Simulazione di finger tapping attraverso un modello neurale

Il seguente elaborato ha lo scopo di analizzare, attraverso modelli neuro-computazionali, le possibili alterazioni delle risposte in pazienti con malattia di Parkinson, sia indotte da alterazioni del livello di dopamina, sia indotte da modificazioni sinaptiche. Il punto chiave per comprendere i sintomi di PD e il loro deterioramento temporale si deve cercare nel rapporto tra l'attività dei neuroni in BG (in particolare nello striato) e i livelli di dopamina (o levodopa) nel cervello. Di conseguenza, l'obiettivo di questo elaborato è quello di quantificare la connessione tra i livelli di levodopa e performance del finger tapping per mezzo di modelli biologici e simulazioni al computer.

Genometa - A Fast and Accurate Classifier for Short Metagenomic Shotgun Reads

Metagenomic studies use high-throughput sequence data to investigate microbial communities in situ. However, considerable challenges remain in the analysis of these data, particularly with regard to speed and reliable analysis of microbial species as opposed to higher level taxa such as phyla. We here present Genometa, a computationally undemanding graphical user interface program that enables identification of bacterial species and gene content from datasets generated by inexpensive high-throughput short read sequencing technologies. Our approach was first verified on two simulated metagenomic short read datasets, detecting 100% and 94% of the bacterial species included with few false positives or false negatives. Subsequent comparative benchmarking analysis against three popular metagenomic algorithms on an Illumina human gut dataset revealed Genometa to attribute the most reads to bacteria at species level (i.e. including all strains of that species) and demonstrate similar or better accuracy than the other programs. Lastly, speed was demonstrated to be many times that of BLAST due to the use of modern short read aligners. Our method is highly accurate if bacteria in the sample are represented by genomes in the reference sequence but cannot find species absent from the reference. This method is one of the most user-friendly and resource efficient approaches and is thus feasible for rapidly analysing millions of short reads on a personal computer.

Utilização de um aplicativo de simulação computacional na avaliação de desempenho térmico de protótipo de habitação de interesse social (his)

This Masters Degree dissertation seeks to make a comparative study of internal air temperature data, simulated through the thermal computer application DesignBuilder 1.2, and data registered in loco through HOBO® Temp Data Logger, in a Social Housing Prototype (HIS), located at the Central Campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte UFRN. The prototype was designed and built seeking strategies of thermal comfort recommended for the local climate where the study was carried out, and built with panels of cellular concrete by Construtora DoisA, a collaborator of research project REPESC Rede de Pesquisa em Eficiência Energética de Sistemas Construtivos (Research Network on Energy Efficiency of Construction Systems), an integral part of Habitare program. The methodology employed carefully examined the problem, reviewed the bibliography, analyzing the major aspects related to computer simulations for thermal performance of buildings, such as climate characterization of the region under study and users thermal comfort demands. The DesignBuilder 1.2 computer application was used as a simulation tool, and theoretical alterations were carried out in the prototype, then they were compared with the parameters of thermal comfort adopted, based on the area s current technical literature. Analyses of the comparative studies were performed through graphical outputs for a better understanding of air temperature amplitudes and thermal comfort conditions. The data used for the characterization of external air temperature were obtained from the Test Reference Year (TRY), defined for the study area (Natal-RN). Thus the author also performed comparative studies for TRY data registered in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, at weather station Davis Precision Station, located at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais INPE-CRN (National Institute of Space Research), in a neighboring area of UFRN s Central Campus. The conclusions observed from the comparative studies performed among computer simulations, and the local records obtained from the studied prototype, point out that the simulations performed in naturally ventilated buildings is quite a complex task, due to the applications limitations, mainly owed to the complexity of air flow phenomena, the influence of comfort conditions in the surrounding areas and climate records. Lastly, regarding the use of the application DesignBuilder 1.2 in the present study, one may conclude that it is a good tool for computer simulations. However, it needs some adjustments to improve reliability in its use. There is a need for continued research, considering the dedication of users to the prototype, as well as the thermal charges of the equipment, in order to check sensitivity

Software para apoio à gestão de empresas recorrendo a Cloud Computing

Dissertação apresentada ao Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Desenvolvimento de Software e Sistemas Interativos, realizada sob a orientação científica do Doutor Fernando Reinaldo Silva Garcia Ribeiro e do Doutor José Carlos Meireles Monteiro Metrôlho, Professores Adjuntos da Unidade Técnico-Científica de Informática da Escola Superior de Tecnologia do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco.

