Rapid prototyping of ubiquitous computing environments

Ubiquitous computing raises new usability challenges that cut across design and development. We are particularly interested in environments enhanced with sensors, public displays and personal devices. How can prototypes be used to explore the users' mobility and interaction, both explicitly and implicitly, to access services within these environments? Because of the potential cost of development and design failure, these systems must be explored using early assessment techniques and versions of the systems that could disrupt if deployed in the target environment. These techniques are required to evaluate alternative solutions before making the decision to deploy the system on location. This is crucial for a successful development, that anticipates potential user problems, and reduces the cost of redesign. This thesis reports on the development of a framework for the rapid prototyping and analysis of ubiquitous computing environments that facilitates the evaluation of design alternatives. It describes APEX, a framework that brings together an existing 3D Application Server with a modelling tool. APEX-based prototypes enable users to navigate a virtual world simulation of the envisaged ubiquitous environment. By this means users can experience many of the features of the proposed design. Prototypes and their simulations are generated in the framework to help the developer understand how the user might experience the system. These are supported through three different layers: a simulation layer (using a 3D Application Server); a modelling layer (using a modelling tool) and a physical layer (using external devices and real users). APEX allows the developer to move between these layers to evaluate different features. It supports exploration of user experience through observation of how users might behave with the system as well as enabling exhaustive analysis based on models. The models support checking of properties based on patterns. These patterns are based on ones that have been used successfully in interactive system analysis in other contexts. They help the analyst to generate and verify relevant properties. Where these properties fail then scenarios suggested by the failure provide an important aid to redesign.

Brachyuran soft-bottom assemblage from marine shallow waters in the southeastern Brazilian littoral.

The present investigation examined the assemblages of brachyuran crabs in three bays of southeastern So Paulo State, analyzing the numbers of species and individuals, biomass, and diversity. The crabs were collected monthly in Ubatumirim, Ubatuba, and Mar Virado bays in the Ubatuba region over 2 years (1998 and 1999). In each bay, six tows were made from a fishing boat. A total of 39,820 specimens, representing 11 super families, 39 genera, and 65 species of brachyurans, were obtained. The mean number of specimens and biomass varied seasonally, which can be mainly related with the population tendencies of two dominant species in the area (Callinectes ornatus and Hepatus pudibundus). The highest numbers of individuals and species were found in Ubatuba Bay, followed by Ubatumirim and Mar Virado. The highest diversity index was estimated for Ubatumirim (H' = 2.44), followed by Ubatuba (H' = 2.37) and Mar Virado (H' = 1.86). In general, the coastal region supported high abundance and species richness concerning brachyurans, with high diversity indices, probably because of its more-heterogeneous substrate, which may afford more refuges for certain species. These results suggested that environmental conditions in this area, although they showed certain differences, are favorable for the establishment and development of a diverse brachyuran guild.

Openability of soft drinks PET packagings

Studies on packaging accessibility are still incipient in Brazil. Many of these packagings can represent a challenge to users, whether due to non-informative labels, tricky tabs or seals, or even those that need strength to open. This paper brings a simple test to determine the necessary torque force to open PET bottles, and to predict the amount of users that could not open it. The findings suggest that a considerable amount of users could not open it or would have some difficulties to exert the necessary force.

Metodologia para adaptação de microarquiteturas microprogramadas soft-core à uma ISA padrão: estudo do impacto sobre a complexidade de hardware para o padrão MIPS

In academia, it is common to create didactic processors, facing practical disciplines in the area of Hardware Computer and can be used as subjects in software platforms, operating systems and compilers. Often, these processors are described without ISA standard, which requires the creation of compilers and other basic software to provide the hardware / software interface and hinder their integration with other processors and devices. Using reconfigurable devices described in a HDL language allows the creation or modification of any microarchitecture component, leading to alteration of the functional units of data path processor as well as the state machine that implements the control unit even as new needs arise. In particular, processors RISP enable modification of machine instructions, allowing entering or modifying instructions, and may even adapt to a new architecture. This work, as the object of study addressing educational soft-core processors described in VHDL, from a proposed methodology and its application on two processors with different complexity levels, shows that it s possible to tailor processors for a standard ISA without causing an increase in the level hardware complexity, ie without significant increase in chip area, while its level of performance in the application execution remains unchanged or is enhanced. The implementations also allow us to say that besides being possible to replace the architecture of a processor without changing its organization, RISP processor can switch between different instruction sets, which can be expanded to toggle between different ISAs, allowing a single processor become adaptive hybrid architecture, which can be used in embedded systems and heterogeneous multiprocessor environments

A bounded upwinding scheme for computing convection-dominated transport problems

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

Increasing Moodle Resources Through Cloud Computing

The increase of higher education offer is a basic need of developed and emerging countries. It requires increasing and ongoing investments. The offer of higher education, by means of Distance Learning, based on the Internet, is one of the most efficient manners for the massification of this offer, as it allows ample coverage and lower costs. In this scenario, we highlight Moodle, an open and low-cost environment for Distance Learning. Its utilization may be amplified through the adoption of an emerging Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Cloud Computing, which allows the virtualization of Moodle sites, cutting costs, facilitating management and increasing its service capacity. This article diffuses a public tool, opened and free, for automatic conversion of Moodle sites, such that these may be hosted on Azure: the Cloud Computing environment of Microsoft.

