Nove tehnologije optičkog kolor sortiranja voća

This paper concentrates on application of color sorting machines for fruit sorting. Paper shows in details transport system through sorting machine, reject system, visual system (cameras and lasers), data processing system and user interface. Advantages of machine sorting versus manual (hand) sorting are presented, as well as result of tests conducted in food processing factory "ITN Eko Povlen" in Kosjeric.U ovom radu je prikazan princip rada optičkog prebiranja voća kolor sorterima. Rad detaljno opisuje sistem transporta proizvoda kroz mašinu, sistem izbacivanja neuslovnih proizvoda, vizuelni sistem (sistem kamera i lasera), sistem obrade podataka i korisnički interfejs. U radu su prikazane i prednosti mašinskog u odnosu na ručno prebiranje kao i rezultati testova sprovedenih u fabrici za preradu hrane "ITN Eko Povlen" u Kosjeriću

New technologies in fruit color sorting

U ovom radu je prikazan princip rada optičkog prebiranja voća kolor sorterima. Rad detaljno opisuje sistem transporta proizvoda kroz mašinu, sistem izbacivanja neuslovnih proizvoda, vizuelni sistem (sistem kamera i lasera), sistem obrade podataka i korisnički interfejs. U radu su prikazane i prednosti mašinskog u odnosu na ručno prebiranje kao i rezultati testova sprovedenih u fabrici za preradu hrane 'ITN Eko Povlen' u Kosjeriću.This paper concentrates on application of color sorting machines for fruit sorting. Paper shows in details transport system through sorting machine, reject system, visual system (cameras and lasers), data processing system and user interface. Advantages of machine sorting versus manual (hand) sorting are presented, as well as result of tests conducted in food processing factory 'ITN Eko Povlen' in Kosjeric

Evaluating Digital Creativity Support for Children: A Systematic Literature Review

Creativity, the process of creating something new and valuable, benefits children by improving their skills and development, encouraging interaction and engagement, and enabling the generation and expression of novel ideas. In recent years, interactive digital tools have emerged to support the user’s creativity in the open-ended creation of new artifacts. However, the question of evaluating the creativity happening in the interplay between children, digital tools, and products is still open. This systematic literature review investigated the evaluations of digital creativity support tools for children and identified 81 peer-reviewed relevant articles from the last 10 years. This research contributes to practitioners and researchers by providing an overview of the evaluations in a framework based on 10 factors (value, novelty, fluency, enjoyment, user feeling, collaboration, expressiveness, immersion, flexibility, and interaction), nine product areas, three approaches, and five methods. The review demonstrated that the evaluations differ widely, and the area lacks a standard evaluation framework. We propose the dimensions of our analysis as an initial framework for situating the evaluation of digital creativity support tools for children that the child–computer interaction community can further refine

Machine Learning Based Classification of Textual Stimuli to Promote Ideation in Bioinspired Design

Bioinspired design uses biological systems to inspire engineering designs. One of bioinspired design’s challenges is identifying relevant information sources in biology for an engineering design task. Currently information can be retrieved by searching biology texts or journals using biology-focused keywords that map to engineering functions. However, this search technique can overwhelm designers with unusable results. This work explores the use of text classification tools to identify relevant biology passages for design. Further, this research examines the effects of using biology passages as stimuli during idea generation. Four human-subjects studies are examined in this work. Two surveys are performed in which participants evaluate sentences from a biology corpus and indicate whether each sentence prompts an idea for solving a specific design problem. The surveys are used to develop and evaluate text classification tools. Two idea generation studies are performed in which participants generate and record solutions for designing a corn shucker using either different sets of biology passages as design stimuli, or no stimuli. Based 286 sentences from the surveys, a k Nearest Neighbor classifier is developed that is able to identify helpful sentences relating to the function “separate” with a precision of 0.62 and recall of 0.48. This classifier could potentially double the number of helpful results found using a keyword search. The developed classifier is specific to the function “separate” and performs poorly when used for another function. Classifiers developed using all sentences and participant responses from the surveys are not able to reliably identify helpful sentences. From the idea generation studies, we determine that using any biology passages as design stimuli increases the quantity and variety of participant solutions. Solution quantity and variety are also significantly increased when biology passages are presented one at a time instead of all at once. Quality and variety are not significantly affected by the presence of design stimuli. Biological stimuli are also found to lead designers to types of solution that are not typically produced otherwise. This work develops a means for designers to find more useful information when searching biology and demonstrates several ways that biology passages can improve ideation

