Abstract
The digital analysis of heart sounds has revealed itself as an evolving field of study. In recent years, numerous approaches to create decision support systems were attempted. This paper proposes two novel algorithms: one for the segmentation of heart sounds into heart cycles and another for detecting heart murmurs. The segmentation algorithm, based on the autocorrelation function to find the periodic components of the PCG signal had a sensitivity and positive predictive value of 89.2% and 98.6%, respectively. The murmur detection algorithm is based on features collected from different domains and was evaluated in two ways: a random division between train and test set and a division according to patients. The first returned sensitivity and specificity of 98.42% and 97.21% respectively for a minimum error of 2.19%. The second division had a far worse performance with a minimum error of 33.65%. The operating point was chosen at sensitivity 69.67% and a specificity 46.91% for a total error of 38.90% by varying the percentage of segments classified as murmurs needed for a positive murmur classification.

Abstract
Biometric systems based on iris are vulnerable to several attacks, particularly direct attacks consisting on the presentation of a fake iris to the sensor. The development of iris liveness detection techniques is crucial for the deployment of iris biometric applications in daily life specially in the mobile biometric field. The 1st Mobile Iris Liveness Detection Competition (MobILive) was organized in the context of IJCB2014 in order to record recent advances in iris liveness detection. The goal for (MobILive) was to contribute to the state of the art of this particular subject. This competition covered the most common and simple spoofing attack in which printed images from an authorized user are presented to the sensor by a non-authorized user in order to obtain access. The benchmark dataset was the MobBIOfake database which is composed by a set of 800 iris images and its corresponding fake copies (obtained from printed images of the original ones captured with the same handheld device and in similar conditions). In this paper we present a brief description of the methods and the results achieved by the six participants in the competition. © 2014 IEEE.

Abstract
The organizations ability to manage corporate environmental performance is emerging as a strategic issue for companies. Environmental decision-making requires an explicit methodology in which it must be possible to articulate the involvement of various stakeholders, incorporate multi-disciplinary knowledge, and integrate criteria involving trade-offs in order to deal with different opinions and heterogeneous factors. The choice of sustainable options for the company and the creation of commitments among stakeholders are a must for businesses. The main motivation of this paper is to present results from the initial steps of the development of a methodology to support decision-making of corporate environmental strategies. Illustrations from an ongoing case study are presented. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
Frequency blueshifting was recently observed in light pulses propagating on gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibers where a plasma has been produced due to photoionization of the gas. One of the propagation models that is adequate to describe the actual experimental observations is here investigated. It is a nonlinear Schrodinger equation with an extra term, to which we applied a self-similar change of variables and found its accelerating solitons. As in other NLS-related models possessing accelerating solitons, there exist asymmetrical pulses that decay as they propagate in some parameter region that was here well defined.

Abstract
In this work, a remote curvature sensor using a standard OTDR as the interrogation system is presented. This approach uses a core diameter mismatch sensor which is formed by a short section of a multimode fiber, with a length of 3 mm, sandwiched between two singlemode fibers. In this case, the attenuation of the optical signal will vary as the fiber is bent allowing interrogating the sensor with OTDR technology. Preliminary results indicate a resolution range of similar to 0.0003 cm(-1), sensitivity in the range of similar to-208.46 dB/cm(-1) and a variation of 2.67 dB in the OTDR trace within the bend radius range.

Abstract
Organizations are increasingly seeking to improve their efficiency and effectiveness to obtain reliable and high quality product at a lower cost. To achieve this objective, the use of tools that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge about processes is a valuable support. In maintenance, recording data about corrective actions is essential to define proactive actions that aim to avoid or mitigate the effects of future failures. Several computer systems are commercially available for maintenance management. However, the degree of suitability of these systems is low, once they do not consider organizations particularities. This paper presents a computer system for collecting and analyzing data from the machines of the production lines of a semiconductor company. This project aims to provide the company with a tool adapted to its needs, able to perform a behavioral analysis of all the machines of the production lines based on the systematic record of failures occurrence and maintenance activities.