Prototipação e usabilidade em interfaces para aplicações móveis

Como já é de conhecimento de todos as tecnologias móveis permitem aceder à informação em qualquer lugar e em qualquer altura. Por isso, essas tecnologias móveis podem facilitar o dia-a-dia dos utilizadores, e tornar mais eficiente e eficaz a prestação de serviços. Os profissionais da universidade necessitam de partilhar e aceder à informação adequada para auxiliar nos serviços frequentes do dia-a-dia. Assim a existência de uma interface que interage e disponibilize as diversas informações pode trazer grandes benefícios. Analisando ainda dentro desse contexto existe actualmente alguma falha no sector académico, visto que ainda existe dificuldades em aceder à informação a quem dela necessita, antes pelo contrário, originando atrasos nos afazeres do dia-a-dia. Em muitos casos a introdução de tecnologias pode evitar a ocorrência de problemas. No entanto os profissionais têm de estar preparados para a evolução dos actuais processos nos serviços académicos. Desenvolver um protótipo para aplicações móveis nesta área constitui um desafio, pois não basta somente conhecer os processos realizados pelos potenciais utilizadores, sendo igualmente necessário assegurar que funcionam do mesmo modo quando são executados através de um equipamento com características muito próprias, como os dispositivos de computação móvel.

Quantitative comparison of simulations of seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous poro-elastic media involving fluid-solid interfaces and in equivalent visco-elastic solids

There is increasing evidence to suggest that the presence of mesoscopic heterogeneities constitutes the predominant attenuation mechanism at seismic frequencies. As a consequence, centimeter-scale perturbations of the subsurface physical properties should be taken into account for seismic modeling whenever detailed and accurate responses of the target structures are desired. This is, however, computationally prohibitive since extremely small grid spacings would be necessary. A convenient way to circumvent this problem is to use an upscaling procedure to replace the heterogeneous porous media by equivalent visco-elastic solids. In this work, we solve Biot's equations of motion to perform numerical simulations of seismic wave propagation through porous media containing mesoscopic heterogeneities. We then use an upscaling procedure to replace the heterogeneous poro-elastic regions by homogeneous equivalent visco-elastic solids and repeat the simulations using visco-elastic equations of motion. We find that, despite the equivalent attenuation behavior of the heterogeneous poro-elastic medium and the equivalent visco-elastic solid, the seismograms may differ due to diverging boundary conditions at fluid-solid interfaces, where there exist additional options for the poro-elastic case. In particular, we observe that the seismograms agree for closed-pore boundary conditions, but differ significantly for open-pore boundary conditions. This is an interesting result, which has potentially important implications for wave-equation-based algorithms in exploration geophysics involving fluid-solid interfaces, such as, for example, wave field decomposition.

Contribución al diseño de GNSS-SDR, un receptor GNSS de código abierto

[ANGLÈS] This project introduces GNSS-SDR, an open source Global Navigation Satellite System software-defined receiver. The lack of reconfigurability of current commercial-of-the-shelf receivers and the advent of new radionavigation signals and systems make software receivers an appealing approach to design new architectures and signal processing algorithms. With the aim of exploring the full potential of this forthcoming scenario with a plurality of new signal structures and frequency bands available for positioning, this paper describes the software architecture design and provides details about its implementation, targeting a multiband, multisystem GNSS receiver. The result is a testbed for GNSS signal processing that allows any kind of customization, including interchangeability of signal sources, signal processing algorithms, interoperability with other systems, output formats, and the offering of interfaces to all the intermediate signals, parameters and variables. The source code release under the GNU General Public License (GPL) secures practical usability, inspection, and continuous improvement by the research community, allowing the discussion based on tangible code and the analysis of results obtained with real signals. The source code is complemented by a development ecosystem, consisting of a website (http://gnss-sdr.org), as well as a revision control system, instructions for users and developers, and communication tools. The project shows in detail the design of the initial blocks of the Signal Processing Plane of the receiver: signal conditioner, the acquisition block and the receiver channel, the project also extends the functionality of the acquisition and tracking modules of the GNSS-SDR receiver to track the new Galileo E1 signals available. Each section provides a theoretical analysis, implementation details of each block and subsequent testing to confirm the calculations with both synthetically generated signals and with real signals from satellites in space.

