Método para análise da interação fluido-estrutura em travessas do pré-distribuidor de turbinas hidráulicas.

Um dos grandes desafios enfrentados pelos fabricantes de turbinas hidráulicas é prevenir o aparecimento de vibrações induzidas pelo escoamento nas travessas do pré-distribuidor e pás do rotor. Considerando apenas as travessas, e atribuídos a tais vibrações, foram relatados 28 casos de trincas ou ruídos anormais nas últimas décadas, que acarretaram enormes prejuízos associados a reparos, atrasos e perda de geração. O estado da arte na prevenção destes problemas baseia-se na utilização de sofisticados, e caros, programas comerciais de dinâmica dos fluidos computacional para o cálculo transiente do fenômeno. Este trabalho faz uma ampla revisão bibliográfica e levantamento de eventos de trincas ou ruídos ocorridos em travessas nos últimos 50 anos. Propõe, então, um enfoque alternativo, baseado exclusivamente em ferramentas de código aberto. A partir de hipóteses simplificadoras devidamente justificadas, o problema é formulado matematicamente de forma bidimensional, no plano da seção transversal da travessa, levando em conta a interação fluido-estrutura. Nesta estratégia, as equações de Navier-Stokes são resolvidas pelo método dos elementos finitos por meio da biblioteca gratuita oomph-lib. Um código especial em C++ é desenvolvido para o problema de interação fluido-estrutura, no qual o fenômeno de turbulência é levado em consideração por meio de um algoritmo baseado no modelo de Baldwin-Lomax. O método proposto é validado por meio da comparação dos resultados obtidos com referências e medições disponíveis na literatura, que tratam de problemas de barras retangulares suportadas elasticamente. O trabalho finaliza com a aplicação do método a um estudo de caso envolvendo uma travessa particular.

El profesorado de música y el uso del software libre

El trabajo que aquí se presenta se ha realizado con el objetivo de constatar la necesidad de formación en software libre por parte del profesorado. Este trabajo pretende averiguar el grado de utilización de las TIC por parte de los maestros de primaria de educación musical así como el nivel de conocimiento del software libre.

imaxin|software: PLN aplicada a la mejora de la comunicación multilingüe de empresas e instituciones

imaxin|software es una empresa creada en 1997 por cuatro titulados en ingeniería informática cuyo objetivo ha sido el de desarrollar videojuegos multimedia educativos y procesamiento del lenguaje natural multilingüe. 17 años más tarde, hemos desarrollado recursos, herramientas y aplicaciones multilingües de referencia para diferentes lenguas: Portugués (Galicia, Portugal, Brasil, etc.), Español (España, Argentina, México, etc.), Inglés, Catalán y Francés. En este artículo haremos una descripción de aquellos principales hitos en relación a la incorporación de estas tecnologías PLN al sector industrial e institucional.

Digital Fabrication and Free Culture. One More Minor Becoming?

Diferentes autores se refieren a la fabricación digital como la Tercera Revolución Digital, después de las revoluciones de la computación y la comunicación. Como ocurriera con las dos revoluciones precedentes, se generaron grandes expectativas en torno a las virtualidades políticas de estas nuevas tecnologías para dar lugar a relaciones de producción más libres e individuos más autónomos. Sin embargo, como también ocurriera con la computación y la comunicación, lo que realmente está ocurriendo demuestra que las supuestas virtualidades no llegarán a hacerse actuales sin una intensa implicación, organización y trabajo por parte de sectores activistas técnicos y sociales. Se discute el caso de la compra corporativa de la empresa pionera de hardware libre Makerbot, como ejemplo de la situación y punto de inflexión en las expectativas de los nuevos tecno-visionarios. Para concluir se propone una serie de posibles estrategias que podrían promover el desarrollo efectivo de un ecosistema libre y open source de fabricación digital.

Transvaal & Orange Free State Regions, South Africa, ca. 1899 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Bacon's large-print map of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. It was published by G.W. Bacon & Co. ca. 1899. Scale [ca. 1:1,900,000]. Covers also Swaziland, Lesotho, and portions of Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Sinusoidal projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial and administrative boundaries, roads, railroads, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by shading and spot heights. Includes also insets: "Map showing the routes from England and India to South Africa", "Environs of Cape Town", "Lorenço Marquez [and vicinity]", 'South Africa" and "Durban and Port Natal".This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Free State Region, South Africa, 1899 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Stanford's new map of the Orange Free State, the southern part of the South African Republic, the northern frontier of Cape Colony, Natal, Basutoland and Delagoa Bay. It was published by E. Stanford in 1899. Scale 1:1,000,000 The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Africa Lambert Conformal Conic projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, roads, railroads and stations, administrative and territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by shading and spot heights.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

An Exploration of the challenges associated with software logging in large systems

Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2016-05-29 18:11:34.114

Ferramentas open source de Data Mining

Em época de crise financeira, as ferramentas open source de data mining representam uma nova tendência na investigação, educação e nas aplicações industriais, especialmente para as pequenas e médias empresas. Com o software open source, estas podem facilmente iniciar um projeto de data mining usando as tecnologias mais recentes, sem se preocuparem com os custos de aquisição das mesmas, podendo apostar na aprendizagem dos seus colaboradores. Os sistemas open source proporcionam o acesso ao código, facilitando aos colaboradores a compreensão dos sistemas e algoritmos e permitindo que estes o adaptem às necessidades dos seus projetos. No entanto, existem algumas questões inerentes ao uso deste tipo de ferramenta. Uma das mais importantes é a diversidade, e descobrir, tardiamente, que a ferramenta escolhida é inapropriada para os objetivos do nosso negócio pode ser um problema grave. Como o número de ferramentas de data mining continua a crescer, a escolha sobre aquela que é realmente mais apropriada ao nosso negócio torna-se cada vez mais difícil. O presente estudo aborda um conjunto de ferramentas de data mining, de acordo com as suas características e funcionalidades. As ferramentas abordadas provém da listagem do KDnuggets referente a Software Suites de Data Mining. Posteriormente, são identificadas as que reúnem melhores condições de trabalho, que por sua vez são as mais populares nas comunidades, e é feito um teste prático com datasets reais. Os testes pretendem identificar como reagem as ferramentas a cenários diferentes do tipo: performance no processamento de grandes volumes de dados; precisão de resultados; etc. Nos tempos que correm, as ferramentas de data mining open source representam uma oportunidade para os seus utilizadores, principalmente para as pequenas e médias empresas, deste modo, os resultados deste estudo pretendem ajudar no processo de tomada de decisão relativamente às mesmas.

Total organic carbon (TOC) on ground bulk and carbonate-free sediment samples of ODP Hole 151-911A

A multiproxy analysis of Hole 911A (Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 151) drilled on the Yermak Plateau (eastern Arctic Ocean) is used to investigate the behaviour of the Svalbard/Barents Sea ice sheet (SBIS) during late Pliocene and early Pleistocene (~3.0-1.7 Ma) climate changes. Contemporary with the 'Mid-Pliocene (~3 Ma) global warmth' (MPGW), a warmer period lasting ~300 kyr with seasonally ice-free conditions in the marginal eastern Arctic Ocean is assumed to be an important regional moisture source, and possibly one decisive trigger for intensification of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation in the Svalbard/Barents Sea area at ~2.7 Ma. An abrupt pulse of ice-rafted debris (IRD) to the Yermak Plateau at ~2.7 Ma reflects distinct melting of sediment-laden icebergs derived from the SBIS and may indicate the protruding advance of the ice sheet onto the outer shelf. Spectral analysis of the total organic carbon (TOC) record being predominantly of terrigenous/fossil-reworked origin indicates SBIS and possibly Scandinavian Ice Sheet response to incoming solar radiation at obliquity and precession periodicities. The strong variance in frequencies near the 41 kyr obliquity cycle between 2.7 and 1.7 Ma indicates, for the first time in the Arctic Ocean, a close relationship of SBIS growth and decay patterns to the Earth's orbital obliquity amplitudes, which dominated global ice volume variations during late Pliocene/early Pleistocene climate changes.

Open-Source Computerized Patient-Reported Outcomes: Case Studies Illustrating Fifteen Years of Evolution

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Practical considerations for the measurement of free light chains in serum

Background: A new immunoassay for free light chain measurements has been reported to be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of monoclonal light chain diseases and nonsecretory myeloma. We describe experience with and some potential pitfalls of the assay. Methods: The assay was assessed for precision, sample type and stability, recovery, and harmonization of results between two analyzers on which the reagents are used. Free-light-chain concentrations were measured in healthy individuals (to determine biological variation), patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, myeloma patients after autologous stem cell transplants, and patients with renal disease. Results: Analytical imprecision (CV) was 6-11% for kappa and A free-light-chain measurement and 16% for the calculated kappa/lambda ratio. Biological variation was generally insignificant compared with analytical variation. Despite the same reagent source, values were not completely harmonized between assay systems and may produce discordant free-light-chain ratios. In some patients with clinically stable myeloma, or post transplantation, or with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, free-light-chain concentration and ratio were within the population reference interval despite the presence of monoclonal intact immunoglobulin in serum. In other patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, values were abnormal although there was no clinical evidence of progression to multiple myeloma. Conclusions: The use of free-light-chain measurements alone cannot differentiate some groups of patients with monoclonal gammopathy from healthy individuals. As with the introduction of any new test, it is essential that more scientific data about use of this assay in different subject groups are available so that results can be interpreted with clinical certainty. (C) 2003 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

SubCM: A tool for improved visibility of software change in an industrial setting

Software Configuration Management is the discipline of managing large collections of software development artefacts from which software products are built. Software configuration management tools typically deal with artefacts at fine levels of granularity - such as individual source code files - and assist with coordination of changes to such artefacts. This paper describes a lightweight tool, designed to be used on top of a traditional file-based configuration management system. The add-on tool support enables users to flexibly define new hierarchical views of product structure, independent of the underlying artefact-repository structure. The tool extracts configuration and change data with respect to the user-defined hierarchy, leading to improved visibility of how individual subsystems have changed. The approach yields a range of new capabilities for build managers, and verification and validation teams. The paper includes a description of our experience using the tool in an organization that builds large embedded software systems.

