Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T14:01:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Ao longo dos anos, os computadores cresceram em importância no suporte à colaboração. Anteriormente, utilizados apenas como ferramentas em processos já consolidados de colaboração, hoje eles também têm um papel de propulsor. Como objetivo fundamental, sistemas colaborativos visam atender totalmente uma colaboração, sob o ponto de vista do modelo 3C (comunicação, coordenação e cooperação), disponibilizando ferramentas e funcionalidades que auxiliam estas etapas. Contudo, novas tecnologias estão possibilitando cada vez mais que os domínios destes tipos de sistemas se expandam, atuando não somente nas três divisões clássicas da colaboração, mas também em etapas preliminares deste processo, como busca de usuários e recursos. Isto é possível quando estamos imergidos em um cenário de computação ubíqua, por exemplo. Fazendo uso das características que este ambiente provê, como mobilidade e ciência do contexto, é possível incrementar os processos de colaboração. Etapa primordial de uma colaboração, a busca e definiçã / Over the years, computers have grown in importance in supporting collaboration. Previously used solely as tools in already established processes, today, beyond that purpose, they also have a hole of fostering new and unforeseen forms of collaboration. As a fundamental objective, collaborative systems intended to meet the whole set of demands of a collaboration, what means, under the terms of the 3C Model, to provide tools and features that address communication, coordination and cooperation between parts. Nevertheless, new technologies are allowing to further increase the workspace of these systems, bringing collaboration support beyond the three traditional divisions stated at the 3C Model and towards acting in preliminary stages, such as the search for users and resources. This is possible, for instance, as we are immersed in a scenario of ubiquitous computing. Using the characteristics that this environment provides, such as mobility and context-awareness, it is possible to improve the processes of collab

O tema desta pesquisa são as disputas travadas por veículos midiáticos na cobertura a ações de movimentos sociais. Busca-se, empiricamente, identificar os enquadramentos interpretativos construídos por três jornais (Zero Hora, Diário Gaúcho e Sul21) sobre o ciclo de protestos de 2013, em Porto Alegre/RS, em especial no que se refere às interações entre manifestantes e aparato policial. Metodologicamente, foi construído um banco de dados com todas as publicações de cada jornal, na cobertura ao ciclo de manifestações, bem como foram entrevistados(as) jornalistas responsáveis pela produção do conteúdo dessas publicações. Após a organização e a quantificação do corpus de dados, com a identificação de tendências de cobertura, foram selecionados eventos específicos de protesto (ocorridos em 27 de março, 04 de abril, 13 de junho e 20 de junho), bem como as “retrospectivas” de final de ano, para análise de conteúdo. A convergência entre o material empírico e os referenciais teóricos resultou em três dimensões centrais: a identidade dos(as) manifestantes; a caracterização da(s) reivindicação(ões) do protesto; as interações entre manifestantes e policiais. A partir de tais dimensões construiu-se um modelo analítico para operacionalização do estudo. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que a construção de enquadramentos interpretativos por Zero Hora, Diário Gaúcho e Sul21 foi caracterizada pela multiplicidade de esquemas interpretativos. Essa multiplicidade diz respeito a diferenças (a) entre os conteúdos de cada jornal e a (b) transformações de enquadramento no curso das mobilizações. Zero Hora e Diário Gaúcho produziram enquadramentos similares. Inicialmente, as coberturas de ambos os jornais centraram-se na identificação de repertórios de dano a patrimônios por manifestantes, tomando-se a manifestação (denominada “baderna”) como ilegítima. Ao longo do ano, Zero Hora e Diário Gaúcho delimitaram uma distinção entre “manifestantes pacíficos” e um grupo específico - qualificado pelo termo “vândalos” -, o qual foi considerado responsabilizável pela realização de repertórios de dano a patrimônios. A