Abstract
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be deployed using available hardware and software. The Contiki is an operative system compatible with a wide range of WSN hardware. A Contiki development environment named InstantContiki is also available and includes the Cooja simulator, useful to test WSN simulation scenarios prior to their deployment. Cooja can provide realistic results since it uses the full Contiki's source code and some motes can be emulated at the hardware level. However this implies extending the simulation runtime, which is heightened since the Cooja is single threaded, i.e, it makes use of a single core per instant of time, not taking advantage of the current multi-core processors. This chapter presents a framework to automate the configuration and execution of Cooja simulations. When a multi-core processor is available, this framework runs multiple simultaneous Cooja instances to reduce simulations runtime in exchange of higher CPU load and RAM usage.

Abstract
Childhood lead poisoning remains a significant public health issue, especially in the United States, where the most common source of exposure is lead-based paint (LBP). X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis is still the most widely used method for detecting LBP in the field. Although portable XRF instrumentation based on excitation from a 57Co radioisotope has been used for more than 30 years, there have been few reports documenting its performance. Here we describe a study that was conducted by the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center laboratory in response to concerns raised by field users of the RMD LPA-1 XRF analyzer (Protec Instrument Corp.) working across the state. The performance issues were investigated for ten field units: five reported as problematic based on user feedback, and 5 that were not. Accuracy was assessed against NIST SRM 2579 lead in paint, which was developed specifically for use with portable XRF analyzers. On average, the absolute bias found was within ±20% at the threshold value for LBP (1.0 mg cm-2) based on the NIST SRM 2579 data. Calibration blocks provided with each analyzer for quality assurance monitoring were evaluated using a different XRF analyzer (Niton XLT 3t 700s GOLDD) operated in painted products mode (µg cm-2). However, when the Niton XRF analyzer was checked against NIST SRM 2579, it was found to have a negative bias. That negative bias was easily corrected using a "calibration" curve with a quadratic fit to the data. NIST-corrected data obtained for the calibration blocks showed assigned values were within the manufacturer's stated tolerance range, albeit with a consistent positive bias. The root cause for 3 of the 5 problematic devices was likely incorrect positioning of the device. A low bias for a fourth device was likely caused by a deteriorated calibration block, and the fifth device, while just within the manufacturer's technical specifications, was the only one confirmed with a low bias. Increased operator training may resolve some of the issues reported in the field; on-going competency assessments may be warranted for this hand-held technology. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Abstract
The use of smart phones for teaching and learning purposes is an increasingly important issue. MIT App-Inventor 2 is presented here as a tool to develop applications for Android mobile systems, with the global aim to improve the connectivity between teachers and students. Two recently developed applications using this technology: Teach2Student and Student2Teach are reported. Teach2Student has two main functions: i) to allow teachers to post their students courses main class's issues; ii) To provide students with specific quizzes. Student2Teach the corresponding students application, is used to visualize the posts and quizzes submitted by teachers. Preliminary results concerning the use of both applications within an industrial automation and control course are presented.

Abstract
An erbium doped (Er3+) fiber optic laser is proposed for magnetic field measurement. A pair of FBGs glued onto a magnetostrictive material (Terfenol-D rod) modulates the laser wavelength operation when subject to a static or a time dependent magnetic field. A passive interferometer is employed to measure the laser wavelength changes due to the applied magnetic field. A data acquisition hardware and a Lab VIEW software measure three phase-shifted signals at the output coupler of the interferometer and process them using two distinct demodulation algorithms. Results show that sensitivity to varying magnetic fields can be tuned by introducing a biasing magnetic field. A maximum error of 0.79% was found, for magnetic fields higher than 2.26 mT(RMS).

Abstract
WSN can be deployed using widely available hardware and software solutions. The Contiki is an open source operative system compatible with a wide range of WSN hardware. A Contiki development environment named InstantContiki is also available and includes the Cooja simulation tool, useful for the simulation of WSN scenarios, prior to their deployment. This simulation tool can provide realistic results since it uses the full Contiki's source code and some motes can be emulated at the hardware level. However, the Cooja simulator uses one process per simulation, not taking advantage of multiple core processors. In this paper we propose a framework to automate the execution of simulations of multiple scenarios and configurations in Cooja. When a multiple cores processor is available, this framework can run multiple simultaneous Cooja instances, taking advantage of processing resources and contributing to reduce the total simulation runtime.

Abstract
When designing laboratory courses in a Physics Major we consider a range of objectives: teaching Physics; developing lab competencies; instrument control and data acquisition; learning about measurement errors and error propagation; an introduction to project management; team work skills and scientific writing. But nowadays we face pressure to decrease laboratory hours due to the cost involved. Many universities are replacing lab classes for simulation activities, hiring PhD. and master students to give first year lab classes, and reducing lab hours. This leads to formatted lab scripts and poor autonomy of the students, and failure to enhance creativity and autonomy. In this paper we present our eight year experience with a laboratory course that is mandatory in the third year of Physics and Physical Engineering degrees. Since the students had previously two standard laboratory courses, we focused on teaching instrumentation and giving students autonomy. The course is divided in two parts: one third is dedicated to learn computer controlled instrumentation and data acquisition (based in LabView); the final 2/3 is dedicated to a group project. In this project, the team (2 or 3 students) must develop a project and present it in a typical conference format at the end of the semester. The project assignments are usually not very detailed (about two or three lines long), giving only general guidelines pointing to a successful project (students often recycle objectives putting forward a very personal project); all of them require assembling some hardware. Due to our background, about one third of the projects are related to Optics.