Organización financiera para la administración de fondos de las Asociaciones de Municipios, de la Zona Paracentral a investigarse en el periodo de mayo 2012 a mayo 2013

Esta investigación está dirigida a la Administración de Fondos de los diferentes tipos de Asociatividad Municipal: Asociación Municipal, Asociación de Municipios, Asociaciones de Municipalidades y Micro-Regiones de la Zona Paracentral. Los tipos de Asociatividad Municipal a los que se hace referencia en esta investigación administran recursos y obligaciones del sector público, por tanto son sujetos de derechos, atribuciones, y deberes propios, los que en conjunto conforman el ente contable gubernamental. Para el control, organización y registro de las diferentes transacciones de estas instituciones únicamente podrá realizarse en el Sistema de Contabilidad Gubernamental de los Entes (SICGE), aplicación informática proporcionada por el Ministerio de Hacienda. Para conocer el funcionamiento del control interno institucional se realizó un estudio a través de entrevista, encuestas y observación de los procesos, con el objeto de realizar un diagnóstico situacional sobre los procedimientos de controles aplicados. El control interno institucional fomenta la seguridad razonable en las cifras, oportunidad y consistencia en la información financiera, fundamental para la toma de decisiones. Con el objeto de ayudar al fortalecimiento institucional de las mancomunadas se incluye una propuesta de procedimientos de control interno financiero contables, con sus herramientas de control ofimatizadas, diseñados para la administración de los fondos de las Asociaciones de Municipios, que por ser entes contables, es preciso que cada mancomunidad cuente con su propio control interno financiero, que servirá para la transparencia de la gestión y la confiabilidad de la información financiera. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research is about at the Fund Management of different types of Municipal Associativity: Municipal Association, Association of Municipalities, Associations of Municipalities and Micro-Regions Paracentral Zone. Municipal Associative types referred to in this investigation about manage resources and obligations of the public sector, so they are subjects of rights, powers, and duties, which together make up the government accounting entity. For control, organization and registration of the several transactions of these institutions may only take place in the Government Accounting System of the Entities (SICGE) for acronym is spanish, computer application provided by the Ministry of Finance. For the functioning of the institutional internal control study was conducted through interviews, surveys and observation of processes in order to conduct a situational analysis on the procedure applied control. The Constitutional internal control promotes reasonable safety in numbers, timeliness and consistency financial information, critical for taking decision. In order to help the institutional strengthening of the asocitiation municipal is included a proposed of procedures of financial-accounting internal control, with its office automatization tools, which is designed for the administration of found the Association of Municipalities (political division of several cities), who is Gubernamental accounting entity, each association must have its own financial internal control, which will serve for management transparency and reliability of financial information.

Aplicación informática interactiva sobre la promoción de la Ley de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (LEPINA), orientada a estudiantes de primero, segundo y tercer ciclo de los Centros Educativos del Municipio de San Vicente, Departamento de San Vicente

Este documento describe una investigación, para identificar el desconocimiento de los estudiantes de primero a noveno grado de los Centros Escolares del municipio de San Vicente, sobre la LEPINA (Ley de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia); y a su vez el desarrollo de una aplicación informática interactiva para divulgar dicha ley. La aplicación consta de tres módulos (Primero, Segundo y Tercer Ciclo), los cuales incluyen diversas actividades acordes al nivel académico de los estudiantes, para que conozcan sus derechos y deberes. Finalizada la investigación se comprobó que los estudiantes desconocen la LEPINA, por lo que la aplicación constituye una herramienta importante en la divulgación de dicha ley, ya que además, el contenido de la aplicación fue aprobado por la Sub dirección de políticas del CONNA (Consejo Nacional de la Niñez y Adolescencia). SUMMARY. This document describes a research to identify the ignorance of students from first to ninth grade of schools in the municipality of San Vicente, about the LEPINA (Law of Integral Protection of the Childhood and Adolescence); and also the development of an interactive computer application to disseminate this law. The application consists of three modules (First, Second and Third Cycle), which include various activities according to the academic level of the students, so they know their rights and duties. After the investigation it was found that students do not know the LEPINA, so the application is an important tool in the dissemination of this law, as also the content of the computer application was approved by the Subdirection of policies CONNA (National Council of the Childhood and Adolescence).

Proposta metodológica de criação de um observatório municipal de desporto, na administração pública local

