Implementation of Boundary Elements in Microcomputers

In this chapter we are going to develop some aspects of the implementation of the boundary element method (BEM)in microcomputers. At the moment the BEM is established as a powerful tool for problem-solving and several codes have been developed and maintained on an industrial basis for large computers. It is also well known that one of the more attractive features of the BEM is the reduction of the discretization to the boundary of the domain under study. As drawbacks, we found the non-bandedness of the final matrix, wich is a full asymmetric one, and the computational difficulties related to obtaining the integrals which appear in the influence coefficients. Te reduction in dimensionality is crucial from the point of view of microcomputers, and we believe that it can be used to obtain competitive results against other domain methods. We shall discuss two applications in this chapter. The first one is related to plane linear elastostatic situations, and the second refers to plane potential problems. In the first case we shall present the classical isoparametric BEM approach, using linear elements to represent both the geometry and the variables. The second case shows how to implement a p-adaptive procedure using the BEM. This latter case has not been studied until recently, and we think that the future of the BEM will be related to its development and to the judicious exploitation of the graphics capabilities of modern micros. Some examples will be included to demonstrate the kind of results that can be expected and sections of printouts will show useful details of implementation. In order to broaden their applicability, these printouts have been prepared in Basic, although no doubt other languages may be more appropiate for effective implementation.

Hardware-Based Particle Filter with Evolutionary Resampling Stage

Autonomous systems require, in most of the cases, reasoning and decision-making capabilities. Moreover, the decision process has to occur in real time. Real-time computing means that every situation or event has to have an answer before a temporal deadline. In complex applications, these deadlines are usually in the order of milliseconds or even microseconds if the application is very demanding. In order to comply with these timing requirements, computing tasks have to be performed as fast as possible. The problem arises when computations are no longer simple, but very time-consuming operations. A good example can be found in autonomous navigation systems with visual-tracking submodules where Kalman filtering is the most extended solution. However, in recent years, some interesting new approaches have been developed. Particle filtering, given its more general problem-solving features, has reached an important position in the field. The aim of this thesis is to design, implement and validate a hardware platform that constitutes itself an embedded intelligent system. The proposed system would combine particle filtering and evolutionary computation algorithms to generate intelligent behavior. Traditional approaches to particle filtering or evolutionary computation have been developed in software platforms, including parallel capabilities to some extent. In this work, an additional goal is fully exploiting hardware implementation advantages. By using the computational resources available in a FPGA device, better performance results in terms of computation time are expected. These hardware resources will be in charge of extensive repetitive computations. With this hardware-based implementation, real-time features are also expected.

A Knowledge Model for Automatic Configuration of Traffic Messages

This paper describes a knowledge model for a configuration problem in the do-main of traffic control. The goal of this model is to help traffic engineers in the dynamic selection of a set of messages to be presented to drivers on variable message signals. This selection is done in a real-time context using data recorded by traffic detectors on motorways. The system follows an advanced knowledge-based solution that implements two abstract problem solving methods according to a model-based approach recently proposed in the knowledge engineering field. Finally, the paper presents a discussion about the advantages and drawbacks found for this problem as a consequence of the applied knowledge modeling ap-proach.

A Propose-and-revise System for Real-time Traffic Management

The aim of this paper is to describe an intelligent system for the problem of real time road traffic control. The purpose of the system is to help traffic engineers in the selection of the state of traffic control devices on real time, using data recorded by traffic detectors on motorways. The system follows an advanced knowledge-based approach that implements an abstract generic problem solving method, called propose-and-revise, which was proposed in Artificial Intelligence, within the knowledge engineering field, as a standard cognitive structure oriented to solve configuration design problems. The paper presents the knowledge model of such a system together with the strategy of inference and describes how it was applied for the case of the M-40 urban ring for the city of Madrid.

Terminological Importation for Adapting Reusable Knowledge Representation Components in the KSM Environment

