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During the spring of 2014, Johan Kooiker and Kashira Roil Beto, students in mechanical engineering at Linnaeus University carried out a degree project together with Husqvarna construction products Sweden AB. The topic of this project was "product development" to develop an automated system for assembling cold pressed segments. The project began with studying the current situation to get a clearer picture of the problem and finding out the requirements. The main requirements were studied and implanted in behaviour descriptions of the system. Later on ideas and concepts were generated, which then through rating and screening led to the final concept. The final concept was divided into subsystems and developed in details. The detail work included 3D cad models of unique components and selection of standard component. The final step was to build simple prototypes of the subsystems to test their functions. The prototypes of the subsystems accomplished the main requirements of the company and that led to future investment in final system.

Studying the biosynthesis, utilization and transport of cholesterol as well as the balance between these pathways may allow us to understand better how to keep its harmful deposition in arteries to a minimum. The goal of my thesis was to identify a novel player, namely the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), in cellular and plasma cholesterol metabolism by elucidating its regulatory and mechanistic functions. / In our families with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) deficiency, one kindred was found to have mutations for the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase-1 (SMPD-1). This gene codes for lysosomal and secretory ASM and its mutations cause the recessive disorder of Niemann-Pick type A/B (NPD-A/B). My thesis, based on the study of the gene and the protein defect in this family, has led to four important discoveries. First, SMPD-1 mutations are significantly associated with low HDL-C. Second, in order to unveil the mechanism by which ASM contributes to the regulation of HDL-C levels, we investigated the cellular lipid transport in NPD-B fibroblasts. We showed that lysosomal ASM defects lead to co-segregation and co-localization of sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol. However, the SM accumulation does not rate-limit the efflux ability of NPD-B cells. Third, we set up the electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry to give an in-depth qualitative and quantitative phospholipid characterization of HDL particles generated from NPD-B. We found that their SM content is significantly elevated. We subsequently provided evidence that the SM content of HDL could be modulated by secretory ASM. Together with other plasma enzymes including lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase, secretroy ASM appears to regulate the maturation and clearance of HDL-C from the plasma. Finally, we examined the molecular nature of the NPD-B pathophysiology by investigating the structure-function relationship of ASM. We demonstrated that the C-terminal region of ASM plays a critical role in the enzyme conformation that dictates its enzymatic function and secretion. / In summary, our lessons on NPD-B have enabled us to identify ASM as an important player in lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism. Because HDL-C is inversely associated with coronary heart disease, our findings opened a novel therapeutic avenue in the search of preventive strategies against heart disease in our society.

Thesis (MTech (Marketing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-119).

[pt] O estudo de geometria, em particular área de polígonos simples, é pouco trabalhado em sala de aula, sendo assim o presente trabalho tem como finalidade apresentar o Teorema de Pick, com algumas demonstrações, como ferramenta de cálculo de área. Atenção especial é necessária para polígonos simples mas não necessariamente convexos. Além disso discutimos outros Teoremas relacionados, como Jordan e Euler. Espera-se que esta pesquisa se some a outras no sentido de contribuir para o ensino de matemática de forma qualitativa, podendo se utilizar de técnicas aqui abordadas ou ainda serem adaptadas às diversas realidades para o seu melhor aproveitamento. / [en] The study of plane geometry, in particular the computation of areas of simple polygons, is little explored in the classroom. Our aim here is to state and prove Pick s Theorem. We also present sever al examples and more than one proof. Simple polygons (which are not necessarily convex) receive special attention. We also consider some related results, such as the theorems of Jordan and Euler. It is hoped that this re e arch will contribute to the teaching of mathematics in a qualitative way.

