Music in an animated movie with almost no dialogue: Analysis of the soundtrack and score of Wall-E

This paper aims to analyze the role of the music within the movie Wall-E, and especially to deconstruct what it is that makes the narrative move forward in a movie that has very little dialogue.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1004/thumbnail.jp

Master of Science

thesisThis thesis focused on exploring the economic limitations for the development of western oil shale. The analysis was developed by scaling a known process and simulating in ProMax some of the chemical processes implicated in the production of oil shale, obtaining the capital and operating costs to develop these processes and performing an economic evaluation. The final results are a detailed breakdown of the components of the supply cost of syn crude produced. Two technologies were considered in this project: air-fired combustors and oxyfired combustors with a CO2 capture course of action. Additionally, in each of the scenarios, a sensitivity analysis was performed based on the resource quality and the taxation of CO2 emissions for the air-fired combustion and the price of CO2 for oxy-fired combustion. This project revealed that the total capital invested to develop oil shale projects is gargantuan: a total depreciable capital cost of $3.34 and$3.39 billion for the air and oxyfired case, respectively, for a shale quality of 25 gal/ton. It was shown that the geological resource significantly impacts the cost of production. For different shale grades of 20, 25 and 35 gal/ton, the supply cost varied from $124/bbl,$112/bbl and $97/bbl, respectively. Moreover, this analysis showed that the oil shale project profitability is highly dependent on governmental policies. The potential taxation of CO2 increased the supply cost by 1.75$112/bbl and with CO2 taxation increased to $120/bbl. From these results, it can be concluded that oil shale projects have higher technical, economic and government policy risks which limit their use by industry. For more projects to move forward, these risks must be lowered. It also is clear from the supply cost analysis that royalties are a major component as are taxes and interest charges

Optimization of an offshore wind electrical collection system

Onshore wind energy production locations are every day diminishing more and more. Resulting in a transition to offshore projects. With new benefits and challenges that need to be tackled. One of them is the optimization of the infield collection system. This work presents the description, results and analysis of a design tool that has two main objectives; the layout of the cables and the diameter of such. The work presents the state of the art of solutions present with such as minimum spanning tree, genetic algorithms and other graph based solutions. Covering a review of offshore wind power plants, infield distributions and industrial submarine cables. As well as explaining the mathematical theory and electrical theory required to understand power flow analysis by using the Newton-Raphson method. Furthermore describing the optimization process through Pareto search algorithm and the cost models utilized. Utilizing the theory presented a design tool was coded in Matlab 2021b and the main two algorithms are drawn and described. Decomposing them in a total six steps with the required user inputs for them. In addition, the limitations and reach of the working code are explained. A case study is presented of a power plant consisting of twenty four 7 kW turbines in a 4 x 6 arrangement. Where the results are graphically presented and further analysed. Presenting an optimal layout distribution, that utilizes six different cable diameters. Lastly, a performance analysis was conducted on the design tool. Where variables such as the possible cable connections and cost of electricity were altered. Showing an exponential increase on time and a sensitivity analysis respectivelyObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No Contaminant::7.b - Per a 2030, ampliar la infraestructura i millorar la tecnologia per tal d’oferir serveis d’energia moderns i sos­tenibles per a tots els països en desenvolupament, en particular els països menys avançats, els petits estats insulars en desenvolupament i els països en desenvolupament sense litoral, d’acord amb els programes de suport respectiu

Digital transformation in recruitment : best practices in the Portuguese market

The “war for talent” is leading organizations to focus on recruitment process agility and employer branding as a way to successfully recruit the best individuals. For this, companies are increasingly turning to implementing new technological developments in their recruitment and selection processes. This dissertation focuses on identifying the impact these technologies can cause, and what the best practices are for implementing them into recruitment processes, from the perspective of the internal recruiters. For this, a qualitative analysis was conducted through researching existing literature and conducting semi-structured interviews with recruiters. The results show that the implementation of automatic CV screening, asynchronous video interviewing and assessment games have a positive impact on recruitment processes, namely through increased accuracy of assessment, shortening the process duration, increasing diversity among recruits and enabling higher candidate pools. Companies are also focusing on increased software integration and gathering of recruitment metrics for continuous process improvement. For the successful implementation of these changes, recruiters see organizational culture as a key factor.A “guerra pelo talento” está a levar a que as organizações se foquem na agilidade do processo de recrutamento e em employer branding para recrutar os melhores candidatos. Para tal, as empresas estão a recorrer cada vez mais à implementação de novas tecnologias nos seus processos de recrutamento e seleção. Esta dissertação foca-se em identificar o impacto que estas tecnologias podem causar, e quais as melhores práticas para a sua integração em processos de recrutamento da perspetiva dos recrutadores internos. Para tal, uma análise qualitativa foi conduzida através da investigação da literatura existente e da condução de entrevistas semiestruturadas com recrutadores. Os resultados mostram que a implementação de triagem de CV automática, entrevistas em vídeo assíncronas e jogos de avaliação têm um impacto positivo em processos de recrutamento, nomeadamente através de um aumento na precisão das avaliações, encurtamento da duração do processo, aumento da diversidade entre recrutados e permitir um volume de candidaturas maior. As empresas também se estão a focar em aumentar a integração de software e a coleta de métricas de recrutamento para melhoria contínua dos processos. Para a implementação bem-sucedida destas alterações, os recrutadores vêm a cultura organizacional como um fator chave

