Nowadays, a growing number of startups, who used to produce non- intelligent devices, are seeking transformation and hope to achieve their Internet of Things (IoT) deployment. In other words, they begin to focus on producing smarter devices to meet user’s needs. At present, various IoT cloud platforms are emerging one after another, but using these resources can be costly for small companies. Since the entire IoT system is complex, it involves many links, the purpose of this project is to create a suitable IoT platform for small companies. The system applies JavaWeb technology with the framework of Spring MVC + Spring + Hibernate (SSH), uses open source User Interface (UI) solution and MySQL database management system (DBMS). At the same time, the system adopts Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) as the communication protocol to complete the data transmission between devices and the platform. Finally, the system is deployed in the server built on the Raspberry Pi. The system is measured from multiple aspects on the established scenario. The results show that companies and users can use the platform as expected, and companies can expand the system to further realize their IoT deployment in the future.

Thesis advisor: Mary F. Roberts / Secreted phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase Cs (PI-PLCs) are often virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria. Understanding how these enzymes interact with target membranes may provide novel methods to control bacterial infections. In this work, two typical PI-PLC enzymes, from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), were studied and their membrane binding properties were examined and correlated with enzymatic activity. BtPI-PLC is kinetically activated by allosteric binding of a phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecule. MD simulations of the protein in solution suggested correlated loop and helix motions around the active site could regulate BtPI-PLC activity. Vesicle binding and enzymatic studies of variants of two proline residues, Pro245 and Pro254, that were associated with these motions showed that loss of the correlated motions between the two halves of PI-PLC were more critical for enzymatic activity than for vesicle binding. Furthermore, loss of enzyme activity could be rescued to a large extent with PC present in a vesicle. This suggests that binding to PC changes the enzyme conformation to keep the active site accessible. SaPI-PLC shows 41.3% sequence similarity with BtPI-PLC but has very different ways its activity is regulated. While it is kinetically activated by PC it does not in fact bind to that phospholipid. Enzymatic and membrane interaction assays showed that SaPI-PLC has evolved a complex, apparently unique way to control its access to PI or GPI-anchored substrate. (i) An intramolecular cation-pi latch facilitates soluble product release under acidic conditions without dissociation from the membrane. (ii) There is a cationic pocket on the surface of enzyme that likely modulates the location of the protein. (iii) Dimerization of protein is enhanced in membranes containing phosphatidylcholine (PC), which acts not by specifically binding to the protein, but by reducing anionic lipid interactions with the cationic pocket that stabilizes monomeric protein. SaPI-PLC activity is modulated by competition between binding of soluble anions or anionic lipids to the cationic sensor and transient dimerization on the membrane depleted in anionic phospholipids. This protein also served as a way to test the hypothesis that a cation-pi box provides for PC recognition site. This structural motif was engineered into SaPI-PLC by forming N254Y/H258Y. This variant selectively binds PC-enriched vesicles and the enzyme binding behavior mimics that of BtPI-PLC. Itaconic acid (ITA) is a metabolite synthesized in macrophages and related cell lines by a cis-aconitate decarboxylase (cADC). cADC activity is dramatically increased upon macrophage stimulation. In this work, the cell line RAW264.7 was used to show that cADC activity upon stimulation requires de novo protein synthesis. MS analyses of partially purified RAW264.7 protein extracts from stimulated cells show a large increase for immunoresponsive gene 1 protein (IRG1) and siRNA knockdown of the IRG1 reduces cADC activity upon stimulation. Suspected active site residues of IRG1 were identified by mutagenesis studies of the recombinant protein based on a homology structure model of fungal cADC. The cloning and overexpression of this enzyme should help clarify the cofactor-independent decarboxylation mechanism of this mammalian enzyme as well as open up future studies into the specific role of ITA in the mammalian immune system and cancers. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Esta tese investiga o fenômeno das perguntas polares do Português do Libolo - PLB, em que discuto na perspectiva da Teoria de Princípios e Parâmetros em sua versão conhecida como Programa Minimalista (CHOMSKY, 1995, 2005 e 2008, e versões subsequentes), aspectos da derivação sintática de respostas afirmativas a perguntas polares, em sentenças do PLB. A análise dos dados do PLB mostrou que respostas afirmativas a perguntas polares no PLB distribuem-se, preferencialmente, em respostas verbais e respostas com a partícula sim, que podem ser entendidas como instanciadoras de um traço de polaridade lexicalizado pelo verbo, quando o elemento verbal é núcleo de fase em que é licenciada a elipse de VP e pela partícula sim, na fase CP. O enfoque teórico é a Teoria de derivação por fases, do Programa Minimalista. / This thesis concerns the phenomenon of the Polar Interrogatives (PI) in Portuguese spoken in Libolo (PLB), discussing throughout the Principles and Parameters theory in its version known as the Minimalist Program (as set by Chomsky (1995) and following works) issues on the derivation of the syntactic structure of affirmative responses of PI sentences in PLB. The analysis of PLB data showed that affirmative answers to polar questions in PLB are distributed, preferably, in verbal responses and responses with the \"yes\" particle. The affirmative responses of PI sentences in PLB can be understood as instanciers of a polarity feature which is lexicalized by the verb, when the verbal form is the head of the phase that licenses VP ellipses and the yes particle, when the phase is CP. The theoretical approach is the Phase Theory of the Minimalist Program.

