Google removes images of Pentagon

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"" Search "Wikia already started

Washington - Google removed images from your online map at the request of the Pentagon, therefore pose a threat to the safety of military bases of the United States, advanced the agency Reuters.
According to Reuters, General Gene Renuart, head of the military command responsible for national defence, said that the Pentagon had alerted Google of the risks of disclosure of the images, and expects the company to cooperate remove selected images of your service View Street.

The spokesman of Google, Larry Yu, confirmed the contacts established by the Pentagon, "We were contacted by the military", "In those instances where they expressed concerns about the images, we serve the requests.

The Street View, a device Google Maps, offers images of 360 degrees at the ground in 30 cities in the United States

Scientists fotografam mental images

"A device capable of" reading "the brain and producing a visual image of the experience of a person could soon become a reality", the journal Nature announced a lacónico release, the purpose of results discreetly published in its online edition today.

Does understand well? Are they really talking to detect, in the midst of our neurons, the images that shape our mind when we look at something? Because they are. It is now for tomorrow, but the truth is that Jack Gallant and his team of the University of California, Berkeley, have just taken a fundamental step in this direction.

Using only the analysis of the patterns of brain activity generated by natural viewing of images, showed that it is possible to identify, with great precision, the image that the human brain is to see.

The experience they have done is similar to that trick which is to choose a letter without the magic show, look at it and make embedding it in the deck. Instantes later and some abracadabras later, the magician pulls some of the letter and the public applauds. Except that here it is not magic.

Dir you - I will see what

In the lab, two participants (two of the authors of the study, Thomas and Kendrick Naselaris Kay) began by viewing, randomly, 1750 photographs of various objects. "People, places, animals, those things usually shoot during the holidays," said Gallant to the PUBLIC. And thanks to the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows you to view real-time brain activity, there was what was happening in the visual areas of the brain, where the signals are processed nervous from the retina.

From these records, and based on a mathematical model that simulates the processes brain, the researchers built a "decoder" which produces, from any image, a particular pattern of brain activity. The model takes into account, inter alia, "hints" that the visual neurobiólogos know that the brain uses to recognize what you see, such as the location in space and orientation of the elements present in the image presented.

After this phase of "training" of the device, asked to the participants to view each for a single image, this time chosen at random from a collection of 120 photographs, all of them different from that had seen until then. Once again, there was the brain activity of both.

But now, in parallel, the scientists also appealed to the mathematical simulation. More specifically, for each of these 120 photos, the decoder system has generated a pattern of brain activity. The final step was to choose among all these standards possible, the one that most seemed to the pattern of brain activity actually produced by the participants themselves for the photo while it was submitted. The results of multiple tests were spectacular: the model chosen the right photo in 92 percent of cases for Naselaris and in 72 percent to Kay!

When the number of images possible increases, performance decreases, but is still remarkable: with 1000 images, the decoder yet to identify 82 percent of the images presented to Naselaris. "Our calculations suggest - the authors say - that a number of billion images (of the order of indexed by the Google on the Internet), the image would be some identified nearly 20 percent of the time. That is, if a person choose and olhasse for a photo at random on the Web, yet be able to identify that image from the brain activity once every five. "

Dreams and memories

If it were possible to systematically identify any photo without having any prior knowledge of the set where he was chosen, then yes, it could be said that the device is able to "see" the image within the brain. But this has not happened: "No one can reconstruct the photograph that the person seen without knowing the set of images where she was taken," the authors explain.

"However, our results suggest that there may be insufficient information on the data of fMRI to achieve there in the future." Indeed, one thing that this study showed is that the information contained in fMRI data is much richer than previously thought.

Scientists go even further: if it is that when dreaming or mentally evocamos a scene, the images produced by these mental experiences are processed by brain images as if they were real, coming from the outside world through the eyes, nothing prevents think it is possible one day, also decode these images "virtual" with the same kind of

Technique. "Since the measurements of brain activity and mathematical models of the brain have the sufficient quality, it should be possible, in theory, decode the visual content of mental processes such as dreams, memory and imagination."

Portway certified environmentally

Portway certified environmentally
The Portway, firm handling of belonging to the group ANA - Airports of Portugal, and which operates among others in the Airport of Faro, received the environmental certification in accordance with ISO 14001. The certificate was awarded by TUV Rheinland, a multinational of German origin, leader in the provision of services certification, inspection and training.

