Facebook3d

INTRODUCTION With the advent of Web 2.0, social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn have become hugely popular. According to (Nilsen, 2009), social networking websites have global1 figures of almost 250 millions unique users among the top five2, with the time people spend on those networks increasing 63% between 2007 and 2008. Facebook alone saw a massive growth of 566% in number of minutes in the same period of time. Furthermore their appeal is clear, they enable users to easily form persistent networks of friends with whom they can interact and share content. Users then use those networks to keep in touch with their current friends and to reconnect with old friends. However, online social network services have rapidly evolved into highly complex systems which contain a large amount of personally salient information derived from large networks of friends. Since that information varies from simple links to music, photos and videos, users not only have to deal with the huge amount of data generated by them and their friends but also with the fact that it‟s composed of many different media forms. Users are presented with increasing challenges, especially as the number of friends on Facebook rises. An example of a problem is when a user performs a simple task like finding a specific friend in a group of 100 or more friends. In that case he would most likely have to go through several pages and make several clicks till he finds the one he is looking for. Another example is a user with more than 100 friends in which his friends make a status update or another action per day, resulting in 10 updates per hour to keep up. That is plausible, especially since the change in direction of Facebook to rival with Twitter, by encouraging users to update their status as they do on Twitter. As a result, to better present the web of information connected to a user the use of better visualizations is essential. The visualizations used nowadays on social networking sites haven‟t gone through major changes during their lifetimes. They have added more functionality and gave more tools to their users, but still the core of their visualization hasn‟t changed. The information is still presented in a flat way in lists/groups of text and images which can‟t show the extra connections pieces of information. Those extra connections can give new meaning and insights to the user, allowing him to more easily see if that content is important to him and the information related to it. However showing extra connections of information but still allowing the user to easily navigate through it and get the needed information with a quick glance is difficult. The use of color coding, clusters and shapes becomes then essential to attain that objective. But taking into consideration the advances in computer hardware in the last decade and the software platforms available today, there is the opportunity to take advantage of 3D. That opportunity comes in because we are at a phase were the hardware and the software available is ready for the use of 3D in the web. With the use of the extra dimension brought by 3D, visualizations can be constructed to show the content and its related information to the user at the same screen and in a clear way. Also it would allow a great deal of interactivity. Another opportunity to create better information‟s visualization presents itself in the form of the open APIs, specifically the ones made available by the social networking sites. Those APIs allow any developers to create their own applications or sites taking advantage of the huge amount of information there is on those networks. Specifically to this case, they open the door for the creation of new social network visualizations. Nevertheless, the third dimension is by itself not enough to create a better interface for a social networking website, there are some challenges to overcome. One of those challenges is to make the user understand what the system is doing during the interaction with the user. Even though that is important in 2D visualizations, it becomes essential in 3D due to the extra dimension. To overcome that challenge it‟s necessary the use of the principles of animations defined by the artists at Walt Disney Studios (Johnston, et al., 1995). By applying those principles in the development of the interface, the actions of the system in response to the user inputs became clear and understandable. Furthermore, a user study needs to be performed so the users‟ main goals and motivations, while navigating the social network, are revealed. Their goals and motivations are important in the construction of an interface that reflects the user expectations for the interface, but also helps in the development of appropriate metaphors. Those metaphors have an important role in the interface, because if correctly chosen they help the user understand the elements of the interface instead of making him memorize it. The last challenge is the use of 3D visualization on the web, since there have been several attempts to bring 3D into it, mainly with the various versions of VRML which were destined to failure due to the hardware limitations at the time. However, in the last couple of years there has been a movement to make the necessary tools to finally allow developers to use 3D in a useful way, using X3D or OpenGL but especially flash. This thesis argues that there is a need for a better social network visualization that shows all the dimensions of the information connected to the user and that allows him to move through it. But there are several characteristics the new visualization has to possess in order for it to present a real gain in usability to Facebook‟s users. The first quality is to have the friends at the core of its design, and the second to make use of the metaphor of circles of friends to separate users in groups taking into consideration the order of friendship. To achieve that several methods have to be used, from the use of 3D to get an extra dimension for presenting relevant information, to the use of direct manipulation to make the interface comprehensible, predictable and controllable. Moreover animation has to be use to make all the action on the screen perceptible to the user. Additionally, with the opportunity given by the 3D enabled hardware, the flash platform, through the use of the flash engine Papervision3D and the Facebook platform, all is in place to make the visualization possible. But even though it‟s all in place, there are challenges to overcome like making the system actions in 3D understandable to the user and creating correct metaphors that would allow the user to understand the information and options available to him. This thesis document is divided in six chapters, with Chapter 2 reviewing the literature relevant to the work described in this thesis. In Chapter 3 the design stage that resulted in the application presented in this thesis is described. In Chapter 4, the development stage, describing the architecture and the components that compose the application. In Chapter 5 the usability test process is explained and the results obtained through it are presented and analyzed. To finish, Chapter 6 presents the conclusions that were arrived in this thesis.