Inovação auxiliada por computador (CAI): uma análise bibliométrica de artigos publicados entre 2004 e 2013

In recent decades, innovation has come to be seen as a crucial factor for the competitiveness of organizations. From a process little orderly, innovation has come to be systematized, with the establishment of tools, methodologies and theories. A variety of computer programs have been created to support innovation, giving rise to a new category of tools, which is being called Computer Aided Innovation (CAI). This exploratory research seeks to understand more precisely the concept of CAI, as well as identify key publications, authors, institutions and regions in which it has been developed, besides seeking to identify gaps and trends of the topics covered in the area. Given the purpose of the research, it was decided to use bibliometrics, which allows obtaining the information indicated from the analysis of the main databases related to CAI. The research consists of 217 articles, published between 2004-2013. The methodological procedures to develop the research involved the following steps: a) raise the state of the art regarding the Computed Aided Innovation; b) Survey and data collection of scientific papers on CAI; c) categorization and bibliometric analysis and d) classify and analyze the topics covered. The results obtained through the bibliometric analysis revealed that there were 378 different authors, and authors have increased an average of 34.7% from 2004 to 2013. When checking the adhesion of the Lotka´s law to the field of CAI, It was observed that 72.8% of the authors had only one publication, 15% more than proposed by Lotka, than the area of CAI does not adjust to this law. The most productive authors were Runhua Tan (complete count) and Noel Leon (direct counting). The most cited author was Gaetano Cascini. The most productive country in the world is China, with 41% of publications, as well as having the largest number of researchers (42% of total) and the largest number of institutions. However, the country with the greatest relevance is France, because the French articles had 30.4% of the citations. The more productive institution is Hebei Universi ty of Technology, China, with 16% of the articles. The institution most frequently cited is INSA Strasbourg, France. By analyzing the topics covered, it was realized that the "Idea Management" category is more developed and the category "Management Patent" is the one with the least amount of work. It is considered that this research has contributed to give visibility to researchers, institutions and countries that have contributed to the development of CAI, besides recognizing the theoretical core that serves as the foundation of knowledge of the area. The theme CAI is extremely important for the improvement of the innovation process, enabling to innovate more efficiently and effectively.Nas últimas décadas, a inovação passou a ser vista como um fator crucial para a competitividade das organizações. De um processo pouco ordenado, a inovação tem passado a ser sistematizada, com o estabelecimento de ferramentas, metodologias e teorias. Uma variedade de programas computacionais têm sido criadas para apoiar a inovação, dando origem a uma nova categoria de ferramentas, que vem sendo denominada Computer Aided Innovation (CAI), ou Inovação Auxiliada por Computador. Esta pesquisa, de característica exploratória, busca compreender com maior exatidão o conceito de CAI, bem como identificar as principais publicações, autores, instituições e regiões nas quais o assunto tem sido desenvolvido, além de buscar identificar as lacunas e tendências dos temas abordados na área. Dada a finalidade da pesquisa, decidiu-se pelo uso da bibliometria e da análise de conteúdo para alcançar os objetivos estabelecidos. O universo da pesquisa constitui -se de 217 artigos, publicados no período de 2004 a 2013. Os procedimentos metodológicos para desenvolver a pesquisa envolveram os seguintes passos: a) levantar o estado da arte no que se refere a Inovação Auxiliada por Computador; b) levantar e coletar os dados dos artigos científicos em CAI; c) categorizar e fazer análise bibliométrica e d) classificar e analisar os temas abordados. Os resultados obtidos, por meio da análise bibliométrica, revelaram que houve 378 autores diferentes, e que a média de autores aumentou em 30,4% de 2004 a 2013. Ao verificar a aderência da lei de Lotka à área de CAI, observou-se que 72,8% dos autores tiveram apenas uma publicação, sendo 15% a mais do que o proposto por Lotka, ou seja, a área de CAI não se ajusta a esta lei. Os autores mais produtivos foram Runhua Tan (contagem completa) e Noel León (contagem direta). O autor mais citado foi Gaetano Cascini. O país mais produtivo do mundo é a China, com 41% das publicações, além de possuir o maior número de pesquisadores (42% do total) e o maior número de instituições. No entanto, o país com a maior relevância é a França, pois os artigos franceses tiveram 30,4% das citações. A instituição mais produtiva é Hebei University of Technology da China, com 16% dos artigos. A instituição mais citada é INSA Strasbourg, França. Ao analisar os temas abordados, percebeu-se que a categoria “Gestão de Ideias” é mais desenvolvida e a categoria “Gestão de Patentes” é a que possui a menor quantidade de trabalhos. Considera-se que esta pesquisa contribuiu para dar visibilidade aos pesquisadores, instituições e países que tem contribuído para o desenvolvimento do CAI, além de reconhecer o núcleo teórico que serve de alicerce do conhecimento da área. O tema CAI é de suma importância para a melhoria do processo de inovação, possibilitando inovar com mais eficiência e eficácia