referida transformação de enquadramento denotou uma autonomização deste repertório específico (tomado como ilegítimo) em relação à manifestação (considerada legítima). O Sul21 caracterizou-se, diversamente, pela ênfase, desde o início do ano, no questionamento à ação policial de repressão às mobilizações. Os protestos, por outro turno, foram invariavelmente considerados legítimos pelo Sul21. Por fim, as “retrospectivas” de final de ano indicaram similaridades no enquadramento de todos os jornais, com a construção de uma síntese interpretativa hegemônica a respeito do ciclo de protestos. A partir da análise de dados, formulou-se a seguinte tipologia dos enquadramentos interpretativos adotados em diferentes momentos do ano: “Manifestação como afronta à ordem”; “Polícia como instituição violenta”; “Maioria de manifestantes pacíficos em oposição à minoria de manifestantes violentos”; “Maioria de manifestantes pacíficos em oposição à minoria de manifestantes violentos e a uma polícia violenta”. A análise cronológica denotou disputas entre esses diferentes modelos de cobertura, com a constituição de um “campo de batalha” interpretativo. / The subject of this research is the disputes promoted by media vehicles at the coverage of social movements actions. We seek to, empirically, identify the interpretative frameworks built by three newspapers (Zero Hora, Diário Gaúcho and Sul21) about the 2013 protests cycle, in Porto Alegre/RS, in particular in what it refers to the interactions between protesters and police apparatus. Methodologically, we constructed a database with all the publications of each newspaper, at the coverage of the mobilization cycle and we interviewed journalists responsible for producing the content of these publications. After organizing and quantifying the database, identifying coverage trends, we selected specific protest events (occurred on March 27, April 04, June 13 and June 20) and the end-of-the-year "retrospectives" for content analysis. The convergence between empirical data and theoretical references resulted in three central dimensions: the identity of protesters; the characterization of protest claims; the interactions between protesters, and police. From these dimensions we constructed an analytical model for the implementation of the study. The survey results indicate that the construction of interpretative frameworks by Zero Hora, Diário Gaúcho, and Sul21 was characterized by the multiplicity of interpretative schemes. This multiplicity concerns about the differences (a) between the contents of each newspaper and about the (b) framework changes in the course of mobilizations. Zero Hora and Diário Gaúcho produced similar frameworks. Initially, the coverage of both newspapers focused on the identification of repertoires of patrimonial damage by protesters, taking the manifestation (called "hooliganism") as illegitimate. Throughout the year, Zero Hora and Diário Gaúcho delimited a distinction between "peaceful protesters" and a specific group - qualified as "vandals" -, which was considered responsible for conducting repertoires of patrimonial damage. This framework transformation denoted an increasing autonomy of this particular repertoire (taken as illegitimate) in relation with the mobilization itself (considered legitimate). Sul21 was characterized, diversely, by the emphasis, since the beginning of the year, on questioning the police action of repression to the manifestations. The protests, on the other hand, were invariably considered legitimate by Sul21. Finally, the end-of-the-year "retrospectives" indicated similarities between the frameworks of all the newspapers, with the construction of a hegemonic interpretative synthesis about the protest cycle. From the data analysis, we formulated the following typology of interpretative frameworks adopted in different moments of the year: "manifestation as an affront to order"; "Police as a violent institution"; "The majority of peaceful protesters opposed to the minority of violent protesters"; "The majority of peaceful protesters opposed to the minority of violent protesters and opposed to a violent police." The chronological analysis denoted disputes between these different types of coverage, with the establishment of a "battlefield" interpretation.

