Physical Connectivity Between the NE Atlantic Seamounts

Within the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, the Great Meteor and Madeira-Tore complexes are highly productive areas, which are likely to be classified as marine protected areas (MPAs) due to their ecological vulnerability. This was the main focus of the BIOMETORE project and, framed on it, the aim of the present study was to investigate the physical connectivity between both seamount complexes. Using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model coupled with the Connectivity Modeling System (CMS) (a Lagrangian tool), a series of experiments was conducted in order to determine the influence of the main oceanographic phenomena governing the area in: (i) the origin of the particles that reach each complex, (ii) their capacity to capture and retain incoming particles, and (iii) the physical connectivity between them as well as the intra-connectivity within each seamount system. Due to the geographical location of both groups of seamounts, the Azores Current (AzC) and its associated eddies were identified as the main transport pathways, its influence being stronger at intermediate waters and decreasing with depth. Notwithstanding, the Great Meteor and the MadeiraTore were mainly affected by the AzC southward and eastward branches, respectively, resulting in a non-significant connectivity between the two groups. Meanwhile, the inter-connectivity between seamounts slightly varied with depth at the Great Meteor complex while increasing at Madeira-Tore. In addition, the Plateau, Irving, and Cruiser (PIC) seamounts from the Great Meteor complex and Gorringe and Coral from the Madeira-Tore complex proved to incorporate the regional connectivity routes. Although containing the three smallest seamounts, Madeira-Tore showed the higher capturing capacity per square kilometer, highlighting the influence of the "sticky water effect." In the Great Meteor complex, the "seamount effect" seems to be the main phenomenon responsible for the greater retention and self-recruitment abilities of these seamounts. The presented results provide valuable information for the design of a MPA to preserve these vulnerable habitat

Equity valuation : Sainsbury

A avaliação de empresas pressupõe um processo complexo, desafiante e rodeado de incerteza, agregando um enorme conjunto de variáveis dinâmicas, sujeito a diferentes modelos teóricos de avaliação, do qual se perspetiva atingir um valor próximo do justo valor da empresa. A dissertação focou-se na avaliação da empresa de retalho britânica Sainsbury. O objetivo centrou-se na definição de uma estratégia de investimento, através da recomendação de compra ou venda de ações da empresa, resultante da prévia determinação do preço por ação e respetiva comparação com o preço atual de mercado. Para o efeito, procedeu-se a uma revisão bibliográfica, procurando obter uma diversidade de perspetivas sobre a matéria. Posteriormente, procedeu-se à análise da empresa assim como à análise da indústria em que a mesma se encontra em atividade. Para a avaliação do negócio do retalho da Sainsbury, considerou-se o modelo de avaliação “Desconto de Cash-Flows”. Adicionalmente, foi considerado também o modelo dos “Múltiplos” que corroboram os resultados provenientes do primeiro modelo. Por sua vez, para a avaliação do negócio bancário da Sainsbury foi considerado o modelo de DuPont assim como o modelo de Múltiplos. Considerando a avaliação como um todo, o preço por ação obtido ascendeu a 404.10 GBP. À data de 31 de Março de 2015, o preço por ação da Sainsbury estava a ser transacionado a 259.20 GBP. Desta forma, aconselha-se os investidores a adotarem uma estratégia de compra destas ações.The company valuation assumes a complex, challenging and surrounded by uncertainty process, comprising a huge set of dynamic variables, subject to different theoretical models of evaluation, from which is expected to reach a value close to the fair value of the company. The dissertation focused on Sainsbury’s valuation, a British retail company. The objective centralized on the establishment of an investment strategy through a buy or sell recommendation as a result of the prior determination of the fair price per share and respective comparison with the current market price. For this purpose, it was pursued a literature review, seeking a diversity of perspectives on the subject. Subsequently, was proceeded the analysis of the company as well as the industry analysis in which it operates. For the evaluation of the retail business of Sainsbury, was considered the "Discounted Cash -Flow" valuation model. Additionally, it was also considered Multiples to corroborate the results from the first model. In turn, for the evaluation of Sainsbury’s banking was considered the DuPont model as well as Multiples. Whereas the assessment as a whole, the price per share obtained amounted to 404.10 GBP. As at March 31, 2015, the price per share Sainsbury's was being traded to 259.20 GBP. Thus, we recommend investors to adopt a strategy of buying these shares

Development of bioinformatics tools to track cancer cell invasion using 3D in vitro invasion assays

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Controlling superparamagnetic particles with dynamic magnetic fields generated by a Helmholtz-coil system