The reasons for the certification relate, among others, by Portway "forward their waste properly" and "promote measures to reduce pollution." The certificate is valid for the direction of unity at airports in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal, services operations, passengers, cargo and board. The ANA stresses that once the Portway "becomes the first company to be certified for handling environmentally in Portugal."

For the future Portway intends to carry out actions environmentally friendly as the planting of trees proportional to the greenhouse gases emitted by the units of handling. Furthermore intends to proceed with replacement of equipment by other more environmentally friendly, and the decrease in consumption of paper through a process of computerising administrative and operational. The Portway had won the certification relating to quality

The District of PSD de Leiria requires that the future itinerary complement

The District of PSD de Leiria requires that the future itinerary complement 36 (IC36), which would link the A1 to A8, has not tolls, because it will be a variant route to the regional capital.



The members of the party 'orange' that city agree that the construction of this road is essential, which is part of the package of roads planned by the West Coast Grant, whose tender was announced recently by the Prime Minister, Jose Socrates. However, reject the hypothesis of this new toll road.

According to the Social Democrats this issue arises because the government did not rule on "the possible payment of tolls of the sections now announced." Thus, declare their "frontal opposition" if this happens, because they are "complementary routes have long entered in the National Road Plan, always planned without tolls."

The grant includes, in addition to the IC36, the section between the IC9 Taking in Nazareth, as well as the construction of an alternative to the battle, resulting from the environmental problems on the monastery that are caused by IC2, a road located a few metres of this monument .

Abkhazia seeks international recognition of its independence

Abkhazia seeks international recognition of its independence

The pro-Russian separatist region of Abkhazia, in Georgia, today asked the international community to recognize its independence, declared unilaterally after the fall of the USSR, advancing Russian news agencies.

"After the recognition of the independence of Kosovo by a large number of Western states, the geopolitical situation has changed in a meaningful way and the conditions are favourable to the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia," estimated the "Parliament" abkhaze in a statement quoted by Itar-Tass and by Interfax.

The "Parliament" abkhaze is targeted in the document, the two chambers of the Russian Parliament, the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), need the agencies.

The "Parliament" of South Ossetia, another pro-Russian separatist territory in Georgia, adopted Tuesday a declaration similar. The Duma, lower house of the Russian Parliament, will consider the issue on Thursday, as part of a session devoted to the problems of the Commonwealth of Independent States, moved to Itar Tass.

"One of the topics will focus on applications for recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia received by Russia," said the first deputy head of the Foreign Affairs committee of the Duma, Leonid Sloutski, quoted by Itar-Tass.

"Russia does not call into question the territorial integrity of Georgia", it stated, however, Leonid Sloutski, leaving believe that Moscow does not recognize the two territories.

The Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions neighbouring Russia, unilaterally proclaimed its independence after the fall of the Soviet Union and since then they have fought for self against Georgian forces

CPLP: Fisheries Ministers declare combat illegal fishing

Maputo, 07 Mar (Lusa) - Fisheries Ministers of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) have committed themselves today in Maputo to engage in combating illegal fishing and respect "the principles of sustainable management of fisheries and Aquaculture. "


In the final declaration of the two-day conference held in Maputo, the heads of Fisheries of the CPLP are also the challenge of "boost the formation of business partnerships, promoting the participation of the economic agents in events organized by states of CPLP."

Maintaining the Draft Recovery of Human Resources in the field of Fisheries and Aquaculture, coordinated by Brazil, was also emphasized in the meeting, which will be made to the various seminars in the area of training, between this year and next year, says in the statement final.

Within the framework of multilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector, will also continue the project of Institutional Development of Information Units in the Area Fisheries, coordinated by Portugal and Cape Verde, for the identification of scientific and technical information, produced by each country, Fisheries ministers underlined the CPLP.

At the conference in Maputo was also agreed to "maintain the Working Group of Statistics, coordinated by Angola, aiming at the harmonization of statistical systems in member countries in order to make them comparable, allowing the exchange of knowledge and data," states the document.

At the press conference that followed the adoption of the Declaration of Maputo, the Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Portuguese, Jaime Silva, reiterated the commitment of Portugal to link with other states of the CPLP a timely discussion of EU directives on the fisheries sector in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this market.

"I stress here the provision of Portugal to promote the timely discussion with its partners the CPLP of decisions that may affect the fisheries sector," said Jaime Silva, before advance that it is also important to the EU that their partners are par of what is happening on the legislative, for a better understanding of the changes which are operating.

"The EU has to ensure that Africa will be apprised of legislative measures that are approving in Europe on Fisheries, because this is a key sector for the development of some African countries," said the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Das Fisheries.

