Sistema não-Intrusivo para Estimação da Direção do olhar utilizando redes neurais artificiais

The fundamental senses of the human body are: vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell. These senses are the functions that provide our relationship with the environment. The vision serves as a sensory receptor responsible for obtaining information from the outside world that will be sent to the brain. The gaze reflects its attention, intention and interest. Therefore, the estimation of gaze direction, using computer tools, provides a promising alternative to improve the capacity of human-computer interaction, mainly with respect to those people who suffer from motor deficiencies. Thus, the objective of this work is to present a non-intrusive system that basically uses a personal computer and a low cost webcam, combined with the use of digital image processing techniques, Wavelets transforms and pattern recognition, such as artificial neural network models, resulting in a complete system that performs since the image acquisition (including face detection and eye tracking) to the estimation of gaze direction. The obtained results show the feasibility of the proposed system, as well as several feature advantages.

Bayesian L-optimal exact design of experiments for biological kinetic models

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

An easy-learning and easy-teaching tool for indoor thermal analysis - ArcTech

ArcTech is a software being developed, applied and improved with the aim of becoming an efficient sensitization tool to support the teaching-learning process of Architecture courses. The application deals initially with the thermal comfort of buildings. The output generated by the software shows if a student is able to produce a pleasant environment, in terms of thermal sensation along a 24-hours period. Although one can find the very same characteristics in fully-developed commercial software, the reason to create ArcTech is related to the flexibility of the system to be adapted by the instructor and also to the need of simple tools for the evaluation of specific topics along the courses. The first part of ArcTech is dedicated to data management and that was developed using the visual programming language Delphi 7 and Firebird as the database management system. The second part contains the parameters that can be changed by the system administrator and those related to project visualization. The interface of the system, in which the student will learn how to implement and to evaluate the project alternatives, was built using Macromedia Flash. The software was applied to undergraduate students revealing its easy-learning and easy-teaching interface.

Estudo da tradução de colocações especializadas na área de exportação e agronegócios baseado em um corpus paralelo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O fantástico traduzido: uma análise baseada em corpus paralelo e reflexões para uma pedagogia da tradução

This paper presents the analysis and the methodological procedures adopted in order to compile a parallel corpus comprised of two short stories by David Roas (2007; 2010), originally written in Spanish “Tránsito” and “Das Kapital”, and their translation into Portuguese carried out both by a native speaker of Spanish (fluent in Portuguese) and a native speaker of Portuguese (fluent in Spanish). We analyzed the texts translated by them, focusing on the most frequent vocabulary and its semantic implications on their respective contexts. The theoretical and methodological approach was based on corpus linguistics, corpus based translation studies (BAKER, 1996; HUNSTON, 2002; LAVIOSA, 2002; BERBER SARDINHA, 2004; MEYER, 2004; OLOHAN, 2004) and some concepts from Fantastic Literature (ROAS, 2001, 2011; TODOROV, 2003; ALAZRAKI, 2001). The data were extracted by using the WordSmith Tools Suite®. Results show that dialogue and focus on lexicon, making use of computer corpus, play an important role in understanding the translation process. It is also important to mention that while exploring translation possibilities presented by the two translators this approach unlocked a window to reflect on translation pedagogy based on corpus.

Sobre o uso de sistemas de computação algébrica na solução de problemas de mecânica das estruturas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

As contribuições do uso de infográficos, Storytelling e Mapas Mentais em vídeo na Educação a Distância: exemplo de aplicação na plataforma Já Entendi ENEM

Pós-graduação em Televisão Digital: Informação e Conhecimento - FAAC

Implementação de CADD nos cursos de graduação em engenharia mecânica

This study aims to demonstrate the importance of computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software for mechanical engineers. In addition, evaluate the software: Inventor 2015, Creo 3.0 and Solid Edge ST8, developed by consolidate companies in the market. In order to accomplish those goals, software application and its advantages will be demonstrated for the industry and for the academia. The evaluation process consists in modeling two mechanical assemblies, in order to compare functional aspects among the software. At the end, it is concluded that the learning of CADD software is of great importance also is the basis for using Computer-aided Engineering (CAE) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) tools. Furthermore, it is suggested that Inventor and Solid Edge are more likely to be used in the academia

Assessing Needs for Computer Pest Management Software in Nebraska Agriculture

A mail survey was conducted to assess current computer hardware use and perceived needs of potential users for software related to crop pest management in Nebraska. Surveys were sent to University of Nebraska-Lincoln agricultural extension agents, agribusiness personnel (including independent crop consultants), and crop producers identified by extension agents as computer users. There were no differences between the groups in several aspects of computer hardware use (percentage computer use, percentage IBM-compatible computer, amount of RAM memory, percentage with hard drive, hard drive size, or monitor graphics capability). Responses were similar among the three groups in several areas that are important to crop pest management (pest identification, pest biology, treatment decision making, control options, and pesticide selection), and a majority of each group expressed the need for additional sources of such information about insects, diseases, and weeds. However, agents mentioned vertebrate pest management information as a need more often than the other two groups. Also, majorities of each group expressed an interest in using computer software, if available, to obtain information in these areas. Appropriate software to address these needs should find an audience among all three groups.

