Practising Arithmetic Using Educational Video Games with an Interpersonal Computer

Studies show the positive effects that video games can have on student performance and attitude towards learning. In the past few years, strategies have been generated to optimize the use of technological resources with the aim of facilitating widespread adoption of technology in the classroom. Given its low acquisition and maintenance costs, the interpersonal computer allows individual interaction and simultaneous learning with large groups of students. The purpose of this work was to compare arithmetical knowledge acquired by third-grade students through the use of game-based activities and non-game-based activities using an interpersonal computer, with knowledge acquired through the use of traditional paper-and-pencil activities, and to analyze their impact in various socio-cultural contexts. To do this, a quasi-experimental study was conducted with 271 students in three different countries (Brazil, Chile, and Costa Rica), in both rural and urban schools. A set of educational games for practising arithmetic was developed and tested in six schools within these three countries. Results show that there were no significant differences (ANCOVA) in the learning acquired from game-based vs. non-game-based activities. However, both showed a significant difference when compared with the traditional method. Additionally, both groups using the interpersonal computer showed higher levels of student interest than the traditional method group, and these technological methods were seen to be especially effective in increasing learning among weaker students.

Determinação experimental da tenacidade à fratura em baixas temperaturas de tubos de aço API 5L X70

Because of the great metallurgical advances, the welded tubes by HF / ERW (High Frequency / Electrical Resistance Welding) have played a more active role in the oil and gas, gradually replacing tubes produced by other processes (UOE, SAW, and others) to deep water applications, in high and extremely low temperatures, highpressure conditions and in highly corrosive environments. However, studies have revealed that defects in the welded joints are in one of main causes of failures in pipelines. Associated with damage external and the stringent requirements of this sector, the welded joints become particularly critical for his toughness and the determination of this particular property is fundamental. This study aims to evaluate the toughness of the HF / ERW pipes in HSLA steel API X70 class, used in pipelines transport systems of gas and oil from data obtained with CTOD tests (Crack Tip Opening Displacement). The main objectives of this project are: mechanical and microstructural characterization of steels API X70 manufactured in Brazil; and evaluation of the toughness of weld process by HF / ERW steel API X70 national. After having the tests done, mechanical, chemical and metallurgical, we have the conclusion that those pipe are in agreement to API 5L 42ª edition for X70MO and the toughness behaves like the expected

O transporte coletivo urbano em São José do Rio Preto - SP e sua relação com as transformações do espaço urbano

The process of urbanization that happened in Brazil during the twentieth century led to processes of structuring and re-organization of space, besides the emergence of many urban problems. Industrialization and urbanization are some of the main causes that could be cited as consequences of this process. As a result of the steep rise of cities, the transport systems became fundamental in boosting flows (immaterial) and the mobility of people and stuff (materials) in the territory. The urban model created for the city of São Paulo in the 1930s was repeated over the years in the medium-sized cities, being repeated the same problems that occurred in the metropolis. In this context our work fits in analyzing the changes occurring in the urban area of São José do Rio Preto - SP, from his relationship with the public transportation system in the face of intra-urban spatial configuration of the city. Transport, while it is recognized by authors as being really important for the analysis and intra-urban spatial configuration, has been little analyzed as the object of study by a geographer, and so, our work has more value

Dinâmica e controle de um sistema Maglev simplificado

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Design and implementation of wireless sensor networks for impedance-based structural health monitoring using ZigBee and Global System for Mobile Communications

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Monitoramento de integridade estrutural e de sistemas utilizando dispositivos de baixo custo

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEB

Neural models for predicting hole diameters in drilling processes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Neural models for predicting hole diameters in drilling processes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Application of intelligent systems for specification of automotive equipments using LEDs

The advantages offered by the electronic component light emitting diode ( LED) have caused a quick and wide application of this device in replacement of incandescent lights. However, in its combined application, the relationship between the design variables and the desired effect or result is very complex and it becomes difficult to model by conventional techniques. This work consists of the development of a technique, through artificial neural networks, to make possible to obtain the luminous intensity values of brake lights using LEDs from design data. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design of a reconfigurable pseudorandom number generator for use in intelligent systems

This paper deals with the design of a network-on-chip reconfigurable pseudorandom number generation unit that can map and execute meta-heuristic algorithms in hardware. The unit can be configured to implement one of the following five linear generator algorithms: a multiplicative congruential, a mixed congruential, a standard multiple recursive, a mixed multiple recursive, and a multiply-with-carry. The generation unit can be used both as a pseudorandom and a message passing-based server, which is able to produce pseudorandom numbers on demand, sending them to the network-on-chip blocks that originate the service request. The generator architecture has been mapped to a field programmable gate array, and showed that millions of numbers in 32-, 64-, 96-, or 128-bit formats can be produced in tens of milliseconds. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Technique for application of hi-bright LED in automobile industry through intelligent systems

The advantages offered by the electronic component LED (Light Emitting Diode) have caused a quick and wide application of this device in replacement of incandescent lights. However, in its combined application, the relationship between the design variables and the desired effect or result is very complex and it becomes difficult to model by conventional techniques. This work consists of the development of a technique, through artificial neural networks, to make possible to obtain the luminous intensity values of brake lights using LEDs from design data.

Development of intelligent systems for well drilling and petroleum production

Domains where knowledge representation is too complex to be described analytically and in a deterministic way is very common in the petroleum industry, particularly in the field of exploration and production. In these domains, applications of artificial intelligence techniques are very suitable, especially in cases where the preservation of corporate and technical knowledge is important. The Laboratory for Research on Artificial Intelligence Applied to Petroleum Engineering (LIAP) at Unicamp, has, during the last 10 years, dedicated research efforts to build intelligent systems in well drilling and petroleum production fields. In the following sections, recent advances in intelligent systems, under development in the research laboratory, are described. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Fault identification in distribution lines using intelligent systems and statistical methods

The main objective involved with this paper consists of presenting the results obtained from the application of artificial neural networks and statistical tools in the automatic identification and classification process of faults in electric power distribution systems. The developed techniques to treat the proposed problem have used, in an integrated way, several approaches that can contribute to the successful detection process of faults, aiming that it is carried out in a reliable and safe way. The compilations of the results obtained from practical experiments accomplished in a pilot distribution feeder have demonstrated that the developed techniques provide accurate results, identifying and classifying efficiently the several occurrences of faults observed in the feeder. © 2006 IEEE.