Tese de mestrado em Engenharia Física, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2010The aim of this work was the creation of a novel system of magnetic tweezers which is surface free and makes possible the massive parallel measurement of macromolecule characteristics. The system is able to magnetically control superparamagnetic microparticles which control macromolecules, DNA strands or cells attached to them in a surface free environment, i.e. without the use of surfaces to which the objects are bond. This allows the system composed by a pair of beads and macromolecule to oat freely in the solution, allowing parallel and inside cell measurements. The system constructed is composed of two pairs of water cooled Helmholtz coils controlled by an electronic circuit and software. The system is mounted on an inverted fluorescence microscope. The magnetic forces acting on deferent types of particles were calculated and fully simulated. This allowed the optimization of the coils' parameters. In the present document we explain the physical concepts behind the behavior of the magnetic particles, the details of the design, fabrication and specifications of the control system and at the end we show and discuss some qualitative experiments made with the system.O objectivo deste trabalho foi a criação de um novo sistema de pinças magnéticas que funciona livre de superfícies e possibilita a medição paralela (ou massiva) de caracter ísticas de macromoléculas. O sistema é capaz de controlar magneticamente micropart ículas superparamagnéticas que controlam macromoléculas, pequenas sequências de DNA ou células a elas acopladas num ambiente livre de superfícies, o que significa sem o uso de um sistema físico para os fixar. Isto permite ao sistema composto por um par de partículas magnéticas e macromolécula flutuar livremente na solução, permitindo medições paralelas e dentro de células. O sistema é composto por dois pares de bobinas de Helmholtz arrefecidas a água, controladas por um sistema electrónico e um programa especificamente projectados para a função. O sistema está montado num microscópio invertido com capacidade para microscopia de fluorescência. As forças magnéticas que actuam nos diferentes tipos de micropartículas magnéticas foram calculadas e simuladas o que permitiu uma optimiza ção dos parâmetros das bobinas. No presente documento explicamos os conceitos físicos intervenientes no comportamento das partículas magnéticas, os detalhes do desenho, construção e especificações do sistema de controlo e no fim mostramos e discutimos algumas experiências qualitativas

Information and communication technology adoption for business benefits: a case analysis of an integrated paperless system

This case study analyses the benefits of implementing a paperless software solution (Alert®pfh–Alert Paperfree Hospital, developed by Alert Life Sciences Computing) in a Portuguese Hospital, the Espírito Santo Hospital, in the city of Évora. Alert®pfh is a complete hospital clinical information system with real time clinical information input. It was implemented in emergency medical services, inpatient and outpatient services, and operating room services. Data were collected between 2006 and 2011 prior to, during and after the system's implementation. The case analysis demonstrates that paperless software systems have a significant potential when applied in healthcare organization services. Besides financial benefits, other important organizational features were identified, namely higher levels of patient and professional satisfaction; an increase in efficiency in hospital operations; improvement in the quality of information for management decision-making; and a reduction in medical errors. Lessons learned are noted and conclusions drawn for both theoretical and practical ICT benefits analysis

Surface behavior of pelagic juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in the eastern North Atlantic

Sea turtles bask at the ocean surface, but little is known about the patterns and ecological context of surface behavior in the wild. This study investigated the surface behavior of ten juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (34 - 58 cm straight carapace length) satellite tagged in Madeira, in the pelagic eastern North Atlantic. During a total of 2273 tracking days, turtles moved through oceanic areas with a mean depth of ~3400 m. On average, turtles spent one third of the time at the surface (0 - 1 m depth), spending 43% of the time at the surface during the day and 29% of the time during the night. Generalized linear mixed modelling showed that the proportion of time at the surface was significantly larger during the day, particularly during spring and summer. Time spent at the surface during the day increased with elevated air temperatures and weak winds, probably to maximize the benefits of solar absorption. Conversely, the probability of being at the surface during the day decreased as horizontal search effort increased, suggesting a trade-off between basking and daytime foraging activities. At night, time spent at the surface was not associated with air temperature or wind speed but was instead positively associated with moon illumination. As turtles tend to dive deeper during clear nights, increased surface time may be needed to recover from deeper dives. This study presents important aspects of the behavioral ecology of the species during the oceanic juvenile phase. The findings reported here may be relevant for species management and conservation, including correction of census data and management of interactions with surface fishing gear and other anthropogenic activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Áquila Earthquake (2009): influence of seismic source model and structure to modeling the strong ground motions

O sismo, ocorrido em 6 de Abril de 2009 (Mw 6,3) junto à cidade de Áquila (Itália), provocou uma grande destruição. Uma das consequências deste evento foi o impacto na opinião pública em torno da capacidade científica para a estimação da perigosidade sísmica e a necessidade de criação de sistemas de alerta sísmico. A determinação dos mecanismos de fonte sísmica de eventos sísmicos ocorridos e registados permite melhores caracterizações dos movimentos sísmicos para uma determinada área de estudo e consequentemente melhores cenários de risco. Se a região em estudo possuir propriedades físicas específicas e muito distintas de local para local, capazes de provocar alterações locais dos movimentos sísmicos (efeitos de sítio), torna-se imperativo uma caracterização bem definida do meio de propagação das ondas sísmicas de forma a poder sintetizar informação capaz de contribuir para a boa estimação da perigosidade sísmica. No âmbito deste trabalho pretende-se estudar a influência do mecanismo de fonte sísmica e da estrutura na modelação de movimentos sísmicos no caso de Áquila. A metodologia adoptada consiste na determinação da distribuição de deslizamentos sobre o plano de falha e utilização desta informação na modelação de sismogramas sintéticos (com recurso ao algoritmo E3D). Será igualmente estabelecida uma comparação de resultados considerando-se um meio com e sem bacia e considerando-se uma fonte pontual e uma fonte extensa

Geophysical prospection of antique structural traces from São Francisco (Évora) Royal Palace with the use of georradar and laser scanner.