Implementação de CADD nos cursos de graduação em engenharia mecânica

This study aims to demonstrate the importance of computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software for mechanical engineers. In addition, evaluate the software: Inventor 2015, Creo 3.0 and Solid Edge ST8, developed by consolidate companies in the market. In order to accomplish those goals, software application and its advantages will be demonstrated for the industry and for the academia. The evaluation process consists in modeling two mechanical assemblies, in order to compare functional aspects among the software. At the end, it is concluded that the learning of CADD software is of great importance also is the basis for using Computer-aided Engineering (CAE) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) tools. Furthermore, it is suggested that Inventor and Solid Edge are more likely to be used in the academia

DNA fragmentation by gamma radiation and electron beams using atomic force microscopy

Double-stranded pBS plasmid DNA was irradiated with gamma rays at doses ranging from 1 to 12 kGy and electron beams from 1 to 10 kGy. Fragment-size distributions were determined by direct visualization, using atomic force microscopy with nanometer-resolution operating in non-tapping mode, combined with an improved methodology. The fragment distributions from irradiation with gamma rays revealed discrete-like patterns at all doses, suggesting that these patterns are modulated by the base pair composition of the plasmid. Irradiation with electron beams, at very high dose rates, generated continuous distributions of highly shattered DNA fragments, similar to results at much lower dose rates found in the literature. Altogether, these results indicate that AFM could supplement traditional methods for high-resolution measurements of radiation damage to DNA, while providing new and relevant information.

Preimplantation development regulatory pathway construction through a text-mining approach

Background: The integration of sequencing and gene interaction data and subsequent generation of pathways and networks contained in databases such as KEGG Pathway is essential for the comprehension of complex biological processes. We noticed the absence of a chart or pathway describing the well-studied preimplantation development stages; furthermore, not all genes involved in the process have entries in KEGG Orthology, important information for knowledge application with relation to other organisms. Results: In this work we sought to develop the regulatory pathway for the preimplantation development stage using text-mining tools such as Medline Ranker and PESCADOR to reveal biointeractions among the genes involved in this process. The genes present in the resulting pathway were also used as seeds for software developed by our group called SeedServer to create clusters of homologous genes. These homologues allowed the determination of the last common ancestor for each gene and revealed that the preimplantation development pathway consists of a conserved ancient core of genes with the addition of modern elements. Conclusions: The generation of regulatory pathways through text-mining tools allows the integration of data generated by several studies for a more complete visualization of complex biological processes. Using the genes in this pathway as “seeds” for the generation of clusters of homologues, the pathway can be visualized for other organisms. The clustering of homologous genes together with determination of the ancestry leads to a better understanding of the evolution of such process.

Forecasting and visualization of wildfires in a 3D geographical information system

[EN]This paper describes a wildfi re forecasting application based on a 3D virtual environment and a fi re simulation engine. A novel open source framework is presented for the development of 3D graphics applications over large geographic areas, off ering high performance 3D visualization and powerful interaction tools for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community. The application includes a remote module that allows simultaneous connection of several users for monitoring a real wildfi re event.

Cervical soft tissue imaging using a mobile CBCT scanner with a flat panel detector in comparison with corresponding CT and MRI data sets

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate soft tissue image quality of a mobile cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner with an integrated flat-panel detector. STUDY DESIGN: Eight fresh human cadavers were used in this study. For evaluation of soft tissue visualization, CBCT data sets and corresponding computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data sets were acquired. Evaluation was performed with the help of 10 defined cervical anatomical structures. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the scoring results of 3 examiners revealed the CBCT images to be of inferior quality regarding the visualization of most of the predefined structures. Visualization without a significant difference was found regarding the demarcation of the vertebral bodies and the pyramidal cartilages, the arteriosclerosis of the carotids (compared with CT), and the laryngeal skeleton (compared with MRI). Regarding arteriosclerosis of the carotids compared with MRI, CBCT proved to be superior. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of a flat-panel detector improves soft tissue visualization using a mobile CBCT scanner.

Space trajectories optimization using variable-chromosome-length genetic algorithms

The problem of optimal design of a multi-gravity-assist space trajectories, with free number of deep space maneuvers (MGADSM) poses multi-modal cost functions. In the general form of the problem, the number of design variables is solution dependent. To handle global optimization problems where the number of design variables varies from one solution to another, two novel genetic-based techniques are introduced: hidden genes genetic algorithm (HGGA) and dynamic-size multiple population genetic algorithm (DSMPGA). In HGGA, a fixed length for the design variables is assigned for all solutions. Independent variables of each solution are divided into effective and ineffective (hidden) genes. Hidden genes are excluded in cost function evaluations. Full-length solutions undergo standard genetic operations. In DSMPGA, sub-populations of fixed size design spaces are randomly initialized. Standard genetic operations are carried out for a stage of generations. A new population is then created by reproduction from all members based on their relative fitness. The resulting sub-populations have different sizes from their initial sizes. The process repeats, leading to increasing the size of sub-populations of more fit solutions. Both techniques are applied to several MGADSM problems. They have the capability to determine the number of swing-bys, the planets to swing by, launch and arrival dates, and the number of deep space maneuvers as well as their locations, magnitudes, and directions in an optimal sense. The results show that solutions obtained using the developed tools match known solutions for complex case studies. The HGGA is also used to obtain the asteroids sequence and the mission structure in the global trajectory optimization competition (GTOC) problem. As an application of GA optimization to Earth orbits, the problem of visiting a set of ground sites within a constrained time frame is solved. The J2 perturbation and zonal coverage are considered to design repeated Sun-synchronous orbits. Finally, a new set of orbits, the repeated shadow track orbits (RSTO), is introduced. The orbit parameters are optimized such that the shadow of a spacecraft on the Earth visits the same locations periodically every desired number of days.