New reference tables and user-friendly Internet application for predicted heart weights.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of normal heart weight ranges is important information for pathologists. Comparing the measured heart weight to reference values is one of the key elements used to determine if the heart is pathological, as heart weight increases in many cardiac pathologies. The current reference tables are old and in need of an update. AIMS: The purposes of this study are to establish new reference tables for normal heart weights in the local population and to determine the best predictive factor for normal heart weight. We also aim to provide technical support to calculate the predictive normal heart weight. METHODS: The reference values are based on retrospective analysis of adult Caucasian autopsy cases without any obvious pathology that were collected at the University Centre of Legal Medicine in Lausanne from 2007 to 2011. We selected 288 cases. The mean age was 39.2 years. There were 118 men and 170 women. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship of heart weight to body weight, body height, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA). RESULTS: The heart weight increased along with an increase in all the parameters studied. The mean heart weight was greater in men than in women at a similar body weight. BSA was determined to be the best predictor for normal heart weight. New reference tables for predicted heart weights are presented as a web application that enable the comparison of heart weights observed at autopsy with the reference values. CONCLUSIONS: The reference tables for heart weight and other organs should be systematically updated and adapted for the local population. Web access and smartphone applications for the predicted heart weight represent important investigational tools.

Programació d'una aplicació gràfica per l'anàlisi de senyals usant LDB (Local Discriminant Bases) i MLDB (Modified LDB)

Tot seguit presentem un entorn per analitzar senyals de tot tipus amb LDB (Local Discriminant Bases) i MLDB (Modified Local Discriminant Bases). Aquest entorn utilitza funcions desenvolupades en el marc d’una tesi en fase de desenvolupament. Per entendre part d’aquestes funcions es requereix un nivell de coneixement avançat de processament de senyals. S’han extret dels treballs realitzats per Naoki Saito [3], que s’han agafat com a punt de partida per la realització de l’algorisme de la tesi doctoral no finalitzada de Jose Antonio Soria. Aquesta interfície desenvolupada accepta la incorporació de nous paquets i funcions. Hem deixat un menú preparat per integrar Sinus IV packet transform i Cosine IV packet transform, tot i que també podem incorporar-n’hi altres. L’aplicació consta de dues interfícies, un Assistent i una interfície principal. També hem creat una finestra per importar i exportar les variables desitjades a diferents entorns. Per fer aquesta aplicació s’han programat tots els elements de les finestres, en lloc d’utilitzar el GUIDE (Graphical User Interface Development Enviroment) de MATLAB, per tal que sigui compatible entre les diferents versions d’aquest programa. En total hem fet 73 funcions en la interfície principal (d’aquestes, 10 pertanyen a la finestra d’importar i exportar) i 23 en la de l’Assistent. En aquest treball només explicarem 6 funcions i les 3 de creació d’aquestes interfícies per no fer-lo excessivament extens. Les funcions que explicarem són les més importants, ja sigui perquè s’utilitzen sovint, perquè, segons la complexitat McCabe, són les més complicades o perquè són necessàries pel processament del senyal. Passem cada entrada de dades per part de l’usuari per funcions que ens detectaran errors en aquesta entrada, com eliminació de zeros o de caràcters que no siguin números, com comprovar que són enters o que estan dins dels límits màxims i mínims que li pertoquen.

Disseny, implementació i avaluació d'un joc tangible basat en puzles per a l'aprenentatge d'arquitectura d'ordinadors

