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Ekokardiografi (EKO) är en vanlig metod som används för bedömning och uppföljning av eventuella hjärtsjukdomar. Idag är tvådimensionell (2D) EKO standardmetoden för bestämning av slutdiastolisk volym (EDV), slutsystolisk volym (ESV) och ejektionsfraktionen (EF). Tredimensionell (3D) EKO har börjat användas mer kliniskt för bestämning av EDV, ESV och EF. Idag används två olika 3D mjukvaruprogram, Tomtec som är helautomatiserad och Dynamic Heart Model (DHM) som även den är helautomatiserad. Dessa används för bestämning av EDV, ESV och EF. Syftet med undersökningen var att jämföra två olika 3D-mjukvaruprogram, Tomtec samt DHM, för bestämning av EF och vänsterkammarvolymer (EDV och ESV). Dessa jämförs även med 2D som idag är standardmetod för värdering av både volymer och EF. Det erhölls signifikanta skillnader mellan programmen Tomtec och DHM, där högre volymer uppmättes med DHM. I jämförelse med 2D påvisades även signifikant större volymer med 3D (Tomtec och DHM). Resultatet från korrelationsanalysen visade en mycket hög korrelation mellan Tomtec och DHM för EDV, ESV och EF. Även en hög korrelation mellan 3D och 2D för bestämning av EDV, ESV och EF förelåg. Detta bekräftades med Bland Altman analyserna som visade goda överenstämmelser mellan Tomtec och DHM, samt mellan 3D och 2D. Överenstämmelserna mellan metoderna var hög. Mjukvaruprogrammen Tomtec och DHM stämmer väl överens med varandra och med 2D EKO. Skillnaden beror sannolikt på att Tomtec, DHM och 2D bygger på olika metodiker, däremot är denna skillnad obetydlig vid klinisk användning. / Echocardiography (ECHO) is a common method used for assessment and follow-up of possible heart diseases. Today, two-dimensional (2D) ECHO is the standard method for determining end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and ejection fraction (EF). Currently, three-dimensional (3D) ECHO is used more clinically for the determination of EDV, ESV and EF. Two different 3D software are used today, Tomtec which is a fully automated method and Dynamic Heart Model (DHM) which is also a fully automated method. These are used to determine EDV, ESV and EF. The aim of the study was to compare two different 3D softwares, Tomtec and DHM, for assessment of EF and left ventricular volumes (EDV and ESV). These are also compared to 2D, which currently is the standard method for assessing both volumes and EF. Significant differences were seen between the Tomtec and DHM software, where higher volumes were measured with DHM.  In comparison with 2D, significantly larger volumes were obtained with 3D (Tomtec and DHM). The result from the correlation analysis showed very high correlation between Tomtec and DHM for EDV, ESV and EF. High correlation between 3D and 2D for determination of EDV, ESV and EF was present. This was confirmed with the Bland Altman analyses, which showed good agreement between Tomtec and DHM, as well as between 3D and 2D. Agreements between the methods were high. The Tomtec and DHM softwares showed good agreement as well as with 2D ECHO. The significant difference is probably because Tomtec, DHM and 2D are based on different methodologies, although in clinical practice this difference is of minor relevance.

[pt] A previsão de séries temporais é fundamental na tomada de decisões de curto, médio e longo prazo, em diversas áreas como o setor elétrico, a bolsa de valores, a meteorologia, entre outros. Tem-se na atualidade uma diversidade de técnicas e modelos para realizar essas previsões, mas as ferramentas estatísticas são as mais utilizadas principalmente por apresentarem um maior grau de interpretabilidade. No entanto, as técnicas de inteligência computacional têm sido cada vez mais aplicadas em previsão de séries temporais, destacando-se as Redes Neurais Artificiais (RNA) e os Sistemas de Inferência Fuzzy (SIF). Recentemente foi criado um novo tipo de RNA, denominada Echo State Networks (ESN), as quais diferem das RNA clássicas por apresentarem uma camada escondida com conexões aleatórias, denominada de Reservoir (Reservatório). Este Reservoir é ativado pelas entradas da rede e pelos seus estados anteriores, gerando o efeito de Echo State (Eco), fornecendo assim um dinamismo e um desempenho melhor para tarefas de natureza temporal. Uma dificuldade dessas redes ESN é a presença de diversos parâmetros, tais como Raio Espectral, Tamanho do Reservoir e a Percentual de Conexão, que precisam ser calibrados para que a ESN forneça bons resultados. Portanto, este trabalho tem como principal objetivo o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta computacional capaz de realizar previsões de séries temporais, baseada nas ESN, com ajuste automático de seus parâmetros por Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) e Algoritmos Genéticos (GA), facilitando a sua utilização pelo usuário. A ferramenta computacional desenvolvida oferece uma interface gráfica intuitiva e amigável, tanto em termos da modelagem da ESN, quanto em termos de realização de eventuais pré-processamentos na série a ser prevista. / [en] The time series forecasting is critical to decision making in the short, medium and long term in several areas such as electrical, stock market, weather and industry. Today exist different techniques