2 D game ediror on-line : A edição de videojogos em contexto web

Descreve-se, no presente trabalho, os esforços envidados no sentido de criar uma solução informática generalista, para os problemas mais recorrentes do processo de produção de videojogos 20, baseados em sprites, a correr em plataformas móveis. O sistema desenvolvido é uma aplicação web que está inserida no paradigma cloud­computing, usufruindo, portanto, de todas as vantagens em termos de acessibilidade, segurança da informação e manutenção que este paradigma oferece actualmente. Além das questões funcionais, a aplicação é ainda explorada do ponto de vista da arquitetura da implementação, com vista a garantir um sistema com implementação escalável, adaptável e de fácil manutenção. Propõe-se ainda um algoritmo que foi desenvolvido para resolver o problema de obter uma distribuição espacial otimizada de várias áreas retangulares, sem sobreposições nem restrições a nível das dimensões, quer do arranjo final, quer das áreas arranjadas. ABSTRACT: This document describes the efforts taken to create a generic computing solution for the most recurrent problems found in the production of two dimensional, sprite­based videogames, running on mobile platforms. The developed system is a web application that fits within the scope of the recent cloud-computing paradigm and, therefore, enjoys all of its advantages in terms of data safety, accessibility and application maintainability. In addition, to the functional issues, the system is also studied in terms of its internal software architecture, since it was planned and implemented in the perspective of attaining an easy to maintain application, that is both scalable and adaptable. Furthermore, it is also proposed an algorithm that aims to find an optimized solution to the space distribution problem of several rectangular areas, with no overlapping and no dimensinal restrictions, neither on the final arrangement nor on the arranged areas.

MobiMed: Framework for Rapid Application Development of Medical Mobile Apps

In the medical field images obtained from high definition cameras and other medical imaging systems are an integral part of medical diagnosis. The analysis of these images are usually performed by the physicians who sometimes need to spend long hours reviewing the images before they are able to come up with a diagnosis and then decide on the course of action. In this dissertation we present a framework for a computer-aided analysis of medical imagery via the use of an expert system. While this problem has been discussed before, we will consider a system based on mobile devices. Since the release of the iPhone on April 2003, the popularity of mobile devices has increased rapidly and our lives have become more reliant on them. This popularity and the ease of development of mobile applications has now made it possible to perform on these devices many of the image analyses that previously required a personal computer. All of this has opened the door to a whole new set of possibilities and freed the physicians from their reliance on their desktop machines. The approach proposed in this dissertation aims to capitalize on these new found opportunities by providing a framework for analysis of medical images that physicians can utilize from their mobile devices thus remove their reliance on desktop computers. We also provide an expert system to aid in the analysis and advice on the selection of medical procedure. Finally, we also allow for other mobile applications to be developed by providing a generic mobile application development framework that allows for access of other applications into the mobile domain. In this dissertation we outline our work leading towards development of the proposed methodology and the remaining work needed to find a solution to the problem. In order to make this difficult problem tractable, we divide the problem into three parts: the development user interface modeling language and tooling, the creation of a game development modeling language and tooling, and the development of a generic mobile application framework. In order to make this problem more manageable, we will narrow down the initial scope to the hair transplant, and glaucoma domains.

Criação de uma framework para desenvolvimento de sistemas de comunicação aumentativa e alternativa

Nesta dissertação descreve-se uma proposta de implementação de uma plataforma de desenvolvimento de Sistemas de Comunicação Aumentativa e Alternativa para programadores, com o objectivo de melhorar a produtividade e diminuir os tempos despendidos na implementação deste tipo de soluções. Esta proposta assenta numa estrutura composta por widgets configuráveis por código e integráveis em novas aplicações, numa filosofia de reaproveitamento de objectos e funcionalidades, permitindo ainda a uniformização da estrutura do código no desenvolvimento de softwares deste tipo. Esta plataforma pretende ainda dar flexibilidade aos programadores, através da possibilidade de introdução de novas funcionalidades e widgets, permitindo também que se testem novas abordagens ao software durante a investigação. A implementação em tecnologias open source independentes da plataforma, permitirá ainda utilizar os objectos deste toolkit em vários sistemas operativos. ABSTRACT: ln this master thesis we describe an implementation proposal for an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Framework for developers, with the objective of improves the productivity and reduces the implementation times for these types of solutions. This proposal is based on a customized widgets structure that can be integrated in new applications, with the purpose of reuse common features of these applications, also allowing standardize the code structure in this kind of software development. This framework intends to provide flexibility to programmers giving them the possibility of introduce new functionalities and widgets, allowing them to test new approaches during research. The implementation based on open-source technologies, platform independent, allows the use of this toolkit in several different operating systems.

