados necessários para representar uma imagem. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a avaliação do desempenho da compressão fractal aplicada a imagens mamográficas, pela combinação entre o critério objetivo, fornecido pela relação sinal ruído de pico (Peak Signal Noise Ratio - PSNR), e o critério subjetivo, especificado pela análise visual de médicos especialistas. A análise visual foi realizada comparando as imagens mamográficas comprimidas com diferentes taxas de compressão e a imagem original. Os especialistas classificaram as imagens comprimidas como \"inaceitável\", \"aceitável\", \"boa\" ou \"ótima\". Dessa maneira, conseguiu-se combinar a taxa de compressão e o valor de PSNR, para que as imagens comprimidas sejam consideradas aceitáveis pelos especialistas. Para avaliar o desempenho da compressão fractal foram realizados testes e análises visuais com as mesmas imagens utilizando o método de compressão JPEG2000. / Mestre em Ciências

The aim of this work was to peruse and desribe the high-speed data technology communicating over energy network. In this work was investigated broadband system communicating over low power distribution network. The laboratory network was designed for measuring parametres of this communication and performed set of tests. Lended devices were described, properties of technology specification and methods of connection and management were introduced. Management, configuration and measuring over web interface on the NMS device was described and simple dividision into corresponding functional blocks corresponding to structure of web bookmaks was made. Metodology of individual tests, grounded on documentation “recomandation” RFC and on introduced works, was elaboratly described. Used tools, their properties and managements were described. The transmission speed on application and physical layer were followed primarily, frequency dependencies on signal noise ratio and bits per carrier were followed secondary. Measured results from individuals tests were compared among each other and evaulated. This observation leaded into decision on needed criteria for varius application. The suitaibility for integration into communication network for maintaining corresponding QoS was appreised. Testing and chosen types of tests in this project were standardized and integrated into ITU standard. Individual tests are able to compare from the view of their testify charactestic.

The thesis deals with the scintillation secondary electron detector for environmental scanning electron microscope, its design and construction. The starting point was numerical simulation of electrostatic fields and electron trajectories in the electrode system of the detector and simulation of pressure distribution and flow of gases in different parts of the detector. On the basis of modeling and simulation, construction changes of the detector were gradually implemented. Detection efficiency of each version of the detector was determined by the method described in the work. This method enables to evaluate signal level from the captured images of the specimen, quality of images was stated from signal to noise ratio. The thesis describes the whole process of the detector improvement from initial state, when the detector operated with lower efficiency in the pressure range from 300 to 900 Pa, to final version that enables usage of the detector in the range from vacuum up to 1000 Pa of water vapors in the specimen chamber of the microscope.

Thesis deals with theoretical knowledge about scanning electron microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy. It describes principle of operation, signals generated by interaction between primary electron beam and specimen and means of detection of secondary electron signal in environmental conditions using scintillation detector. Furthermore, thesis focuses on optimization of detection od secondary electrons by adjusting electrode system of scintillation detector. Computer program Simion is used for modelling signal electron trajectories for proper adjustments. Simulation were starting-point for adjusting the design of the detector. Detection efficiency of adjusted detector was determined by evaluating signal magnitude from captured images, secondary electron detection capability from voltage contrast and quality of the captured images from signal/noise ratio.