Gades and the Mediterranean: a Process of Integration

The impetus for this paper is to present possible contributions of the Network Theory approach to the analysis of the Roman presence in Turdetania by the end of the 1st millennium BC. Firstly, we discuss how some written sources, such as Strabo’s Geography, describe this region and how the countryside and coastal areas are mentioned. Secondly, we present how contemporary historiography makes use of Network Theory to investigate numerous issues of Ancient History. Finally, we point out a proposal for Social Network Analysis (SNA) to questions regarding Turdetania before and after Roman occupation

LGMD based neural network for automatic collision detection

Real-time collision detection in dynamic scenarios is a hard task if the algorithms used are based on conventional techniques of computer vision, since these are computationally complex and, consequently, time-consuming. On the other hand, bio-inspired visual sensors are suitable candidates for mobile robot navigation in unknown environments, due to their computational simplicity. The Lobula Giant Movement Detector (LGMD) neuron, located in the locust optic lobe, responds selectively to approaching objects. This neuron has been used to develop bio-inspired neural networks for collision avoidance. In this work, we propose a new LGMD model based on two previous models, in order to improve over them by incorporating other algorithms. To assess the real-time properties of the proposed model, it was applied to a real robot. Results shown that the LGMD neuron model can robustly support collision avoidance in complex visual scenarios.(undefined

A DIMENSÃO INTERVENTIVA E A FORMAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL DO ASSISTENTE SOCIAL: CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE OS FUNDAMENTOS PROFISSIONAIS

Resumo A preocupação central do artigo é a dimensão interventiva da profissão de assistente social e a apropriação de diferentes saberes pelos profissionais. Argumenta-se que os profissionais tendem a recorrer em seus campos sócio-ocupacionais a diferentes saberes científicos, ao senso comum profissional ou à experiências de vida no intento de qualificarem suas intervenções. Argumenta-se que hodiernamente no âmbito da formação e da produção de conhecimento em Serviço Social os aspectos macrossociais colocados no âmbito da economia política são valorizados em detrimento das dimensões microssociais dos objetos da intervenção e do exercício profissional do assistente social, tendo a profissão uma carência de conhecimentos que dêem conta da complexidade da intervenção e do tempo miúdo da profissão. Para além de representarem dificuldades dos profissionais na assimilação das perspectivas teóricas, a situação explicitada diz respeito a um elemento constitutivo (e não abarcado) do processo de formação do assistente social

Timed trajectory generation combined with an Extended Kalman Filter for a vision-based autonomous mobile robot

Series : Advances in intelligent systems and computing, vol. 193, ISSN 2194-5357Planning collision-free trajectories requires the combination of generation and modulation techniques. This is especially important if temporal stabilization of the generated trajectories is considered. Temporal stabilization means to conform to the planned movement time, in spite of environmental conditions or perturbations. This timing problem has not been addressed in most current robotic systems, and it is critical in several robotic tasks such as sequentially structured actions or human-robot interaction. This work focuses on generating trajectories for a mobile robot, whose goal is to reach a target within a constant time, independently of the world complexity. Trajectories are generated by nonlinear dynamical systems. Herein, we extend our previous work by including an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate the target location relative to the robot. A simulated hospital environment and a Pioneer 3-AT robot are used to demonstrate the robustness and reliability of the proposed approach in cluttered, dynamic and uncontrolled scenarios. Multiple experiments confirm that the inclusion of the EKF preserves the timing properties of the overall architecture.Work supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation (grant PTDC/EEA-CRO/100655/2008), and by project FCT PEst-OE/EEI/LA0009/2011. Jorge B. Silva is supported by PhD Grant SFRH/BD/68805/2010, granted by the Portuguese Science Foundation

Generating trajectories with temporal constraints for an autonomous robot

Trajectory modulation and generation are two fundamental issues in the path planning problem in autonomous robotics, specially considering temporal stabilization of the generated movements. This is a very critical issue in several robotic tasks including: catching, hitting, and human-robot scenarios. In this work, we address these problems and focus on generating movement for a mobile robot, whose goal is to reach a target within a constant time. We use an Hopf oscillator whose solution controls velocity, adapted according to temporal feedback. We have also proposed an adaptive mechanism for frequency modulation of the velocity profile that enables setting different times for acceleration and deceleration. This approach is demonstrated on a DRK8000 mobile robot in order to confirm the system’s reliability with low-level sensors.(undefined

Developing a timed navigation architecture for hospital delivery robots

In hospitals, typical tasks of delivering goods between different locations are usually done by auxiliary staff. With the development of robotic technologies, such tasks can be performed by mobile robots releasing the staff effort to other tasks. In order to successfully complete the tasks of delivering goods inside hospitals, mobile robots should be able to generate trajectories free of collisions. In addition, including timing constraints to the generated trajectories has not been addressed in most current robotic systems, and it is critical in robotic tasks as human-robot interaction. Including timing constraints means to obey to the planned movement time, despite diversified environmental conditions or perturbations. In this paper we aim to develop a navigation architecture with timing constraints based on a mesh of nonlinear dynamical systems and feedthrough maps for wheeled mobile robots. A simulated hospital environment and a wheeled robot pioneer 3-DX are used to demonstrate the robustness and reliability of the proposed architecture in cluttered, dynamic and uncontrolled hospital scenarios

A aprendizagem baseada em problemas - abp aplicada a turmas do ensino técnico em saneamento

O presente trabalho foi produzido a partir de intervenções realizadas durante a disciplina Biologia Aplicada, em turmas de Técnico em Saneamento Básico, quando se buscou estabelecer mecanismos para a discussão e apresentação de soluções de um problema real, que neste caso específico foi o impacto ambiental provocado pela morte de 4900 bois nos porões do um navio libanês que naufragou no porto de Vila do Conde em Barcarena/PA. O levantamento do problema e as discussões em torno da sua solução foram feitos com base na metodologia conhecida como Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas- ABP, ocasião em que adotamos a resolução de problemas como técnica de ensino. Neste artigo descrevemos as características principais da metodologia utilizada, assim como os resultados deste trabalho

Timed trajectory generation for a toy-like wheeled robot

In this work, we address temporal stabilization of generated movements in autonomous robotics. We focus on generating movement for a mobile robot, that must reach a target location within a constant time. Target location is online calculated by using the robot visual system, such that action is steered by the sensory information. This is a very critical issue in several robotic tasks including: catching, hitting, and humanrobot scenarios. Robot velocity is controlled through an Hopf oscillator, adapted according to temporal feedback. Timing of the velocity profile is modulated according to an adaptive mechanism that enables setting different times for acceleration and deceleration. Results on a DRK8000 mobile robot confirm the system’s reliability with low-level sensors

The influence of previous sport experiences in transfer of behaviour patterns among team sports

The present study aimed to examine how players' positional data can be used to assess the transfer of behaviour patterns among team sports (basketball, football and rugby) in early specialized and diversified sport careers. Thirty-four college students were divided into early specialization and early diversification groups, according to information provided by a questionnaire designed to obtain detailed information about their sports career. In-game derived variables were calculated based on players' positioning data, collected by GPS and processed with non-linear techniques (approximate entropy). For each positional variable (distance to both team and opponent team centroid and distance to target and opponent target) a top-10 ranking was computed based on approximate entropy values in basketball, football and rugby game performance. The results suggested that students belonging to the early diversification group are over-represented (top-10) in all positional variables regardless of sport. This trend, especially in football and rugby, confirms that it is possible that transfer of behavior patterns occurs more significantly in early diversified approach.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo examinar cómo se pueden utilizar los datos posicionales de los jugadores para evaluar la transferencia de patrones de comportamiento entre los deportes de equipo (baloncesto, fútbol y rugby) en las carreras deportivas de especialización ó diversificación temprana. Treinta y cuatro estudiantes universitarios fueron divididos en grupos de especialización temprana ó de diversificación temprana, de acuerdo a la información proporcionada por un cuestionario diseñado para obtener información detallada acerca de su carrera deportiva. Las variables de la situación de juego, fueron calculadas en función de los datos de posicionamiento de los jugadores, obtenidos por GPS y procesados con técnicas no lineales (entropía aproximada). Para cada variable posicional (distancia de la propia equipo a su centro, y la distancia al centro del equipo contrario y la meta oponente) se calculó un ranking top-10 con en base a los valores de entropía aproximadas en el juego del baloncesto, fútbol y rugby. Los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes pertenecientes al grupo de la diversificación temprana son más representado (top-10) en todas las variables posicionales, independientemente del deporte. Esta tendencia, sobre todo en el fútbol y el rugby, confirma que es posible que la transferencia de patrones de comportamiento se produce más significativamente cuando la iniciación deportiva es direccionada a una diversificación temprana