Emerging urban futures, land, water, infrastructure

This paper will examine the intersection of design research and problem‐based teaching through the process and outcomes of a four year long ARC funded research project: the Emerging Futures Project. Sustainability is central to the project; in its overall content as well as in the broad aim of determining better outcomes for urban consolidation.   

Eco-retrofitting - from managerialism to design

As all environmental problems are caused by human systems of design, sustainability can be seen as a design problem. Given the massive energy and material flows through the built environment, sustainability simply cannot be achieved without the re-design of our urban areas. ‘Eco-retrofitting’, as used here, means modifying buildings and/or urban areas to create net positive social and environmental impacts – both on site and off site. While this has probably not been achieved anywhere as yet, myriad but untapped eco-solutions are already available which could be up-scaled to the urban level. It is now well established that eco-retrofitting buildings and cities with appropriate design technology can pay for itself through lower health costs, productivity increases and resource savings. Good design would also mean happier human and ecological communities at a much lower cost over time. In fact, good design could increase life quality and the life support services of nature while creating sustainable‘economic’growth. The impediments are largely institutional and intellectual, which can be encapsulated in the term ‘managerial’. There are, however, also systems design solutions to the managerial obstacles that seem to be stalling the transition to sustainable systems designs. Given the sustainability imperative, then, why is the adoption of better management systems so slow? The oral presentation will show examples of ways in which built environment design can create environments that not only reduce the ongoing damage of past design, but could theoretically generate net positive social and ecological outcomes over their life cycle. These illustrations show that eco-retrofitting could cost society less than doing nothing - especially given the ongoing renovations of buildings - but for managerial hurdles. The paper outlines on how traditional managerial approaches stand in the way of ‘design for ecosystem services’, and list some management solutions that have long been identified, but are not yet widely adopted. Given the pervasive nature of these impediments and their alternatives, they are presented by way of examples. A sampling of eco-retrofitting solutions are also listed to show that ecoretrofitting is a win-win-win solution that stands ready to be implemented by people having management skills and/or positions of influence.

The statistics of refractive error maps : managing wavefront aberration analysis without Zernike polynomials

The refractive error of a human eye varies across the pupil and therefore may be treated as a random variable. The probability distribution of this random variable provides a means for assessing the main refractive properties of the eye without the necessity of traditional functional representation of wavefront aberrations. To demonstrate this approach, the statistical properties of refractive error maps are investigated. Closed-form expressions are derived for the probability density function (PDF) and its statistical moments for the general case of rotationally-symmetric aberrations. A closed-form expression for a PDF for a general non-rotationally symmetric wavefront aberration is difficult to derive. However, for specific cases, such as astigmatism, a closed-form expression of the PDF can be obtained. Further, interpretation of the distribution of the refractive error map as well as its moments is provided for a range of wavefront aberrations measured in real eyes. These are evaluated using a kernel density and sample moments estimators. It is concluded that the refractive error domain allows non-functional analysis of wavefront aberrations based on simple statistics in the form of its sample moments. Clinicians may find this approach to wavefront analysis easier to interpret due to the clinical familiarity and intuitive appeal of refractive error maps.

Data muling over underwater wireless sensor networks using an autonomous underwater vehicle

We present algorithms, systems, and experimental results for underwater data muling. In data muling a mobile agent interacts with static agents to upload, download, or transport data to a different physical location. We consider a system comprising an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and many static Underwater Sensor Nodes (USN) networked together optically and acoustically. The AUV can locate the static nodes using vision and hover above the static nodes for data upload. We describe the hardware and software architecture of this underwater system, as well as experimental data. © 2006 IEEE.