This paper describes the adaptation approach of reusable knowledge representation components used in the KSM environment for the formulation and operationalisation of structured knowledge models. Reusable knowledge representation components in KSM are called primitives of representation. A primitive of representation provides: (1) a knowledge representation formalism (2) a set of tasks that use this knowledge together with several problem-solving methods to carry out these tasks (3) a knowledge acquisition module that provides different services to acquire and validate this knowledge (4) an abstract terminology about the linguistic categories included in the representation language associated to the primitive. Primitives of representation usually are domain independent. A primitive of representation can be adapted to support knowledge in a given domain by importing concepts from this domain. The paper describes how this activity can be carried out by mean of a terminological importation. Informally, a terminological importation partially populates an abstract terminology with concepts taken from a given domain. The information provided by the importation can be used by the acquisition and validation facilities to constraint the classes of knowledge that can be described using the representation formalism according to the domain knowledge. KSM provides the LINK-S language to specify terminological importation from a domain terminology to an abstract one. These terminologies are described in KSM by mean of the CONCEL language. Terminological importation is used to adapt reusable primitives of representation in order to increase the usability degree of such components in these domains. In addition, two primitives of representation can share a common vocabulary by importing common domain CONCEL terminologies (conceptual vocabularies). It is a necessary condition to make possible the interoperability between different, heterogeneous knowledge representation components in the framework of complex knowledge - based architectures.

Knowledge Modelling in Multiagent Systems: The Case of the Management of a National Network

This paper presents the knowledge model of a distributed decision support system, that has been designed for the management of a national network in Ukraine. It shows how advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques (multiagent systems and knowledge modelling) have been applied to solve this real-world decision support problem: on the one hand its distributed nature, implied by different loci of decision-making at the network nodes, suggested to apply a multiagent solution; on the other, due to the complexity of problem-solving for local network administration, it was useful to apply knowledge modelling techniques, in order to structure the different knowledge types and reasoning processes involved. The paper sets out from a description of our particular management problem. Subsequently, our agent model is described, pointing out the local problem-solving and coordination knowledge models. Finally, the dynamics of the approach is illustrated by an example.

ExperNet: An Intelligent Multiagent System for WAN Management

This paper describes ExperNet, an intelligent multi-agent system that was developed under an EU funded project to assist in the management of a large-scale data network. ExperNet assists network operators at various nodes of a WAN to detect and diagnose hardware failures and network traffic problems and suggests the most feasible solution, through a web-based interface. ExperNet is composed by intelligent agents, capable of both local problem solving and social interaction among them for coordinating problem diagnosis and repair. The current network state is captured and maintained by conventional network management and monitoring software components, which have been smoothly integrated into the system through sophisticated information exchange interfaces. For the implementation of the agents, a distributed Prolog system enhanced with networking facilities was developed. The agents��� knowledge base is developed in an extensible and reactive knowledge base system capable of handling multiple types of knowledge representation. ExperNet has been developed, installed and tested successfully in an experimental network zone of Ukraine.

Integrating Generic Competences into Engineering Curricula

The new degrees in Spanish universities generated as a result of the Bologna process, stress a new dimension: the generic competencies to be acquired by university students (leadership, problem solving, respect for the environment, etc.). At Universidad Polite��cnica de Madrid a teaching model was defined for two degrees: Graduate in Computer Engineering and Graduate in Software Engineering. Such model incorporates the training, development and assessment of generic competencies planned in these curricula. The aim of this paper is to describe how this model was implemented in both degrees. The model has three components. The first refers to a set of seven activities for introducing mechanisms for training, development and assessment of generic competencies. The second component aims to coordinate actions that implement the competencies across courses (in space and time). The third component consists of a series of activities to perform quality control. The implementation of generic competencies was carried out in first year courses (first and second semesters), together with the planning for second year courses (third and fourth semesters). We managed to involve a high percentage of first-year courses (80%) and the contacts that have been initiated suggest a high percentage in the second year as well.

Gram��ticas l��gicas: resoluci��n de problemas en lenguaje natural

Esta tesis tiene por objeto estudiar las posibilidades de realizar en castellano tareas relativas a la resoluci��n de problemas con sistemas basados en el conocimiento. En los dos primeros cap��tulos se plantea un an��lisis de la trayectoria seguida por las t��cnicas de tratamiento del lenguaje natural, prestando especial inter��s a los formalismos l��gicos para la comprensi��n del lenguaje. Seguidamente, se plantea una valoraci��n de la situaci��n actual de los sistemas de tratamiento del lenguaje natural. Finalmente, se presenta lo que constituye el n��cleo de este trabajo, un sistema llamado Sirena, que permite realizar tareas de adquisici��n, comprensi��n, recuperaci��n y explicaci��n de conocimiento en castellano con sistemas basados en el conocimiento. Este sistema contiene un subconjunto del castellano amplio pero simple formalizado con una gram��tica l��gica. El significado del conocimiento se basa en la l��gica y ha sido implementado en el lenguaje de programaci��n l��gica Prolog II vS. Palabras clave: Programaci��n L��gica, Comprensi��n del Lenguaje Natural, Resoluci��n de Problemas, Gram��ticas L��gicas, Ling��istica Computacional, Inteligencia Artificial.---ABSTRACT---The purpose of this thesis is to study the possibi1 ities of performing in Spanish problem solving tasks with knowledge based systems. Ule study the development of the techniques for natural language processing with a particular interest in the logical formalisms that have been used to understand natural languages. Then, we present an evaluation of the current state of art in the field of natural language processing systems. Finally, we introduce the main contribution of our work, Sirena a system that allows the adquisition, understanding, retrieval and explanation of knowledge in Spanish with knowledge based systems. Sirena can deal with a large, although simple�� subset of Spanish. This subset has been formalised by means of a logic grammar and the meaning of knowledge is based on logic. Sirena has been implemented in the programming language Prolog II v2. Keywords: Logic Programming, Understanding Natural Language, Problem Solving, Logic Grammars, Cumputational Linguistic, Artificial Intelligence.

