Interação social entre agentes em ambientes de recursos limitados

Trabalho final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia de Redes de Comunicação e MultimédiaO estudo da interação social entre agentes inteligentes é cada vez mais um tema central da investigação em inteligência artificial. Atualmente inseridos numa realidade onde veículos navegam autonomamente, não é difícil imaginar cenários onde estas máquinas poderão trabalhar em conjunto, maximizando as suas capacidades e tornando-se mais eficientes na utilização de recursos e na concretização dos respetivos objetivos. Devido à elevada complexidade computacional dos seus processos internos, ainda é difícil, sobretudo para máquinas com locomoção autónoma no mundo, desenvolver raciocínio social de forma complexa, pelo que este trabalho pretende contribuir com uma abordagem que aproxime a investigação de uma solução viável para cenários reais onde um sistema multi-agente, limitado pelos seus recursos, tem de produzir soluções em tempo real. Este trabalho integra-se na área dos agentes inteligentes, sendo desenvolvido o tema da interação social em arquiteturas de agentes com limitação de recursos. É apresentado um estudo sobre as arquiteturas de agentes reativas e deliberativas e as respetivas potencialidades na constituição de sistemas multi-agente num contexto de limitação de recursos. É feito o estudo do problema da delegação de tarefas numa abordagem de limitação de recursos, onde se propõe um modelo de coordenação com base em mecanismos emocionais para a sua solução.Abstract: The study of social interaction between intelligent agents is increasingly becoming a central topic of research in artificial intelligence. Living in a reality where vehicles navigate autonomously, it is not hard to imagine scenarios in which these machines could work together, maximizing their skills, making better use of their resources and being more eficient on the achievement of objectives. Due to the high computational complexity of the internal processes, it is still dificult, especially for machines with autonomous locomotion, to develop complex social reasoning, so this work aims to contribute to an approach that approximates the research to a viable solution for real scenarios where a multi-agent system, limited by its resources, has to produce solutions in real-time. This work is part of the area of intelligent agents, developing the theme of social interaction on agent architectures working with bounded-resources. It is presented a study about the reactive and deliberative architectures and their potential in the formation of multi-agent systems in a boundedresources context. It is also made a study about the task delegation problema from the resource-bounded point of view, proposing a coordenation model, based on emotional mechanisms

Local community programmes and successful ageing: a study from the North-east of Portugal

The ageing of the population poses challenges for both policies and support systems for older people. In Bragança, a city in the North-East of Portugal, this phenomenon has a great impact and that is why the municipality is implementing community programmes to promote successful ageing. Objective: examine indicators of successful ageing in people aged 55 and over that participate in community programmes, using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). A total of 50 were randomly selected and another 50 persons joined the previous group according to gender and age stratification criteria, resulting in a total of 100 in two sub-samples: the group that took part in municipal communiy programmes and the group that did not participate in such programmes. In both groups a multidimensional gerontological evaluation was applied to collect sociodemographic characteristics, cognitive performance, psychological well-being, social net work and independence for instrumental activities of daily living . Based on the proximity between the categories of social spaces, it was observed that participants involved in community programmes showed higher levels of psychological well-being and independence in instrumental activities. The group that did not participate in the community programmes showed higher risk of isolation, lower psychological well-being, higher level of dependence and low cognitive performance. The evidence shows the importance of this type of programmes for a successful ageing and that the methodology of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) stands as a good strategy to evaluate the benefits of these programmes.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Mechanical ventilation for the treatment of severe excessive dynamic airway collapse

[Excerpt] We read with interest the case report by Ismael et al1 describing a patient with Sjo¨gren’s syndrome and cystic lung disease who could not be weaned from a ventilator due to severe central excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) of the lower part of the trachea and proximal bronchi. EDAC corresponds to the expiratory bulging of the tracheobronchial wall without known airway structural abnormalities, leading to a decrease of at least 50% in internal diameter.2 It is a rare and underdiagnosed entity, commonly confused with other respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD. Although noninvasive procedures such as cervicothoracic computed tomography scan on inspiration and expiration may suggest the disorder, the accepted standard method for diagnosis is bronchoscopy.3-7 (...).(undefined

Monitoring Abundance and Distribution of Northern Gannets Morus bassanus in Western Iberian Waters in Autumn by Aerial Surveys