Confiabilidade interobservador da escala do equilíbrio de Berg entre fisioterapeutas com extensa e escassa prática clínica

This study aimed at assessing the interobserver reliability of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The assessment was made by physiotherapists with extensive or little clinical experience in non-institutionalized elderly individuals. Participants comprised 12 elderly subjects (10 women and 2 men) with mean ages of 75.8 ± 8.4 years (range = 63-87) and 18 physiotherapists with varying clinical experience. Inter-examiner reliability obtained for each scale item yielded weighted kappa value > 0.75 in 11 of the 14 items (varying from 0.37 to 1.0). The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for the total sum of BBS scores between the two groups of physiotherapists was 0.996 (95% confidence interval, 0.987 0.999) with a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.996. We found no difference between the rater groups when we compared the sum score means obtained with the student s T-test (p = 0.86). Although some items had low reliability values, in general our results suggest that the Brazilian Version of the BBS showed good levels of interrater reliability and agreement when used by physiotherapists with different clinical practice levels and without previous training on non-institutionalized elderly patients. We concluded that the BBS can be useful as an important evaluation instrument on a protocol for Rehabilitation clinics. It may be used by various health professionals, as: Physicians, Physical therapists, Physical educators, Occupational therapists, Nurses and Phonoaudiologists, so confirming the interdisciplinary character of this study

Adubação nitrogenada para milho com o uso de plantas de cobertura e modos de aplicação de calcário

O sistema plantio direto (SPD) é uma realidade na região dos Cerrados, mas alguns questionamentos persistem nesse tipo de manejo como o modo de realização da calagem e a dose de nitrogênio (N) a ser adotada em cultura comercial, em relação às culturas precedentes. Desse modo, objetivou-se avaliar modos de aplicar o calcário na implantação do SPD e o efeito de culturas de cobertura precedentes sobre a necessidade de adubação nitrogenada da cultura do milho, durante diferentes anos agrícolas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2 (modos de aplicação do calcário x culturas de cobertura) e posterior divisão em três subparcelas, referentes às doses de N (0, 90 e 180 kg ha-1). Foram avaliados quatro modos de aplicação de calcário: incorporado a 0-0,2 m, em out./2001; dose total em superfície aplicada, em out./2001; aplicação de 1/2 da dose, em out./2001, e 1/2, em ago./2002, na superfície; e aplicação de 1/3 da dose recomendada, em mar./2001, + 1/3, em out./2001, e 1/3, em ago./2002, também em superfície. Além de um tratamento testemunha (sem calcário) e duas culturas de cobertura, crotalária e milheto. Os diferentes modos de calagem não alteraram a produtividade de grãos de milho. O cultivo de milho após crotalária apresentou melhor desempenho e menor demanda de adubação nitrogenada, quando comparado ao cultivado após milheto.