Parallel programming or making parallel application is a great challenging part of computing research. The main goal of parallel programming research is to improve performance of computer applications. A well-structured parallel application can achieve better performance in terms of execution speed over sequential execution on existing and upcoming parallel computer architecture. This thesis named "Evaluations of the parallel extensions in .NET 4.0" describes the experimental evaluation of different parallel application performance with thread-safe data structure and parallel constructions in .NET Framework 4.0. Described different performance issues of this thesis help to make efficient parallel application for better performance. Before describing the experimental evaluation, this thesis describes some methodologies relevant to parallel programming like Parallel computer architecture, Memory architectures, Parallel programming models, decomposition, threading etc. It describes the different APIs in .NET Framework 4.0 and the way of coding for making an efficient parallel application in different situations. It also presents some implementations of different parallel constructs or APIs like Static Multithreading, Using ThreadPool, Task, Parallel.For, Parallel.ForEach, PLINQ etc. The evaluation of parallel application has been done by experimental result evaluation and performance measurements. In most of the cases, the result evaluation shows better performance of parallelism like less execution time and increase CPU uses over traditional sequential execution. In addition parallel loop doesn’t show better performance in case of improper partitioning, oversubscription, improper workloads etc. The discussion about proper partitioning, oversubscription and proper work load balancing will help to make more efficient parallel application. / Program: Magisterutbildning i informatik

We believe there to be a possible problem with Enterprise Architecture, in that in using standardizations such as frameworks stifles creativity and innovations, focusing on IT-environments. This assumption is not new as there already are thoughts in existence on this subject, each side discussing if there is a fault or not. Out of our own interest we delve deeper into the subject of Enterprise Architecture to see if there is any truth in our assumption and to see if there is anything anyone can do to compensate or solve this perceived problem. We look into what Enterprise Architecture consists of and examine four different popular frameworks associated with it: TOGAF, FEA, Gartner and Zachman. We learn about creativity in Information Systems organizations and its connection to IT. Our research strategy for this thesis is deduction together with two separate phases, one phase is exploratory and the other descriptive. We examine the nature of creativity and innovation, there too with an emphasis on IT. In order to find out if our assumption is correct we seek out literature, articles and other sources of information on innovations, creativity and frameworks. Armed with this information we seek out and perform interviews with people from large commercial organizations who have hands-on work experience working with Enterprise Architecture in order to see if our assumptions have any form of validity and to gain some insight into the subject matter. The method components for this thesis are literature review, document study and interviews. Analyzed with the help of SWOT we use the data gathered from the interviews to gain a visual representation of the results, to see the pros and cons of Enterprise Architecture. The results show that supplements or tools are used in order to produce or support business innovations, using departments, business related social networks or techniques to compensate. Hampering factors for business innovation can be internal conflicts, struggles between different groups for different EA solutions. Promoting business innovation through EA can come from mixing framework bits together, giving the result of a flexible and adaptive framework. It can also come from acting as a common language and a bridge between different hierarchies. EA aids with difficult decisions, evaluating which alternatives for realization and the order services are realized. Meetings can be used to compensate the lack of creativity and innovation rising from EA. A negative consequence of EA can occur during implementation of things related to EA in larger companies. No examples of companies that failed with creating business innovation in their IT with EA were found. / Program: Kandidatutbildning i informatik