Pós fluxantes são escórias sintéticas utilizadas no processamento do aço via lingotamento contínuo com o objetivo de promover maior qualidade superficial ao produto lingotado. Para tanto, os pós fluxantes desempenham as seguintes funções: (i) promoção do isolamento térmico e químico do aço, (ii) absorção das inclusões nãometálicas provenientes do aço, (iii) promoção da lubrificação do molde e (iv) controle da transferência de calor entre o aço e o molde. O bom desempenho de cada função está diretamente relacionado às propriedades físicas e químicas que os pós apresentam, as quais são funções de sua composição química. Durante o processo de lingotamento, os pós fluxantes sofrem alterações em sua composição original proporcionadas por diferentes mecanismos que afetam as propriedades dos pós fluxantes. Um dos principais mecanismos responsáveis pelas alterações da composição das escórias é a interação química que ocorre entre o aço líquido e o pó fluxante fundido. Nesse trabalho foram realizadas simulações via aplicativo termodinâmico FactSage com o intuito de avaliar as interações entre metal líquido e escória. Três sistemas simples para a escória – um ternário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2), um quaternário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO) e um quinário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-Na2O) – e uma liga de Fe saturada em alumínio e oxigênio – 0,1%, 0,01% e 0,001% de Al – foram escolhidos para a realização das simulações, visando avaliar o incremento de Al2O3 da escória através da interação entre o alumínio dissolvido no ferro e a sílica presente na escória. O aumento do teor de alumina na escória foi quantificado para cada um dos três sistemas estudados em função do teor de Al e da razão S/M (kg de pó fluxante/t de metal líquido). Foram realizadas curvas de resfriamento para as escórias – que sofreram alterações em sua composição – para avaliar a influência da variação da composição sobre o comportamento de solidificação destas, baseadas em diagramas pseudobinários. Por fim, foram realizados cálculos de viscosidade para estas escórias através do modelo IRSID, para analisar a influência da composição sobre a viscosidade. Mostrou-se, para as condições escolhidas, que as alterações da composição química das escórias devido às interações entre metal líquido e escória são significativas, afetando as propriedades dos pós fluxantes, tais como seu comportamento de solidificação e sua viscosidade. / Mold powders are synthetic slags used in steel processing via continuous casting in order to promote greater surface quality to casting product. Thus, the mold powders perform the following functions: (i) promotion of the thermal and chemical insulate of steel, (ii) absorption of non-metallic inclusions from the steel, (iii) promotion of the lubrication of the mold and (iv) control of the heat transfer between steel and mold. The good performance of each function is directly related to physical and chemical properties presented by the powders, which are functions of their chemical compositions. During casting process, the mold powders undergo changes in their original composition provided by different mechanisms that affect the properties of mold powders. One of the main mechanisms responsible for changes in the composition of the slag is the chemical interaction that occurs between liquid steel and molten mold powders. In this work, simulations were carried out via thermodynamics software FactSage with the purpose of evaluating the interactions between the liquid metal and slag. Three simple systems – a ternary (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2), a quaternary (CaO-Al2O3- SiO2-MgO) and a quinary (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-Na2O) – and a Fe alloy saturated with aluminum and oxygen – 0,1%, 0,01% and 0,001% Al – were chosen to perform the simulations in order to evaluate the increase of Al2O3 in slag through the interaction between the dissolved aluminum in iron and silica present in the slag. The increase of alumina content in the slag was quantified for each of the three systems studied as a function of Al content and the ratio S/M (mold powder kg/t liquid metal). Cooling curves were performed for slags – that suffered changes in their composition – to assess the influence of the composition variation on the behavior of slags, based on the pseudo-binary diagrams. Calculations of viscosity for these slags through the IRSID model to analyze the influence of chemical composition on the viscosity were performed. For the conditions chosen, it was shown that changes in chemical composition of the slag due to interactions between liquid metal and slag are significant, affecting the properties of fluxing powders, such as the solidification behavior and viscosity.

