Tuning metadata for better movie content-based recommendation systems

The increasing number of television channels, on-demand services and online content, is expected to contribute to a better quality of experience for a costumer of such a service. However, the lack of efficient methods for finding the right content, adapted to personal interests, may lead to a progressive loss of clients. In such a scenario, recommendation systems are seen as a tool that can fill this gap and contribute to the loyalty of users. Multimedia content, namely films and television programmes are usually described using a set of metadata elements that include the title, a genre, the date of production, and the list of directors and actors. This paper provides a deep study on how the use of different metadata elements can contribute to increase the quality of the recommendations suggested. The analysis is conducted using Netflix and Movielens datasets and aspects such as the granularity of the descriptions, the accuracy metric used and the sparsity of the data are taken into account. Comparisons with collaborative approaches are also presented.

Robots and humans as co-workers? The human-centred perspective of work with autonomous systems

The design of work organisation systems with automated equipment is facing new challenges and the emergence of new concepts. The social aspects that are related with new concepts on the complex work environments (CWE) are becoming more relevant for that design. The work with autonomous systems implies options in the design of workplaces. Especially that happens in such complex environments. The concepts of ���agents���, ���co-working��� or ���human-centred technical systems��� reveal new dimensions related to human-computer interaction (HCI). With an increase in the number and complexity of those human-technology interfaces, the capacities of human intervention can become limited, originating further problems. The case of robotics is used to exemplify the issues related with automation in working environments and the emergence of new HCI approaches that would include social implications. We conclude that studies on technology assessment of industrial robotics and autonomous agents on manufacturing environment should also focus on the human involvement strategies in organisations. A needed participatory strategy implies a new approach to workplaces design. This means that the research focus must be on the relation between technology and social dimensions not as separate entities, but integrated in the design of an interaction system.

Service-oriented architecture for device lifecycle support in industrial automation

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Electrot��cnica e de Computadores Especialidade: Rob��tica e Manufactura Integrada

A domain specific language for domotic systems

To cope with modernity, the interesting of having a fully automated house has been increasing over the years, as technology evolves and as our lives become more stressful and overloaded. An automation system provides a way to simplify some daily tasks, allowing us to have more spare time to perform activities where we are really needed. There are some systems in this domain that try to implement these characteristics, but this kind of technology is at its early stages of evolution being that it is still far away of empowering the user with the desired control over a habitation. The reason is that the mentioned systems miss some important features such as adaptability, extension and evolution. These systems, developed from a bottom-up approach, are often tailored for programmers and domain experts, discarding most of the times the end users that remain with unfinished interfaces or products that they have difficulty to control. Moreover, complex behaviors are avoided, since they are extremely difficult to implement mostly due to the necessity of handling priorities, conflicts and device calibration. Besides, these solutions are only reachable at very high costs, yet they still have the limitation of being difficult to configure by non-technical people once in runtime operation. As a result, it is necessary to create a tool that allows the execution of several automated actions, with an interface that is easy to use but at the same time supports all the main features of this domain. It is also desirable that this tool is independent of the hardware so it can be reused, thus a Model Driven Development approach (MDD) is the ideal option, as it is a method that follows those principles. Since the automation domain has some very specific concepts, the use of models should be combined with a Domain Specific Language (DSL). With these two methods, it is possible to create a solution that is adapted to the end users, but also to domain experts and programmers due to the several levels of abstraction that can be added to diminish the complexity of use. The aim of this thesis is to design a Domain Specific Language (DSL) that uses the Model Driven Development approach (MDD), with the purpose of supporting Home Automation (HA) concepts. In this implementation, the development of simple and complex scenarios should be supported and will be one of the most important concerns. This DSL should also support other significant features in this domain, such as the ability to schedule tasks, which is something that is limited in the current existing solutions.