Actualment existeix una falta d'interès per part dels estudiants a l'àrea de les enginyeries en Tecnologies de la Informació i la Comunicació (TIC) que es pot veure reflectida en el descens de les matriculacions universitàries en aquest àmbit. Aquest fet està relacionat amb que la nova generació d‟estudiants està constantment en contacte amb tota mena d'aparells tecnològics estimulants i a l‟hora de l‟estudi poden sofrir una falta d‟interès per l‟ús d‟una metodologia d'aprenentatge més tradicional. En aquest sentit s'ha investigat que l‟ús de jocs com a eina educativa pot ser una bona solució per afrontar aquesta falta d'interès. No obstant això, actualment no existeixen gaires jocs destinats a aprendre conceptes relacionats amb les enginyeries TIC i que proporcionin als estudiants els mecanismes d'ajuda necessaris per donar-los suport durant l'aprenentatge d‟aquests nous conceptes. En aquest projecte es desenvoluparà un joc educatiu per a estudiants amb l‟objectiu de proporcionar uns primers coneixements sobre les TIC. Per una banda, per al disseny del joc s‟utilitzarà un model conceptual que defineix els elements necessaris per a dissenyar jocs basats en resoldre puzles. A més, aquest model conceptual permet el disseny no només de jocs per a PCs, sinó també de jocs tangibles i exploratius (mitjançant tecnologia mòbil). En el nostre cas, ens centrarem en la implementació d‟un joc tangible. Per altra banda, pel que fa a la implementació, tindrem en compte l‟estàndard educatiu d‟IMS Learning Design, demostrant d‟aquesta manera que aquest tipus de jocs es poden beneficiar dels avantatges que aporten els estàndards educatius. Per tant, en aquest PFC es dissenyarà i implementarà un joc tangible basat en puzles dintre de l‟àrea d‟arquitectura d‟ordinadors. El joc constarà de tres mini-jocs que es presentaran com jocs de realitat augmentada amb el suport d‟un ordinador i unes peces físiques amb les que interactuaran els usuaris. El sistema proporcionarà un sistema d‟ajuda i un sistema de puntuació. Per últim, avaluarem el joc en un centre escolar amb estudiants de 4t d‟ESO amb la finalitat d'analitzar les valoracions dels estudiants respecte el joc i les pistes proporcionades.

User cost of capital with delayed investment grants

The usual assumption when considering investment grants is that grant payments are automatic when investments are undertaken. However, evidence from case studies shows that there can exist some time lag until funds are received by granted firms. In this paper the effects of delays in grant payments on the optimal investment policy of the firm are analyzed. It is shown how these delays lead not only to a higher financing cost but to an effective reduction in the investment grant rate, and in some cases, how benefits from investment grants could be canceled due to interactions with tax effects.

Growth of unstable interfaces in disordered media

The effects of a disordered medium in the growth of unstable interfaces are studied by means of two local models with multiplicative and additive quenched disorder, respectively. For short times and large pushing the multiplicative quenched disorder is equivalent to a time-dependent noise. In this regime, the linear dispersion relation contains a destabilizing contribution introduced by the noise. For long times, the interface always gets pinned. We model the systematics of the pinned shapes by means of an effective nonlinear model. These results show good agreement with numerical simulations. For the additive noise we find numerically that a depinning transition occurs.

Magnetoresistance at artificial interfaces in the itinerant SrRuO3 ferromagnet

The magnetoresistance across interfaces in the itinerant ferromagnetic oxide SrRuO3 have been studied. To define appropriately the interfaces, epitaxial thin films have been grown on bicrystalline and laser-patterned SrTiO3 substrates. Comparison is made with results obtained on similar experiments using the double-exchange ferromagnetic oxide La2/3Sr1/3MnO3. It is found that in SrRuO3, interfaces induce a substantial negative magnetoresistance, although no traces of the low-field spin tunneling magnetoresistance are found. We discuss these results on the basis of the distinct degree of spin polarization in ruthenates and manganites and the different nature of the surface magnetic layer formed at interfaces.

User cost of capital with delayed investment grants

The usual assumption when considering investment grants is that grant payments are automatic when investments are undertaken. However, evidence from case studies shows that there can exist some time lag until funds are received by granted firms. In this paper the effects of delays in grant payments on the optimal investment policy of the firm are analyzed. It is shown how these delays lead not only to a higher financing cost but to an effective reduction in the investment grant rate, and in some cases, how benefits from investment grants could be canceled due to interactions with tax effects.

The Raccoon River Valley Trail user study: summary and recommendations,1992.

This study is a concise summary of a study of trail users on the Raccoon River Valley Trail commissioned by the Dallas County Conservation Board. It provides information associated with natural and cultural resources.

Iowa DOT staff waterway user charge proposal,1976.

The Iowa DOT reviewed Corps of Engineers accounting records to determine the costs of operating and maintaining a 300 mile section of the Mississippi River. This document reviews the details the study.