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo principal a validação do modelo matemá- tico PI a partir da avaliação do seu desempenho tanto a nível de representação elétrica, como também nas transmissões de sinal de comunicação em alta frequência, usualmente utilizadas em tráfego conhecido como Power Line Communication (PLC). Para atingir este objetivo, inicialmente, foi realizado o estudo e avaliação dos modelos matemáticos utilizados para representar um segmento de distribuição de energia. Depois foi utilizado um emulador em escala de potência reduzida, validado para baixa frequência, objetivando avaliar o modelo matemático escolhido. Como o foco do trabalho é a rede de distribuição em baixa tensão, foi realizada a construção de um circuito elétrico representativo de um trecho real de uma concessionária de energia, no caso deste trabalho o DEMEI, que foi implementado computacionalmente utilizando a ferramenta matemática Matlab e sicamente em um dos laboratórios do Grupo de Automação Industrial e Controle (GAIC). Foi realizado um conjunto signi cativo de medições, de corrente e tensão, no circuito real e os resultados foram comparados com os dados obtidos a partir das simulações computacionais do modelo escolhido para representar o circuito real utilizando uma transmissão PLC, no caso o modelo PI. A partir da análise dos resultados reais com os obtidos das simulações computacionais foi possível comprovar que o modelo PI representa satisfatoriamente o trecho simulado em relação a transmissão em altas frequências, uma vez que o sinal PLC transmitido no trecho simulado no Matlab em relação ao trecho real teve um erro inferior a 1%. / 128 f.

A energia elétrica é indispensável para o desenvolvimento da sociedade atual. Mas para que a energia que alimenta os dispositivos elétricos e eletrônicos seja distribuída aos consumidores com segurança e qualidade, o sistema elétrico convencional busca novos avanços, focando principalmente à modernização e otimização da rede, fundamentada no conceito de Smart Grid. Desta forma, o estudo de métodos que simulem o comportamento real de uma rede de distribuição de energia, para possível aplicação de tecnologias Smart, passa a ter signi cativa importância. Uma das formas de emular este comportamento é através de modelos matemáticos. Estes descrevem o comportamento de um circuito elétrico através de uma linha de transmissão de energia, com as mesmas características do sistema real, como parâmetros do cabo, tensão, corrente e carga da rede. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa realiza a modelagem matemática da rede de distribuição primária (i.e., rede de média tensão) da concessionária municipal Demei, a partir do modelo elétrico PI. Todas as simulações computacionais foram realizadas na ferramenta Matlab/Simulink considerando um amplo conjunto de dados experimentais obtidos através de um sistema de aquisição de dados capaz de mensurar as grandezas tensão e corrente, instalado diretamente na rede primária da concessionária Demei. Estes dados representam o sistema real e foram utilizados para a implementação computacional e validação do modelo matemático. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o modelo PI, acrescido das propostas de modi ca- ções, descritas nesta dissertação, consegue capturar as características da rede modelada de forma satisfatória, apresentando erro médio inferior à 5%. / 94 f.

