The role of neighbours selection on cohesion and order of swarms

We introduce a multi-agent model for exploring how selection of neighbours determines some aspects of order and cohesion in swarms. The model algorithm states that every agents' motion seeks for an optimal distance from the nearest topological neighbour encompassed in a limited attention field. Despite the great simplicity of the implementation, varying the amplitude of the attention landscape, swarms pass from cohesive and regular structures towards fragmented and irregular configurations. Interestingly, this movement rule is an ideal candidate for implementing the selfish herd hypothesis which explains aggregation of alarmed group of social animals.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, Plos One, May 201

Stylized facts in Brazilian vote distributions

Elections, specially in countries such as Brazil with an electorate of the order of 100 million people, yield large-scale data-sets embodying valuable information on the dynamics through which individuals influence each other and make choices. In this work we perform an extensive analysis of data sets available for Brazilian proportional elections of legislators and city councillors throughout the period 1970-2012, which embraces two distinct political regimes: a military dictatorship and a democratic phase. Through the distribution $P(v)$ of the number of candidates receiving $v$ votes, we perform a comparative analysis of different elections in the same calendar and as a function of time. The distributions $P(v)$ present a scale-free regime with a power-law exponent $\alpha$ which is not universal and appears to be characteristic of the electorate. Moreover, we observe that $\alpha$ typically increases with time. We propose a multi-species model consisting in a system of nonlinear differential equations with stochastic parameters that allows to understand the empirical observations. We conclude that the power-law exponent $\alpha$ constitutes a measure of the degree of feedback of the electorate interactions. To know the interactivity of the population is relevant beyond the context of elections, since a similar feedback may occur in other social contagion processes.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, a version with some modifications was published in PLoS ON

Pragmatic paradigm in information science research: a literature review

In social science research, Pragmatic Paradigm was proposed as a philosophical basis for mixed methods research, supporting a third option to qualitative and quantitative methods dichotomy. The paradigm wars between these approaches often encouraged the application of rigid methodological frameworks and the temptation of creating ‘one size fits all’ epistemological solutions. To overcome these issues, pragmatism focused on obtaining the necessary data to answering research questions, rejecting pre-established methods design. Several studies performed analysis of mixed methods research presence in information science but those which mentions the pragmatic paradigm are poorly known. In this paper, we explore the rationale and the foundations of the pragmatic paradigm and its applications in information science research. Using a recent literature review (Web of Science and Scopus), the main objective is to understand pragmatic paradigm presence in information science literature, understanding if mixed methods researchers and others refer pragmatism as their philosophical basis. The analysis shows that information science research is not aware of the pragmatic paradigm as a methodological foundation neither recognize it as a basis for mixed methods research. Nevertheless, knowledge acquisition about information science field is still enriched through the study and observation of this paradigm choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Pragmatic paradigm in information science research: A literature review

In social science research, Pragmatic Paradigm was proposed as a philosophical basis for mixed methods research, supporting a third option to qualitative and quantitative methods dichotomy. The paradigm wars between these approaches often encouraged the application of rigid methodological frameworks and the temptation of creating ‘one size fits all’ epistemological solutions. To overcome these issues, pragmatism focused on obtaining the necessary data to answering research questions, rejecting pre-established methods design. Several studies performed analysis of mixed methods research presence in information science but those which mentions the pragmatic paradigm are poorly known. In this paper, we explore the rationale and the foundations of the pragmatic paradigm and its applications in information science research. Using a recent literature review (Web of Science and Scopus), the main objective is to understand pragmatic paradigm presence in information science literature, understanding if mixed methods researchers and others refer pragmatism as their philosophical basis. The analysis shows that information science research is not aware of the pragmatic paradigm as a methodological foundation neither recognize it as a basis for mixed methods research. Nevertheless, knowledge acquisition about information science field is still enriched through the study and observation of this paradigm choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Systemic intravenous abciximab: a novel treatment for acute central retinal artery occlusion?