Introdução e Objectivos: As organizações necessitam de dados para tomar decisões, necessitam de elementos que sirvam de base à resolução de problemas ou à formulação de um juízo. Necessitam de um índice, de uma informação objectiva, disponível para qualquer indivíduo a manipular de acordo com o tipo de análise que pretende efectuar. Temos cada vez mais de nos preocupar em estar devidamente informados e estabelecer as relações mais vantajosas para a nossa organização e para o mercado onde actuamos. Irá implicar a utilização de distintos modelos de análise e instrumentos de recolha de dados, de forma a criar uma base de informação útil aos vários organismos (municipais e nacionais), que projectam as políticas desportivas a desenvolver a nível local e nacional. Com a presente investigação, pretendemos propor um Modelo de Observatório do Desporto e das Actividades Complementares associado a um Sistema de Informação Desportivo, que permita ao poder local (Autarquias), proceder ao levantamento, sempre que necessário, das evoluções concelhias do mercado desportivo, para que de uma forma sustentada, criem e desenvolvam políticas desportivas locais que melhor se ajustem à sua realidade e que sirvam de base à criação da Conta Satélite do Desporto. Material e Métodos: O modelo será testado no concelho de Odivelas, inserido na estrutura da CM Odivelas, sendo necessário a inquirição dos clubes do concelho (apenas os clubes com actividade desportiva activa), numa 1ª fase, e numa 2ª fase, as empresas que lhe dão suporte. Os presidentes e directores de ambas as organizações serão os alvos da aplicação do questionário informático e/ou questionário em suporte papel, de acordo com as realidades e características de cada clube e empresa. Os dados recolhidos serão tratados tratados através do software da aplicação informática que foi criada especificamente para o efeito e que permitirá a exportação de dados para outros suportes informáticos. A própria aplicação irá permitir a construção e apresentação de relatórios de acordo com os requisitos solicitados. Resultados: O objectivo geral do estudo foi alcansado com a construção de um Modelo de Observatório Municipal do Desporto, baseado numa proposta de Sector do Desporto e de Conta Satélite do Desporto, tendo por base o estudo de caso na Câmara Municipal de Odivelas. Os objectivos específicos prenderam-se com a construção de instrumentos de recolha de dados para: - identificar os serviços desportivos e de complemento desportivo prestados no concelho de Odivelas; - identificar as organizações que prestam serviços desportivos e de Proposta Metodológica de Criação de um Observatório Municipal de Desporto, na Administração Pública Local complemento ao desporto; Os dados recolhidos terão de ser cruzados com a informação já existente, mas que se encontra dispersa pelas várias estruturas da CMO, de forma a permitir realizar o “levantamento” dos valores económicos gerados pelas actividades desportivas dos clubes, colectividades e empresas prestadoras de serviços e identificar as lacunas de serviços necessários aos clubes e colectividades não existentes no concelho.

Utilização de um aplicativo de simulação computacional na avaliação de desempenho térmico de protótipo de habitação de interesse social (his)

This Masters Degree dissertation seeks to make a comparative study of internal air temperature data, simulated through the thermal computer application DesignBuilder 1.2, and data registered in loco through HOBO® Temp Data Logger, in a Social Housing Prototype (HIS), located at the Central Campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte UFRN. The prototype was designed and built seeking strategies of thermal comfort recommended for the local climate where the study was carried out, and built with panels of cellular concrete by Construtora DoisA, a collaborator of research project REPESC Rede de Pesquisa em Eficiência Energética de Sistemas Construtivos (Research Network on Energy Efficiency of Construction Systems), an integral part of Habitare program. The methodology employed carefully examined the problem, reviewed the bibliography, analyzing the major aspects related to computer simulations for thermal performance of buildings, such as climate characterization of the region under study and users thermal comfort demands. The DesignBuilder 1.2 computer application was used as a simulation tool, and theoretical alterations were carried out in the prototype, then they were compared with the parameters of thermal comfort adopted, based on the area s current technical literature. Analyses of the comparative studies were performed through graphical outputs for a better understanding of air temperature amplitudes and thermal comfort conditions. The data used for the characterization of external air temperature were obtained from the Test Reference Year (TRY), defined for the study area (Natal-RN). Thus the author also performed comparative studies for TRY data registered in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, at weather station Davis Precision Station, located at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais INPE-CRN (National Institute of Space Research), in a neighboring area of UFRN s Central Campus. The conclusions observed from the comparative studies performed among computer simulations, and the local records obtained from the studied prototype, point out that the simulations performed in naturally ventilated buildings is quite a complex task, due to the applications limitations, mainly owed to the complexity of air flow phenomena, the influence of comfort conditions in the surrounding areas and climate records. Lastly, regarding the use of the application DesignBuilder 1.2 in the present study, one may conclude that it is a good tool for computer simulations. However, it needs some adjustments to improve reliability in its use. There is a need for continued research, considering the dedication of users to the prototype, as well as the thermal charges of the equipment, in order to check sensitivity

Adolescents' ratings of features of parks that encourage park visitation and physical activity

BACKGROUND: The neighbourhood environment such as the availability of parks are a key, but under-researched, influence on adolescents' physical activity. In addition to overall physical activity levels, park-based physical activity and park visitation is low in this age group. Thus, it is critical to identify park features that may encourage or discourage adolescents from visiting parks. This study used a novel methodology to identify key physical characteristics of parks that are perceived to be important for park visitation and park-based physical activity among adolescents.

