Curve parametrization by moments.

We present a method for deriving a parametric description of a conic section (quadratic curve) in an image from the moments of the image with respect to several specially-constructed kernel functions. In contrast to Hough-transform-type methods, the moment approach requires no large accumulator array. Judicious implementation allows the parameters to be determined using five multiplication operations and six addition operations per pixel. The use of moments renders the calculation robust in the presence of high-frequency noise or texture and resistant to small-scale irregularities in the edge. Our method is generalizable to more complex classes of curves with more parameters as well as to surfaces in higher dimensions.

Locating edges and removing ringing artifacts in JPEG images by frequency-domain analysis.

We present a method of locating edges in JPEG-coded images which operates in frequency space on the DCT coefficients. Applied to the quantized DCT coefficients of a block containing a straight edge, the method yields an equation for the edge in a fraction of the operations needed to dequantize and transform the coefficents to pixel values. As a sample application of this method, we present a technique for alleviating ringing artifacts in JPEG-coded images.

Custom-built moments for edge location.

We present a general construction of functions whose moments serve to locate and parametrize step edges within an image. Previous use of moments to locate edges was limited to functions supported on a circular region, but our method allows the use of "custom-designed" functions supported on circles, rectangles, or any desired shape, and with graphs whose shape may be chosen with great freedom. We present analyses of the sensitivity of our method to pixelization errors or discrepancy between the image and an idealized edge model. The parametric edge description yielded by our method makes it especially suitable as a component of wedgelet image coding.

The eidochromatic transform for color-image coding.

We introduce the eidochromatic transform as a tool for improved lossy coding of color images. Many current image-coding formats (such as JPEG 2000) utilize both a color-component transform (relating values of different image components at a single location) and a wavelet or other spatial transform (relating values of a single-image component at proximate, but different image locations). The eidochromatic transform further reduces redundancy by relating image values simultaneously across color components and in the two spatial dimensions. Our approach is to introduce an additional transform step following the color-component and spatial transforms. In tests, this step reduced the overall static entropy of the chrominance components of quantized transformed images by up to 40% or more. Combined with JPEG 2000's modeling and coding method, the eidochromatic transform was found to reduce the size of lossily coded color images by up to 27% overall.

[Evaluation of oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidants in medium physical training of moderate arterial hypertension]. / Evaluarea stresului oxidativ si antioxidantilor enzimatici în antrenamentul fizic recuperator pe termen mediu al HTA moderate.

A group of patients with moderate hypertension (149-150/90-99 mmHg) performed physical exercise for 3 months; we determined the oxidative stress in blood samples, by calculating the level of some antioxidative markers, the enzymes SOD, CAT, GPx, MDA and comparing the results with the values obtained from a group of healthy subjects. We found an increased oxidative stress at the hypertensive patients, with initial higher values of SOD and MDA and with lower values of CAT and GPx, compared to the normal subjects. After the 3 months of physical training, the oxidative stress improved, with decreasing activity of SOD, GPx, MDA and increasing CAT, maintaining the ratio CAT/SOD and GPx/SOD superior compared to normal subjects. The clinical study proved that after 3 months of physical exercise, there wasn't any increased oxidative stress at the hypertensive patients; however, the oxidative stress is present, proved by the values of MDA, significantly higher compared to the normal subjects.

[Acute diarrhea associated with Cyclospora cayetanensis]. / Boala diareica acuta cu Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Acute diarrhea is a major problem with high morbidity and mortality rates in developing countries, especially in children. Complex laboratory investigations are required to define the etiology because of the broad spectrum of etiological agents and the non-specific clinical signs. In the last decade, Cyclospora cayetanensis--a new acid-fast coccidian species--was pointed to be the cause of watery self-limited or prolonged diarrhea in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, with very good evolution after treatment with co-trimoxazole. Unlike Cryptosporidium parvum, nonsporulated Cyclospora oocysts are eliminated in feces, with no risk of human to human transmission. Cyclospora cayetanensis is widely spread, producing endemic infections, in Asia and South America and was reported to produce infections in foreign travellers in these areas and epidemic outbreaks of foodborne diarrhea. We describe the first case of acute diarrhea associated with Cyclospora cayetanensis in an immunocompetent child admitted to Iasi "Sf. Maria" Hospital.

[Effect of antilipemic therapy on patients with diabetes mellitus and obesity]. / Efectele terapiei hipolipemiante asupra unui lot de bolnavi cu diabet zaharat si obezitate.

Fibrates are hypolipemic agents used in noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) because these drugs have no influence on glycemia control. The efficiency of fenofibrate (Lipanthyl) was studied in a group of 22 subjects, 30-70 years, obese (body mass index-BMI over 30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI = 28-30 kg/m2) with hypertension or/and diabetes. All the patients received 200 mg fenofibrate daily, for 6 month, and they had a hypocaloric diet. We measured seric lipids. The results were compared with a control group (20 normal subjects). Under treatment, atherogenic lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides) had significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and antiatherogenic fraction (HDL-cholesterol) significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to initial values. In the mean time, the BMI has significantly decreased under fenofibrate treatment, this body mass loss having a positive influence on lipid metabolism. We observed a better therapeutically response in obese patients vs. the overweight ones, probably due to a higher prevalence of the hypertension in the second subgroup. In conclusion fenofibrate is the drug which can be choose in diabetic dyslipidemia without cardiac disease.