Teaching database concepts to video game design and development students

A video game design and development degree is a very specific choice for students, who are mainly interested in making games or taking part in the game development process. Databases are not an apparent requirement in order to pursue these goals, often leading to a lack of motivation and interest in the subject. Nonetheless, a number of Bachelor degrees in video game design and development acknowledge the importance of Databases, and offer it as a mandatory course in their curricula. However, the subject exposition is often done in the context of typical database areas of application, such as business settings, websites or library and university management. In this paper we describe and propose four classroom database problems specifically designed for video game design and development students. It is our belief that using a context-aware approach yields not only more motivated students, but students with a better understanding of database concepts so often necessary to design and develop computer games. Keywords: programming curriculum; video game development; databases; SQ

Simulations of Antigenic Variability in Influenza A

Computational models of the immune system (IS) and pathogenic agents have several applications, such as theory testing and validation, or as a complement to first stages of drug trials. One possible application is the prediction of the lethality of new Influenza A strains, which are constantly created due to antigenic drift and shift. Here, we present several simulations of antigenic variability in Influenza A using an agent-based approach, where low level molecular antigen-antibody interactions are explicitly described. Antigenic drift and shift events are analyzed regarding the virulence of emergent strains against the IS. Results are discussed from a qualitative point of view taking into account recent and generally recognized immunology and influenza literature

Generating Multidimensional Clusters With Support Lines

Synthetic data is essential for assessing clustering techniques, complementing and extending real data, and allowing for a more complete coverage of a given problem's space. In turn, synthetic data generators have the potential of creating vast amounts of data -- a crucial activity when real-world data is at premium -- while providing a well-understood generation procedure and an interpretable instrument for methodically investigating cluster analysis algorithms. Here, we present \textit{Clugen}, a modular procedure for synthetic data generation, capable of creating multidimensional clusters supported by line segments using arbitrary distributions. \textit{Clugen} is open source, 100\% unit tested and fully documented, and is available for the Python, R, Julia and MATLAB/Octave ecosystems. We demonstrate that our proposal is able to produce rich and varied results in various dimensions, is fit for use in the assessment of clustering algorithms, and has the potential to be a widely used framework in diverse clustering-related research tasks

Simulation of immune system response to bacterial challenge

Immune system (IS) simulations have several applications, such as biological theory testing or as a complement in the development of improved drugs. This paper presents an agent based approach to simulate the IS response to bacterial infection challenge. The agent simulator is implemented in a discrete time and twodimensional space, and composed by two layers: a) a specialized cellular automata responsible for substance di usion and reactions; and b) the layer where agents move, act and interact. The IS model focuses upon low level cellular receptor interactions, receptor diversity and genetic-ruled agents, aiming to observe and study the resultant emergent behavior. The model reproduces the following IS behavioral characteristics: speci city and specialization, immune memory and vaccine immunization

Simulating antigenic drift and shift in influenza A

Computational models of the immune system and pathogenic agents have several applications, such as theory testing and validation, or as a complement to first stages of drug trials. One possible application is the prediction of the lethality of new Influenza A strains, which are constantly created due to antigenic drift and shift. Here, we present an agent-based model of immune-influenza A dynamics, with focus on low level molecular antigen-antibody interactions, in order to study antigenic drift and shift events, and analyze the virulence of emergent strains. At this stage of the investigation, results are presented and discussed from a qualitative point of view against recent and generally recognized immunology and influenza literature

Contributos para o estudo do aquecimento global, a reconversão e consumos energéticos nos serviços de saúde

Neste trabalho, é feita uma análise à situação actual, que se prende com as Alterações Climáticas, atribuídas a influência humana, decorrente do consumo crescente de combustíveis fósseis. Também se analisa o estado actual dos conhecimentos e utilizações das fontes e soluções energéticas alternativas a nível mundial, bem como a sua aplicação aos Serviços de Saúde na procura de melhoria da Eficiência Energética. Pretende-se demonstrar que os profissionais das Instituições Hospitalares estão sensibilizados, para a questão do Aquecimento Global, decorrente do aumento das emissões de Dióxido de Carbono e outros gases com Efeito de Estufa. Também se pretende demonstrar a sua sensibilização para a questão dos Consumos nos Serviços Hospitalares, para um melhor aproveitamento da energia e hipóteses de Reconversão nesta área. Procedeu-se a um estudo qualitativo de carácter analítico e descritivo, - o qual foi aplicado ao caso do Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal – com recurso à pesquisa documental e bibliográfica, complementado por Questionário a profissionais do Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal, cuja amostra englobou mais de 25% da sua população. O enquadramento do estudo abordou os dados, considerados mais relevantes, relativos ao fenómeno das Alterações Climáticas, e sua relação com as emissões poluentes, bem como as especificidades relativas às Organizações Hospitalares, também numa óptica de procura de soluções. A importância e o exemplo que os Serviços de Saúde representam no âmbito organizacional, tornam fundamental encontrar respostas, para uma mudança eficiente do paradigma energético nesta área. Uma das medidas propostas passa pela criação e adaptação a cada Unidade, de um Manual de Gestão Energética.In this thesis we analyse the current situation, regarding human influenced Climate Changes, caused by the growing consumption of fossil fuels. We also analyse the current knowledge and applications of alternative energy sources at a global level, as well as its application in Healthcare in the pursuit of Energy Efficiency improvement. We seek to demonstrate that professionals at Healthcare Institutions are sensible to the matter of Global Warming, caused by the increasing emissions of Carbon Dioxide and other Greenhouse Effect gases. We also aim to demonstrate their sensitiveness to the matter of Healthcare Service Consumption, and to a better energy usage and Renewal opportunities in this area. We proceeded with a qualitative study of analytic and descriptive character – which was applied to the Setubal Hospital Centre case – using documental and bibliographic research, complemented with a Questionnaire to professionals of the Setubal Hospital Centre, from which the sample included more than 25% of its population. The study framework approached the data, considered most relevant, regarding the Climate Change phenomenon, and its relation with polluting emissions, as well as specifications of Hospital Organizations, also in a solution search point of view. The importance and example that Healthcare Services represent in the organizational aspect make it fundamental to find answers, for an efficient change of the energetic paradigm in this area. One of the proposed measures is the creation and adaptation to each Unit, of an Energetic Management Manual