METHODS: Four secondary schools located in low, mid and high socio-economic status areas of Victoria, Australia were recruited. Using a purpose-built computer application, students in years 8-10 were presented with 44 original photographic images of park features. Participants rated each image (range 1-10) on how likely the feature would be to encourage them to visit a park and to engage in park-based physical activity, and placed symbols ('thumbs up'/'thumbs down') on aspects of the image that had a positive or negative influence on their ratings.

RESULTS: Participants (n = 99) had a mean age of 13.3 years (SD = 0.87) and 53% were female. Overall, the top three rated images prompting park visitation by adolescents were: a long steep slide, a flying fox and a table tennis table. These first two features were also reported as being likely to promote physical activity in the park. Differences in ratings were observed for boys and girls. The images that received the greatest number of "thumbs-up" symbols included large swings and slides, table tennis tables, no-smoking signs, flying foxes and BMX tracks. The images that received the greatest number of "thumbs-down" symbols included signage about rules, graffiti, toilets, concrete steps, and skate bowls.

CONCLUSION: Physically challenging play equipment is likely to encourage adolescents to visit and be active in parks. Rules, graffiti, toilets and skate bowls may discourage visitation. It is important for park designers, planners and policy makers to consider adolescents' views of what park design features are important so that parks are created that support and encourage visitation and optimise levels of physical activity when in the park.

Optimal Wind Bidding Strategies in Day-Ahead Markets

This paper presents a computer application for wind energy bidding in a day-ahead electricity market to better accommodate the variability of the energy source. The computer application is based in a stochastic linear mathematical programming problem. The goal is to obtain the optimal bidding strategy in order to maximize the revenue. Electricity prices and financial penalties for shortfall or surplus energy deliver are modeled. Finally, conclusions are drawn from an illustrative case study, using data from the day-ahead electricity market of the Iberian Peninsula.

Computer simulation in spine biomechanics : An application in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis is a spinal deformity, involving a side-to-side curvature of the spine in the coronal plane as well as a rotation of the spinal column in the transverse plane. The coronal curvature is measured using a Cobb angle. If the deformity is severe, treatment for scoliosis may require surgical intervention whereby a rod is attached to the spinal column to correct the abnormal curvature. In order to provide surgeons with an improved ability to predict the likely outcomes following surgery, techniques to create patient-specific finite element models (FEM) of scoliosis patients treated at the Mater Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Brisbane are being developed and validated. This paper presents a comparison of the simulated and clinical data for a scoliosis patient treated at MCH.

Development of a computer simulation tool for application in adolescent spinal deformity surgery

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional spinal deformity which requires surgical correction in progressive cases. In order to optimize correction and avoid complications following scoliosis surgery, patient-specific finite element models (FEM) are being developed and validated by our group. In this paper, the modeling methodology is described and two clinically relevant load cases are simulated for a single patient. Firstly, a pre-operative patient flexibility assessment, the fulcrum bending radiograph, is simulated to assess the model's ability to represent spine flexibility. Secondly, intra-operative forces during single rod anterior correction are simulated. Clinically, the patient had an initial Cobb angle of 44 degrees, which reduced to 26 degrees during fulcrum bending. Surgically, the coronal deformity corrected to 14 degrees. The simulated initial Cobb angle was 40 degrees, which reduced to 23 degrees following the fulcrum bending load case. The simulated surgical procedure corrected the coronal deformity to 14 degrees. The computed results for the patient-specific FEM are within the accepted clinical Cobb measuring error of 5 degrees, suggested that this modeling methodology is capable of capturing the biomechanical behaviour of a scoliotic human spine during anterior corrective surgery.

Computer simulation of protein—carbohydrate complexes: application to arabinose-binding protein and pea lectin

The CCEM method (Contact Criteria and Energy Minimisation) has been developed and applied to study protein-carbohydrate interactions. The method uses available X-ray data even on the native protein at low resolution (above 2.4 Å) to generate realistic models of a variety of proteins with various ligands.The two examples discussed in this paper are arabinose-binding protein (ABP) and pea lectin. The X-ray crystal structure data reported on ABP-β-l-arabinose complex at 2.8, 2.4 and 1.7 Å resolution differ drastically in predicting the nature of the interactions between the protein and ligand. It is shown that, using the data at 2.4 Å resolution, the CCEM method generates complexes which are as good as the higher (1.7 Å) resolution data. The CCEM method predicts some of the important hydrogen bonds between the ligand and the protein which are missing in the interpretation of the X-ray data at 2.4 Å resolution. The theoretically predicted hydrogen bonds are in good agreement with those reported at 1.7 Å resolution. Pea lectin has been solved only in the native form at 3 Å resolution. Application of the CCEM method also enables us to generate complexes of pea lectin with methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and methyl-2,3-dimethyl-α-d-glucopyranoside which explain well the available experimental data in solution.