In the place where currently there is the D. Manuel Palace, in Évora, will have been the Royal Palace of S. Francisco, one of the residences of the Portuguese monarchy between the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The building began to decline in 1616 and has been adapted to other occupations, abandoned and destroyed by re. Between this building and the market there are archaeological remains, discovered during the execution of urban works. The current building was the result of several changes on what’s left, the last one on the front of its facade, which were removed monumental stairs that there is photographic record. This work intends to show the existence of ancient palace remains, integrated into the structures that currently exist within the research effective methods of application of geophysical techniques in Archaeology. To realize the goal, it proceeded to carry out geophysical prospecting with georadar, in areas adjacent to the palace, and with laser scanner, in order to integrate the results of georadar a three-dimensional representation of the current building. The results show the existence of structures that have corresponded to the palace staircase and remains consistent with the view that the palace would be extended to the side where there is the current market

Avaliação de benefícios com a implementação de um sistema de informação paperfree no Hospital do Espírito Santo

Este artigo descreve um estudo realizado, de 2006 a 2010, no Hospital do Espírito Santo de Évora, EPE (HESE) com o objectivo de avaliar os benefícios potenciais resultantes da utilização de um sistema de informação paperfree (Alert®) nos serviços de urgência, consultas externas, internamento e bloco operatório daquele hospital. Para a realização do estudo foi desenvolvida uma abordagem de gestão de benefícios com investimentos em sistemas e tecnologias de informação, a partir da literatura existente (Ward e Daniel, 2006; Dhillon, 2005; Serrano e Caldeira, 2002). O levantamento de dados foi realizado ao longo do processo de implementação do software e após a conclusão desse processo, de forma a validar de modo mais preciso os resultados obtidos. O estudo de caso realizado permite concluir que os sistemas paperfree têm um potencial muito significativo quando aplicados no sector da saúde. Para além de benefícios financeiros, um significativo número de outros benefícios foram identificados, especialmente na redução do risco de realização de erros clínicos, na redução de tempos de espera dos pacientes, maior rigor na tomada de decisões de gestão, e aumento da confidencialidade e segurança dos dados clínicos

Geophysical data fusion of ground-penetrating radar and magnetic datasets using 2D Wavelet transform and singular value decomposition

This work addresses the problem of the lack of perceptibility that geophysical data may have. Data fusion allows us to combine datasets, providing an improved and more informative source of information about structures buried in the ground. After testing different approaches, a strategy was developed using ground-penetrating radar and magnetic datasets collected over the same area. Data collected at the Roman Villa of Pisões (Beja, Portugal), which is a place of easy application of geophysical methods, were used to test the method, but with problems caused by the properties of the soil. The approach was based on processing operations that allow the fusion of images obtained by different equipment widely used in medical imaging for tumor detection and image processing. The goal is to create an improved image with data fusion that has higher quality than the input images, allowing a better understanding of the object of the study. The approach is composed of two stages: pre-processing and data fusion. Pre-processing is applied to enhance the input data. It consists of removing background noise through singular value decomposition applied in the spectral domain. Then the calculation of the data entropy will highlight the differences corresponding to the spatial alignments compatible with buried structures. Then, both entropy maps of the two datasets are fused in the second processing step to produce the final image. This step involves applying the 2D wavelet transform to each entropy map, decomposing them into sub-bands. Algorithms to calculate multiresolution singular value decomposition and the image gradient are applied to the sub-bands. The processed sub-band pairs are then fused using specific fusion rules. The fused image is obtained by applying the inverse of the wavelet transform. Data fusion with the proposed approach allows us to obtain a detailed image that is sharper and of better quality than the input datasets. The increase in sharpness and quality can be quantified through the sharpness index and the BRISQUE quality index in several steps of the processing. The obtained values confirm the graphical results. Images produced by the proposed data fusion approach suggest that the perceptibility has increased, allowing us to provide conclusions about the existence of buried structures.This work has been partially supported by the research project “Innovación abierta e inteligente en la EUROACE” with the reference 0049_INNOACE_4_E, by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund included in COMPETE 2020, and through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) by the projects UIDB/04683/2020-ICT (Institute of Earth Sciences) and SFRH/BSAB/143063/2018