Machine Learning Based Classification of Textual Stimuli to Promote Ideation in Bioinspired Design

Bioinspired design uses biological systems to inspire engineering designs. One of bioinspired design’s challenges is identifying relevant information sources in biology for an engineering design task. Currently information can be retrieved by searching biology texts or journals using biology-focused keywords that map to engineering functions. However, this search technique can overwhelm designers with unusable results. This work explores the use of text classification tools to identify relevant biology passages for design. Further, this research examines the effects of using biology passages as stimuli during idea generation. Four human-subjects studies are examined in this work. Two surveys are performed in which participants evaluate sentences from a biology corpus and indicate whether each sentence prompts an idea for solving a specific design problem. The surveys are used to develop and evaluate text classification tools. Two idea generation studies are performed in which participants generate and record solutions for designing a corn shucker using either different sets of biology passages as design stimuli, or no stimuli. Based 286 sentences from the surveys, a k Nearest Neighbor classifier is developed that is able to identify helpful sentences relating to the function “separate” with a precision of 0.62 and recall of 0.48. This classifier could potentially double the number of helpful results found using a keyword search. The developed classifier is specific to the function “separate” and performs poorly when used for another function. Classifiers developed using all sentences and participant responses from the surveys are not able to reliably identify helpful sentences. From the idea generation studies, we determine that using any biology passages as design stimuli increases the quantity and variety of participant solutions. Solution quantity and variety are also significantly increased when biology passages are presented one at a time instead of all at once. Quality and variety are not significantly affected by the presence of design stimuli. Biological stimuli are also found to lead designers to types of solution that are not typically produced otherwise. This work develops a means for designers to find more useful information when searching biology and demonstrates several ways that biology passages can improve ideation

Colheita de mexilhões cultivados em Santa Catarina: desempenho operacional, ergonomia e prototipagem de um sistema mecanizado