Variabilidade espacial de atributos químicos de um argissolo para aplicação de insumos à taxa variável em diferentes formas de relevo

A agricultura de precisão implica análise da variabilidade espacial de fatores de produção e a aplicação de insumos de forma localizada. Várias são as causas que condicionam a variabilidade espacial dos solos, sendo o relevo um dos fatores mais importantes. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar a variabilidade espacial dos atributos químicos do solo e a elaboração de mapas de necessidade de aplicação de insumos de forma localizada, em áreas com diferentes formas de relevo. Duas parcelas de 1 ha cada foram delimitadas em áreas com topografia côncava e convexa. Foram retiradas, em cada área, 242 amostras de solos em 121 pontos, nas profundidades de solo de 0,00-0,20 m e 0,20-0,40 m. Os resultados de análise química foram submetidos às análises da estatística descritiva, geoestatística e interpolação por krigagem. A área convexa apresentou maior variabilidade espacial do solo em relação a área côncava. A adoção da agricultura de precisão possibilitou economia de aproximadamente 25 kg ha-1 de P2O5 na área côncava.

Mapeamento das formas do relevo para estimativa de custos de fertilização em cana-de-açúcar

A modelagem matemática associada ao conhecimento da variabilidade dos atributos do solo e mapeamento das formas do relevo pode auxiliar no manejo da fertilidade do solo em usinas sucroalcooleiras. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o uso da geoestatística e da modelagem matemática na estimativa de custos de fertilização, em diferentes formas do relevo. em uma área de 200 ha, foram identificadas duas formas de relevo, uma côncava e outra convexa, sendo os solos coletados nos pontos de cruzamento de uma malha, com intervalos regulares de 50 m, perfazendo um total de 623 pontos. As amostras foram submetidas a análises químicas, e, posteriormente, os dados foram avaliados por meio da estatística descritiva, geoestatística e modelagem matemática. Os resultados mostraram que, quando as formas do relevo são incorporadas às análises geoestatística e de modelagem matemática, ocorre aumento na eficiência de aplicação do calcário, fósforo e potássio no solo.

Soil CO2 emission of sugarcane fields as affected by topography

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

Potássio nas frações texturais de um Latossolo

The aim of this work was to study the distribution of non-exchangeable forms of potassium in different size fractions of an Oxisol, cultivated with banana for two years in plots with and without irrigation (main plot) and varying potassium levels (0, 300, 600 and 900 kg ha(-1) of K(2)O) (sub-plots), in a randomized split-plot block design. It was verified that the highest K levels (exchangeable and non-exchangeable forms) derived from the finest particle size fractions: clay and silt. The K moving trough soil layers was associated with the presence and action of percolating water in the soil profile. The role of irrigation was significant in the distribution of the different K forms in the soil. Irrigated plots showed the best distribution of K from the surface down to 60 cm of depth. Statistical significant effects of the doses of K on the non-exchangeable K Forms could be explained by the translocation of K from Soil solution to Soil exchange complex, and from that to strongly retained forms. Amounts of K absorbed by the plants were greater than the variation of exchangeable K content, suggesting that non-exchangeable forms are being taken up.

Caracterização mineralógica de Latossolos em diferentes feições do relevo na região de Jaboticabal, SP

Different surface land form expressed by the relief can cause variations in soil properties in different magnitudes, depending mainly on a specific location in the landscape. Therefore, the objective of this study was to make the mineralogical characterization of Oxisols in different relief forms in the region of Jaboticabal, SP. Three trenches were opened in the convex, linear and concave landforms, done morphological description of the soil horizons and collected soil samples for physical, chemical and mineralogical characterization. It was found that the oxidic mineralogy is dependent on the type of landform, with the dominance of goethite on the concave landform and hematite on the linear landform. The desferrific clay minerals exhibited dominance of gibbsite in the concave, compared to convex and linear landforms that were dominated by the kaolinitic mineralogy.