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uma Úlcera de Difícil Cicatrização: Um Caso Exuberante de Dermatite de Contacto Alérgica ao L-Mesitran® Tulle

L-Mesitran Tulle® is a popular non-adherent polyethylene dressing impregnated with the patented L-Mesitran Soft gel that contains Medilan™, which is said to be a “hypoallergenic lanolin”. Lanolin is a well know sensitizer and the prevalence of contact allergy to lanolin alcohols varies from 0.6% - 6.9%. We report the case of a patient who develop eczema around the leg ulcer while using L-Mesitran Tulle® as a wound dressing, highlighting that even this “high purity medical grade of lanolin” (Medilan™) contained in L-Mesitran Tulle® can cause an allergic contact dermatitis.O L-Mesitran Tulle® é um penso não aderente de polietileno popular, impregnado com o gel L-Mesitran Soft patenteado que contém Medilan™, considerada uma "lanolina hipoalergénica". A lanolina é um alergénio bem conhecido e a prevalência de alergia de contato aos álcoois de lanolina varia de 0,6% a 6,9%. Relatamos o caso de um doente que desenvolveu eczema ao redor de úlcera da perna enquanto realizava cuidados de peno com o L-Mesitran Tulle®, destacando que mesmo essa "lanolina de grau médico de alta pureza" (Medilan™) contida no L-Mesitran Tulle® pode causar dermatite de contacto alérgica

Pedagogical practices in higher education: improving students’ competences through cross-curricular problem-solving activities

Similarly to its European counterparts, Portugal’s Higher Education system has undergone profound changes as a result of the Bologna Process. Even though some difficulties in the adaptation to new teaching-learning practices have been reported (Leite & Ramos, 2014; Sweetman, 2017), at the School of Technology and Management of the University of Aveiro the required paradigm shift in education has been implemented, namely through problem-based learning activities and, consequently, through competences aggregation between different curricular units (CU) (Oliveira, 2011), a methodology that implies the articulation between concomitant courses of a study programme. Since 2016/2017, cross-curricular problem-solving projects are being developed within the 1st cycle degree in Office Management and Business Communication: Electronic Office Applications II (EOAII) articulates with Portuguese II (PII) (2nd semester courses) and Data Analysis (DA) articulates with Secretarial Techniques II (STII) (3rd semester courses). 64 students from 3 different classes have been involved. Within the 2nd semester project, two practical assignments were requested: in the first one, students produced and presented a monograph and a scientific poster; in their second assignment, they prepared a labour market integration portfolio. For the accomplishment of both tasks, competences underlying the two associated CUs converged: in PII students acquired research and information selection skills, as well as structuring, writing and text revision competences; resourcing to various tools (e.g., Publisher, PowerPoint, Prezi, Word, Canva, Wix, Powton, etc.), in EOAII students developed their design and layout development skills. For the 3rd semester project, the production and oral presentation of a statistical report were requested. For the creation of their questionnaires, students applied skills intrinsic to the two courses involved. After having collected and processed the statistical data (DA), students structured and wrote their reports (STII). The option for competences articulation aims primarily at consolidating skills in key areas for secretarial and communication professionals (Borges, 2012) such as languages, electronic office applications and data analysis. The importance of these areas led to a second experiment in the first semester of academic year 2018/19 involving the CUs Electronic Office Applications I and French / German - Customer Relations and Hospitality, precisely to respond to the needs related with the creation of communication products (either in printed and digital formats) in several languages. In this assignment, 1st and 2nd year students produced a promotional video, which was subtitled in French and German. Cross-curricular projects, in addition to allowing a higher return on students’ efforts (the same task is assessed in two different CUs), also emphasizes the transversal nature of learning, clarifying that knowledge and skills associated with a given CU can have a concrete application in the real world, always in articulation with competences from other backgrounds. This is a clearly student-centred approach, one that provides students with the opportunity to consolidate technical and interpersonal skills essential to their professional success in an ever more collaborative environment, contributing thus to the “creation of a professional profile that meets the labour market and society’s expectations” (Mesquita et al., 2016, p.89).publishe