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aqüicultura, Florianópolis, 2015.O cultivo de mexilhões é uma realidade em Santa Catarina, com uma produção superior a 17.000 toneladas/ano. Todavia, ainda é uma atividade caracterizada pela intensa utilização de mão de obra. Os processos de produção adotados em grande parte das fazendas marinhas são rudimentares no que se refere à adoção de tecnologias de apoio à produção. A colheita é a etapa do processo de produção que compreende as operações mais árduas e exigentes de mão de obra. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar operações não mecanizadas da colheita de mexilhões sob os enfoques operacional e ergonômico e com base nessa análise, propor melhorias de processo. Foram estudadas as operações de retirada do mar e desagregação dos mexilhões, que são as mais exigentes de mão de obra e esforços físicos nas unidades de produção. Para a avaliação do desempenho operacional foi adotada uma metodologia que combinou o Estudo de Tempos e Movimentos com parâmetros utilizados na análise de operações agrícolas mecanizadas. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: Tempo Padrão, Capacidade de Produção Operacional, Eficácia Operacional, Eficiência de Tempo, Retorno e Quebra. Os resultados obtidos apontaram que os tempos padrões de retirada do mar e de desagregação de uma corda de mexilhões, com peso médio de 21,9 kg, foram, respectivamente, 133,7 e 266,7 segundos; as capacidades de produção operacionais 0,16 e 0,08 kg.s-1; as eficácias operacionais 100 e 31,6%; as eficiências de tempo 56 e 35%; os retornos 0 e 65% e as quebras 0 e 3,4%. Estes resultados indicam baixo desempenho operacional na realização da colheita não mecanizada de mexilhões. Na avaliação ergonômica das operações foi utilizado o método de análise postural OWAS (Ovaco Working Postural Analysing System), que permitiu avaliar os riscos de exposição dos trabalhadores a Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho (DORT). Em média, foram identificadas 35 posturas laborais na realização da retirada dos mexilhões do mar e 28 na desagregação dos mexilhões. Na retirada do mar, 74,4% das posturas adotadas foram enquadradas como nocivas à saúde dos trabalhadores, exigindo intervenções imediatas ou de curto prazo. Na desagregação esse percentual foi de 69%. Como proposta de melhoria do desempenho operacional e da ergonomia na colheita de mexilhões foram realizados o projeto e a prototipagem de um sistema mecanizado, concebido para realizar todas as operações da colheita de forma integrada, diretamente nas áreas aquícolas das fazendas marinhas.Abstract : The mussels cultivation is a reality in Santa Catarina, with a yield higher than 17,000 tons/year. However, it is a labor-intensive activity. The production processes widely adopted in marine farms are rudimentary as regards the adoption of production support technologies. The harvesting is the stage of the production process that comprises the most arduous and demanding manpower operations. This study aimed to analyze non-mechanized mussels harvesting operations under the operational and ergonomic approaches. Based on this analysis, process improvements were proposed. The mussels ropes stripping and de-clumping, which are the higher manpower and physical effort demanding procedures in marine farms, were analyzed. The operational performances of these operations were assessed through a methodology that combined the Motion and Time Studies, with parameters used in operational performance analysis of mechanized farming operations. The parameters evaluated were: Standard Time, Operational Production Capacity, Operational Effectiveness, Time Efficiency, Return and Break. The results showed that the standard times of mussels ropes stripping and de-clumping, with an average weight of 21.9 kg, were respectively 133.7 and 266.7 seconds; operational production capacities were 0.16 and 0.08 kg.s-1; operational efficiencies were 100 and 31.6%; time efficiencies were 56 and 35%; returns were 0 and 65% and the breaks were 0 and 3.4%. These results indicate low operational performance in the non-mechanized mussels harvesting. The ergonomic evaluation of operations was performed with the OWAS postural analysis method (Ovaco Working Posture Analysing System), which allowed assess the risks of workers exposure to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). On average, were identified 35 labor postures in stripping and 28 postures in the de-clumping mussels ropes. In the stripping, 74,4% of the postures were classified as harmful to the workers musculoskeletal system, requiring immediate or short-term interventions in the workplace. In the de-clumping this percentage was 69%. As a proposal for improving the operational performance and ergonomics in the harvesting operations, were performed the design and prototyping of a mussels harvest mechanical system, developed to realize all mussels harvesting operations in an integrated manner, directly at marine farms production areas

Development of methods to determine prevalence of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in farm systems