Porous materials are essential to our everyday lives, for example as an effective catalyst in the cracking of crude oil, or as water softeners in washing powder. When developing novel functional porous materials, it is necessary to fully understand their structure-property relationships to maximise their ability to be used in industrially relevant settings. This thesis aims to understand the mechanical and adsorption properties of a class of porous solids metal-organic frameworks (or MOFs), which have many potential applications owing to their tuneable structures. Due to the inherent 3-D crystalline structure of MOFs, a wide range crystallographic techniques were used to determine structure-property relationships. To achieve maximum in-depth structural knowledge, both classical and quantum theoretical approaches were also applied to complement the understanding of both the energetics and structural details. Chapters One and Two begin with an overview of the state of the art studies carried out on MOFs, focusing on the use of high-pressure crystallography to understand their properties. In addition, there is emphasise on the importance of complementary computational methods that are used in the characterisation of MOFs. In Chapter Three, an isostructural series of MOFs (zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, or ZIFs) were studied for methanol adsorption by employing both experimental and molecular simulation techniques. These frameworks are gating materials, where the imidazole linker rotates upon adsorption of guest, and it was found that through ligand substitution the gate opening angle and onset pressure to gating could be tuned. By using high-pressure Xray crystallography the structure of the ZIFs were studied upon the uptake of guest and the degree of ring rotation quantified. In combination with periodic DFT and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations the energy barrier to rotation and energies of adsorption could be calculated, respectively. Chapter Four focuses on one ZIF in particular, ZIF-8 ((Zn6(MeIm)12, MeIm = 2- methylimidazole) and details the adsorption of a selection of gases into the pores. The experimental method of cryogenic gas loading into a diamond anvil cell in this chapter is novel to MOFs. This method, in combination with molecular crystallography, is used to determine the structural response of the framework to guest-uptake as well as the crystallographic positions of the adsorption sites. In combination with in silico methods, the adsorption energies of guest-sites could be calculated, detailing which interactions drive the gating behaviour. The method of cryogenic loading highlighted how extreme conditions can be used to extract useful information about structural behaviour of MOFs on uptake of gas molecules into the pores, and when used in combination with computational methods, we have a powerful tool to analyse both positions and energies of adsorption sites. With this information, progress can be made in developing MOFs to maximize favourable interactions and lead to the development of MOFs with better selective gas storage properties. Chapter Five focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of the physical properties of a series of Zr-containing MOFs, called UiO-MOFs. The high valency of Zr(IV) and 12-fold coordination of the metal cluster in these materials, are associated with high shear and bulk moduli, which surpass those of other MOFs. A combination of single-crystal nano-indentation, high-pressure X-ray diffraction studies, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and first-principles molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to determine the compressibility, elasticity and hardness of these materials, whose mechanical robustness was correlated to their different structural features, in-particular, how using non-linear linkers between the metal clusters stabilises the framework to compression. Chapter Six expands upon the series of Zr-MOFs in Chapter Five, and looks at how the mechanical properties of these MOFs are affected upon increasing the linker length. The experimentally determined elastics modulus of one of the frameworks, UiO-sdc (Zr6O4(OH)4(sdc)6 where sdc =4,4’-stillbene dicarboxylate), was found to lie above those of other highly porous MOFs. In addition, the elastic modulus was found to decrease linearly as a function of increasing the linker length, extending the structure-property relationships determined in Chapter Five.

Heterogeneous platforms play an increasingly important role in modern computer systems. They combine high performance with low power consumption. From mobiles to supercomputers, we see an increasing number of computer systems that are heterogeneous. The most well-known heterogeneous system, CPU+GPU platforms have been widely used in recent years. As they become more mainstream, serving multiple tasks from multiple users is an emerging challenge. A good scheduler can greatly improve performance. However, indiscriminately allocating tasks based on availability leads to poor performance. As modern GPUs have a large number of hardware resources, most tasks cannot efficiently utilize all of them. Concurrent task execution on GPU is a promising solution, however, indiscriminately running tasks in parallel causes a slowdown. This thesis focuses on scheduling OpenCL kernels. A runtime framework is developed to determine where to schedule OpenCL kernels. It predicts the best-fit device by using a machine learning-based classifier, then schedules the kernels accordingly to either CPU or GPU. To improve GPU utilization, a kernel merging approach is proposed. Kernels are merged if their predicted co-execution can provide better performance than sequential execution. A machine learning based classifier is developed to find the best kernel pairs for co-execution on GPU. Finally, a runtime framework is developed to schedule kernels separately on either CPU or GPU, and run kernels in pairs if their co-execution can improve performance. The approaches developed in this thesis significantly improve system performance and outperform all existing techniques.

Les composés à base de lanthanides luminescents possèdent des propriétés uniques offrant de nombreux avantages pour l’étude de problèmes biologiques et pour le diagnostic. Ils résistent notamment à la photodécomposition, possèdent des temps de vie de luminescence longs ainsi que des bandes d’émissions étroites qui ne se recouvrent pas. De plus, certains lanthanides émettent dans le proche infrarouge, ce qui les rend particulièrement intéressants pour des applications d'’imagerie in vivo. De part l’interdiction des transitions f → f, les cations lanthanides ont des coefficients d’extinction très faibles. C’est la raison pour laquelle, il est nécessaire d’utiliser un ou plusieurs sensibilisateur(s) (comme un chromophore organique) pour exciter le lanthanide par « effet antenne ». Nous proposons ici de nouveaux composés émettant dans le proche infrarouge dont la structure permet d’incorporer une densité importante de lanthanides et de sensibilisateurs par unite de volume : i) les nano-MOF Yb-PVDC-3 constitués de chromophores dérivés de dicarboxylates de phenylènevinylène qui sensibilisent les cations Yb3+ du réseau. ii) les complexes formés avec des ligands dendrimères dérivés de polyamidoamine de génération 3 capables de sensibiliser 8 lanthanides (Eu3+, Yb3+, Nd3+) par le biais de 32 antennes dérivées du groupe 1,8-naphthalimide. La caractérisation physique, photophysique et la biocompatibilité de ces composés ont été réalisées. Ils ont montré une bonne stabilité dans différents environnements. Leur faible cytotoxicité a permis d’obtenir des images de microscopie proche infrarouge sur cellules vivantes. La preuve de principe que les nano-MOFs et les dendrimères complexant des lanthanides peuvent être utilisés comme rapporteurs luminescents in cellulo et in vivo a été ici établie. Les résultats obtenus valident la stratégie d’utiliser ce type de matériel pour augmenter le nombre de photons émis par unité de volume afin d’obtenir une meilleure sensibilité de détection. / Unique properties of luminescent lanthanides reporters explain their emergence for bioanalytical and optical imaging applications. Lanthanide ions possess long emission lifetimes, a good resistance to photodecomposition and sharp emission bands that do not overlap. In addition, several lanthanides emit in the near infrared (NIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum making them very interesting for in vivo imaging. Free lanthanide cations have low extinction coefficients due to the forbidden nature of the f → f transition. Therefore, lanthanides must be sensitized using a photonic converter such as an organic chromophore through the “antenna effect". We report here new near-infrared emitting compounds whose structure allows to incorporate a high density of lanthanide cations and sensitizers per unit volume: i) nano-MOF Yb-PVDC-3 based on Yb3+ sensitized by phenylenevinylene dicarboxylates. ii) polymetallic dendrimer complexes formed with derivatives of new generation-3 polyamidoamine dendrimers. In these complexes, 8 lanthanide ions (Eu3+, Yb3+, Nd3+) can be sensitized by the 32 antenna derived from 1,8-naphthalimide. These two families of compounds were fully characterised for their physical, photophysical properties as well as for their biological respective compatibilities. They are stable in various media and their low cytotoxicity and emission of a sufficient number of photons are suitable for near-infrared live cell imaging. One of the main goal outcomes of this work is the establishment of the proof of principle that nano- MOFs and lanthanide derived dendrimers can be used for the sensitization of NIR emitting lanthanides to create a new generation of NIR optical imaging agents suitable for both in cellulo and in vivoapplications.The present work also validates the efficiency of the strategy to use both types of nanoscale systems described here to increase the number of emitted photons per unit volume for an improved detection sensitivity and to compensate for low quantum yields.