Data collection, storage and retrieval with an underwater sensor network

In this paper we present a novel platform for underwater sensor networks to be used for long-term monitoring of coral reefs and �sheries. The sensor network consists of static and mobile underwater sensor nodes. The nodes communicate point-to-point using a novel high-speed optical communication system integrated into the TinyOS stack, and they broadcast using an acoustic protocol integrated in the TinyOS stack. The nodes have a variety of sensing capabilities, including cameras, water temperature, and pressure. The mobile nodes can locate and hover above the static nodes for data muling, and they can perform network maintenance functions such as deployment, relocation, and recovery. In this paper we describe the hardware and software architecture of this underwater sensor network. We then describe the optical and acoustic networking protocols and present experimental networking and data collected in a pool, in rivers, and in the ocean. Finally, we describe our experiments with mobility for data muling in this network.

Modulation of depth-dependent properties in tissue-engineered cartilage with a semi-permeable membrane and perfusion : a continuum model of matrix metabolism and transport

The functional properties of cartilaginous tissues are determined predominantly by the content, distribution, and organization of proteoglycan and collagen in the extracellular matrix. Extracellular matrix accumulates in tissue-engineered cartilage constructs by metabolism and transport of matrix molecules, processes that are modulated by physical and chemical factors. Constructs incubated under free-swelling conditions with freely permeable or highly permeable membranes exhibit symmetric surface regions of soft tissue. The variation in tissue properties with depth from the surfaces suggests the hypothesis that the transport processes mediated by the boundary conditions govern the distribution of proteoglycan in such constructs. A continuum model (DiMicco and Sah in Transport Porus Med 50:57-73, 2003) was extended to test the effects of membrane permeability and perfusion on proteoglycan accumulation in tissue-engineered cartilage. The concentrations of soluble, bound, and degraded proteoglycan were analyzed as functions of time, space, and non-dimensional parameters for several experimental configurations. The results of the model suggest that the boundary condition at the membrane surface and the rate of perfusion, described by non-dimensional parameters, are important determinants of the pattern of proteoglycan accumulation. With perfusion, the proteoglycan profile is skewed, and decreases or increases in magnitude depending on the level of flow-based stimulation. Utilization of a semi-permeable membrane with or without unidirectional flow may lead to tissues with depth-increasing proteoglycan content, resembling native articular cartilage.

Le vie dell'Impero. Le strade coloniali italiane e il loro rapporto con la manualistica del Ventennio

Imperial roads. The Italian colonial routes and their relationship with 1920-40 manuals

Judge George W Paul's Japanese house : a case study

In the late 1880s a pre-fabricated Japanese house was shipped from Kobe, Japan, to Brisbane, Australia, and erected in the up-market suburb of New Farm by Japanese tradesmen. This paper is developed from a broader project researching the life of G W Paul, the man who had the house built and subsequently lived in it for the remainder of his life. Paul’s motivation in importing the house represented a unique, but unfulfilled effort to develop a future, hybrid culture for Queensland. This effort took the form of a commercial venture to construct Japanese houses as desirable and climatically suitable dwellings. Against the backdrop of this ambition, this paper presents new research to elucidate and extend previous knowledge, assesses the reception of the house by its nineteenth century Brisbane audience, and considers possible reasons for the limited response which signalled the cancellation of the commercial venture.

BioPatML.NET – a bioinformatic pattern search engine

In the present paper, we introduce BioPatML.NET, an application library for the Microsoft Windows .NET framework [2] that implements the BioPatML pattern definition language and sequence search engine. BioPatML.NET is integrated with the Microsoft Biology Foundation (MBF) application library [3], unifying the parsers and annotation services supported or emerging through MBF with the language, search framework and pattern repository of BioPatML. End users who wish to exploit the BioPatML.NET engine and repository without engaging the services of a programmer may do so via the freely accessible web-based BioPatML Editor, which we describe below.