ABSTRACT Flavobacterium psychrophilum (Fp), the aetiological agent of rainbow trout fry syndrome (RTFS) and bacterial cold-water disease (BCWD), is responsible for significant mortalities and economic losses in the salmonid aquaculture industry worldwide. Currently, there is no effective commercial vaccine against RTFS available, and the treatment of the disease depends on the oral administration of a wide range of anti-microbial compounds, some of which have proven ineffective. With unsuccessful disinfection procedures, possibilities of antibiotic resistance developing and no commercial vaccine available, there is an increased need to rapidly detect Fp and reduce mortalities in the industry by improving control measures in the farm system. The aim of this thesis was to investigate possible sources of Fp in a rainbow trout fry farm system and to use this data to develop strategies to reduce the prevalence of the pathogen with this farming system. Novel assays to detect Fp (loop-mediated isothermal amplification; LAMP), quantify Fp (quantitative PCR; qPCR) and to detect the fishes’ host response to Fp (Luminex™) were developed, and then used alongside bacterial culture and nested PCR to determine the prevalence of Fp on a commercial fish farm. Four batches of eggs from 3 different geographic sources were collected on arrival at the farm and tested for the prevalence of Fp. Fry from these batches were monitored as they grew and were moved to different sites at the farm. Kidney, spleen and blood were collected at 3 different life stages from the fry, until they were sold for ongrowing by the farm. Water samples from the inlet, outlet and fry tanks were collected at each sampling point. PCR analysis and bacteriology were the two main methods selected for screening the eggs and fry tissue for Fp. All sources of eggs were found to be positive for Fp with prevalences ranging from 1.1 % - 1.9 % and there was a significant increase in prevalence over time for all 4 batches of eggs ranging from 19.8 % - 34.6 % by the final life stage sampled. There was also a substantial difference in the numbers of fry samples positive for Fp depending on whether nested PCR or bacterial culture were used, as well as the organ (kidney or spleen) tested. This highlighted the importance of sampling both organs rather than just the one. Nested PCR was more sensitive than culture with 13 % of the fry samples reported as Fp positive, by sampling both the kidney and spleen collectively, while only 5 % were Fp positive by bacteriology. The levels of Fp in all samples could not be quantified by qPCR due to limits in the sensitivity of the assay. For those samples that were quantified at the levels of Fp detected by qPCR ranged from 3.38 x 104 well-1 - 2.07 x 106 well-1 genome copies in egg samples; from 3.38 x 103 well-1 – 3.07 x 107 well-1 genome copies well-1 in tissue samples (spleen or kidney), and from 7.89 x 103 – 7.22 x 104 genome copies well-1 in water samples. The sensitivity of the standard curve was limited to 103 copies well-1 and following optimisation of the assay the annealing temperature was decreased by 1˚C to 62°C to reduce the cross-reactivity to negligible levels, though this reduced the sensitivity of the assay even further to 104 copies well-1. The detection limits by qPCR obtained by spiking samples with known amounts of Fp were 192 CFU mg-1 from egg samples, 184 CFU mg-1 from fry tissue samples, and 220 CFU ml-1 from water samples,. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay determined by spiking egg, kidney, spleen and water samples was 18 CFU mg-1, 22 CFU mg-1, 25 CFU mg-1 and 16 CFU ml-1, respectively. The latter was similar to, though not as sensitive as nested PCR. Nested PCR limits determined by spiking egg, kidney, spleen and water samples were 14 CFU mg-1, 11 CFU mg-1, 13 CFU mg-1 and 11 CFU ml-1. No cross-reactivity was found with any bacteria including other Flavobacterium species with nested PCR but cross-reactivity with other Flavobacterium species were found with both qPCR (1.51 % with Flavobacterium aquatile and 0.30 % with Flavobacterium johnsoniae) and LAMP. The LAMP assay showed slight cross-reactivity with Flavobacterium columnare and Flavobacterium branchiophilum. A novel Luminex™ assay was also developed and optimised, using microspheres coated with Fp, to detect antibodies to Fp in the serum of the fry. The Luminex™ allowed small volumes of serum from individual fry to be used to evaluate antibody response as an indirect method to determine exposure to and infection by Fp. A large number of fry from all 4 batches (88% - 94%) of eggs were found to contain anti-Fp antibodies though it still remains to be determined whether the antibodies were specific to Fp. From the work carried out in this study, it can be concluded that whether eggs are carrying Fp inside and/or on their surface, it should be possible to reduce the prevalence of Fp in farm systems by regularly screening the broodstock, eggs and fry. Supply of Fp-free eggs and milt is essential to reduce the reservoir of Fp on farms. Both the qPCR and LAMP assay require further optimisation but they do offer potential for the future screening of Fp at farm sites and in the laboratory. Future control measures for RFTS should include the screening of broodstock and eggs by sensitive methods so that Fp-free seed can be supplied to farms. This, alongside effective disinfection procedures, rigorous husbandry practices and future vaccine development will all be required to manage this very significant fish disease

Advanced Luminescence-based characterisation of silicon wafer solar cells

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH