0003/2010 - Modelando Interfaces de Usuários Utilizando um Processo Ágil

Esse trabalho visa apresentar uma abordagem de modelagem de interface de usuário através da utilização de um processo ágil, fazendo uma comparação com o processo unificado a partir de um estudo teórico. Pelo fato da modelagem de interface de usuário ser uma atividade que envolve aspectos cognitivos e de aceitação visual por parte do cliente, esta muitas vezes é relegada a uma posição hierárquica inferior dentro das prioridades de trabalho na engenharia de software. Uma modelagem através de um processo ágil se encaixa nas boas práticas de avaliação de interfaces apregoadas pelas disciplinas de IHC, no que diz respeito à agilidade, o trabalho em pares, docu-mentação suficiente e prototipação diretamente com o usuário

0001/2010 - Possibilidades de Uso da TVDi por Analfabetos Funcionais: Desenvolvimento de Aplicações Interativas

Este trabalho apresenta um panorama das possibilidades de uso de aplicações interativas para a TV Digital, a TVDi, por pessoas com baixo grau de alfabetização, ditos Analfabetos Funcionais. A partir de uma pesquisa qualitativa e exploratória, visa proporcionar melhor entendimento sobre os elementos participantes dessa interação levando em conta este público que, apesar da baixa alfabetização, possui grande potencial de uso e realização de negócios através deste novo artefato de comunicação, a TVDi. Para a realização do trabalho foram obtidos alguns dados relevantes oriundos de pesquisas nacionais e trazidos à reflexão. Foram pesquisadas as taxas de analfabetismo funcional no Brasil, a taxa de penetração da TV convencional nos lares brasileiros e as perspectivas para a TVDi aberta. Também foram levantados dados sobre de que forma o brasileiro faz uso das novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação, assim como os perfis dos usuários de TV aberta e de sistemas computacionais no Brasil de modo a permitir traçar um conjunto de considerações de usabilidade e acessibilidade que devem ser levados em conta no processo de desenvolvimento de aplicações interativas para a TVDi, sob o enfoque do grande contingente de Analfabetos Funcionais existentes no Brasil

SITE INDEX IN EUCALYPTUS STANDS APPLYING ORDINARY KRIGING: AN APPROACH WITH DIFFERENT MODELS AND METHODS OF CLASSIFICATION

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of models and methods to obtain the site index, associated with ordinary kriging, to classify productive capacity in eucalyptus stands. Thus, the site quality was performed considering the traditional modeling in clonal stands (2,119 hectares) located in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. 170 plots of 400m2 were randomly allocated, representing a sampling intensity of 0.32%. The dominant height of trees (Assmann) was measured at 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 months. The site index (S) was estimated by the guide curve and algebraic difference methods, using the models of Schumacher, Chapman and Richards, and Bailey and Clutter. 136 plots were used in the fit and 34 plots in the predictive validation. The spatial dependence of site index was evaluated by experimental semivariogram and adjustment of exponential, spherical, and gaussian models. After confirming the spatial dependence, ordinary kriging was performed to spatialize the site index. For the predictive validation, the dominant height values at 72 months were used. The algebraic difference method provided excellent estimates of site index, which showed spatial dependence in all adjustments, from moderate to strong. In most cases, the gaussian model was the most accurate. It is concluded that the algebraic difference method was more efficient and the site index showed strong spatial dependence at all ages, regardless of the model used. Thus, regression models for site index estimation can be used in combination with ordinary kriging techniques

Dependência espacial de variáveis dendrométricas em diferentes idades e intensidades amostrais em povoamento de eucalipto

Understanding the spatial variations of dendrometric variables in a continuous forest inventory is essential to support management actions, in addition to allowing sample intensities that reflect accuracy with lower inventory cost. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial dependence structure of dendrometric variables over time and in different sample intensities in eucalyptus stands. The hypotheses considered were that the spatial dependence structure of dendrometric variables changes along the growth in eucalyptus stands and the sample intensity influences this structure. The variables diameter at 1.30 m of soil, basal area, total height, mean height of dominant trees and volume of wood were obtained in continuous forest inventory, at 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 years, from 80 plots (400 m²) distributed randomly in the stand (394 ha) located in Abaeté, Minas Gerais state. Were evaluated the sample intensities of one plot every 4.9 (n = 80), 7.3 (n = 54), and 16.4 (n = 24) hectares. The highest sample intensity was reference for the others. The spherical, exponential and gaussian semivariance models were adjusted to the experimental semivariogram, where the best fit model was used by ordinary kriging in the spatialization of the analyzed variables. The results showed a predominance of strong spatial dependence of dendrometric variables, regardless of age and sample intensity, especially for mean height of dominant trees and volume of wood. The lower sample intensity influenced negatively the spatial dependence of the basal area at all ages. The structure of spatial dependence is not influenced by the increase in the age of the stand, and the geostatistical analysis of these variables is recommended in a continuous forest inventory, considering the sample intensity of one plot of each 16.4 hectares.Compreender as variações espaciais de variáveis dendrométricas em inventário florestal contínuo é imprescindível para subsidiar ações de manejo, além de permitir intensidades amostrais que reflitam em acurácia com menor custo do inventário. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a estrutura de dependência espacial de variáveis dendrométricas ao longo do tempo e em diferentes intensidades amostrais em povoamento de eucalipto. As hipóteses testadas foram que a estrutura de dependência espacial de variáveis dendrométricas se altera com o crescimento em povoamentos de eucalipto e que a intensidade amostral influencia nesta estrutura. As variáveis diâmetro a 1,30 m do solo, área basal, altura total, altura média das árvores dominantes e volume de madeira foram obtidas em inventário florestal contínuo, aos 3,5, 4,5 e 5,5 anos, em 80 unidades amostrais permanentes (400 m²), distribuídas aleatoriamente em um povoamento de eucalipto (394 ha), localizado em Abaeté, Minas Gerais. Foram avaliadas as intensidades de uma unidade amostral a cada 4,9 (n = 80), 7,3 (n = 54) e 16,4 (n = 24) hectares. Considerou-se a maior intensidade amostral como referência para as demais. Os modelos de semivariância esférico, exponencial e gaussiano foram ajustados ao semivariograma experimental, em que o modelo de melhor ajuste foi utilizado pela krigagem ordinária na espacialização das variáveis analisadas. Os resultados demonstraram predominância de forte dependência espacial das variáveis dendrométricas, independentemente da idade e intensidade amostral, sobretudo para altura média das árvores dominantes e volume de madeira. A menor intensidade amostral influenciou negativamente na dependência espacial da área basal, em todas as idades. A estrutura de dependência espacial não é influenciada pelo aumento da idade do povoamento, sendo recomendada a análise geoestatística destas variáveis em inventário florestal contínuo, considerando a intensidade amostral de uma unidade amostral a cada 16,4 hectares

Incidence and Predictors of Infections and All-Cause Death in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: The Italian Nationwide RI-AIAC Registry

The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known. To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes. In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up. CIED infections, as well as a composite clinical event of infection or all-cause death were recorded. A total of 2675 patients (64.3% male, age 78 (70-84)) were enrolled. During follow up 28 (1.1%) CIED infections and 132 (5%) deaths, with 152 (5.7%) composite clinical events were observed. At a multivariate analysis, the type of procedure (revision/upgrading/reimplantation) (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.38-12.08) and diabetes (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02-4.84) were found as main clinical factors associated to CIED infection. Both the PADIT score and the RI-AIAC Infection score were significantly associated with CIED infections, with the RI-AIAC infection score showing the strongest association (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.60-3.55 for each point), with a c-index = 0.64 (0.52-0.75), p = 0.015. Regarding the occurrence of composite clinical events, the Kolek score, the Shariff score and the RI-AIAC Event score all predicted the outcome, with an AUC for the RI-AIAC Event score equal to 0.67 (0.63-0.71) p < 0.001. In this Italian nationwide cohort of patients, while the incidence of CIED infections was substantially low, the rate of the composite clinical outcome of infection or all-cause death was quite high and associated with several clinical factors depicting a more impaired clinical status

The AGILE Mission

AGILE is an Italian Space Agency mission dedicated to observing the gamma-ray Universe. The AGILE's very innovative instrumentation for the first time combines a gamma-ray imager (sensitive in the energy range 30 MeV-50 GeV), a hard X-ray imager (sensitive in the range 18-60 keV), a calorimeter (sensitive in the range 350 keV-100 MeV), and an anticoincidence system. AGILE was successfully launched on 2007 April 23 from the Indian base of Sriharikota and was inserted in an equatorial orbit with very low particle background. Aims. AGILE provides crucial data for the study of active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, unidentified gamma-ray sources, galactic compact objects, supernova remnants, TeV sources, and fundamental physics by microsecond timing. Methods. An optimal sky angular positioning (reaching 0.1 degrees in gamma- rays and 1-2 arcmin in hard X-rays) and very large fields of view (2.5 sr and 1 sr, respectively) are obtained by the use of Silicon detectors integrated in a very compact instrument. Results. AGILE surveyed the gamma- ray sky and detected many Galactic and extragalactic sources during the first months of observations. Particular emphasis is given to multifrequency observation programs of extragalactic and galactic objects. Conclusions. AGILE is a successful high-energy gamma-ray mission that reached its nominal scientific performance. The AGILE Cycle-1 pointing program started on 2007 December 1, and is open to the international community through a Guest Observer Program

X-ray Polarization Observations of BL Lacertae

Blazars are a class of jet-dominated active galactic nuclei with a typical double-humped spectral energy distribution. It is of common consensus the Synchrotron emission to be responsible for the low frequency peak, while the origin of the high frequency hump is still debated. The analysis of X-rays and their polarization can provide a valuable tool to understand the physical mechanisms responsible for the origin of high-energy emission of blazars. We report the first observations of BL Lacertae performed with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer ({IXPE}), from which an upper limit to the polarization degree $\Pi_X<$12.6\% was found in the 2-8 keV band. We contemporaneously measured the polarization in radio, infrared, and optical wavelengths. Our multiwavelength polarization analysis disfavors a significant contribution of proton synchrotron radiation to the X-ray emission at these epochs. Instead, it supports a leptonic origin for the X-ray emission in BL Lac.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