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS - Study conception HA and CE; Investigation HA, PCR, jBS, MF, ATP, JMC, JV and CE; Methodology HA, PCR, JBS, JV and CE; Resources HA, JBS, JV and CE; Data curation HA, PCR, JBS, JV; Writing initial draft HA; Writing critical review and commentary of revision HA, PCR, jBS, MF, ATP, JMC and CE; Supervision PCR, JV and CE; Project Administration JV and CE.Several North Atlantic breeding seabirds, such as the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, use Western Iberian Waters for wintering and migration. In this study, we aimed at producing absolute population estimates of post-breeding Gannets and evaluating the importance of the study area within the species’ migration range. We performed six aerial surveys in September and/or October each year between 2010 and 2015, covering 74,840km2 in total. Using line transect methodology, 3,672 Gannet sightings were recorded along 10,496.3 nautical miles (nm). Immature individuals and adults comprised approximately 87% of all sightings. Using Distance sampling, overall abundance was estimated at 89,930 birds, ranging from 58,010 individuals in 2014 to 128,140 in 2015. the highest densities per sector areas were recorded in the North and Centre sectors whereas the lowest densities were registered in the Galicia sector, the Spanish region within the study area. Gannets were mostly present in shallow shelf waters of the continental shelf, particularly between 3 and 20 nautical miles offshore. Habitat suitability models for Gannets in the study area were tested using several eco-geographical variables and chlorophyll concentrations were found to contribute most to explaining annual Gannet occurrence probabilities. A global interannual spatial analysis demonstrated the core areas for conservation of the Northern Gannet in Western Iberian Waters. Moreover, our results demonstrate that Western Iberian waters are used by almost 10% of the global Northern Gannet population, corroborating the existence of seabird hotspots during the non-breeding period, along migration corridors and at their wintering grounds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Seabird abundance and distribution off western iberian waters estimated through aerial surveys

Western Iberian waters are important migratory flyways, stopover sites, and wintering areas for several of the world’s seabird species. To describe seabird species composition, distribution, and abundance in these waters, we performed six aerial surveys in September and/or October of each year, 2010–2015, covering 74 840 km2. Using line transect methodology, 27 396 seabird sightings from 17 taxonomic groups were recorded along 10 496.3 nautical miles (19 433 km). Using the program “Distance,” annual and overall abundance estimates were obtained for nine taxonomic groups: Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis, shearwaters, Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini, Great Skua Stercorarius skua, storm petrels, and Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius. For the six-year period, Northern Gannet was the most abundant species (89 630 individuals, coefficient of variation [CV] = 6.28%), followed by Cory’s Shearwater (25 044 individuals, CV = 7.56%) and Balearic Shearwater (13 632 individuals, CV = 20.81%). The remaining taxonomic groups exhibited variable abundances. Results confirm that the study area is important to several seabird species, providing baseline estimates to inform conservation policies and instruments, such as the Birds Directive or the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Importance of social network for the successful aging and health of the elderly.

O envelhecimento é um processo dinâmico de ganhos e perdas. Com a idade a heterogeneidade aumenta. Daí a necessidade de avaliar as redes sociais e proceder a um rastreio do isolamento social das pessoas idosas. No presente estudo procurou-se averiguar a relação entre a rede social E a saúde dos idosos do município de Bragança, no contexto do projeto de investigação multicêntrico AgeNortC. Objetivos: Descrever as características sociais, a saúde e a rede social dos idosos de um município do nordeste de Portugal; identificar a relação entre múltiplos indicadores relativos à rede social, aos recursos económicos e educativos e à saúde dos inquiridos sob as perspetivas bivariada e multivariada. Metodologia: Os dados foram recolhidos através de um protocolo gerontológico multidimensional aplicado a uma amostra de 100 idosos. Os dados foram analisados com recurso ao SPSS 24.0, tendo sido efetuada análise descritiva, análise inferencial e análise de regressão logística. Resultados: a subescala redes sociais de Lubben referente à família revelou-se particularmente importante para a saúde dos idosos, quer nos resultados bivariados (p<0,05) quer nos resultados multivariados (p<0,05). Conclusões: Tendo este estudo sido desenvolvido num território caracterizado pela interioridade e fustigado pelo envelhecimento e despovoamento, sobressai na amostra estudada a importância das relações sociais, principalmente as relações que emanam do seio familiar, para a promoção da saúde e bemestar nos idosos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desempenho termo-energético de edifícios residenciais em clima temperado