Pós fluxantes são escórias sintéticas utilizadas no processamento do aço via lingotamento contínuo com o objetivo de promover maior qualidade superficial ao produto lingotado. Para tanto, os pós fluxantes desempenham as seguintes funções: (i) promoção do isolamento térmico e químico do aço, (ii) absorção das inclusões nãometálicas provenientes do aço, (iii) promoção da lubrificação do molde e (iv) controle da transferência de calor entre o aço e o molde. O bom desempenho de cada função está diretamente relacionado às propriedades físicas e químicas que os pós apresentam, as quais são funções de sua composição química. Durante o processo de lingotamento, os pós fluxantes sofrem alterações em sua composição original proporcionadas por diferentes mecanismos que afetam as propriedades dos pós fluxantes. Um dos principais mecanismos responsáveis pelas alterações da composição das escórias é a interação química que ocorre entre o aço líquido e o pó fluxante fundido. Nesse trabalho foram realizadas simulações via aplicativo termodinâmico FactSage com o intuito de avaliar as interações entre metal líquido e escória. Três sistemas simples para a escória – um ternário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2), um quaternário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO) e um quinário (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-Na2O) – e uma liga de Fe saturada em alumínio e oxigênio – 0,1%, 0,01% e 0,001% de Al – foram escolhidos para a realização das simulações, visando avaliar o incremento de Al2O3 da escória através da interação entre o alumínio dissolvido no ferro e a sílica presente na escória. O aumento do teor de alumina na escória foi quantificado para cada um dos três sistemas estudados em função do teor de Al e da razão S/M (kg de pó fluxante/t de metal líquido). Foram realizadas curvas de resfriamento para as escórias – que sofreram alterações em sua composição – para avaliar a influência da variação da composição sobre o comportamento de solidificação destas, baseadas em diagramas pseudobinários. Por fim, foram realizados cálculos de viscosidade para estas escórias através do modelo IRSID, para analisar a influência da composição sobre a viscosidade. Mostrou-se, para as condições escolhidas, que as alterações da composição química das escórias devido às interações entre metal líquido e escória são significativas, afetando as propriedades dos pós fluxantes, tais como seu comportamento de solidificação e sua viscosidade. / Mold powders are synthetic slags used in steel processing via continuous casting in order to promote greater surface quality to casting product. Thus, the mold powders perform the following functions: (i) promotion of the thermal and chemical insulate of steel, (ii) absorption of non-metallic inclusions from the steel, (iii) promotion of the lubrication of the mold and (iv) control of the heat transfer between steel and mold. The good performance of each function is directly related to physical and chemical properties presented by the powders, which are functions of their chemical compositions. During casting process, the mold powders undergo changes in their original composition provided by different mechanisms that affect the properties of mold powders. One of the main mechanisms responsible for changes in the composition of the slag is the chemical interaction that occurs between liquid steel and molten mold powders. In this work, simulations were carried out via thermodynamics software FactSage with the purpose of evaluating the interactions between the liquid metal and slag. Three simple systems – a ternary (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2), a quaternary (CaO-Al2O3- SiO2-MgO) and a quinary (CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-MgO-Na2O) – and a Fe alloy saturated with aluminum and oxygen – 0,1%, 0,01% and 0,001% Al – were chosen to perform the simulations in order to evaluate the increase of Al2O3 in slag through the interaction between the dissolved aluminum in iron and silica present in the slag. The increase of alumina content in the slag was quantified for each of the three systems studied as a function of Al content and the ratio S/M (mold powder kg/t liquid metal). Cooling curves were performed for slags – that suffered changes in their composition – to assess the influence of the composition variation on the behavior of slags, based on the pseudo-binary diagrams. Calculations of viscosity for these slags through the IRSID model to analyze the influence of chemical composition on the viscosity were performed. For the conditions chosen, it was shown that changes in chemical composition of the slag due to interactions between liquid metal and slag are significant, affecting the properties of fluxing powders, such as the solidification behavior and viscosity.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-05-18T14:39:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILA FREITAS SARMENTO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGCC) 2016.pdf: 4961377 bytes, checksum: d5055e8a66475194dc09f3c2b5e8009b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-18T14:39:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CAMILA FREITAS SARMENTO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGCC) 2016.pdf: 4961377 bytes, checksum: d5055e8a66475194dc09f3c2b5e8009b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / O objetivo geral desta dissertação é comparar a usabilidade de dois rastreadores oculares de domínio público (os quais utilizam apenas a imagem capturada por uma webcam convencional) e um rastreador comercial de baixo custo, o Tobii EyeX Controller, dotado de múltiplas câmeras dedicadas, durante a realização de tarefas de apontamento e seleção em um computador desktop. Esta pesquisa tem os seguintes objetivos específicos: (1) adaptar parcialmente a abordagem de avaliação proposta por Queiroz (2001) ao contexto de tarefas de apontamento e seleção via rastreamento ocular; (2) confrontar a natureza das falhas identificadas a partir de indicadores da usabilidade de rastreadores oculares; e (3) verificar quais dos identificadores de desempenho dos rastreadores oculares confrontados influenciam positivamente a satisfação subjetiva do usuário. Concluiu-se que os indicadores de eficiência apresentaram resultados satisfatórios para os rastreadores de domínio público. Concluiu-se também que o indicador da satisfação subjetiva do usuário exibiu os melhores escores para os rastreadores de domínio público. / The main objective of this dissertation is to compare the usability of two eyetrackers of the public domain (which use only the image captured by a conventional webcam), and a low-cost commercial eye tracker, the Tobii EyeX Controller, equipped with multiple dedicated cameras, during pick-and-click tasks on a desktop computer. This research has the following specific objectives: (1) to adjust partially the evaluation approach proposed by Queiroz (2001) to the context of pointing and selection tasks via eye-tracking; (2) to compare the nature of the problems identified from usability indicators of eye trackers; and (3) to determine which performance indicators of the confronted eye trackers positively impact on the subjective user satisfaction. It was concluded that the chosen efficiency indicators have shown satisfactory results for public domain eye tracker solutions. It was also concluded that the subjective user satisfaction indicator has shown best scores for public domain eye tracker solutions.

