Interactive exploration and modeling of large data sets: a case study with Venus light scattering data

We present a system where visualization and the control of the simulation are integrated to facilitate interactive exploration and modeling of large data sets. The system was developed to estimate properties of the atmosphere of Venus from comparison between measured and simulated data. Reuse of results, distributed computing, and multiple views on the data were the major ingredients to create an effective environment

Energy density in the diet of workers from São Paulo, Brazil, and associated socio-demographic factors*

Objective: This paper aims at analyzing the energy density (ED) of the diet of workers from the city of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, and the way this is associated with socio-demographic characteristics, as well as evaluating the relationship between ED and nutrient intake. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated the diet of 852 workers using the 24-hour dietary recall; one recall was applied to all individuals and a second one was applied to a sub-sample in order to adjust intrapersonal variability. The ED of the diet was calculated using three methods: inclusion of all solid foods and beverages, excluding water (ED 1); inclusion of all solid foods and beverages containing at least 5 kcal/100g (ED 2); and inclusion of all solid foods, excluding all beverages (ED 3). Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between ED and socio-demographic variables and the relationship between ED and nutrients was evaluated using Pearson coefficient correlation. Results: Considering the workers' diet, the ED values observed were 1.18 kcal/g, 1.22 kcal/g and 1.73 kcal/g for the ED 1, ED 2, ED 3 methods, respectively. In the multiple regression models, only the age variable was maintained in the final model and showed an inverse association with all ED methods. ED 3 showed an increase in energy density for non-white individuals. Of all studied nutrients, protein was the only one that was not significantly correlated with ED 3 (p = 0.899). Conclusion: The young adults studied had a higher energy-density diet, representing a priority group for nutrition interventions. Regardless of the calculation method used, there is a correlation between ED and nutrients.Objetivo: Analisar a densidade energética (DE) da dieta de trabalhadores da cidade de São Paulo e sua associação com características sociodemográficas, bem como avaliar a relação entre DE e ingestão de nutrientes. Métodos: Estudo transversal que avaliou a dieta de 852 trabalhadores, por meio de recordatório de 24 horas, sendo um recordatório aplicado a todos os indivíduos e um segundo para subamostra, a fim de corrigir a variabilidade intrapessoal. A DE da dieta foi calculada por três métodos: inclusão de todos os alimentos sólidos e das bebidas, excluindo apenas água (DE 1); inclusão de todos os alimentos sólidos e bebidas calóricas que contêm, no mínimo, 5 kcal/100g (DE 2); inclusão de todos os alimentos sólidos e exclusão de todas as bebidas (DE 3). Para analisar a relação entre a DE e as variáveis sociodemográficas utilizou-se regressão linear, e a relação entre DE e nutrientes foi avaliada por meio do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Resultados: Para a dieta dos trabalhadores, os valores de DE observados foram 1,18 kcal/g, 1,22 kcal/g e 1,73 kcal/g, considerando-se os métodos DE 1, DE 2 e DE 3, respectivamente. Nos modelos múltiplos de regressão, apenas a variável idade apresentou associação negativa com todos os métodos de DE. Para a DE 3, houve incremento da DE para indivíduos não brancos. Dentre os nutrientes estudados, o único que não apresentou correlação significativa foi a proteína, para DE 3 (p = 0,899). Conclusão: Os adultos jovens tinham uma alimentação com maior DE, sendo um grupo prioriatário para intervenções nutricionais. Além disso, independente do método de cálculo, há correlação entre a DE e os nutrientes da dieta.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saude Publica Programa de Pos Graduacao em NutricaoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Instituto de Saude e Sociedade Departamento de Saude, Clinica e InstituicoesUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saude Publica Departamento de NutricaoUNIFESP, Instituto de Saude e Sociedade Depto. de Saude, Clinica e InstituicoesSciEL

The distributed ASCI supercomputer project

The Distributed ASCI Supercomputer (DAS) is a homogeneous wide-area distributed system consisting of four cluster computers at different locations. DAS has been used for research on communication software, parallel languages and programming systems, schedulers, parallel applications, and distributed applications. The paper gives a preview of the most interesting research results obtained so far in the DAS project

Virtual Instrumentation and Virtual Environments

Instrumentation, interaction and virtual environments provide a challenging triplet for the next generation of instrumentation and measurement tools. As such, they are the logical continuation of an increasingly important component within (virtual) instrumentation. Despite these changes, however, the measurement paradigm remains unaltered. To make this triplet a ready-to-use tool, a substantial software effort is undertaken