Dietary carbohydrate source affects glucose concentrations, insulin secretion, and food intake in overweight cats

This study was undertaken to assess the impact of dietary carbohydrate source on food intake, body composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose and insulin concentrations in overweight and obese cats with reduced insulin sensitivity. Sixteen overweight and obese cats were divided into two groups and randomly allocated one of two extruded diets formulated to contain similar starch content (33%) from different cereal sources (sorghum and corn versus rice). Meal response, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were performed before and after a 6-week weight-maintenance phase and after an additional 8-week free-access feeding phase. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-derived body composition was determined in each cat before the study and after each test phase. Food intake was measured daily and body weight measured twice weekly for the duration of the study. When compared with the sorghum/corn-based diet, cats fed the rice-based diet consumed more energy and gained more weight in response to free-access feeding. Cats fed the rice-based diet also tended to have higher glucose concentrations and insulin secretion in response to a glucose load or a test meal. We conclude that a sorghum and corn blend is a superior carbohydrate source than rice for overweight cats with glucose intolerance and reduced insulin sensitivity. Such a diet may help to minimize overeating and additional weight gain, and may also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The influence of dietary sodium chloride, Arginine : Lysine ratio, and methionine source on apparent ileal digestibility of arginine and lysine in acutely heat-stressed broilers

The present study was carried out to determine the ileal digestibility of Arg and Lys in acutely heatstressed broilers using diets varying in Arg:Lys ratio, NaCl concentration, and Met Source. Male broilers were maintained at 22degreesC from 21 to 33 d of age and then at 32degreesC from 33 to 38 d of age. From 28 to 38 d of age, birds were fed a diet with an Arg:Lys ratio of 1.05 and 3 g of supplemental NaCl/kg of diet with or without L-arg free base to increase the Arg:Lys to 1.35, and with or without 3 g/kg of additional NaCl. Methionine was supplied as equimolar amounts of DL-Met or 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid in a 2 x 2 x 2 design. At 38 d of age, digesta were collected from the terminal ileum, and amino acid analyses were conducted on feed and digesta samples and compared with acid-insoluble ash (dietary celite) to calculate the apparent ileal digestibilities of Lys and Arg. Increasing the NaCl concentration and the presence of HMB significantly decreased the digestibility of both Arg and Lys, whereas increasing the Arg:Lys ratio increased the digestibility of only Arg but did increase BW gain (P = 0.08). An interaction between dietary NaCl and Arg:Lys ratio as well as the 3-way interaction suggested that dietary NaCl could affect the apparent ileal digestibility of Arg and Lys at certain Arg:Lys ratios and the response may be influenced by the Met source.

Assumption-free estimation of heritability from genome-wide identity-by-descent sharing between full siblings

The study of continuously varying, quantitative traits is important in evolutionary biology, agriculture, and medicine. Variation in such traits is attributable to many, possibly interacting, genes whose expression may be sensitive to the environment, which makes their dissection into underlying causative factors difficult. An important population parameter for quantitative traits is heritability, the proportion of total variance that is due to genetic factors. Response to artificial and natural selection and the degree of resemblance between relatives are all a function of this parameter. Following the classic paper by R. A. Fisher in 1918, the estimation of additive and dominance genetic variance and heritability in populations is based upon the expected proportion of genes shared between different types of relatives, and explicit, often controversial and untestable models of genetic and non-genetic causes of family resemblance. With genome-wide coverage of genetic markers it is now possible to estimate such parameters solely within families using the actual degree of identity-by-descent sharing between relatives. Using genome scans on 4,401 quasi-independent sib pairs of which 3,375 pairs had phenotypes, we estimated the heritability of height from empirical genome-wide identity-by-descent sharing, which varied from 0.374 to 0.617 (mean 0.498, standard deviation 0.036). The variance in identity-by-descent sharing per chromosome and per genome was consistent with theory. The maximum likelihood estimate of the heritability for height was 0.80 with no evidence for non-genetic causes of sib resemblance, consistent with results from independent twin and family studies but using an entirely separate source of information. Our application shows that it is feasible to estimate genetic variance solely from within- family segregation and provides an independent validation of previously untestable assumptions. Given sufficient data, our new paradigm will allow the estimation of genetic variation for disease susceptibility and quantitative traits that is free from confounding with non-genetic factors and will allow partitioning of genetic variation into additive and non-additive components.