At the meeting in Maputo, Mozambique took the chair of the Conference of Fisheries Ministers of the CPLP and Guinea-Bissau the vice presidency.

monlight on the internet

They are leaves of a yellow aged, with creases that accuse the handling excessive: the 558 paragraphs of Avante! That the CFP circulated in the underground, between 1931 and 1974, are available for consultation on the Internet at www.pcp.pt

The initiative, which marks the 87. Anniversary of the CFP, seeking to "an indispensable contribution for those who want to know what was the fascist dictatorship and long and heroic resistance of workers and of the Portuguese people." Are there many pieces of recent history filtered by the communist lens, as is natural in a body that proposed to combat the "republic burgueza" - anyway with a "z", as was rule in February 1931. The first issue came out on 15, with the appeal Workers of all paizes: uni -

You! Visible in the header. In the introductory words, workers are challenged to organise themselves in the fight against the Government of "clericalista" Salazar, identified as responsible for a censure "stupid, draconian and erratic."

Initially sold for 50 cents, the Avante! Was publishing illegally, assuming a monthly schedule only from 1940, under the leadership of Alvaro Cunhal. During the worker struggles of the 40, arrived to have a circulation of 10 thousand copies, according to the CFP.

PJ involves more inspectors in the investigation of forest fires

The Judicial Police (PJ) will involve new inspectors in operations research from forest fires. Pedro do Carmo, Deputy National Director of PJ of Coimbra, announced that the number amounted to tens and that the Judiciary "began a training in investigating Wildfires dolosos."

A national meeting behind closed doors of the PJ, February 26, in Coimbra, was to "implement the strategies" among the sectors that make up the police and articulá them with the regional departments of PJ and other units involved in the process .

Pedro do Carmo also announced that a new computer "geo-referenced" will allow access to databases that contain different types of information in real time, as the causes and perpetrators of the fires. Since the beginning of the year that PJ "has already begun the monitoring of people referenced" that can be perpetrators of fires.

The number of fires recorded in 2007 was 3653, corresponding to 31062 hectares of burnt area, according to the report of the committee to monitor the policy against forest fires. The document will be voted by the Parliament on Tuesday of next week.

Despite the area burnt be less than half of the previous year (75335 hectares), only in the last quarter of 2007 there were 2086 fires, more than the 519 that occurred in the first nine months of the year. According to the Institute of Conservation of nature and Biodiversity, burned 3042 hectares in the protected areas. The Nature Park Vale do Guadiana was a protected area most affected by the fire. The Minister of the Environment, Nunes Correia, said he was in this park that "were the most serious environmental consequences."

The socialist Horácio Antunes, responsible for the report, argues that the preventative patrols is one of the factors for the reduction of the area burnt. However, there are still "delays in measures to prevent structural, and problems in planning and protected areas," stressed.

Microsoft Portugal raised the first place

Meet the elected and women, young and executivosO Great Place to Work Institute published this Friday the list of the top 30 companies to work in Portugal.

Microsoft Portugal raised the first place, but on the podium were still consultant Cushman & Wakefield (C & W), which was the winner last year, and the company for recruitment of human resources Dynargie.

Beyond these, four other companies also received special awards: the category of best company for women was distinguished work to C & W, in the category of best company for young people was the Everis, Accenture was elected the best for the executives and the best call center is the Allianz.

The study takes into account various aspects of working conditions of employees. In the case of Microsoft, which ensured the victory was the fact that the company have a management competent, ethical and honest, and the existence of several advantages and unique, ranging from the concierge service (for dealing with minor issues) to laundry and domestic arrangements. Employees still have the flexibility to benesse as schedules and the ability to work from home with computer and Internet paid by the company.

The list of the top 30 companies to work in Portugal so 17 North American and 13 European, of which nine are Portuguese.

The Liberty Seguros surge in 4 th place, followed by Hewlett Packard Portugal and BMW Portugal.

In seventh position is Diageo Portugal, in the eighth and ninth Portugal Everis the company of hotel Ibis / Accor. The tenth place it is the GMS Conseultores Management.

Between 11 and 20 seats are Portugal Mars Incorporated, Xerox Portugal, SAS Portugal, Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Royal Insurance, the Mondial Assistence Portugal, Accenture, Mapfre Seguros, a Remax Portugal and PT Contact de Castelo White.

But the list also includes the Bacardi-Martini Portugal, Medtronic Portugal, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Martifer, Primedrinks, Ativism, José Julio Jordan, Schenker Forwarding Systems McDonalds and Portugal.