Desenvolvimento e implementa����o de a����es de melhoria num ambiente Lean Office

Disserta����o de mestrado em Engenharia Industrial

Development of advanced cell/tissue culture systems, based on enhanced polymeric scaffolds and sophisticated bioreactors, for tissue engineering applications

Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Biom��dica

Proposition d'un concept de contr��le de gestion pour la division "infrastructure routi��re" de l'Office f��d��ral des routes (OFROU)

La pr��sente ��tude propose une m��thodologie aboutissant �� la conception d'un syst��me de contr��le de gestion pour la division �� infrastructure routi��re �� ou �� I �� de l'Office f��d��ral des routes (OFROU). La premi��re partie de ce travail situe l'OFROU dans son contexte de r��formes et identifie les raisons qui justifient l'implantation d'un syst��me de contr��le de gestion �� l'OFROU. La deuxi��me partie pose les jalons permettant d'��tablir un contr��le de gestion dans sa division �� I ��. Elle cherche d'abord �� donner une d��finition du contr��le de gestion dans le secteur public, puis pr��sente un ��tat des lieux du syst��me de gestion existant. Finalement, les syst��mes de contr��le de gestion de deux autres offices GMEB, M��t��oSuisse et armasuisse immobilier, sont analys��s afin d'en tirer des ��l��ments pertinents pouvant servir �� la conception du contr��le de gestion �� l'OFROU. La troisi��me propose un contr��le de gestion pour la division �� I ��. Le travail montre que la r��alisation d'un concept de contr��le de gestion pour la division �� I �� n'est pas ��vidente. Cette derni��re, qui est en train de se mettre en place, manque encore d'exp��rience pour identifier clairement les ��l��ments cl�� �� ins��rer dans le syst��me. On observe un grand embarras entre le stade du savoir et celui du savoir faire concret. La m��thodologie et l'analyse pr��sent��es dans ce travail pourraient contribuer �� d��velopper un savoir faire interne aboutissant rapidement �� la mise sur pied d'un syst��me de contr��le de gestion pour la division �� I ��. Die vorliegende Studie schl��gt eine Methodik zur Erarbeitung eines Management-Kontrollsystems f��r die Abteilung �� Strasseninfrastruktur �� oder �� I �� des Bundesamts f��r Strassen (ASTRA) vor. Der erste Teil dieser Arbeit stellt das ASTRA im Spannungsfeld dieser Reformen. Ihre Konsequenzen lassen die Einf��hrung eines Management-Kontrollsystems im ASTRA folgerichtig erscheinen. Im zweiten Teil geht es darum, Wegmarken zu setzen, die die Einf��hrung einer Managementkontrolle in der Abteilung �� I �� in die richtigen Bahnen lenken. Es wird versucht, eine Begriffsbestimmung der Managementkontrolle im ��ffentlichen Sektor sowie eine Bestandesaufnahme der bestehenden Systeme vorzunehmen. Schliesslich werden die Management-Kontrollsysteme zweier anderer FLAG-��mter, MeteoSchweiz und armasuisse immobilier, auf m��gliche Nutzen f��r den Aufbau der Managementkontrolle des ASTRA analysiert. Der dritte Teil beinhaltet einen Vorschlag, wie die Management-Kontrolle f��r die Abteilung �� I �� aussehen k��nnte. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass die Erarbeitung eines Management-Kontrollkonzepts f��r die Abteilung �� I �� keine einfache Aufgabe ist. Es fehlt an Erfahrung, um die Schl��sselbausteine des Systems erkennen zu k��nnen. Zwischen dem Stadium des Wissens und dem des konkreten Know-hows klafft ein empfindlicher Graben. Methodik und Analyse, wie sie in der vorliegenden Arbeit beschrieben werden, k��nnten zum Aufbau eines internen Know-hows beitragen, das die rasche Verwirklichung eines Management-Kontrollsystems f��r die Abteilung �� I �� erlauben k��nnte.