Esta tese investiga o fenômeno das perguntas polares do Português do Libolo - PLB, em que discuto na perspectiva da Teoria de Princípios e Parâmetros em sua versão conhecida como Programa Minimalista (CHOMSKY, 1995, 2005 e 2008, e versões subsequentes), aspectos da derivação sintática de respostas afirmativas a perguntas polares, em sentenças do PLB. A análise dos dados do PLB mostrou que respostas afirmativas a perguntas polares no PLB distribuem-se, preferencialmente, em respostas verbais e respostas com a partícula sim, que podem ser entendidas como instanciadoras de um traço de polaridade lexicalizado pelo verbo, quando o elemento verbal é núcleo de fase em que é licenciada a elipse de VP e pela partícula sim, na fase CP. O enfoque teórico é a Teoria de derivação por fases, do Programa Minimalista. / This thesis concerns the phenomenon of the Polar Interrogatives (PI) in Portuguese spoken in Libolo (PLB), discussing throughout the Principles and Parameters theory in its version known as the Minimalist Program (as set by Chomsky (1995) and following works) issues on the derivation of the syntactic structure of affirmative responses of PI sentences in PLB. The analysis of PLB data showed that affirmative answers to polar questions in PLB are distributed, preferably, in verbal responses and responses with the \"yes\" particle. The affirmative responses of PI sentences in PLB can be understood as instanciers of a polarity feature which is lexicalized by the verb, when the verbal form is the head of the phase that licenses VP ellipses and the yes particle, when the phase is CP. The theoretical approach is the Phase Theory of the Minimalist Program.

This thesis concerns an exploratory practice (EP) project conducted at a two-year college in north east Japan, which was severely affected by the earthquake of March 2011. The focus of research is a 13-week EFL course for 25 first-year college students, specifically designed to enhance their future visions of themselves as L2 users (Dörnyei & Kubanyiova, 2014). This study examined opportunities that the course created for the students’ vision development in the classroom and the factors that may have contributed to these opportunities. The data came from 1) students’ written narratives, 2) semi-structured interviews, 3) teacher/researcher reflections, field notes and audio- and video- recordings of the classes, and 4) course evaluation questionnaires. Findings show that the course was beneficial for enhancing students’ appreciation of their language-relevant futures and the thesis engages with the factors that contributed to these findings by 1) tracing the trajectories of L2 learning and intercultural experiences of selected interview participants, 2) examining group dynamics and pedagogy adopted for the course, and 3) piecing together an understanding of the role that the teacher played in mobilising one focal participant’s future vision. The key contribution of this EP inquiry turned out to be more far-reaching than originally envisaged; however, pointing to the broader role that language education can play in young people’s lives. The thesis concludes by discussing educational and research consequences of this finding.

No description available.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-07-07T17:37:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Beatriz Nunes da Silva.pdf: 5046818 bytes, checksum: 9c13823fa61d96b2d242b921fc17d1f3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-07T17:37:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Beatriz Nunes da Silva.pdf: 5046818 bytes, checksum: 9c13823fa61d96b2d242b921fc17d1f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-06 / Nenhuma / Considerando a importância das culturas na constituição das sociedades e a cidadania comunicativa como um elemento fundamental para a construção e reconhecimento cultural, esta pesquisa objetivou investigar a construção das identidades culturais piauienses nas produções audiovisuais da Associação Brasileira de Documentaristas- Piauí e entender como se relacionam com a constituição da cidadania comunicativa cultural destas identidades. Para tanto, foi construído um arcabouço teórico que articulou os conceitos de cultura, identidade cultural, midiatização e documentário. A pesquisa empírica, de cunho qualitativo, foi realizada a partir da observação de um corpus de cinco produções audiovisuais da Associação Brasileira de Documentaristas - PI (ABD-PI), e de entrevistas com produtores e participantes das produções. Os resultados da pesquisa permitem ver que as construções são marcadas pelo recorte dado pelos produtores audiovisuais e também a partir das informações obtidas com os sujeitos/ grupos sociais envolvidos no contexto das produções. As construções realizadas nos documentários permitem a expressão de sujeitos e de práticas culturais do contexto piauiense, particularmente de classes populares, apresentando possibilidades concretas de colaboração para a cidadania comunicativa destas culturas e identidades. / Considering the importance of cultures in the constitution of societies and communicative citizenship as a key element for raising and cultural recognition, this research investigated the construction of cultural identities from Piauí in audiovisual productions of the Brazilian Association of Documentary-Piauí and aiming to understand how they relate to the cultural communicative constitution of citizenship of these identities. Therefore, it was built a theoretical framework that articulated the concepts of culture, cultural identity, and documentary media coverage. The empirical research, a qualitative approach, was performed through the observation of a corpus of five audiovisual productions of the Brazilian Association of Documentary - PI (ABD-PI), and interviews with producers and productions participants. The survey results allow us to realize that those constructions are marked by clipping given by audiovisual producers and also from the information obtained with the subjects/social groups involved in the production context. The buildings made in documentaries allows the expression of subjects and cultural practices in Piauí context, particularly the popular classes, presenting concrete possibilities of collaboration for the citizens of these communicative cultures and identities.

Ces dernières années, les robots manipulateurs ont été utilisés pour des tâches, telles que le polissage, le fraisage, le placement des fibres, entre autres, auparavant réalisées par des machines spécialisées. Cependant, l’utilisation des robots pour ces tâches en contact, présente des problèmes de précision. Ce contact provoque des flexibilités dans le robot, l’outil et l’environnement. Cette thèse cible l’amélioration de la précision de la tâche robotisée de dépose de fibres qui nécessite un compactage homogène selon le matériau et la surface. La précision du drapage peut être améliorée par la correction en ligne de la trajectoire du robot et du point de centrage dynamique de l’outil (DTCP). Cette thèse propose l’asservissement en position/force-pression en modifiant le TCP, pour commander le compactage selon la surface de contact et prend en compte les flexibilités dues au contact. La pression et les flexibilités sont calculées à partir d’un modèle mécanique numérique réduit grâce à des réseaux de neurones. Cet asservissement a besoin d’une sélection appropriée des correcteurs pour garantir un bon fonctionnement et pour travailler avec divers types de moules. La sélection est réalisée dynamiquement par logique floue. Le DTCP est calculé dynamiquement grâce aux flexibilités de l’outil et il est redéfini lors de l’exécution de la trajectoire du robot pendant le drapage. Un dispositif expérimental est mis en oeuvre en utilisant des éléments similaires aux cellules robotisées de placement des fibres. Une application logicielle intègre l’asservissement proposé dans la baie de commande. Cet asservissement permet d’améliorer la précision de dépose de fibres. / In the last years, the robots have been used in the tasks that were previously performed by specialized machines such as polishing, milling, drilling, fibers lay up, among others. However, the use of industrial robots for these contact tasks presents problems of precision. This contact causes flexibility in the robot, in the tool and in the environment. This thesis is aimed at improving the accuracy of the robotic fiber placement task. This task requires a homogeneous and adapted compaction according to the material and the surface. The lay-up precision can be improved by online robot trajectory correction and the dynamic tool center point (DTCP) definition. This thesis presents a position/force-pressure control by modifying the TCP, to control the compaction according to the contact surface and which takes into account the flexibility due to the compaction force. Pressure and flexibility are calculated from a mechanical numerical model reduced using neural networks. The force-pressure control needs a selection of corrector to ensure a good performance and to work with several types of molds. This dynamic correction selection is performed by a fuzzy logic approach. The DTCP has been calculated dynamically thanks to the tool flexibility and it is redefined when the robot’s trajectory is running during the draping. An experimental setup has been implemented using industrial elements similar to robotic fiber placement cells. A software application has been developed which integrates the control loop into the robot controller. This loop improves the accuracy of fiber placement.