Unaccompanied Refugee Children. Improving the Status Quo - Sustainably

CEMSThis paper focuses on the process of building a business case based on our client (Magnus Lindblom)’s social venture idea of setting up a high quality home for care (HVB) in order to achieve a better and faster integration of unaccompanied refugee children therefore improving this reality in Sweden. This included analyzing the context, the industry, competition, the business model and financial scenarios. With this, one was able to derive strategic options and a final recommendation for the client. From the team’s perspective, our client should start an HVB for URC, with a positioning as a focused provider for URC with selected DSM IV diagnosed psychiatric disorders, and with a maximum of eight spots. By doing this the client would be addressing a niche market not yet explored in Sweden. Furthermore, the author studies how one can accurately value social enterprises and what are actually the main drivers influencing it, a topic that has been highly discussed recently

Predicting the Outcome of Cognitive Training in Parkinson’s Disease using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Motivation: Cognitive impairment is an important symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), usually having a substantial negative impact on the quality of life of patients, families, and caregivers. Cognitive Training (CT) have been proven effective in halting the process of cognitive decline in PD. However, the efficacy of CT is unpredictable from subject to subject. Objective: Investigate the possibility of predicting the outcome of CT in PD patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment using structural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data. Methods: Before CT, a sample of 42 PD patients underwent structural and functional MRI. Graph measures were then extracted from their structural and functional con nectomes and used as features for random forest (RFo) and decision tree (DT) machine learning (ML) regression algorithms with and without prior latent component analysis (LCA). CT response was evaluated by assessing the outcomes of the Tower of London task pre- and post-treatment. Finally, the 4 ML models were used to predict CT response and their performances were assessed. Post hoc analyses were conducted to investigate whether these algorithms could predict age using connectomic measures on a sample of 80 PD patients. Results: The performances of the aforementioned algorithms did not differ signifi cantly from the baseline performance predicting the subject-specific CT outcome. The performance of the RFo without LCA differed significantly from the baseline performance in the age prediction task for the sample of 80 patients. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the lack of statistical significance in predicting our xicognitive outcomes, the relative success of the age prediction task points towards the potential of this approach. We hypothesise that bigger sample sizes are needed in order to predict the outcome of CT using ML

Pain and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina área científica de Neurologia, apresentado á Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraPain is an important disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS) that is frequently overlooked in clinical practice. Previous studies have described pain prevalence figures between 30 and 60%. This study intended to evaluate the prevalence of neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain and its relation quality of life. A total of 60 patients underwent a structured interview to assess painful symptoms and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the MusiQoL questionnaire. The prevalence of pain was 63% and its presence was independent of patients’ age, gender, years of disease, disease subtype, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and number of relapses in the last year. BDI score was significantly different between groups (p=0,008). 13% of patients complained of neuropathic pain, 22% of musculoskeletal pain and 28% of both types of pain. In the neuropathic pain, Lhermitte’s sign was the most common (56%) and in the musculoskeletal pain, muscular pain was the most prevalent (77%). Patients with pain had significantly lower MusiQoL scores that also related negatively with BDI score. Depression was the only clinical predictor of pain (R2= 0,186 p=0.008) and the presence of pain was a strong predictor of a lower score on the MusiQoL symptoms domain (F=3,97, p=0,05). About 32% of patients with pain were doing a symptomatic medication. Pain is, therefore, a symptom that greatly impairs quality of life and is often associated with depression which further worsens quality of life and alters pain perception. The low frequency of treatment for these symptoms indicates the need for improved attention to this problem.A dor é um sintoma incapacitante na esclerose múltipla (EM) que é frequentemente esquecido na prática clínica. Estudos prévios descreveram valores de prevalência de dor entre 30 e 60%. Este estudo pretende avaliar a prevalência de dor neuropática e musculoesquelética e a sua relação com a qualidade de vida. Um total de 60 doentes foi entrevistado para avaliar sintomas dolorosos e preencher o inventário de depressão de Beck (BDI) e o questionário MusiQoL. A prevalência de dor encontrada foi de 63% e a sua presença foi independente da idade, género, número de anos de doença, subtipo de doença, escala expandida de status da incapacidade de Kurtzke (EDSS) e número de surtos no ano anterior. A pontuação do BDI foi significativamente diferente entre grupos (p=0,008). 13% dos doentes referiram dor neuropática, 22% dor musculoesquelética e 28% os dois tipos de dor. Na dor neuropática, o sinal de Lhermitte foi o mais comum (56%) e na dor musculoesquelética, a dor muscular foi a mais prevalente (77%). Doentes com dor tinham uma pontuação de MusiQoL significativamente menor que também se relacionava negativamente com a cotação do BDI. A depressão foi o preditor mais forte de dor (R2=0,186, p=0,008) e a presença de dor foi um forte preditor de uma menor pontuação no domínio da sintomatologia do MusiQoL (F=3,97, p=0,05). Cerca de 32% dos doentes com dor estavam a fazer terapêutica sintomática. A dor é, portanto, um sintoma que prejudica muito a qualidade de vida e que está frequentemente associado a depressão, que piora ainda mais a qualidade de vida e altera a perceção da dor. A baixa frequência de tratamento destes sintomas indica a necessidade de maior atenção a este problema

