Towards the automation of book typesetting

This paper proposes a generative approach for the automatic typesetting of books in desktop publishing. The presented system consists in a computer script that operates inside a widely used design software tool and implements a generative process based on several typographic rules, styles and principles which have been identified in the literature. The performance of the proposed system is tested through an experiment which included the evaluation of its outputs with people. The results reveal the ability of the system to consistently create varied book designs from the same input content as well as visually coherent book designs with different contents while complying with fundamental typographic principles.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures. Revised version published at Visual Informatics, 7(2), pp. 1\textendash{}1

Using Computational Approaches in Visual Identity Design: A Visual Identity for the Design and Multimedia Courses of Faculty of Sciences and Technology of University of Coimbra

Computational approaches are beginning to be used to design dynamic visual identities fuelled by data and generative processes. In this work, we explore these computational approaches in order to generate a visual identity that creates bespoke letterings and images. We achieve this developing a generative design system that automatically assembles black and white visual modules. This system generates designs performing two main methods: (i) Assisted generation; and (ii) Automatic generation. Assisted generation method produces outputs wherein the placement of modules is determined by a configuration file previous defined. On the other hand, the Automatic generation method produces outputs wherein the modules are assembled to depict an input image. This system speeds up the process of design and deployment of one visual identity design as well as it generates outputs visual coherent among them. In this paper, we compressively describe this system and its achievements.Comment: Paper presented in 10th Typography Meeting "Borders", 22--23 Oct. 2019, Matosinhos, Portuga

Mimetic Spectral Element advection

We present a discretization of the linear advection of differential forms on bounded domains. The framework previously established is extended to incorporate the Lie derivative, $\mathcal L$, by means of Cartan's homotopy formula. The method is based on a physics-compatible discretization with spectral accuracy . It will be shown that the derived scheme has spectral convergence with local mass conservation. Artificial dispersion depends on the order of time integration

Identificação e análise dos projetos de intervenção precoce na NUT III Norte Ave

Dissertação de mestrado em Educação Especial (área de especialização em Intervenção Precoce)Os objetivos deste estudo eram os de identificar e analisar o estado atual das práticas de intervenção precoce na infância na NUT III Norte Ave e tentar perceber até que ponto a prática desenvolvida se enquadra num modelo sistémico e bioecológico de prestação de serviços e naquelas que são, neste âmbito, as práticas recomendadas baseadas na evidência, sobretudo, o modelo de intervenção centrado na família e na comunidade. Com este objetivo, desenvolveu-se uma investigação que utilizou um modelo misto de recolha de dados: quantitativo (escalas de registo ou de verificação de tipo likert) e qualitativo (entrevistas/questionários). Para o tratamento dos dados quantitativos recorremos a uma abordagem quasi-experimental e para a abordagem qualitativa foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo. Famílias (n= 55), profissionais (n= 16) e coordenadores das equipas (n= 5), representando os serviços ou equipas dos Agrupamentos de Escolas Referência para a IPI e Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social, responderam aos diferentes instrumentos utilizados. Foram encontradas concordâncias entre as perceções de coordenadores, profissionais e pais, bem como diferenças relativamente às práticas centradas na família nas seis componentes de intervenção precoce medidas. No seu conjunto, constatou-se que as práticas destes profissionais correspondem às principais caraterísticas da componente relacional das práticas de ajuda centradas na família, mas têm lacunas no que diz respeito à componente participativa. Os aspetos identificados como mais problemáticos são: o envolvimento ativo das famílias, a utilização do Plano Individualizado de Intervenção Precoce, a mobilização e fortalecimento das redes de apoio social à família e a constituição de uma rede integrada de serviços e de recursos a funcionar na comunidade. Discutem-se as implicações para a intervenção precoce na infância, para a investigação de resultados e para uma pesquisa mais aprofundada.The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the current state of early childhood intervention practices used in NUT III Norte Ave as well as to try to understand the extend to which the developed practice is in line with a systemic and bioecological model of service rendering and with recommended practices based on evidence, especially the family and community centered intervention model. With this in mind, a research was developed using a mixed model of data collection: quantitative (recording or verification scales like likert's) and qualitative (interviews/questionnaires). For the processing of quantitative data, a quasiexperimental approach was used and for the qualitative approach, a content analysis. Families (n=55), professionals (n=16) and team coordinators (n=5) representing services or teams from Schools Reference Groups to ECI and Private Social Solidarity Institutions have responded to the different instruments involved. There is a prevailing agreement between coordinators, professionals and parents as well as differences concerning family centered practices in the six early intervention components evaluated. All combined, it is possible to see that the practices used by these professionals correspond to the relational component's main features of family support centered practices. Nevertheless, there are several gaps concerning the participatory component. The aspects identified as being the most problematic are as follows: the families' active involvement, the use of the Individualized Early Intervention Plan, the involvement and strengthening of family social support networks and the creation of an integrated network of services and resources working inside the community. There is a open debate about the implications to early childhood intervention and to a more in-depth research results

Epidemiology of Psoriasis in Portugal: A Population-Based Study

Introduction: Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and inflammatory skin disorder with a high personal, social and economic burden and important implications for healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to provide an epidemiological characterization of individuals with psoriasis in Portugal. Material and Methods: A large observational, cross-sectional, nationwide, population-based survey study developed by the Portuguese Psoriasis Group of the Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology (GPP-SPDV). A structured questionnaire was designed and applied by experienced interviewers to a random, representative sample of Portuguese individuals with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. Patients were considered to have psoriasis if they replied positively to one of the following questions: “Does any physician have ever diagnosed you with psoriasis?” or “Do you have a skin disorder characterized by scaling, reddish skin lesions located in the elbows/knees/scalp?”. Results: A total of 6381 individuals were interviewed, of which 283 met the criteria for psoriasis, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 4.4% (95% CI 3.95 – 4.98). Out of the participants that met psoriasis criteria, 24% had suggestive signs/symptoms but did not have a clinical diagnosis established and were not being monitored by a physician. Although more than 70% of participants had active disease (scaling, erythema, or pruritus) and one third had joint symptoms, only 12% were on systemic treatment. Fifty percent of participants with psoriasis (n = 139) had relevant comorbidities (most frequently depression/anxiety and cardiometabolic diseases). Sixteen percent of participants with psoriasis (n = 46) reported that psoriasis interfered with their daily activities (median impact of 5 in a 0 – 10 scale) and 12% mentioned the disease had an impact in their sexual life (median impact of 5 in a 0 – 10 scale). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the prevalence rate of psoriasis is likely to be high in Portugal, and several gaps exist at different levels of healthcare delivery to these patients, from diagnosis to treatment. This study provides important data for the future planning of interventions targeting the improvement of psoriasis care in Portugal

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Thermomechanical behaviour of sic-based composites for fusion structural aplications

Tese de doutoramento em Física (Física Tecnológica) apresentada à Fac. de Ciências e Tecnologia da Univ. de Coimbr