A análise e construção de um sistema computacional utilizando conceitos de frameworks, para simulação do fluxo de peças em Sistemas Flexíveis de Fabricação são apresentados. A criação da estrutura de dados para descrição completa do Sistema Flexível de Fabricação e a simulação da etapa de torneamento, durante o fluxo da peça são implementados. O método de simulação no framework é baseado na modelagem geométrica e funcional da placa de fixação durante a operação de torneamento. Para a escolha da melhor fixação durante o torneamento, é utilizado um índice calculado pelo sistema computacional, de acordo com a qualidade da fixação. No processo de desenvolvimento do framework são utilizados conceitos de Reuso de Software, associações entre Frameworks e uma estrutura de persistência de dados utilizando um banco de dados relacional, com um modelo de armazenamento desvinculado dos tipos de dados e tabelas especificas, permitindo assim implementações de novos métodos para simulação de outros meios produtivos. / Analysis and construction of a computer system using concepts of frameworks, for simulation of the workflow pieces in flexible manufacturing systems are presented. The creation of a database to fully describe the flexible manufacturing system and the simulation of the turning stage, during the workflow pieces are implemented. The method of simulation in the framework is based on geometric modeling and functional of the mounting plate during the turning operation. To choose the best mounting during the turning operation, its assigned an index calculated by the computer system, according to the quality of mounting. In the process of development of the framework were used concepts of software reuse, frameworks and associations between a structure of data persistence using relational database, with a detached storage model data types and specific tables, allowing implementation of new methods to simulate other productive means.

Com o crescimento da indústria dos jogos eletrônicos, surgem novos mercados e tecnologias. Os jogos eletrônicos da última geração exigem cada vez mais processamento e placas de vídeo mais poderosas. Uma solução que vem ganhando cada vez mais destaque é o Cloud Gaming, no qual o jogador realiza um comando e a informação é enviada e processada remotamente em uma nuvem, localizada na Internet, e que retorna com as imagens como uma sequência de vídeo para o jogador. Para melhorar a qualidade de experiência (QoE) é proposto um modelo que diminui o tempo de resposta entre o jogador e a nuvem, através de um arcabouço chamado Cloud Manager que utiliza a técnica de implementação de camadas, na camada do plano de fundo e predição de movimentos, utilizando uma matriz de predição, na camada do personagem. Para validar os resultados é utilizado um jogo de ação com ponto de vista onipresente dentro do sistema de Cloud Gaming Uniquitous. / With the growing video games industry, new markets and technologies are emerging. Electronic games of the new generation are increasingly requiring more processing and powerful video cards. The solution that is gaining more prominence is Cloud Gaming, which the player performs a command, the information is sent and processed remotely on a cloud, then the images return as a video stream back to the player using the Internet. To improve the Quality of Experience (QoE), it is proposed a model that reduces the response time between the player command and the stream of the resulting game scenes through a framework called Cloud Manager that use layer caching techniques, in the background, and future state prediction using a prediction matrix, in the character layer. To validate the results, a action game with god-view as point of view is used in a Cloud Gaming system called Uniquitous.

In recent decades, the concept of ecosystem services has deepened our appreciation of the myriad benefits provided by ecosystems, and the risks to human societies posed by ecosystem degradation. There is a growing realisation that problems traditionally considered to be outside the environmental policy arena are in truth strongly connected to the environment: ecosystems underlie issues spanning climate, energy, food, water, urban planning, human health, economic development, social justice, and national security. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) create positive financial incentives for the protection and restoration of ecosystems, and represent one way to better represent the value of ecosystem services across a range of sectors. PES schemes are gaining traction in climate mitigation and biodiversity protection strategies, and most of all in the water sector. PES is complementing traditional approaches to water management and helping to address deteriorating water quality, declining water flows, and flooding. This thesis takes a legal perspective, examining the role of legal frameworks in the design and administration of PES. It focuses on PES aimed at protecting freshwater ecosystem services, and considers how legal frameworks can incorporate PES into strategies for drinking water provision. It examines an emerging body of law relating directly to PES, and provides an opportunity to consider some of the leading examples of the ES concept being reflected in law. It distinguishes three broad categories of legal frameworks that establish, regulate or enable PES. A comparative methodology is applied to an analysis of case studies of legal frameworks for PES from: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, New York, England and Ontario. This analysis draws out conclusions about how the law relates to key policy issues around ES and PES, and different approaches to developing legal frameworks to guide PES, depending on different contexts and policy objectives.