Abstract
Knowledge discovery techniques try to extract patterns and concepts from raw data, and clustering certainly is one of the most popular processes in this research field. However, nowadays data is being produced in streaming fashion and distributed locations, turning most classical methods obsolete. This thesis addresses two different clustering problems in ubiquitous and streaming scenarios, presenting evidence of the advantages produced by applying distributed and streaming machine learning algorithms, and proposing new ones to solve the addressed problems.

Abstract
In this paper we address the problem of measuring syncopation in order to mediate a musically meaningful interaction between a live music performance and an automatically generated rhythm. To this end we present a simple, yet effective interactive music system we developed. We shed some light on the complex nature of syncopation by looking into MIDI data from drum loops and whole songs. We conclude that segregation into individual rhythmic layers is necessary in order to measure the syncopation of a music ensemble. This implies that measuring syncopation on polyphonic audio signals is not yet tractable using the current state-of-the-art in audio analysis. © 2012 International Society for Music Information Retrieval.

Abstract

Abstract
The paper presented herein describes the development of an advanced robotized system applied to in vitro implant dentistry research. To the biomedical community this paper shows the possibilities of industrial robots to help the research. Robots are special suitable to the biomedical field specially when integrated with advanced sensors and technologies, which may facilitate both the programming tasks and the data acquisition. Robotics researchers will find in this paper one of the first applications of programming by demonstration with real users with a novel explicit robot programming technique making use of multi-camera vision combined with speech recognition. This programming method targets users who have minimal robot experience but aims at 'teaching' the robot to execute a specific task.

Abstract
Looking for efficiency, quality and profitability gains, healthcare organizations are adopting outsourcing solutions in the attempt of "doing more with less". Seeking for cost reduction, risk mitigation, adapting to quick changes without compromising internal resources, these organizations also take big risks in control and flexibility variables. In order to understand how healthcare organizations find the best value equation combining internal and external resources in a modular service conception, a case study on a start-up Long-term Care unit with innovative format, great levels of customization and following an outsourcing strategy, was carried out. The main conclusion, among others, is that in ambitious start-ups, having speed of entrance as the conditioning factor, a process orientation and management approach may offer a clear view of the gains related with trade-off decisions regarding time and cost (agility) and cost and quality (Leanness) ie, decisions under the "leagile" paradigm. This study contributes for a wider understanding of the "leagile" concept associated to an outsourcing operational strategy. Additionally, it also provides new insights to the concept of modularity in services settings in a complex service as healthcare. © 2012 Guimarães and de Carvalho; licensee InTech.

Abstract
Purpose - The growing complexity of industrial robot work-cells calls for the use of advanced orchestration techniques to promote flexibility and reusability. This paper aims to present a solution based on service-oriented platforms that endorses the separation of concerns, coordination and execution. Design/methodology/approach - This paper starts with the evaluation of available tools for the orchestration and service generation. Endorsing the missing features depicted in that evaluation, the paper describes developments of concepts and software and the evaluation made. Findings - From the early evaluations made in this paper, the SCXML-based purposed language is more adapted to the industrial robotic cell scenario than existing alternatives. The generation of services allow the integration without knowledge from any programming language. Practical implications - This approach's main drawback, as described by some users, was the lack of some programming features: simple math operations and conditional statements. Originality/value - This paper fulfils two partially unsolved problems: adequate languages for orchestration of service oriented on the device level and purposes techniques for the specification of services using robot programming languages.