Atividade de proteases e disponibilidade de nitrogênio para laranjeira cultivada em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico

O conhecimento do potencial da mineralização dos compostos orgânicos nitrogenados do solo é fundamental para o uso eficiente do N em sistemas de produção agrícola. Com o objetivo de avaliar a atividade de proteases e suas relações com os teores de diferentes formas de N em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico cultivado com laranjeira, foram coletadas amostras de solo em duas profundidades (0-10 e 10-20 cm), na linha de projeção da copa e nas entrelinhas, nos meses de novembro e dezembro/98, fevereiro e março/99. em março/99, época recomendada para a diagnose foliar, também foram coletadas amostras de folhas. As amostras de solo foram avaliadas com relação à atividade de proteases e aos teores de N-amoniacal, N-nitrato, N-total, N-amoniacal obtido após incubação anaeróbia (N-pot) e N-amoniacal extraído por solução de CaCl2 sob autoclavagem (N-autoclave). Nas amostras de folha, determinou-se o teor de N-total. A atividade de proteases foi influenciada pelo local e pela profundidade de amostragem, tendo sido mais elevada na linha de projeção da copa e profundidade de 0-10 cm. A aplicação de fertilizante orgânico causou aumento na atividade de proteases, principalmente na camada de 0-10 cm. O coeficiente de correlação entre atividade de proteases e outros métodos para avaliação da disponibilidade de N dependeu da época, do local e da profundidade de amostragem. A correlação entre o N-foliar, obtido na época indicada para diagnose foliar, a atividade de proteases e as demais formas para avaliar disponibilidade de N (N-amoniacal, N-nitrato, N-autoclave e N-pot) variou com a época de amostragem. A atividade de proteases foi positiva e altamente correlacionada com o N-foliar, obtido na época indicada para fins de diagnose foliar, para amostras de terra retiradas nas entrelinhas (0-10 cm), no mês de dezembro/1998.

Consumo e digestibilidade em bovinos em pastejo durante o período das águas sob suplementação com fontes de compostos nitrogenados e de carboidratos

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de diferentes formas químicas de compostos nitrogenados (proteicos e não-proteicos) e de carboidratos (amiláceos e fibra solúvel) sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade e a síntese ruminal de proteína microbiana em bovinos sob suplementação durante o período das águas. Foram utilizados cinco novilhos mestiços Holandês × Zebu, com peso vivo (PV) médio inicial de 211 ± 35 kg, fistulados no rúmen e abomaso. Os tratamentos foram: controle (somente pasto); e suplementos formulados à base de milho + farelo de soja; milho + ureia; polpa cítrica + farelo de soja; e polpa cítrica + ureia. Os suplementos foram balanceados para apresentar 30% de proteína bruta (PB), com base na matéria seca (MS), e fornecidos na quantidade de 3 g/kg PV. O experimento foi conduzido segundo delineamento em quadrado latino 5 × 5, em esquema fatorial 2 × 2 + 1, composto de duas fontes de compostos nitrogenados, duas fontes de carboidratos e tratamento controle. O consumo de pasto reduziu com o fornecimento de suplementos, com coeficiente médio de substituição de 2,11 g de MS de pasto/g de MS de suplemento. A suplementação não alterou os coeficientes de digestibilidade total e ruminação da MS nem o teor dietético de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). Os animais sob suplementação apresentaram maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade total e ruminal da proteína bruta. A eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana (EFSM), média de 123,1 g PB microbiana/kg de NDT, não foi alterada pela suplementação. Contudo, os animais sob suplementação com milho apresentaram maior EFSM em comparação aos animais sob suplementação com polpa cítrica (137,6 e 106,1 g PB microbiana/kg de NDT, respectivamente). A suplementação proteico-energética para bovinos mantidos em pastos tropicais durante o período das águas não causa benefícios nutricionais, o que reflete o alto coeficiente de substituição da forragem pelo suplemento.