Desarrollo de aprendizajes activos en primeros cursos universitarios: Workshop c��nica.

Como ya es conocido, los profesores de Matem��ticas utilizamos los ejemplos como recursos de aprendizaje para ense��ar alg��n contenido matem��tico concreto, de modo que las generalizaciones y abstracciones sean m��s f��cilmente entendidas por los alumnos, pasando de lo concreto a lo abstracto, como otra forma de ense��ar y practicar en Matem��ticas. Esta metodolog��a de trabajo se ve potenciada por el uso de dispositivos m��viles llamados mobile-learning (m-learning) o educaci��n m��vil (educaci��n-m), en espa��ol. Siguiendo esta l��nea de trabajo, se ha realizado el workshop de c��nicas que se presenta en este art��culo, empleando estas nuevas tecnolog��as (TIC) y con el objetivo de desarrollar aprendizajes activos en Geometr��a a trav��s de la resoluci��n de problemas en los primeros cursos de Grado en las ingenier��as. ABSTRACT: As it is already known, math teachers, use examples as learning resources, to teach some specific math contents, so that generalizations and abstractions are more easily understood by students, from concrete to abstract, as another way of Mathematics teaching and training. This methodology is enhanced by the use of mobile devices, called mobile-learning (m-learning) o ���educaci��n m��vil��� (educaci��n-m), in Spanish. Following this strategy, the workshop of conic sections shown in this paper has been carried out, using these new technologies (ICT) and in order to develop active learning in Geometry through problem-solving at the first years of engineering degrees.

Wind tunnel experiments to teach physics

Innovative teaching experimental activities for secondary school students have been developed in order to introduce some aerodynamic concepts, with the aim of making science subjects such as mathematics and physics more attractive. Post-graduate students of Universidad Polit��cnica de Madrid (UPM) and teachers of Deutsche Schule Madrid (DSM) have constructed a small wind tunnel. The main goal has been to provide a tool for secondary school students to become familiar with the scientific method developing curiosity, imagination, initiative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students of DSM have performed wind tunnel experiments, resulting in a successful and amusing experience. The students were able to relate the experimental results obtained with the physic principle of flight, previously explained in class. Evaluations reveal that both, the teacher and the students, considered the experience as interesting and helpful to lead with teaching physics, mathematics and engineering sciences. The teacher observed the strong motivation factor developed for the students to continue learning engineering sciences. Some of the students expressed that this experience had changed their prejudices about physics and mathematics, based only on theoretical approaches.

Aprendizaje del baloncesto en Educaci��n Secundaria utilizando el juego: Una propuesta de Investigaci��n-acci��n.

El baloncesto es un deporte basado en unos principios de juego sencillos y unas exigencias f��sicas y t��cnicas en la iniciaci��n asumibles por todos los alumnos. Ofreciendo las herramientas adecuadas y adaptando las tareas de aprendizaje al contexto se puede conseguir una competencia elevada. Es necesario llevar a cabo una planificaci��n adecuada y una selecci��n de tareas apropiadas. El juego posee unas caracter��sticas que le convierten en un elemento con gran potencial educativo, en especial para Educaci��n F��sica, debido al placer que genera y al espacio que ofrece para expresarse y utilizar el cuerpo. A trav��s de este trabajo se propone una Unidad Did��ctica de Baloncesto vertebrada por el uso del juego como elemento vehicular. La Investigaci��n-acci��n es un proceso que explora directamente sobre el terreno, siendo muy sencillo y pr��ctico para aplicar en el ��mbito educativo. Engloba de manera casi simult��nea el proceso de investigaci��n y el de b��squeda de soluciones. Para analizar el resultado de dicha metodolog��a se exponen los elementos b��sicos para llevar a cabo un trabajo de Investigaci��n-acci��n paralelo y adaptado al Baloncesto y la Unidad Did��ctica. Basketball is a sport based on easy game principles. Every student is capable of reaching physical and technical request for amateur practice. High skills in basketball can be obtained with suitable tools and adapted activities to the current environment. Appropriate planning and tasks are required for that purpose. In education game activities turn to be an option with excellent opportunities, especially for physical education. It provides students a way to express feelings, practice with their body and have fun. The aim of this project is to propose a basketball teaching unit focused on gaming tasks. Participatory action research intervenes directly on the field, simple and practical to be used in educational context. This model links researching and problem solving on the same process. The basic path to perform a participatory action research is given to analyze the results of carrying out the proposed teaching unit.

Educaci��n Superior de la Ingenier��a Industrial en el Per��: propuesta de un modelo educativo desde las competencias

El objetivo del presente trabajo de investigaci��n es dise��ar un Modelo de Educaci��n que permita formar ingenieros industriales en Per�� que sean capaces de enfrentar los retos modernos de fuerte y sostenido crecimiento econ��mico y social. Las necesidades que se han generado a lo largo de los ��ltimos a��os llevan a identificar que una gran carencia es el poco dominio del concepto, naturaleza y gesti��n de un proyecto y la marcada ausencia de habilidades humanas y funcionales al momento de ejercer la profesi��n; entendiendo proyecto como ���Un esfuerzo temporal que se lleva a cabo para crear un producto, servicio o resultado ��nico. La naturaleza temporal de los proyectos indica un principio y un final definidos. El final se alcanza cuando se logran los objetivos del proyecto o cuando se termina el proyecto porque sus objetivos no se cumplir��n o no pueden ser cumplidos, o cuando ya no existe la necesidad que dio origen al proyecto���. los proyectos pueden tener impactos sociales, econ��micos y ambientales susceptibles de perdurar mucho m��s que los propios proyectos.���1. Entonces, formularnos la hip��tesis que es posible tener un modelo educativo para la Ingenier��a Industrial de Per�� que permita y estimule alcanzar estas caracter��sticas tan reclamadas por la sociedad, confiando desde el inicio que su dise��o y empleo tendr�� fuerte repercusi��n tanto en el desarrollo personal de los estudiantes, como en el social y econ��mico, por las habilidades y condiciones que ser��n capaces de desplegar los egresados en sus ��mbitos de acci��n laboral. Para lograr el objetivo se ha hecho una definici��n de la identidad de la universidad latinoamericana y una verificaci��n de si es posible o no tomar modelos y experiencias de otros lugares y trasladarlos con ��xito a escenarios nuevos y distintos. Luego, se han determinado las tendencias m��s fuertes en la formaci��n de ingenieros industriales en los contextos m��s exitosos actualmente. Para definir esas habilidades tan reclamadas por el sector p��blico y privado de la sociedad, se busca y define una codificaci��n de competencias gen��ricas que permite tener un ingeniero moderno bien perfilado para las exigencias globales. Los pasos finales son determinar el Modelo para la Educaci��n Superior de la Ingenier��a Industrial de Per�� desde las Competencias (MESIC) a partir de novedosos enfoques para la educaci��n como la contextualizaci��n, la gesti��n del conocimiento experto y experimentado, el enfoque socioformativo y la definici��n de Aspectos Clave del modelo antes de iniciar una planificaci��n curricular de ingenier��a. Al final se muestra una aplicaci��n del modelo llegando a detalles de definici��n de competencias muy interesantes y a la necesidad de contar con un sistema de aseguramiento de calidad de la gesti��n curricular. Al t��rmino de la investigaci��n concluimos que es posible definir un modelo apropiado para formar ingenieros industriales en Per�� desde las competencias, capaces de enfrentar los modernos retos locales y globales. Tambi��n determinamos que el proceso no puede ser impuesto, debe pasar por un transitorio periodo de adecuaci��n de docentes y alumnos y requiere de compromiso, pues se suele enfocar este cambio como una forma de desestimar todo lo anterior, cuando debe entenderse que son procesos complementarios, ya que los importantes logros con clases magistrales y resoluci��n de problemas son evidentes y se trata de estilos diferentes de encarar la educaci��n. El resultado de la imposici��n puede ser devastador para algunos estudiantes y frustrante para algunos docentes, consecuencias que no se desean y deben evitarse. La aplicaci��n se realiza en una universidad del norte de Per��, la Universidad de Piura, y puede observarse en el ��ltimo cap��tulo de este trabajo. ABSTRACT The main objective of this research is to find an Educational Modell in order to train industrial engineers in Peru who are able to face modern challenges of strong and sustained economic and social growth. Over recent years the generated needs have led to understand that a major weakness in our professionals is the poor skills in project management and the marked absence of functional and human skills when exercising the profession. This diagnose has led to formulate the hypothesis that it is possible to have an educational model for Peru Industrial Engineering that allows and encourages to achieve these features which are claimed by society. A project which we trust will have a strong impact from the beginning on both, personal development of students as well as in the social and economic conditions, considering the skills graduates will be able to deploy in their work fields. To achieve the goal first it was defined the identity of the Latin American university and verified whether it is possible or not to take models and experiences elsewhere and move successfully to new and different scenarios. Then there were determined the strongest trends in the industrial engineers training in currently successful contexts. In order to define these demanded skills by the public and private sectors of society, there are defined a set of generic skills that allows to have a modern engineer well profiled for global context. Considering these elements, a Model for Higher Education in Industrial Engineering from Peru Competence (MESIC)is proposed considering novel approaches to education such as territoriality, skilled and experienced knowledge management, socio - formative approach and set the definition of Key aspects of the model before starting a engineering curricular planning. Finally detailed records of an application of the model is shown through modern learning methodologies, development and assessment of skills and the need to have a quality assurance system for entire curriculum management. Through this research it can be concluded that it is possible to determine an appropriate model to train industrial engineers in Peru from the skills, in order to meet the modern local and global challenges. Results show that the process cannot be imposed, instead it must go through a transitional period of adaptation from teachers and students and requires commitment, focusing that this change usually is a way to dismiss the above, and is important to address that there are obvious achievements on education lectures and problem solving, and it should be understood that they are complementary processes. The result of change imposition can be devastating for some students and frustrating for some teachers, unwanted consequences and they should be avoided. The proposed model is applied at a university in northern Peru, the University of Piura, and the results can be seen in the last chapter of this work.

