TICAI 2008

TICAI 2008 �� o terceiro volume de uma s��rie que recolhe as contribui����es mais significativas dos melhores congressos de l��ngua espanhola e Portuguesa no ��mbito da Sociedade de Educa����o do IEEE. Este volume corresponde aos eventos realizados no ano de 2008, �� promovido pelos Cap��tulos Portugu��s e Espanhol desta Sociedade. Como os volumes anteriores, o ��mbito centra-se na investiga����o e aplica����es da tecnologia na educa����o e engloba o desenho e investiga����o de novas ferramentas, materiais e t��cnicas que facilitem o ensino/ aprendizagem e aplica����es, m��todos pedag��gicos e experi��ncias concretas de uso destas novas t��cnicas e ferramentas. Tudo com um enfoque particular no ensino/ aprendizagem das disciplinas pr��prias do IEEE, fundamentalmente nas ��reas da Engenharia Electrot��cnica, Tecnologia Electr��nica, Engenharia de Telecomunica����es e Engenharia Inform��tica. Assim, os cap��tulos deste livro passaram pelo crivo apertado de duas revis��es: primeiro do pr��prio congresso e depois uma segunda selec����o de entre os artigos aceites para o congresso. Para esse processo, contamos com membros destacados de cada um dos Comit��s de Organiza����o ou de programa dos respectivos congressos.

Human infection by Angiostrongylus costaricensis in Venezuela: first report of a confirmed case

A proven case of human infection caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis is reported for the first time in Venezuela. The patient was a 57-year-old female surgically operated because of signs of peritonitis with a palpable mass at the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. WBC count reported 16,600 cells/mm��, with 46% eosinophils. The tumoral aspect of ileocolic area and peritoneal lymph nodes prompted the resection of a large area of the terminal ileum, cecum, part of the ascending colon and a small part of the jejunum, where a small lesion was found. The pathology showed thickened areas of the intestinal wall with areas of hemorrhage and a perforation of the cecum. Histology showed intense eosinophil infiltration of the whole intestinal wall, granulomas with giant cells and eosinophils. Some of the granuloma surrounded round or oval eggs with content characterized by a large empty area, cells or embryo in the center, and sometimes nematode larvae. A cross section of an adult nematode worm was observed inside a branch of mesenteric artery. The intestinal affected area, the characteristics of the lesions, the presence of eggs in the submucosa with nematode larvae inside, and the observation of a nematode inside a mesenteric artery, makes sufficient criteria for the diagnosis of an infection by Angiostrongylus costaricensis.

Access and information behaviour of European Documentation Centres users in Portugal and Spain: a comparative study

The aim of this study was to undertake a comparative analysis of the practices and information behaviour of European information users who visit information units specialising in European information in Portugal and Spain. The study used a quantitative methodology based on a questionnaire containing closed questions and one open question. The questions covered the general sociological profile of the respondents and their use of European Document Centres, in addition to analysing aspects associated with information behaviour relating to European themes. The study therefore examined data on the preferred means and sources for accessing European information, types of documents and the subjects investigated most. The use of European databases and the Internet to access material on Europe was also studied, together with the reasons which users considered made it easy or difficult to access European information, and the aspects they valued most in accessing this information. The questionnaire was administered in European Document Centres in 2008 and 2010.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF Toxocara EGGS IN SOILS OF AN ARID AREA IN CENTRAL-WESTERN ARGENTINA

With the aim of studying the contamination of soils with eggs of Toxocara spp. in an arid area in the central-western region of Argentina, 76 soil samples were collected from 18 towns belonging to six provinces of central-western Argentina. They were processed by the centrifugal flotation method. No eggs of Toxocara spp. were found. It can be concluded that the negative results are directly related to the characteristics of the environment and climate present in the studied area. The finding of eggs in soils depends on several factors: the presence of canine or feline feces, the hygienic behavior of pet owners, the presence of stray animals without veterinary supervision, the weather and environmental conditions, and laboratory techniques used; and all these circumstances must be considered when comparing the results found in different geographical regions. In order to accurately define the importance of public spaces in the transmission of infection to humans, it is important to consider the role of backyards or green spaces around housing in small towns, where the population is not used to walking pets in public spaces, and in such cases a significant fraction of the population may acquire the infection within households.

C��lculo de for��as em superestruturas de quebra-mares de talude

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil ��� Perfil de Estrutura e Geotecnia

Explora����o agr��cola e contamina����o de aqu��feros por nitrato no ��mbito da Confedera����o Hidrogr��fica do J��car, Espanha - an��lise e avalia����o

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gest��o da ��gua

Agent-based parking occupancy simulation

The existing parking simulations, as most simulations, are intended to gain insights of a system or to make predictions. The knowledge they have provided has built up over the years, and several research works have devised detailed parking system models. This thesis work describes the use of an agent-based parking simulation in the context of a bigger parking system development. It focuses more on flexibility than on fidelity, showing the case where it is relevant for a parking simulation to consume dynamically changing GIS data from external, online sources and how to address this case. The simulation generates the parking occupancy information that sensing technologies should eventually produce and supplies it to the bigger parking system. It is built as a Java application based on the MASON toolkit and consumes GIS data from an ArcGis Server. The application context of the implemented parking simulation is a university campus with free, on-street parking places.

Co-infection and risk factors of tuberculosis in a Mexican HIV+ population

INTRODUCTION: The situation of tuberculosis (TB) is being modified by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is increasing the occurrence of new cases and the generation of drug resistant strains, affecting not only the people infected with HIV, but also their close contacts and the general population, conforming a serious public health concern. However, the magnitudes of the factors associated to this co-infection differ considerably in relation to the population groups and geographical areas. METHODS: In order to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for the co-infection of tuberculosis (TB) in a population with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) in the Southeast of Mexico, we made the analysis of clinical and epidemiological variables and the diagnosis of tuberculosis by isolation of mycobacteria from respiratory samples. RESULTS: From the 147 HIV+ individuals analyzed, 12 were culture positive; this shows a prevalence of 8% for the co-infection. The only variable found with statistical significance for the co-infection was the number of CD4-T < 200 cells/mm��, OR 13 (95%, CI 2-106 vs 12-109). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first report describing the factors associated with tuberculosis co -infection with HIV in a population from Southern Mexico. The low number of CD4 T-cells was the only variable associated with the TB co-infection and the rest of the variables provide scenarios that require specific and particular interventions for this population group.

Simplified wind turbine models for wind energy integration into power systems

This paper analyses the boundaries of simplified wind turbine models used to represent the behavior of wind turbines in order to conduct power system stability studies. Based on experimental measurements, the response of recent simplified (also known as generic) wind turbine models that are currently being developed by the International Standard IEC 61400-27 is compared to complex detailed models elaborated by wind turbine manufacturers. This International Standard, whose Technical Committee was convened in October 2009, is focused on defining generic simulation models for both wind turbines (Part 1) and wind farms (Part 2). The results of this work provide an improved understanding of the usability of generic models for conducting power system simulations.

Stomoxys calcitrans as possible vector of Trypanosoma evansi among camels in an affected area of the Canary Islands, Spain

Introduction Trypanosoma evansi was first identified in the Canary Islands in 1997, and is still present in a small area of the Archipelago. To date, the disease has exclusively affected camel herds, and has not been detected in any other animal hosts. However potential vectors of Trypanosoma evansi must be identified. Methods One Nzi trap was placed on a camel farm located in the infected area for a period of one year. Results Two thousand five hundred and five insects were trapped, of which Stomoxys calcitrans was the sole hematophagous vector captured. Conclusions Stomoxys calcitrans could be exclusively responsible for the transmission of Trypanosoma evansi among camels in the surveyed area, as other species do not seem to be infected by S. calcitrans in the presence of camels.

Recens��o: La reciente historiograf��a espa��ola y su relaci��n con la arquitectura de los siglos XVI, XVII y XVIII: A prop��sito de 'Arquitecturas Pintadas'"

Recens��o de: "Arquitecturas pintadas. Del Renacimiento al siglo XVIII". 2011. Madrid: Fundaci��n Thyssen��� Bornemisza y Fundaci��n Caja Madrid.

La est��tica mas��nica en Lisboa: nuevas perspectivas para historiar la cuidad

Este trabajo parte de una perspectiva hol��stica y multidisciplinar, tiene como principal objetivo proponer l��neas de an��lisis de la est��tica mas��nica en la ciudad de Lisboa, principalmente a trav��s de su patrimonio arquitect��nico para dar respuesta a numerosas cuestiones art��sticas o socio-culturales presentes en ella y carentes de estudio. Desde el siglo xviii, la capital portuguesa presenta una serie de manifestaciones art��sticas en el espacio urbano vinculadas a la est��tica mas��nica. Arquitectos, comitentes y dirigentes pol��ticos adscritos a la Orden del Gran Arquitecto del Universo han intervenido de forma simb��lica en la ciudad. C��digos herm��ticos que deben ser teorizados desde la historia del arte con la m��xima cientificidad posible. El objetivo de este ensayo es dar a conocer las pautas metodol��gicas y aproximarnos al complejo campo simb��lico en la ciudad lisboeta a trav��s de algunos ejemplos paradigm��ticos.

End-of-day dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in contact lens wearers

Purpose: To study the relationship among the variables intensity ofthe end-of-day (EOD) dryness, corneal sensitivity and blink rate in soft contact lens (CL) wearers. Methods: Thirty-eight soft CL wearers (25 women and 13 men; mean age 27.1 �� 7.2 years) were enrolled. EOD dryness was assessed using a scale of 0���5 (0, none to 5, very intense). Mechanical and thermal (heat and cold) sensitivity were measured using a Belmonte���s gas esthesiometer. The blink rate was recorded using a video camera while subjects were wearing a hydrogel CL and watching a film for 90 min in a controlled environmental chamber. Results: A significant inverse correlation was found between EOD dryness and mechanical sensitivity (r: ���0.39; p = 0.02); however, there were no significant correlations between EOD dryness and thermal sensitivity. A significant (r: 0.56; p < 0.001) correlation also was observed between EOD dryness and blink rate, but no correlations were found between blink rate and mechanical or thermal sensitivity. Conclusions: CL wearers with higher corneal sensitivity to mechanical stimulation reported more EOD dryness with habitual CL wear. Moreover, subjects reporting more EOD dryness had an increased blink rates during wear of a standard CL type. The increased blink rate could act to improve the ocular surface environment and relieve symptoms

Single molecule simulation of diffusion and enzyme kinetics

This work presents a molecular-scale agent-based model for the simulation of enzymatic reactions at experimentally measured concentrations. The model incorporates stochasticity and spatial dependence, using diffusing and reacting particles with physical dimensions. We developed strategies to adjust and validate the enzymatic rates and diffusion coefficients to the information required by the computational agents, i.e., collision efficiency, interaction logic between agents, the time scale associated with interactions (e.g., kinetics), and agent velocity. Also, we tested the impact of molecular location (a source of biological noise) in the speed at which the reactions take place. Simulations were conducted for experimental data on the 2-hydroxymuconate tautomerase (EC 5.3.2.6, UniProt ID Q01468) and the Steroid Delta-isomerase (EC 5.3.3.1, UniProt ID P07445). Obtained results demonstrate that our approach is in accordance to existing experimental data and long-term biophysical and biochemical assumptions.