Estudo das variáveis de processamento das matérias-primas da região do crato - ce na fabricação de produtos cerâmicos por extrusão e por prensagem

The limits to inform is about the character stico of basic, quimica, mineralogical and mechaniques of matlaughed material used in the manufacturing process the product certified in economic region the Cariri, specifically in the city of Crato, Ceará state, motivated the development of this work, since in this region the exist ing economic context that a general appear as important in the production chains. Were made twentyfive soils-test specimen collection and the study was performed to differentiate the mat laugh materials of variaveis processing of mathing raw materials in the factory The product mica monkeys by extrusion and pressing. The results were obtained ap s as analyzes: grain size, index of plasticity, fluoresce incidence X-ray difration the X-ray, and analyzes thermicals and properties technological. through s of curves gresifica returned to was a comparison between the retro the linear, absorb to water, porosity and bulk density. the results show that the excellent distribution and character acceptable available for the processing of the structure color dark red. needing, therefore, of the mixture of a less plastic clay with thick granulation, that works as plasticity reducer. In spite of the different resignation forms for prensagem and extrusion, the characteristics of absorption of water and rupture tension the flexing was shown inside of the patterns of ABNT

A modalização como estratégia argumentativa em textos de vestibulandos

In this work, the argumentative strategies construction in university entrance examinations texts is analyzed. The study intended to present, through the analyzed occurrences in the corpus, the discursive strategies use for the argumentation construction, observing the different lexicalization forms and the effects that these strategies produced for the intended meaning construction. Aiming to analyze the modalization via texts written by candidates for the UFRN entrance examination, the relations between this category and the resources used for the argumentative guidance of the text were highlighted. Conceived as a speaker argumentative strategy to express his/her relationship with the proposition content which enunciates, the modalization is, thus, one of the linguistic expression form used for the attainment of intended meaning effects in the argumentation construction. In order to substantiate the research, the theoretical assumptions adopted were the propositions which deal with this linguistic category, guiding it to a pragmatic-semantic perspective as well as a discursive-semantic one. Hence, Neves ( 1996, 2006), Koch ( 2000, 2002), Cervoni ( 1989), Bronkart (1999) and Castilho; Morais de Castilho (1996) studies, among others founded this work. Afterwards, a contextualized analysis of the modalized statements, taking into account all the set of elements implied on the argumentation construction, was carried out. The research, which had a strict qualitative character, revealed that the candidates make use of modalization to express commitment or dissociation as regards the statement which they produce; to obtain credibility and provide more authority to their arguments, thus avoiding them of being contested; to impose their arguments as real ones and acquire acceptance of the interlocutor; to lessen the proposition content and disguise the knowledge source; to comment the enunciation and attribute the discourse to another sender; to establish a dialogic relation with the interlocutor. In addition to offering support for new investigations, the research also aims to contribute for the mother tongue teaching, emphasizing the need of a focus which provides special attention to the written language functioning and its application diversity. In this work, the argumentative strategies construction in university entrance examinations texts is analyzed. The study intended to present, through the analyzed occurrences in the corpus, the discursive strategies use for the argumentation construction, observing the different lexicalization forms and the effects that these strategies produced for the intended meaning construction. Aiming to analyze the modalization via texts written by candidates for the UFRN entrance examination, the relations between this category and the resources used for the argumentative guidance of the text were highlighted. Conceived as a speaker argumentative strategy to express his/her relationship with the proposition content which enunciates, the modalization is, thus, one of the linguistic expression form used for the attainment of intended meaning effects in the argumentation construction. In order to substantiate the research, the theoretical assumptions adopted were the propositions which deal with this linguistic category, guiding it to a pragmatic-semantic perspective as well as a discursive-semantic one. Hence, Neves ( 1996, 2006), Koch ( 2000, 2002), Cervoni ( 1989), Bronkart (1999) and Castilho; Morais de Castilho (1996) studies, among others founded this work. Afterwards, a contextualized analysis of the modalized statements, taking into account all the set of elements implied on the argumentation construction, was carried out. The research, which had a strict qualitative character, revealed that the candidates make use of modalization to express commitment or dissociation as regards the statement which they produce; to obtain credibility and provide more authority to their arguments, thus avoiding them of being contested; to impose their arguments as real ones and acquire acceptance of the interlocutor; to lessen the proposition content and disguise the knowledge source; to comment the enunciation and attribute the discourse to another sender; to establish a dialogic relation with the interlocutor. In addition to offering support for new investigations, the research also aims to contribute for the mother tongue teaching, emphasizing the need of a focus which provides special attention to the written language functioning and its application diversity