A avalia����o formativa por meio do feedback escrito no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de alunos de 2.�� ciclo em matem��tica

Relat��rio final apresentado para a obten����o do grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.�� ciclo e do 2.�� ciclo do ensino b��sico

QUALIDADE DE VIDA E ESTRAT��GIAS DE ENFRENTAMENTO DE MULHERES COM E SEM LINFEDEMA AP��S C��NCER DE MAMA

O linfedema no membro superior �� uma complica����o inerente ao tratamento de c��ncer de mama. Caracterizado pelo aumento do volume do membro, leva ��s limita����es f��sicas e funcionais, e impacto negativo no ��mbito psicol��gico e social. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a qualidade de vida e seus dom��nios, as estrat��gias de enfrentamento frente ao c��ncer de mama, e a correla����o entre essas vari��veis. Este estudo foi realizado em um centro de sa��de dedicado ��s mulheres, por quatro meses. Os instrumentos de avalia����o foram: question��rio de caracteriza����o geral e espec��fico do c��ncer de mama, perimetria dos membros superiores; question��rios de qualidade de vida da Organiza����o Europ��ia de Pesquisa e Tratamento do C��ncer, EORTC QLQ-30 e BR-23; e Invent��rio de Estrat��gias de Coping. Foram entrevistadas 82 mulheres, idade m��dia de 57,4 anos (DV12,3), submetidas a tratamento cir��rgico de mama unilateral e esvaziamento axilar, sem met��stase. O linfedema apresentou-se em 39,03% (32) e parece n��o interferir muito na qualidade de vida das mulheres p��s-c��ncer de mama, sendo a fun����o social a mais prejudicada. Sintomas relacionados �� quimioterapia e a mama incomodam as mulheres de ambos grupos, por��m os sintomas relacionados aos bra��os foram estatisticamente maiores nas portadoras de linfedema. As estrat��gias mais utilizadas pelas entrevistadas para enfrentar o c��ncer foram a reavalia����o, resolu����o de problemas, fuga, suporte social e autocontrole, somente o autocontrole foi estatisticamente maior nas mulheres com linfedema. As estrat��gias de resolu����o de problemas, autocontrole e baixo suporte social podem ter colaborado para o desencadeamento do linfedema. Conclui-se que o uso de estrat��gias ativas e positivas para enfrentar o c��ncer de mama parece resultar na boa adapta����o psicossocial