A new approach to spatial compression of stereoscopic videos

This paper presents a new spatial compression method specifically designed for stereo videos. Different form current compressors, which simply apply known 2D compression techniques, the method proposed here was developed taking into account specificities of the components of the spatial compression process which may impact the correct depth visualization, named Chrominance Subsampling, Discrete WaveletTransform (DWT) and Quantization. Each component was evaluated analyzing where datalosses occur and proposing ways to provide a good balance between compression ratio and image quality, minimizing losses in depth perception. The evaluations were made using standard objective (PSNR) and subjective (DSCQS) metrics, applied to an anaglyphic stereoscopic video base. The results showedour method is competitive regarding compression rate and providessuperior image quality.     

Convergence of a lowest-order finite element method for the transmission eigenvalue problem

The transmission eigenvalue problem arises in scattering theory. The main difficulty in its analysis is the fact that, depending on the chosen formulation, it leads either to a quadratic eigenvalue problem or to a non-classical mixed problem. In this paper we prove the convergence of a mixed finite element approximation. This approach, which is close to the Ciarlet–Raviart discretization of biharmonic problems, is based on Lagrange finite elements and is one of the less expensive methods in terms of the amount of degrees of freedom. The convergence analysis is based on classical abstract spectral approximation result and the theory of mixed finite element methods for solving the stream function–vorticity formulation of the Stokes problem. Numerical experiments are reported in order to assess the efficiency of the method.     

Application of titanium machining chips in welding consumables for wear-resistant hardfacing

Equipment of sugar cane plants and mineral extraction are submitted to severe abrasive wear conditions. Welded hardfacings are usually applied to repair this kind of damage, where commercial chromium/carbon-rich welding consumables have usually been employed. In the present work we investigated the microstructure of experimental hardfacings made by addition of residues (chips) collected from the machining of ASTM F67 (unalloyed Ti, grade 4) alloy. Mixtures with different carbide-formers (Cr/Nb ferro-alloys) were also tested. Two layers of ‘pure’ chips (Ti), chips plus Fe–Cr (Ti–Cr), and chips plus Fe–Nb (Ti–Nb) were applied on low-carbon steel specimens by the GTAW/TIG process. The microstructure of hardfacing layers was observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with EDS microanalysis. The microstructural characterization has determined that carbide distributions change significantly with the chemical nature of the hardfacing. SEM observations coupled with EDS microanalysis have confirmed the formation of complex carbides within the metal weld, whose stoichiometry was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Mixed carbides of MC type and some cementite have been found. As a result it was suggested that use of ASTM F67 chips as carbide formers for composition of welding consumables can contribute to improved wear resistance of hardfacings, if compared with traditional chromium-based hardfacings.     

Effect of Silicon and Graphite Degeneration on High-Temperature Oxidation of Ductile Cast Irons in Open Air

Oxidation of Metals - The use of high silicon ductile irons is increasing as they offer some advantages with respect to conventional pearlitic–ferritic grades such as high elongation at...     

Role of Liver X Receptor,Insulin and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor α on in Vivo Desaturase Modulation of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis

We examined the in vivo contribution of insulin, T090137 (T09), agonist of liver X receptor (LXR), fenofibrate, agonist of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR-α) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) on the unsaturated fatty acid synthesis controlled by Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases, compared with the effects on stearoylcoenzyme A desaturase-1. When possible they were checked at three levels: messenger RNA (mRNA), desaturase protein and enzymatic activity. In control rats, only fenofibrate increased the insulinemia that was maintained by the simultaneous administration of T09, but this increase has no specific effect on desaturase activity. T09 enhanced SREBP-1 in control animals and the mRNAs and activity of the three desaturases in control and type-1 diabetic rats, demonstrating a LXR/SREBP-1-mediated activation independent of insulin. However, simultaneous administration of insulin and T09 to diabetic rats led to a several-fold increase of the mRNAs of the desaturases, suggesting a strong synergic effect between insulin and LXR/retinoic X receptor (RXR). Moreover, this demonstrates the existence of an interaction between unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol metabolism performed by the insulin/SREBP-1c system and LXR/RXR. PPAR-α also increased the expression and activity of the three desaturases independently of the insulinemia since it was equivalently evoked in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Besides, PPAR-α increased the palmitoylcoenzyme A elongase, evidencing a dual regulation in the fatty acid biosynthesis at the level of desaturases and elongases. The simultaneous administration of fenofibrate and T09 did not show additive effects on the mRNA expression and activity of the desaturases. Therefore, the results indicate a necessary sophisticated interaction of all these factors to produce the physiological effects.     

Improved toughness in HIPS obtained from different styrene/butadiene‐graded block copolymers through modification of the polydispersity index of the PS block

The polymerization of styrene in the presence of graded block copolymers with a polystyrene/polybutadiene composition of 40/60, 30/70, and 20/80 and with a polydispersity index (M_w /M_n ) in the polystyrene block varying from 1.1 to 1.6 was studied. As the polydispersity index of the polystyrene block increases, an improvement of up to 50% in the Izod impact toughness of the produced high‐impact polystyrene was achieved. The rubber particle morphology type, the size, and the volume fraction of the rubber phase particles could be modified through changes in the composition of the graded block copolymer. The changes that occurred in the rubber phase were mainly generated by the variation in the interfacial tension between the phases, and this variation was principally attributed to an increase in the polydispersity index of the polystyrene block in the precursor copolymer. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:1333–1341, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Role of Somatic Mutations on the Immune Response of the Tumor Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy has improved patient survival in many types of cancer, but for prostate cancer, initial results with immunotherapy have been disappointing. Prostate cancer is considered an immunologically excluded or cold tumor, unable to generate an effective T-cell response against cancer cells. However, a small but significant percentage of patients do respond to immunotherapy, suggesting that some specific molecular subtypes of this tumor may have a better response to checkpoint inhibitors. Recent findings suggest that, in addition to their function as cancer genes, somatic mutations of PTEN, TP53, RB1, CDK12, and DNA repair, or specific activation of regulatory pathways, such as ETS or MYC, may also facilitate immune evasion of the host response against cancer. This review presents an update of recent discoveries about the role that the common somatic mutations can play in changing the tumor microenvironment and immune response against prostate cancer. We describe how detailed molecular genetic analyses of the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer using mouse models and human tumors are providing new insights into the cell types and pathways mediating immune responses. These analyses are helping researchers to design drug combinations that are more likely to target the molecular and immunological pathways that underlie treatment failure.     

Quantification of ethyl carbamate in cachaça produced in different agro‐industrial production systems

Popularly known by various names such as caninha, dangerous, drips, damned and many other denominations, cachaça is the genuine Brazilian drink, produced by the fermentation of sugarcane juice by yeast, followed by distillation in alambics. Considering that cachaça is the most widely consumed distilled beverage from Brazil, the knowledge of the chemical composition and the presence of potentially toxic compounds such as ethyl carbamate, considered a human carcinogen, is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different conditions of the agro‐industrial cachaça production systems, including the variety of sugarcane, on the quantification of ethyl carbamate through the chromatographic. Thirteen unaged beverage samples, produced from different varieties of sugarcane, were analysed. Using analysis of variance and comparison of average concentrations of ethyl carbamate (Scott–Knott, α = 5%), all of the samples were found to contain contaminant levels below the ceiling established by the legislation, which is 210 µg L^?1. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling