Um método semi-automatizado para elicitação de requisitos de acessibilidade Web

In the context of Software Engineering, web accessibility is gaining more room, establishing itself as an important quality attribute. This fact is due to initiatives of institutions such as the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) and the introduction of norms and laws such as Section 508 that underlie the importance of developing accessible Web sites and applications. Despite these improvements, the lack of web accessibility is still a persistent problem, and could be related to the moment or phase in which this requirement is solved within the development process. From the moment when Web accessibility is generally regarded as a programming problem or treated when the application is already developed entirely. Thus, consider accessibility already during activities of analysis and requirements specification shows itself a strategy to facilitate project progress, avoiding rework in advanced phases of software development because of possible errors, or omissions in the elicitation. The objective of this research is to develop a method and a tool to support requirements elicitation of web accessibility. The strategy for the requirements elicitation of this method is grounded by the Goal-Oriented approach NFR Framework and the use of catalogs NFRs, created based on the guidelines contained in WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guideline) proposed by W3C

Comparing the Teaching-Learning Process With and Without the Use of Computerized Technological Resources

Computerized technological resources have become essential in education, particularly for teaching topics that require the performance of specific tasks. These resources can effectively help the execution of such tasks and the teaching-learning process itself. After the development of a Web site on the topic of nursing staff scheduling, this study aimed at comparing the development of students involved in the teaching-learning process of the previously mentioned topic, with and without the use of computer technology. Two random groups of undergraduate nursing students from a public university in São Paulo state, Brazil, were organized: a case group (used the Web site) and a control group (did not use the Web site). Data were collected from 2003 to 2005 after approval by the Research Ethics Committee. Results showed no significant difference in motivation or knowledge acquisition. A similar performance for the two groups was also verified. Other aspects observed were difficulty in doing the nursing staff scheduling exercise and the students' acknowledgment of the topic's importance for their training and professional lives; easy access was considered to be a positive aspect for maintaining the Web site.

Effect of an acrylic resin combined with an antimicrobial polymer on biofilm formation

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

Structure determination of a tetrahydro-beta-carboline of arthropod origin: A novel alkaloid-toxin subclass from the web of spider Nephila clavipes

The orb-web spiders are polyphagous animals in which the web plays a very important role in the capture of preys; oily droplets usually cover the capture-web of the spider Nephila clavipes and seem to be of great importance for prey capture. The knowledge of the chemical composition of these droplets is necessary to understand the function of this adhesive material in web mechanics and prey capture. A novel subclass of spider toxins, tetrahydro-beta-carboline, was identified among the weaponry of compounds present inside of oily droplets. This type of alkaloid is not common among the natural compounds of spider toxins. Apparently, when the prey arthropods get caught by the spider web, their bodies are covered with many adhesive oily droplets, which disrupt delivering the tetrahydro-beta-carboline to the direct contact with the prey integument. Toxicity assays demonstrated a potent lethal effect of the alkaloid toxin to the spider preys; topical applications of the teirahydro-beta-carboline at first caused clear signs of neurotoxicity, followed by the death of preys. The structure of the major component, a tetrahydro-beta-carboline, among the alkaloid toxins was elucidated by means of UV spectrophotometry, ESI mass spectrometry, H-1-NMR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The structure of the natural toxin was determined as 1-(2-guanidinoethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-hydroxymethyl)-beta-carboline; the investigation of the pharmacological properties and neurotoxic actions of this compound may be used in the future as reference for the development of new drugs to be applied at level of pest control in agriculture.

The venomous secrets of the web droplets from the viscid spiral of the orb-weaver spider Nephila clavipes (Araneae, Tetragnatidae)

The capture web of N. clavipes presents viscous droplets, which play important roles in web mechanics and prey capture. By using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, it was demonstrated that the web droplets are constituted of different chemical environments, provided by the existence both of an aqueous and a lipid layer, which, in turn, present a suspension of tenths of vesicles containing polypeptides and/or tipids. GC/EI-MS Analysis of the contents of these vesicles led to the identification of some saturated fatty acids, such as decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, and icosanoic acid, while other components were unsaturated fatty acids, such as (Z)-tetradec-9-enoic acid, (Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid, and (Z)-icosa-11-enoic acid; and polyunsaturated fatty acids like (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid, (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid, and (11Z,14Z)-icosa-11,14-dienoic acid. Toxic proteins such as calcium-activated proteinase and metalloproteinase jararhagin-like precursor were also identified by using a proteomic approach, indicating the possible involvement of these enzymes in the pre-digestion of spiders' preys web-captured. Apparently, the mixture of fatty acids are relatively toxic to insects by topical application (LD50 64.3 +/- 7.6 ng mg(-1) honeybee), while the proteins alone present no topical effect; however, when injected into the prey-insects, these proteins presented a moderate toxicity (LD50 40.3 +/- 4.8 ng mg(-1) honeybee); the mixture of fatty acids and proteins is very toxic to the preys captured by the web droplets of the viscid spiral of Nephila clavipes when topically applied on them (LD50 14.3 +/- 1.8ng mg(-1) honeybee).

Annexin 1: differential expression in tumor and mast cells in human larynx cancer

Annexin 1 protein (ANXA1) expression was evaluated in tumor and mast cells in human larynx cancer and control epithelium. The effect of the exogenous ANXA1 (peptide Ac 2-26) was also examined during the cellular growth of the Hep-2 human larynx epidermoid carcinoma cell line. This peptide inhibited the proliferation of the Hep-2 cells within 144 hr. In surgical tissue specimens from 20 patients with larynx cancer, ultrastructural immunocytochemistry analysis showed in vivo down-regulation of ANXA1 expression in the tumor and increased in mast cells and Hep-2 cells treated with peptide Ac2-26. Combined in vivo and in vitro analysis demonstrated that ANXA1 plays a regulatory role in laryngeal cancer cell growth. We believe that a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of ANXA1 in tumor and mast cells may lead to future biological targets for the therapeutic intervention of human larynx cancer. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Expansion of a Bose-Einstein condensate formed on a joint harmonic and one-dimensional optical-lattice potential

We study the expansion of a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in a combined optical-lattice and axially-symmetric harmonic potential using the numerical solution of the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation. First, we consider the expansion of such a condensate under the action of the optical-lattice potential alone. In this case the result of numerical simulation for the axial and radial sizes during expansion is in agreement with two experiments by Morsch et al (2002 Phys. Rev. A 66 021601(R) and 2003 Laser Phys. 13 594). Finally, we consider the expansion under the action of the harmonic potential alone. In this case the oscillation, and the disappearance and revival of the resultant interference pattern is in agreement with the experiment by Muller et al (2003 J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt. 5 S38).

Search for large extra dimensions in dimuon and dielectron events in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Continuous infusion in adult females dogs submitted to ovariohysterectomy with midazolam-xylazine and/or medetomidine pre-treated with methotrimeprazine and buprenorphine

OBJETIVO: Comparar através de infusão contínua de xilazina ou medetomidina associada à metotrimeprazina e buprenorfina, cetamina e midazolam, o grau de hipnose, miorrelaxamento e qualidade anestésica e a viabilidade cirúrgica, avaliando eventuais alterações paramétricas e qualidade de recuperação. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 20 cães fêmeas, adultas, hígidas (3 a 5 anos de idade) com peso corporal entre 7 e 15 quilos, escolhidas e distribuídas aleatoriamente de forma homogênea em 2 grupos de 10 animais cada, (n=10) sendo estes designados por Grupo 1 (G1), e Grupo 2 (G 2). em G1, os animais foram submetidos a um pré-tratamento com metotrimeprazina na dose de 1,0 mg/kg e buprenorfina na dose de 0,003mg/kg ou 3 µg/kg intravenoso. Decorridos 15 minutos, administrou-se cetamina na dose de 5,0 mg/kg e midazolam na dose de 0,2 mg/kg intravenoso. Imediatamente após a indução iniciou-se administração contínua, por um período de 30 minutos, da associação anestésica de midazolam 0,4 mg/kg/h, cetamina 20mg/kg/h e xilazina 1,0 mg/kg/h IV. em G 2 utilizou-se a mesma técnica empregada em G1 substituindo-se, a xilazina pela medetomidina na dose de 30µg/kg/h. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se em G1 bloqueio átrio-ventricular de primeiro e segundo grau, período de recuperação mais longo além de menor qualidade. em G 2 observou-se bloqueio átrio-ventricular de primeiro grau isolado e de ação fugaz. CONCLUSÕES: Ao se aplicar o método de infusão contínua, além da redução dos fármacos aplicados, evitaram-se efeitos colaterais permitindo uma recuperação mais tranqüila e isenta de excitações, ambos os protocolos permitiram a realização do ato cirúrgico (ovário-salpingo-histerectomia), causando uma redução da hipnose e um miorrelaxamento acentuado. A xilazina e a medetomidina apresentam um comportamento farmacodinâmico semelhante, porém com aspectos clínicos diferentes, as alterações eletrocardiográficas observadas em G 2 e em menor grau em G1 devem ser melhor estudadas.

Study of an organically modified clay: Selective adsorption of heavy metal ions and voltammetric determination of mercury(II)

In this work, a hydrophilic clay, Na-montmorillonite from Wyoming, USA, was rendered organophilic by exchanging the inorganic interlayer cations for hexaclecyltrimethylammonium ions (HDTA), with the formulae of [(CH3)(3)N(C16H33)](+) ion. Based on fact that organo-clay has high affinities for non-ionic organic molecules, 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-dithiol was loaded oil the HDTA-montmorillonite surface, resulting in the 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-dithiol-HDTA-montmorillonite complex (TDD-organo-clay).The following properties of TDD-organo-clay are discussed: selective adsorption of heavy metal ions measured by batch and chromatographic column techniques, and utilization as preconcentration agent in a chemically modified carbon paste electrode (CMCPE) for determination of mercury(II).The main point of this paper is the construction of a selective sensor, a carbon paste electrode modified with TDD-organo-clay, its properties and its application to the determination of mercury(II) ions, as this element belongs to the most toxic metals. The chemical selectivity of this functional group and the selectivity of voltammetry were combined for preconcentration and determination. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of in vitro gas production of roughages and their mixtures using the curves subtraction method

The in vitro gas production of four single roughages and their paired combinations (1:1 on dry matter basis) were evaluated. Two roughage samples (100 mg) per treatment were fermented with ruminal fluid during a 48 h incubation period. Total 48 h gas volumes of fermentation dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and soluble compounds in neutral detergent (NDS) were for sugarcane = 16.8, 11.2, 6.9 mL; sugarcane + corn silage = 20.1, 12.6, 9.1 mL; sugarcane + 60-day elephantgrass = 16.5, 17.6 mL; sugarcane + 180-day elephantgrass = 13.8, 8.2, 5.9 mL; corn silage = 18.8, 16.8, 4.7 mL; corn silage + 60-day elephantgrass = 16.3, 15.4, 2.4 mL; corn silage + 180-day elephantgrass = 16.1, 11.8, 4.2 mL; 60-day elephantgrass = 16.9, 19.0 mL and 180-day elephantgrass = fermented 10.7, 12.2 mL, respectively. The NDS gas production was not possible to estimate for sugarcane + 60-day elephantgrass, 60-day elephantgrass and 180-day elephantgrass. The present data shows that the curves subtraction method can be an option to evaluate the contribution of the soluble fractions in roughages to digestion kinetics. However, this method underestimates the NDS gas contribution when roughages are low in crude protein and soluble carbohydrates. It is advisable to directly apply the two-compartmental mathematical model to the digestion curves for roughage DM, when determining the NDS gas volume and the digestion rate. This method is more straightforward and accurate when compared to the curve subtraction method. Non-structural carbohydrates combined with fiber and protein promoted a positive associative effect in sugarcane + corn silage (50:50) mixture. Therefore, it can be concluded that the soluble fraction of roughages greatly contributes to gas production. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct and indirect top-down effects of previous contact with an enemy on the feeding behavior of blowfly larvae