This study investigates a new interaction technique for collaboration on handheld computers called Pick-and-Drop. The technique is an extension of the popular Drag-and-Drop method used in many graphical interfaces today, but with Pick-and-Drop on-screen objects can be picked from one screen with a pen and dropped onto another. The aim of the study is to answer whether Pick-and-Drop promote collaboration among children by letting them focus more on other users and the task at hand than on the computer interaction. The study also investigates in what way collaborative situations can benefit from Pick-and-Drop. A prototype Pick-and-Drop system was implemented on four customized handheld computers equipped with wireless network communication. The prototype allowed spontaneous collaboration using ad-hoc networks and peer-to-peer communication. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags were used to identify the pens when picking and dropping objects from the screen. Ten children aged 6-7 years old participated in the study at an after- school recreational centre. They tried Pick-and-Drop by playing a collaborative game of buying and selling apples using golden coins represented as icons on the screen. The test was video filmed for later analysis. The study showed that Pick-and-Drop offers effective collaborative interaction based on a mix of turn taking and concurrent interaction. Users do not have to switch focus when using an application or sharing data as the interaction style stays the same. There was an interesting difference in control over the interaction when users shared objects by “giving” or by “taking”. Users stayed in better control when they shared objects through giving.

Orientador: Carlos Fernando Fiorini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T11:50:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maia_MarcosdaSilva_M.pdf: 1288060 bytes, checksum: 0d432b91de9c8e88dcfd6fb1d21df8d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Cordofones beliscados são instrumentos musicais que apresentam características variadas de timbres, advindas de suas formas, tamanhos, qualidade das cordas e diferentes maneiras de fazê-las vibrar. Desde a Antigüidade, as preferências oscilam entre o som obtido pelo pulsar das cordas com os dedos ou aquele produzido pela utilização de um plectro ou palheta. A técnica híbrida (do inglês, hybrid picking) refere-se à utilização simultânea da palheta e dos dedos. No violão, os bordões são tocados com palheta, presa entre o indicador e o polegar da mão direita, e as primas tangidas com qualquer combinação dos dedos médio, anular e mínimo. Dessa forma, a técnica funciona bem tanto para bases rítmico-harmônicas, como para músicas polifônicas e linhas melódicas. No presente trabalho, a tradicional simbologia do violão p-i-m-a (polegar, indicador, médio e anular) foi alterada. As letras p e i foram substituídas pelos símbolos usuais dos movimentos alternados da palheta: ou, mantendo-se as letras m-a e incluindo-se a letra c (chico, dedo mínimo em espanhol). Assim, a pesquisa objetivou contextualizar a técnica híbrida e sua aplicação ao violão, discorrendo sobre aspectos históricos referenciais ao uso da palheta e dedos; indicando exemplos musicais para a aplicação da técnica; enfatizando a importância da adequada seleção de palhetas para a mesma, bem como investigando sua aplicação por diversos músicos na atualidade e sua eficácia na realização de variados repertórios / Abstract: Plucked chordophones are musical instruments that offer a great variety of tones from their forms, sizes, quality of the strings and different ways of making them vibrate. Since ancient times, the preferences sway between the sound obtained by the vibration of the strings with the fingers or that produced by the use of a pick. Hybrid Picking refers to the simultaneous use of the pick and the fingers. In nylon strings guitar, the bass-strings are played with the pick, held between the right forefinger and the thumb, and the first strings are played with any combination of the middle, the ring and little fingers. Therefore, the technique works well for rhythm-harmonic bases, polyphonic music and melodic lines. In the present work, the traditional guitar terminology of p-i-m-a (from the Portuguese, polegar [thumb], indicador [forefinger], médio [middle finger] and anular [ring finger) was altered. The letters p and i were changed for the usual symbols of the picks¿ up and down movementsor, maintaining the m-a (middle and ring fingers) and including the c letter (chico, Spanish for little finger). So, this study aimed at contextualizing the hybrid picking applied for nylon strings guitar by discussing referential historical aspects of the use of the pick and the fingers; indicating musical examples for applying the technique; emphasizing the importance of adequate selection of picks for that, as well as by examining its application by diverse musicians from actuality and its efficacy for different repertoire / Mestrado / Praticas Interpretativas / Mestre em Música