Expresion de cambios histopatologico en pulmones de ratones CF-1 expuestos a la ingesta cronica de 4-nitroquinolina-1-oxido

68 p.TITULO: Expresión de cambios histopatológicos en pulmones de ratones CF-1 expuestos a la ingesta crónica de 4-nitroquinolina-1-óxido. INTRODUCCIÓN: El pulmón es el órgano que presenta con mayor frecuencia desarrollo de cáncer, como también mayor incidencia de metástasis, lo que lo transforma en el órgano con mayor incidencia a nivel mundial. El desarrollo de modelos de carcinogénesis experimental en animales juega un papel fundamental para su estudio y el desarrollo de terapias. OBJETIVO: Determinar los cambios macroscópicos e histopatológicos en términos de inflamación, congestión capilar, fibrosis, carcinoma primario o carcinoma metastásico en pulmones de ratones CF1 tratados con 4-NQO administrado por vía oral a concentración de 100 µg/ml durante 16 semanas. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se administró una solución de 4-NQO a una concentración de 100 µg/ml, diluido en el agua a beber a 16 ratones, y se mantuvo un grupo control de igual tamaño solo con agua y propilenglicol. Esta sustancia se aplicó por un periodo de 16 semanas, esperando hasta las 28 semanas para realizar el sacrificio y la necropsia de éstos. Se analizó la presentación de lesiones clínicas en pulmones (cambios de coloración, aumentos de volumen, tamaño, ubicación). Posteriormente se procesó la totalidad de las muestras para estudio histopatológico mediante tinción de de hematoxilinaeosina convencional y Van Gieson, buscando la presencia de cambios histológicos, preneoplásicas, neoplásicas y/o metastásicas.RESULTADOS: No se encontró lesiones macroscópicamente detectables. En el estudio histopatológico, los cambios histopatológicos de mayor incidencia, en orden decreciente, fueron inflamación peribronquial, congestión capilar (perivascular, intravascular), zonas de fibrosis pulmonar, no atribuible al efecto del 4-NQO por presentarse también dichos cambios en el grupo control.CONCLUSIÓN: La aplicación de agente cancerígeno 4-nitroquinolina 1-óxido por vía oral a concentración de 100 µg/ml durante 16 semanas, no es capaz de inducir cambios histopatológicos en términos de inflamación, congestión capilar, fibrosis, carcinoma primario y/o carcinoma metastásico (focos epiteliales) en pulmones de ratones CF-1. PALABRAS CLAVES: Cáncer Pulmonar, Carcinogénesis Química, 4-Nitroquinolina-1- oxido (4-NQO), ratones CF-1

Sensibilização e adaptação às alterações climáticas

As alterações climáticas impuseram modificações significativas na estrutura e dinâmica natural dos ecossistemas costeiros comprometendo as suas capacidades de resiliência cujos limites têm sido ultrapassados. A falta de políticas integradas de gestão territorial e adaptação às alterações climáticas intensificaram os riscos e vulnerabilidades sócio- ambientais em muitos espaços costeiros. Este trabalho foi realizado no município de Luanda onde a erosão, as inundações e os movimentos de massa são uma realidade cada vez mais preocupante. A metodologia de investigação para este trabalho contou com as consultas aos decisores políticos, população e ONGs presididas por inquéritos por questionário e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com primado para os aspectos qualitativos. As principais fontes de consulta foram as institucionais e os repositórios científicos de diversas universidades assim como a recolha bibliográfica. Os resultados obtidos apontam claramente para a falta de participação activa dos munícipes em processos de formação e tomada de iniciativas em sede de políticas ambientais, a gestão insustentável da zona costeira, o baixo grau de percepção ambiental e a falta de articulação integrada das instituições quanto ao ambiente.Climate change has imposed significant modifications in the structure and dynamics of natural coastal ecosystems compromising their resiliency capabilities whose limits have been exceeded. The lack of integrated policies of territorial management and adaptation to climate change intensified socio-environmental risks and vulnerabilities in many coastal areas. This work was conducted in the municipality of Luanda where erosion, floods and mass movements are increasingly worrying reality. The research methodology for this work counted with the consultations with policy-makers, population and NGOs chaired by questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with primacy for the qualitative aspects. The main sources of consultation were the institutional and scientific repositories of several universities as well as the bibliographic collection. The results clearly point to the lack of active participation of citizens in processes of formation and taking initiatives in environmental policies, unsustainable coastal zone management, the low degree of environmental perception and the lack of integrated joint institutions with regard to the environment