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

Project and Development of ErgoCoIn Version 2.0

Usability evaluation (UE) methods may have several purposes: identify and diagnose usability problems; evaluate the implementation, comparing the one under evaluation with other systems, and also perform acceptance test. These methods are usually expensive, time-consuming and complex. In this context, the ErgoCoIn 1.0 has being used as an accessible system that can be used by several people all over the world, even if they are not usability experts or evaluators. This paper aims to present a new version of this environment considering that its basic objective is to propose a higher quality for the questions. Additionally, a new presentation questionnaire window small enough to be used both in web browsers and mobile devices is proposed.

SnO2, ZnO and related polycrystalline compound semiconductors: An overview and review on the voltage-dependent resistance (non-ohmic) feature

The present review describes mainly the history of SnO2-based voltage-dependent resistors, discusses the main characteristics of these polycrystalline semiconductor systems and includes a direct comparison with traditional ZnO-based voltage-dependent resistor systems to establish the differences and similarities, giving details of the basic physical principles involved with the non-ohmic properties in both polycrystalline systems. As an overview, the text also undertakes the main difficulties involved in processing SnO2- and ZnO-based non-ohmic systems, with an evaluation of the contribution of the dopants to the electronic properties and to the final microstructure and consequently to the system's non-ohmic behavior. However, since there are at least two review texts regarding ZnO-based systems [Levinson, L. M., and Philipp, H. R. Ceramic Bulletin 1985;64:639; Clarke, D. R. Journal of American Ceramic Society 1999;82:485], the main focus of the present text is dedicated to the SnO2-based varistor systems, although the basic physical principles described in the text are universally useful in the context of dense polycrystalline devices. However, the readers must be careful of how the microstructure heterogeneity and grain-boundary chemistry are capable to interfere in the global electrical response for particular systems. New perspectives for applications, commercialization and degradation studies involving SnO2-based polycrystalline non-ohmic systems are also outlined, including recent technological developments. Finally, at the end of this review a brief section is particularly dedicated to the presentation and discussions about others emerging non-ohmic polycrystalline ceramic devices (particularly based on perovskite ceramics) which must be deeply studied in the years to come, specially because some of these systems present combined high dielectric and non-ohmic properties. From both scientific and technological point of view these perovskite systems are quite interesting. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interference competition and scavenging by Crematogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with the webs of the social spider Anelosimus eximius (Araneae: Theridiidae) in the central Amazon

Crematogaster cf. victima is a common inhabitant in the sheet web nests of the social spider Anelosimus eximius in the central Amazon basin near Manaus. A number of other ant species were found foraging on the non-sticky webs of A. eximius, but none of these reached the web occupation frequency found in C. cf. victima, nor, with the exception of an unidentified species of Pheidole, did they form satellite nests in the web, as did this species. Many prey which escaped the knock-down threads of the sheet web of A. eximius colonies were captured by ants in the lower web portions which they dominated. Furthermore, prey which were rejected by A. eximius, especially large, heavily sclerotized beetles, were also consumed by this ant. Repeated observations and experiments suggest that C. cf. victima is able to deter A. eximius activity through aerial venom release. Resources lost by A. eximius colonies to ants, especially C. cf. victima, in colonial web area and prey, may pose significant costs and may reduce colony growth.