I-SS: integrated supervision systems approach based on interactive components

Process supervision is the activity focused on monitoring the process operation in order to deduce conditions to maintain the normality including when faults are present Depending on the number/distribution/heterogeneity of variables, behaviour situations, sub-processes, etc. from processes, human operators and engineers do not easily manipulate the information. This leads to the necessity of automation of supervision activities. Nevertheless, the difficulty to deal with the information complicates the design and development of software applications. We present an approach called "integrated supervision systems". It proposes multiple supervisors coordination to supervise multiple sub-processes whose interactions permit one to supervise the global process

Compliance im ��ffentlichen Sektor : Untersuchung ��ber den allf��lligen Nutzen eines Compliance-Management-Systems in der ��ffentlichen Verwaltung am Beispiel des Bundesamtes f��r Gesundheit

Par Compliance, on entend l'ensemble des mesures organisationnelles d'une entreprise qui visent �� assurer le respect des r��gles par l'entreprise et ses collaborateurs. Dans le secteur priv�� - surtout dans les banques et les assurances - la Compliance est un concept bien ��tabli et le poste du Compliance Officer appara��t clairement dans l'organigramme des entreprises. Ce terme appara��t aussi de temps �� autre au sein de l'administration f��d��rale, en relation avec la politique de gestion des risques et le syst��me de contr��le interne (SCI) ; mais une introduction effective de la Compliance n'y a pas encore eu lieu (jusqu'ici). Les Am��ricains ont l'habitude de dire �� if you think compliance is expensive, try non compliance ��. Cette d��claration, apparemment valable pour le secteur priv��, peut-elle cependant ��tre transpos��e telle quelle au secteur public ? L'introduction d'un syst��me de management tel que la Compliance apporterait-elle effectivement une plus-value par rapport aux syst��mes existants afin d'��viter les risques engendrant des cons��quences juridiques ou causant une mauvaise r��putation suite au non-respect de r��gles par des collaborateurs ? La pr��sente ��tude se penche sur ces questions et analyse, sur la base de documents et d'interviews, quels ��l��ments de la Compliance existent au niveau de la Conf��d��ration et au sein de l'Office f��d��ral de la sant�� publique (OFSP) et s'ils sont propres �� atteindre les objectifs vis��s par la Compliance. Dans plusieurs domaines, on a pu constater des d��fauts et, par cons��quent, un gros potentiel d'am��lioration. Le probl��me principal est l'absence d'organisation au niveau de la Compliance. Cela complique la vue d'ensemble des risques juridiques et de ceux pouvant causer une mauvaise r��putation qui existent au niveau de la Conf��d��ration et �� l'OFSP et rend impossible un management homog��ne de ces risques. En cons��quence et dans l'��tat actuel des choses, il pourrait s'av��rer difficile d'��viter de mani��re durable la r��alisation des risques susmentionn��s au moyen des syst��mes existants. D'un autre c��t��, la politique de gestion des risques au sein de la Conf��d��ration et l'introduction d'un syst��me de contr��le interne (SCI) ont repr��sent�� les premiers pas en direction d'un syst��me de gestion des risques int��gr��. La Compliance serait un compl��ment id��al et pourrait - dans la mesure o�� la direction de l'Office la soutient et donne le bon exemple - contribuer �� la r��duction des risques d��crits ci-dessus non seulement au niveau de la Conf��d��ration mais encore au sein de l'OFSP. La pr��sente ��tude ne vise pas pour autant �� critiquer les syst��mes ��tablis, mais bien plus �� montrer le potentiel d'am��lioration dont on pourrait tirer profit.

Evaluation of three automated systems for susceptibility testing of enterobacteria containing qnrB, qnrS, and/or aac(6')-Ib-cr.

The accuracy of the MicroScan WalkAway, BD Phoenix, and Vitek-2 systems for susceptibility testing of quinolones and aminoglycosides against 68 enterobacteria containing qnrB, qnrS, and/or aac(6 ')-Ib-cr was evaluated using reference microdilution. Overall, one very major error (0.09%), 6 major errors (0.52%), and 45 minor errors (3.89%) were noted.