Adhesion of Histoplasma capsulatum to pneumocytes and biofilm formation on an abiotic surface

The pathogenic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, causes the respiratory and systemic disease 'histoplasmosis'. This disease is primarily acquired via inhalation of aerosolized microconidia or hyphal fragments of H. capsulatum. Evolution of this respiratory disease depends on the ability of H. capsulatum yeasts to survive and replicate within alveolar macrophages. It is known that adhesion to host cells is the first step in colonization and biofilm formation. Some microorganisms become attached to biological and non-biological surfaces due to the formation of biofilms. Based on the importance of biofilms and their persistence on host tissues and cell surfaces, the present study was designed to investigate biofilm formation by H. capsulatum yeasts, as well as their ability to adhere to pneumocyte cells. H. capsulatum biofilm assays were performed in vitro using two different clinical strains of the fungus and biofilms were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The biofilms were measured using a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium-hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay. The results showed that both the H. capsulatum strains tested were very efficient at adhering to host cells and forming biofilm. Therefore, this is a possible survival strategy adopted by this fungus.

Differential antibody isotype expression to the major Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen in juvenile and adult form paracoccidioidomycosis

We investigated the relationship between antibody response to the major Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen, a 43-kDa glycoprotein, and the two paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) clinical presentations, the juvenile and the adult forms. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG isotypes, and IgA anti-gp43 antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients' sera. Juvenile PCM patients had higher (P =.003) IgG anti-gp43 levels than adult form patients. IgG1 subclass levels, however, were comparable between the two clinical forms. Patients with the juvenile form had higher (P <.001) IgG4, but lower(P =.03) IgG2 levels than patients with the adult form. The IgG4 isotype, regulated by interleukin 4, was found in all juvenile form patients but in only 12% of the adult form patients. In contrast, high levels of the IgG2 isotype, regulated by interferon-gamma, were found in 41% of the adult PCM patients, mainly those with a more benign disease, but in only 12% of the juvenile patients. IgG3 was either absent or detected at low levels. These results demonstrate, for the first time, specific IgG4 antibodies in the humoral immune response of patients with an endemic deep mycosis and suggest that the switch to the IgG subclasses in PCM is regulated by the patients' T-helper subset (Th-l or Th-2) dominant cytokine profile. A possible role for IgG4 in the immunopathogenesis of the juvenile, more severe form of the disease is discussed. Finally, IgA was found mainly in adult form patients, probably as a result of the chronic mucosal antigenic stimulation characteristic of this form. (C) Elsevier, Paris.

Frequency of class I anti-HLA alloantibodies in patients infected by HIV-1

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de aloanticorpos anti-HLA classe I em pacientes infectados pelo HIV-1 e relacioná-la aos diferentes cursos clínicos da doença. Amostras de sangue de 145 indivíduos HIV positivo foram coletadas em tubos com EDTA. A infecção pelo HIV-1 foi confirmada por teste ELISA e a presença de aloanticorpos anti-HLA classe I determinada em seguida. A evolução clínica foi definida como rápida (<1 ano entre diagnóstico e morte), moderada (1-3 anos) ou lenta (>3 anos). A presença de aloanticorpos anti-HLA classe I foi menor em indivíduos saudáveis em relação aos infectados pelo HIV-1 (4,2% contra 32,4%). Porém, a distribuição destes aloanticorpos entre os indivíduos infectados foi igual, independente da evolução clínica. Deste modo, a presença de aloanticorpos anti-HLA classe I não é um fator determinante na piora clínica do paciente.