Improvement of electrical properties of Sr-modified (Pb,Ca)TiO3 thin films grown by soft chemistry route

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

Lanthanum-doped Bi4Ti3O12 prepared by the soft chemical method: Rietveld analysis and piezoelectric properties

Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT) thin films and powders with x ranging from 0 to 0.75 were prepared by the polymeric precursor solution. The effect of lanthanum on the structure of BIT powders was investigated by Rietveld Method. The increase of lanthanum content does not lead to any secondary phases. Orthorhombicity of the bismuth titanate (BIT) crystal lattice decreased with the increase of lanthanum content due the reduction of a/b ratio. The BLT films show piezoelectric coefficients of 45, 19, 16 and 10 pm/V for x = 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75, respectively. The piezoelectric response is strongly reduced by the amount of lanthanum added to the system. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Effect of the microwave oven on structural, morphological and electrical properties of SrBi4Ti4O15 thin films grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by a soft chemical method

Thin films of SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBTi), a prototype of the Bi-layered-ferroelectric oxide family, were obtained by a soft chemical method and crystallized in a domestic microwave oven. For comparison, films were also crystallized in a conventional method at 700 degrees C for 2 h. Structural and morphological characterization of the SBTi thin films were investigated by Xray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Using platinum coated silicon substrates, the ferroelectric properties of the films were determined. Remanent polarization P-r and a coercive field E-c values of 5.1 mu C/cm(2) and 135 kV/cm for the film thermally treated in the microwave oven and 5.4 mu C/cm(2) and 85 kv/cm for the film thermally treated in conventional furnace were found. The films thermally treated in the conventional furnace exhibited excellent fatigue-free characteristics up to 10(10) switching cycles indicating that SBTi thin films are a promising material for use in non-volatile memories. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhanced ferroelectric properties of La-substituted BiFeO3 thin films on LaSrCoO3/Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si (100) substrates prepared by the soft chemical method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Electric and dielectric behavior of CaCu3Ti4O12-based thin films obtained by soft chemical method

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

Colonisation of soft lining materials by micro-organisms

Objective:This study evaluated the in vitro adherence of pathogenic micro-organisms, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to soft lining materials and their inhibitory effect on these micro-organisms.Materials and Methods:To measure adherence, specimens of Molloplast B and Ufi Gel P were inoculated [107 colony-forming units per millimetre (cfu/ml)] with TSB media containing the micro-organisms. To determine the number of micro-organisms in the 10-2-10-5 dilutions, 25 mu l of the suspension were transferred to plates of selective media. Colony counts of each specimen were quantified (cfu/ml). The surface roughness was measured with a perfilometer to assess the relationship between the adherence of micro-organisms and surface roughness of each material. For the inhibition test, specimens of materials were placed in agar plates inoculated individually with the micro-organisms. After 48 h, the inhibition zones around the specimens were measured.Results:None of the materials exhibited inhibition zones. The number of cfu/ml of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were significantly greater than C. albicans for both materials. The Ufi Gel P exhibited greater adherence of C. albicans than Molloplast B. No correlation was observed between the adherence of micro-organisms and surface roughness.Conclusion:The surface roughness of the materials is not the only factor governing micro-organism adherence.

Photoelastic Analysis of Implant-Retained and Conventional Obturator Prostheses With Different Attachment Systems and Soft Relining

Complete and partial loss of maxillary bone may jeopardize oral physiology and generate complications as oral-sinus-nasal communication. Palatal obturator prostheses are a treatment alternative for rehabilitation of these patients. The aim of this study was to assess stress distribution, through photoelasticity, on palatal obturator prostheses associated with different attachment systems (o'ring, bar clip, and o'ring/bar clip) of implants and submitted to relining. Two photoelastic models were fabricated according to an experimental maxillary model with oral-sinus-nasal communication. One model did not present implants, whereas the other included 2 implants with 13.0 mm in length in the left ridge. Four colorless maxillary obturator prostheses were fabricated and relined with soft silicone. One of these prostheses presented no attachment system, whereas the remaining prostheses included attachment systems adapted to the implants. The assembly (model/attachment system/prosthesis) was positioned in a circular polariscope during loading with 100 N at 10 mm/s. The results were based on observation during the experiment and photographic records of stress on the photoelastic model. The bar clip system exhibited the highest stress concentration followed by o'ring/bar clip and o'ring systems. The attachment systems presented different stress distribution with greater concentration surrounding the implants and homogenous stress distribution on the photoelastic model without implants. The highest concentration of fringes occurred, in ascending order, with o'ring, o'ring/bar clip, and bar clip systems.