The effects of poor financial information systems on the long term sustainability of local public services. Empirical evidence from the Catalan Municipalities

In this paper we describe the existence of financial illusion in public accountingand we comment on its effects for the future sustainability of local publicservices. We relate these features to the lack of incentives amongst publicmanagers for improving the financial reporting and thus management of publicassets. Financial illusion pays off for politicians and managers since it allowsfor larger public expenditure increases and managerial slack, these beingarguments in their utility functions. This preference is strengthen by the shorttime perspective of politically appointed public managers. Both factors runagainst public accountability. This hypothesis is tested for Spain by using anunique sample. We take data from around forty Catalan local authorities withpopulation above 20,000 for the financial years 1993-98. We build this databasis from the Catalan Auditing Office Reports in a way that it can be linkedto some other local social and economic variables in order to test ourassumptions. The results confirm that there is a statistical relationship between the financialillusion index (FI as constructed in the paper) and higher current expenditure.This reflects on important overruns and increases of the delay in payingsuppliers, as well as on a higher difficulties to face capital finance. Mechanismsfor FI creation have to do among other factors, with delays in paying suppliers(and thereafter higher future financial costs per unit of service), no adequateprovision for bad debts and lack of appropriate capital funding either forreposition or for new equipments. For this, it is crucial to monitor the way inwhich capital transfers are accounted in local public sheet balances. As a result,for most of the Municipalities we analyse, the funds for guaranteeing continuityand sustainability of public services provision are today at risk.Given managerial incentives at present in public institutions, we conclude thatpublic regulation recently enforced for assuring better information systems inlocal public management may not be enough to change the current state of affairs.

Automation in clinical bacteriology: what system to choose?

With increased activity and reduced financial and human resources, there is a need for automation in clinical bacteriology. Initial processing of clinical samples includes repetitive and fastidious steps. These tasks are suitable for automation, and several instruments are now available on the market, including the WASP (Copan), Previ-Isola (BioMerieux), Innova (Becton-Dickinson) and Inoqula (KIESTRA) systems. These new instruments allow efficient and accurate inoculation of samples, including four main steps: (i) selecting the appropriate Petri dish; (ii) inoculating the sample; (iii) spreading the inoculum on agar plates to obtain, upon incubation, well-separated bacterial colonies; and (iv) accurate labelling and sorting of each inoculated media. The challenge for clinical bacteriologists is to determine what is the ideal automated system for their own laboratory. Indeed, different solutions will be preferred, according to the number and variety of samples, and to the types of sample that will be processed with the automated system. The final choice is troublesome, because audits proposed by industrials risk being biased towards the solution proposed by their company, and because these automated systems may not be easily tested on site prior to the final decision, owing to the complexity of computer connections between the laboratory information system and the instrument. This article thus summarizes the main parameters that need to be taken into account for choosing the optimal system, and provides some clues to help clinical bacteriologists to make their choice.

FY2011 Annual Report Research, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Technology Transfer Activities

Transportation research makes a difference for Iowans and the nation. Implementation of cost-effective research projects contributes to a transportation network that is safer, more efficient, and longer lasting. Working in cooperation with our partners from universities, industry, other states, and FHWA, as well as participation in the Transportation Research Board (TRB), provides benefits for every facet of the DOT. This allows us to serve our communities and the traveling public more effectively. Pooled fund projects allow leveraging of funds for higher returns on investments. In 2011, Iowa led thirteen active pooled fund studies, participated in twenty-one others, and was wrapping-up, reconciling, and closing out an additional 6 Iowa Led pooled fund studies. In addition, non-pooled fund SPR projects included approximately 8 continued, 9 new, and over a dozen reoccurring initiatives such as the technical transfer/training program. Additional research is managed and conducted by the Office of Traffic and Safety and other departments in the Iowa DOT.

FY2012 Annual Report Research, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Technology Transfer Activities

Transportation research makes a difference for Iowans and the nation. Implementation of cost-effective research projects contributes to a transportation network that is safer, more efficient, and longer lasting. Working in cooperation with our partners from universities, industry, other states, and FHWA, as well as participation in the Transportation Research Board (TRB), provides benefits for every facet of the DOT. This allows us to serve our communities and the traveling public more effectively. Pooled fund projects allow leveraging of funds for higher returns on investments. In 2011, Iowa led thirteen active pooled fund studies, participated in twenty-one others, and was wrapping-up, reconciling, and closing out an additional 6 Iowa Led pooled fund studies. In addition, non-pooled fund SPR projects included approximately 8 continued, 9 new, and over a dozen reoccurring initiatives such as the technical transfer/training program. Additional research is managed and conducted by the Office of Traffic and Safety and other departments in the Iowa DOT.