This study sought to link architectural and thermal aspects of buildings to contribute to the design practice by providing an information set related to issues of comfort and energy consumption, obtained through a methodological process involving an experimental component (involving summer and winter monitoring in residential buildings in Lisbon where over 60% of the main façade is glazed) and a numerical component (thermal simulations with the use of the EnergyPlus dynamic program, with modeling and calibration of representative geometric models of frequent typologies). This, therefore, allowed the observation of different parameters, enabling the establishment of performance comparisons between a broad spectrum of solutions (Matrix of current solutions) under a typical Mediterranean climate like that of the city of Lisbon. Thus, this study presents a set of results that demonstrates the potential for designing and constructing buildings with different (in particular large) areas of glazing in temperate climates.O presente estudo procura interligar aspectos da Arquitetura e da Térmica dos Edifícios visando contribuir para a prática de projeto disponibilizando um conjunto de informações relacionadas com as questões de conforto e consumo de energia, obtidas a partir de um processo metodológico fundamentado numa componente experimental (medições in loco de Verão e Inverno, sobretudo em unidades de edifícios residenciais em Lisboa com áreas de envidraçados superiores a 60% da fachada principal) e numa componente numérica (simulações térmicas recorrendo ao programa dinâmico EnergyPlus, num processo que envolveu modelação e calibração de modelos geométricos representativos de tipologias frequentes); o que permitiu a observação de diferentes parâmetros com possibilidade de comparar o desempenho entre um espectro alargado de soluções correntes (Matriz de soluções) sob um clima tipicamente mediterrâneo como o da cidade de Lisboa. Desta forma, sendo assim apresentado um conjunto de resultados que comprovam a possibilidade de se projetar e construir edifícios residenciais com diferentes áreas de envidraçados, principalmente com grandes proporções, em Clima Temperado.Este estudio trata de vincular los aspectos de la Arquitectura y la Térmica de los edificios para contribuir a la práctica de diseño que proporcionan un conjunto de información relacionada a las cuestiones de comodidad y el consumo de energía.  Obtenido en un proceso metodológico basado en un componente experimental (realización de monitoreo de verano e invierno en edificios residenciales en Lisboa con superficie acristalada superior al 60% de la fachada principal) y un componente numérico (simulaciones térmicas que utilizan el programa dinámico EnergyPlus en un proceso que involucró la modelación y calibración de modelos geométricos representativos de tipologías frecuentes). Esto permitió la observación de diferentes parámetros con la posibilidad de comparar el rendimiento en un amplio espectro de soluciones actuales (soluciones Matriz) bajo un clima típicamente mediterráneo, como el de la ciudad de Lisboa. De esta manera, se presenta un conjunto de resultados que demuestran la capacidad de diseñar y construir edificios de viviendas con diferentes áreas de vidrio, especialmente de grandes proporciones, en Clima Templado

Thyroid cancer: the quest for genetic susceptibility involving DNA repair genes

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC), particularly well-differentiated forms (DTC), has been rising and remains the highest among endocrine malignancies. Although ionizing radiation (IR) is well established on DTC aetiology, other environmental and genetic factors may also be involved. DNA repair single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be among the former, helping in explaining the high incidence. To further clarify the role of DNA repair SNPs in DTC susceptibility, we analyzed 36 SNPs in 27 DNA repair genes in a population of 106 DTCs and corresponding controls with the aim of interpreting joint data from previously studied isolated SNPs in DNA repair genes. Significant associations with DTC susceptibility were observed for XRCC3 rs861539, XPC rs2228001, CCNH rs2230641, MSH6 rs1042821 and ERCC5 rs2227869 and for a haplotype block on chromosome 5q. From 595 SNP-SNP combinations tested and 114 showing relevance, 15 significant SNP combinations (p < 0.01) were detected on paired SNP analysis, most of which involving CCNH rs2230641 and mismatch repair variants. Overall, a gene-dosage effect between the number of risk genotypes and DTC predisposition was observed. In spite of the volume of data presented, new studies are sought to provide an interpretability of the role of SNPs in DNA repair genes and their combinations in DTC susceptibility.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Striped dolphins as trace element biomonitoring tools in oceanic waters: accounting for health-related variables

In Europe, monitoring contaminant concentrations and their effects in the marine environment is required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC). The striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is the most abundant small cetacean species in Portuguese oceanic waters, representing a potential biomonitoring tool of contaminant levels in offshore waters. Concentrations of nine trace elements were evaluated by ICP-MS in kidney, liver and muscle samples of 31 striped dolphins stranded in the Portuguese continental coast. The mean renal Cd concentration was high (19.3 μg.g-1 wet weight, range 0.1-69.3 μg.g-1 wet weight) comparing to striped dolphins from other locations. Therefore, the present study reports a possibly concerning level of Cd in the oceanic food chain in Portuguese offshore areas. This study also aimed at evaluating potential relationships between trace element concentrations and striped dolphins' biological and health-related variables. Individual length was related with some of the trace element concentrations detected in striped dolphins. Indeed, Cd, Hg and Se bioaccumulated in larger animals, whereas the reverse was observed for Mn and Zn. Striped dolphins with high parasite burdens showed higher levels of Hg, while animals showing gross pathologies presented higher concentrations of Cd and Se. This study reported relationships between trace element concentrations and health-related variables for the first time in striped dolphins and it also provided information on the relative contamination status of Portuguese oceanic waters in comparison to other regions in the world.publishe