to model this forecast, but statistics are more used, because they have a bigger interpretability, due by the mathematic models created. However, intelligent techniques are being more applied in time series forecasting, where the principal models are the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Fuzzy Inference Systems (FIS). A new type of ANN called Echo State Networks (ESN) was created recently, which differs from the classic ANN in a randomly connected hidden layer called Reservoir. This Reservoir is activated by the network inputs, and the historic of the reservoir activations generating so, the Echo State and giving to the network more dynamism and a better performance in temporal nature tasks. One problem with these networks is the presence of some parameters as, Spectral Radius, Reservoir Size and Connection Percent, which require calibration to make the network provide positive results. Therefore the aim of this work is to develop a computational application capable to do time series forecasting, based on ESN, with automatic parameters adjustment by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithms (GA), facilitating its use by the user. The developed computational tool offers an intuitive and friendly interface, both in terms of modeling the ESN, and in terms of achievement of possible pre-process on the series to be forecasted.

[pt] A utilização de modelos de inteligência computacional para tarefas de previsão Multi-Step de séries temporais tem apresentado resultados que permitem considerar estes modelos como alternativas viáveis para este tipo de problema. Baseados nos requerimentos computacionais e a melhora de desempenho, recentemente novas áreas de pesquisa têm sido apresentadas na comunidade científica. Este é o caso do Reservoir Computing, que apresenta novos campos de estudo para redes neurais do tipo recorrentes, as quais, no passado, não foram muito utilizados devido à complexidade de treinamento e ao alto custo computacional. Nesta nova área são apresentados modelos como Liquid State Machine e Echo State Networks, que proporcionam um novo entendimento no conceito de processamento dinâmico para redes recorrentes e propõem métodos de treinamento com baixo custo computacional. Neste trabalho determinou-se como foco de pesquisa a otimização de parâmetros globais para o projeto das Echo State Networks. Embora as Echo State Networks sejam objeto de estudo de pesquisadores reconhecidos, ainda apresentam comportamentos desconhecidos, em parte pela sua natureza dinâmica, mas também, pela falta de estudos que aprofundem o entendimento no comportamento dos estados gerados. Utilizando como fundamento o modelo Separation Ratio Graph para análise do desempenho, é proposto um novo modelo, denominado ESN-GA-SRG, que usa como base redes ESN com otimização de parâmetros globais utilizando GA e seleção de topologias para Reservoir por meio de análise de estados empregando SRG. O desempenho deste novo modelo é avaliado na previsão das 11 séries que compõem a versão reduzida do NN3 Forecasting Competition e em 36 séries da competição M3, selecionadas segundo características de periodicidade na amostragem, assimetria, sazonalidade e estacionaridade. O desempenho do modelo ESN-GA-SRG na previsão dessas séries temporais foi superior na maioria dos casos, com significância estatística, quando comparado com outros modelos da literatura. / [en] The use of computational intelligence models for Multi-Step time series prediction tasks has presented results that allow us to consider these models as viable alternatives for this type of problem. Based on computational requirements and performance improvement, new areas of research have recently been presented in the scientific community. This is the case of Reservoir Computing, which presents new fields of study for recurrent-type neural networks, which in the past were not widely used because of training complexity and high computational cost. In this new area are presented models such as Liquid State Machine and Echo State Networks, which provide a new understanding of the concept of dynamic processing for recurring networks and propose methods of training with low computational cost. In this work, we determined the optimization of global parameters for the Echo State Networks project. Although Echo State Networks are the object of study by recognized researchers, they still present unknown behavior, partly due to their dynamic nature, but also due to the lack of studies that deepen behavior understanding of the generated states. Based on the Separation Ratio Graph model for performance analysis, a new model, called ESN-GA-SRG, is proposed, which uses ESN networks with global parameter optimization using GA and selection of topologies for Reservoir through analysis of States employing SRG. The performance of this new model is evaluated to forecast the 11 series that made up the reduced version of the NN3 Forecasting Competition and for 36 series of the M3 competition, selected according to characteristics of periodicity in sampling, asymmetry, seasonality and stationary. The performance of the ESN-GA-SRG model in predicting these time series was superior in most cases, with statistical significance when compared with other models in the literature.

