Abstract

Abstract
It is stated that a closer intervention of experts in knowledge discovery can complement and improve the effectiveness of results. Normally, in data mining, automated methods display final results through visualization methods. A more active intervention of experts on automated methods can bring enhancements to the analysis; No meanwhile that approach raises questions about what is a relevant stopping stage. In this work, efforts are made to couple automatic methods with visualization methods in the context of partitioning algorithms applied to spatial data. A data mining workflow is presented with the following concepts: data mining transaction, data mining save point and data mining snapshot. Moreover to display results, novel visual metaphors are changed allowing a better exploration of clustering. In knowledge discovery, experts validate final results; certainly it would be appropriate to them validate intermediate results, avoiding, for instance, losing time, when in disagreement, starting it with new hypnoses or allow data reduction by disable an intermediate cluster from the next stage.

Abstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one of the automatic identification technologies more in vogue nowadays. There is a wide research and development in this area trying to take maximum advantage of this technology, and in coming years many new applications and research areas will continue to appear. This sudden interest in RFID also brings about some concerns, mainly the security and privacy of those who work with or use tags in their everyday life. RFID has, for some time, been used to access control in many different areas, from asset tracking to limiting access to restricted areas. In this paper we propose an architecture and a prototype of a system that uses distributed RFID over Ethernet and we demonstrate how to automate an entire students' attendance registration system by using RFID in an educational institution environment. Although the use of RFID systems in educational institutions is not new, it is intended to show how the use of it came to solve daily problems in our university. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Currently, due to questions of financial order, the Internet Service Providers do not invest in rural areas, because the investment does not pay. This fact originates, more and more, the appearance of the so called WBN (Wireless Broadband Networks), that are going to supply Internet access to the populations, discriminated by this circumstance. The aspects related to the management of these networks are normally forgotten and today there is a lack of economically and technical viable solutions, that can efficiently help with this function, without use an enterprise solution. After an intensive research of commercial and opensource solutions of wireless networks management, it was checked an absence of an economically viable solution as well as an absence of a model of management for the WBN. This article contributes to the definition of a management model of these networks, using opensource tools. The proposal model is based on a centralized solution that congregates several modules of opensource tools, which can be able to respond to a wide range of features identified in the model. The simulation shows how the model presented, can be practicable and able to cover several functions in WBN management. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Objectives: To characterize and compare dynamic joint stiffness (DJS) of the ankle in the sagittal plane during natural cadence walking in both genders. Design: Observation, cross-sectional and matched pairs. Participants: Twenty-one males (mean age = 27 +/- 4.2 years) and 18 females (mean age = 22.9 +/- 4.1 years). Setting: Laboratory at the University de Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The DJS of the ankle was assessed while participants performed barefoot walking at a natural cadence, was measured using a force platform (1000 Hz), and synchronized with a high-speed camera (200 Hz). Main outcome measures: DJS of the ankle in males and females was calculated in two sub-phases (the second and the fourth sub-phases) of the stance phase. The Wilcoxon non-parametric matched-pairs test and the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test were used to analyse difference of DJS of the ankle within and between the groups with p <= 0.05 regarded as significant. Results: Male and female participants demonstrated significantly (p<0.005) less DJS during the second sub-phase. DJS was not significantly (p>0.063) different between females (0.0511 N m/kg/degrees) and males (0.0596 N m/kg/degrees) during the second sub-phase. DJS was significantly (p<0.001) higher in males (0.0844 N m/kg/degrees) than females (0.0691 N m/kg/degrees) during the fourth sub-phase. Conclusions: Gender-specific DJS characteristics demonstrated by females in this study may be used in preventative training programs designed to promote a greater ability to use contractile components to produce mechanical energy through the ankle.

Abstract
Of all the detrimental effects of spinal cord injury (SCI), one of the most devastating effects is the disruption of the ability to walk. Therefore, much effort has been focused on developing several methods to document the recovery of locomotor function after experimental SCI. Computerized rat gait analysis is becoming increasingly popular in the SCI research community. The two-dimensional (2D) kinematic approach is by far the most popular technique in rat gait analysis. This is a simple inexpensive procedure, which requires only one camera to record the movement. Our study included an examination of locomotion on a treadmill using 2D and three-dimensional (3D) analysis, in neurologically intact animals and following moderate T9 contusion injury. Despite the overall time course patterns of the curves were identical, we found significant differences between values of the 2D and 3D joint angular motion. In conclusion, maximal precision and accuracy of the kinematic values are expected when the experimental protocol includes a 3D motion analysis methodology. Moreover, a 2D method cannot be used to determine the external or internal rotations of the foot because this movement occurs in the transverse plane.