<p>The thesis deals partly with methodology including construction</p><p>of hardware and new pulse sequences in the field of electrophoretic</p><p>NMR, and partly with practical use of ENMR and</p><p>diffusion NMR in the investigation of charged colloidal systems.</p><p>Several sources of artefacts are investigated, including gas production</p><p>at the electrodes, electroosmosis and Joule heating</p><p>effects that can cause convection. The electrophoretic double</p><p>stimulated-echo pulse sequence is introduced to suppress these</p><p>artefacts and to increase the feasible measuring range to higher</p><p>electric fields and conductivities.</p><p>The interaction between the non-ionic polymer poly(ethylene</p><p>oxide) PEO and differently charged surfactants is investigated</p><p>using the above mentioned methods. The investigated surfactants</p><p>are the anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and</p><p>potassium laurate (KC12), the cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium</p><p>bromide (CTAB) and the non-ionic octyl β-D-glucoside.</p><p>ENMR is also used to investigate two different mixed micelle</p><p>systems, with SDS as the charged surfactant component and</p><p>dodecyl malono-bis-N-methylglucamide (C12BNMG) respectively</p><p>tetra(ethylene oxide) dodecyl ether (C12EO4) as the nonionic</p><p>surfactant component. A method to calculate the degree</p><p>of counter-ion dissociation, αdissociation, as a function of composition</p><p>is demonstrated.</p><p>Finally diffusion NMR is used to compare transport dynamics</p><p>in gel electrolyte systems based on two differently grafted polymers;</p><p>one amphiphilic system containing polymethacrylate</p><p>grafted partly with polyethylene oxide and partly with fluorocarbons</p><p>and the corresponding nonamphiphilic system grafted</p><p>with only polyethylene oxide. Both systems contain the electrolyte</p><p>lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide salt dissolved in</p><p>γ-butyrolactone. The results show that the system based on the</p><p>amphiphilic polymer has better transport dynamics and therefore</p><p>is more suited as material for battery</p>

Magnetic Resonance Elastography is a method of imaging the elasticity of soft tissues through measurement of small motions induced into a sample. It shows great promise in the detection of a wide variety of pathologies, especially tumours. An imaging protocol was developed to acquire MR elastography data for use in a clinical setting. A 3D gradient echo sequence was modified to allow for the detection of harmonic motion and tested on silicone phantoms and ex-vivo muscle and brain samples. The time for acquiring a high resolution, quantitative dataset of 3D motions was about 45 minutes. Our imaging method included motion encoding along all three coordinate axes and at several time points along the motion cycle. This time could be easily be reduced by more than half for future clinical use, while still retaining full quantitative data. A modified EPI sequence shows promise for even faster acquisition. The ability to detect the mechanical anisotropy of brain and muscle tissue in ex-vivo samples was also investigated. Initial results from the muscle data indicate a change in shear wavelength is observed for actuation along orthogonal axes. This is a strong indicator of anisotropy detection. Further work needs to be done to improve results from the brain sample as preliminary results are inconclusive.

隨著網路技術的發展，目前網路電話(VoIP)已有逐漸取代傳統電話的趨勢。尤其能夠允許多人同時在線上進行會談是其最大的優勢之一。但在多人參與網路會談時，因為聲音在空間中傳遞或反射等因素，使得由喇叭發出的聲音再次被麥克風收回，造成回音的產生。會談中只要有一位使用者的裝置發生回音時，回音訊號就會在與會者之間擴散，使得所有使用者均會受到影響，進而嚴重影響網路通話的進行。此狀況在參與會談人數越多時，發生機率越高，且對通話品質影響越嚴重。 傳統電話在一對一通話時，通常使用遠端回音消除機制(Near End Echo Canceller)，由接收端在接收聲音後先暫存在記憶體中再播放，再將麥克風擷取的聲音與事先暫存的訊號反向後混合，以抵銷回音。網路會談的環境下，由於沒有標準的聽筒設備，使得回音發生的時間難以預估。且多人參與的網路會談中，由於收聽者所聽到的聲音可能混合多個使用者說話的聲音與回音，使得回音訊號難以偵測。另外，由於網路傳輸的特性，回音訊號到達的時間與順序都難以預估，這使得回音消除機制在多人網路回談中經常失效。 本研究提出藉由語音動態偵測(Voice Activity Detection-VAD)的方式分辨回音訊號，藉由本研究所提出的語音能量VAD判定機制，能夠有效區別正常語音與回音的差異，即可有效的消除回音，同時發揮靜音抑制（Slience Suppression）的效果，阻擋不含語音內容的封包，降低網路頻寬耗用。本研究以自行開發的VoIP軟體進行實地測試實驗，實驗中顯示，我們的方法能消除85%以上的回音。 / With the prosperous development of Internet technology, traditional phone service is being replaced gradually byVoice-over-IP (VoIP) technology. One of the critical problem that is yet to be improved is the echo problem. Due to the difference in working environment, conventional echo cancellation technology may not work well on VoIP system. The echo problem is becoming more critical as the number of participants in a talk session increases. As long as one user fails to depress echos, every other participant in the conference will be infected. The more participant, the higher probability of echo infection. We propose an energy based Voice Activity Detection (VAD) mechnism that effectively differentiate echo from speech signal. Our VAD algrouthm records a user’s speech volume, and based on this information to determine whether the frame is echo or not. By applying this mechnism to network conference, we can filter out echo frames and suppress slience at same time to save bandwidth consumption. We experimented on a self-developed VoIP software platform, the experiment result shows that our method can eliminate more than 85% of the echo.

Neste trabalho são analisados os campos acústicos gerados por transdutores ultrassônicos planos e circulares, do tipo pistão plano, no modo pulso-eco, trabalhando como emissor e receptor de ondas, com freqüências de 1,6 MHz, 2,25 MHz e 5 MHz. As ondas emitidas por esses transdutores interagem com interfaces denominadas alvos, com diversas geometrias de superfícies, como planas e circulares, planas com cavidade do tipo alvéolo circular, e cone reto, todas compostas de alumínio e imersas em tanque com água. O campo acústico refletido varia de acordo com o tipo de geometria do alvo. Para essas analises foram produzidas e comparadas modelagens do campo acústico no software Matlab, por meio de dois modelos teóricos: método da resposta impulsiva e método da representação discreta. Foram analisados o tempo de computação produzido pelo método numérico com relação a discretização dos elementos de área do transdutor e do alvo, alem da influencia da conversão de modo nas respostas impulsivas simuladas para essas superfícies. Os resultados mostraram uma boa correlação entre os dois métodos teóricos, porem o de representação discreta possibilita o estudo em transdutores com geometria diferente do pistão plano, sem o uso de integrais complexas. As diferenças dos resultados experimentais e teóricos podem ser minimizadas por meio de uma escolha adequada da relação entre a discretização e comprimento de onda (Dx/), em que foi considerado um valor aceitável de erro relativo de 15% para Dx/ 0,68. Foi observado que o uso da conversão de modo na interface refletora influi apenas na amplitude do sinal de eco (atenuação) e não na forma do sinal. / This work deals with acoustic fields generated by ultrasonic broadband transducers as a planar circular piston, operating in pulse-echo mode, with frequencies of 1.6 MHz, 2.25 MHz and 5 MHz. The waves emitted by transducers interact with water-immersed aluminum targets of different geometries such as planar circular surfaces, concave circular cavity on plane surfaces, and right circular conical surfaces. The impulse response and the discrete representation methods were applied to model the echo responses, using the Matlab software. The influence of mode conversion over the simulated impulse responses for these surfaces was analyzed. The results show a good correlation between the two theoretical methods, but the discrete representation enables the study of arbitrary aperture transducers, with no need to solve complex integrals. The computational times of the discrete representation method was analyzed were respect to the spatial discretization of both the transducer aperture and the target. Experimental tests were carried out to validate the simulated results. Differences in experimental and theoretical results can be minimized by an appropriate choice of the discretization/wavelength ratio (Dx / ). A relative error of 15% was considered acceptable for Dx / 0,68. It was observed that the use of mode conversion at the reflected interface modifies only the amplitude of the echo signal (attenuation), but not its shape.

Para reduzir as perdas humanas e materiais durante as inundações, é possível realizar estudo conciso da previsão de chuva, etapa principal de um sistema de alerta antecipado de inundação. O uso de informações de radar de tempo, quando acopladas a modelos de previsão de precipitação baseados fisicamente, pode contribuir para o monitoramento e previsão de episódios de chuva intensa. Desta forma, a previsão de chuva, baseada no uso de informações de radar, juntamente com um modelo conceitual de previsão hidrometeorológica, foi descrita neste trabalho. Teve-se por objetivo aperfeiçoar as previsões de chuva de curtíssimo prazo (poucos minutos), que acopladas a um modelo chuva-vazão, podem ser usadas em sistemas de alerta antecipado. O modelo hidrometeorológico adotado, que considera uma nuvem hipotética unidimensional vertical, foi inicialmente desenvolvido por Georgakakos e Bras (1984a) e ampliado, neste trabalho. Para tal, adotou-se o uso das informações de Topo dos Ecos para determinação da altura das nuvens e considerou-se que a componente do modelo relativa à massa de água líquida no interior da nuvem corresponde à estimativa do conteúdo de água líquida integrado verticalmente (VIL) efetuada por radar. Para eventos de natureza frontal quente e convectiva, o modelo geralmente antecipou o início do processo de chuva, embora tenha conseguido simular seu comportamento e o instante em que o pico da precipitação ocorreu. Para os eventos frontais frios, o pico simulado registrou atraso. Para episódios de simulação com VIL maior que 3 Kg/\'M POT.2\', a chuva simulada acompanhou o comportamento temporal do VIL, mas com influências das variáveis meteorológicas pressão, temperatura e umidade relativa. As lâminas simuladas tornaram-se entrada para o modelo chuva-vazão do SCS, parcialmente calibrado com algoritmo genético. Para a escala de uma pequena bacia hidrográfica urbana brasileira, com estação fluviométrica experimental, preliminarmente, alguns resultados indicam vazões um pouco inferiores e com atrasos na previsão da vazão máxima. A antecedência proporcionada pelo modelo é de 15 minutos e, apesar da simplicidade, conseguiu-se prever o início do processo de precipitação que gerou inundação do córrego urbano. / To reduce human and material losses during floods it is feasible to concisely study the rainfall forecast as the main part of an early warning system. The use of weather radar information, when linked to physically-based forecast models, can contribute for monitoring and forecasting of intense rainfall episodes. Thus, the rainfall forecast, based on using of radar information along with a conceptual model of hydrometeorological forecast, was outlined in this dissertation. One goal of the study was to improve very short term rainfall forecasts, named as a \'nowcasting\' process throughout few minutes, coupled with a rainfall-runoff generation model to be used in early warning system. The hydrometeorological model, a hypothetical vertical 1-D cloud, was initially developed by Georgakakos and Bras (1984a) and further developed in this study to profit signals from radar tracking control volumes of moisture storage. Either \'Echo Top\' radar information was addressed to determinate the cloud height, and the vertically-integrated liquid (\'VIL\') water mass content inside the cloud, estimated by other radar signal, was considered into the model. On the one hand, during rainfall events of hot and convective front genesis monitored with on-field pluviometers, the model results generally anticipated the beginning of the rain process; however the model was capable of not only simulating well the behavior but also the time-step when rainfall monitored peak occurred. On the other hand, and for cold-front events, the simulating peaks depicted a time delay. For simulation episodes with VIL greater than 3 Kg/\'M POT.2\', the simulated rainfall accompanied the time behavior of VIL, but with influences from weather variables of pressure, temperature and relative humidity. These rainfall depths became inputs of a simple SCS rainfall-runoff model, partially calibrated with genetic algorithms. At the scale of a small brazilian urban river basin with experimental gauging station, some preliminary results modeled streamflows a bit lower than, and with some delay of maximum flow forecasts, observed discharges. The advanced lad time period used by model was of about 15 min and, besides its simplicity, it was quite able to anticipate the beggining of the rainfall process that generated the flood formation at the urban creek.

Há um grande interesse hoje em desenvolver terminais viva-voz que permitam aos participantes de uma conversa à distância contarem com um bom grau de naturalidade e inteligibilidade. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar solução para dois impedimentos que surgem quando se deseja projetar um terminal viva-voz para ser utilizado em automóveis: o eco acústico resultante do acoplamento entre microfone e alto-falante do terminal; e o ruído ambiente produzido por exemplo pelo vento, pneus e motor do veículo. A solução proposta envolve o uso de filtros adaptativos e alterações no espectro do sinal de voz para minimizar os problemas mencionados. Os aspectos teóricos são abordados de forma breve, sem deixar no entanto que nenhum detalhe importante fique de fora. Uma implementação prática e eficiente em processador digital de sinais é um dos destaques do trabalho. / There is currently great motivation in developing hands-free devices which offer users, engaged in a telephone conversation, a good level of naturalness and intelligibility. In this work, the goal is to present a solution for two well-known problems that occur when designing a hands-free device for use in automobile environments: (1) the acoustic echo coupling between microphone and speaker, and (2) the background noise generated for example by wind, tires and vehicle engine. The proposed solution includes adaptive filtering techniques and modifications in the speech signal spectrum, in order to minimize the two problems above. Theoretical issues are briefly analyzed, however the author believes no relevant detail is kept out. Highlighted in the report is a practical and efficient implementation of the algorithms in a modern digital signal processor.