The influence of material density on bipolar charge transport in polymer-based electronic applications

Using a mesoscopic modelling approach, the authors performed computer experiments to study the influence of polymer density on bipolar charge evolution through thin layers of polydiacetylene (PDA) exhibiting specific microstructures. We found that the competition between charge transport, trapping and recombination within the polymer layer leads to several general trends, some of them being non-intuitive, as one varies polymer density. Our results show that polymer density mainly affects current and recombination efficiencies in the absence of defects or impurity states. The overall trends depend both on chain orientation relative to the electrodes and on the strength of the external applied electric field. These results suggest that adequate modelling of charge transport in electronic and optoelectronic devices based on conducting and semiconducting polymers, such as PDA, must include their structure and related key factors at mesoscopic scale. Such models provide the necessary knowledge-base to optimize the polymer film structure for electronic applications.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Programa Operacional “Ciência , Tecnologia, Inovação” – POCTI/CTM/41574/2001 e SFRH/BD/11231/2002Comunidade Europeia (CE). Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER

A participação do associado nas associações de solidariedade social

Social Economy is currently recognized as a social pillar of modern political states, consisting of a diverse list of legal and juridical persons. In their midst, social solidarity associations, persons with a social and legal status are one of the central figures in the action of this sector. Portuguese legal framework is influenced and conditioned by fundamental rights that integrate it and, in some circumstances, contrast or conflict. Naturally, this is also the case in Social Economy and with its actors as legal persons, particularly with social solidarity associations. These organizations act under a list of guidance principles founded on fundamental principles. Through the analysis of literature, consulting national and international legislation, decisions of Portuguese courts and academic works in areas such as sociological, legal, and doctrinal law, it is intended to analyse and reflect on the rights and freedoms applicable in the establishment of rules for the organization and governance of social solidarity associations. For this purpose, the plan and framework of the Social Economy will be defined, analysing associations in general as collective persons, focusing on the rights that affect them. The principle of freedom of association and statutory autonomy will be confronted with the principle of equality and the right to democratic participation with these organizations.A Economia Social é atualmente reconhecida como um pilar económico, social e político dos modernos Estados Sociais de Direito, constituída por um diverso e heterogéneo rol de entes jurídicos. No seu seio, operam as associações de solidariedade social, pessoas coletivas que gozam do estatuto de Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social (IPSS), as quais, em razão dos fins prosseguidos, são uma das figuras centrais da ação deste setor. O ordenamento jurídico português é influenciado e condicionado por direitos fundamentais que, em determinadas situações, contrastam ou conflituam. Naturalmente, tal oposição entre direitos também se verifica na Economia Social, designadamente com os seus agentes principais, particularmente com as associações de solidariedade social, pessoas coletivas de direito privado e de utilidade social. Estas entidades estão, além disso, sujeitas à obediência de uma série de princípios orientadores, alguns deles fundados nos direitos fundamentais. Através da análise de literatura, da consulta de legislação nacional e de legislação de outros ordenamentos jurídicos, das decisões de tribunais portugueses e de obras de carácter sociológico, jurídico e doutrinal pretende-se analisar e refletir sobre quais direitos e liberdades deverão prevalecer no estabelecimento de regras para a organização e governação das associações de solidariedade social. Para esse desiderato, irá proceder-se à definição e enquadramento da Economia Social no plano social, político e jurídico, à análise das associações em geral e dos direitos e deveres que sobre elas impendem. De seguida, irá confrontar-se o princípio de liberdade de associação e a autonomia estatutária com o princípio da igualdade e a salvaguarda do direito de participação democrática do associado nessas organizações

Mechanical and durability performance of cementitious matrices with low cement and different additions

Nowadays, the decarbonization of the concrete sector is a priority to counteract the global environmental harmful. Knowing that Portland cement is responsible for significant anthropogenic emissions worldwide, the optimization of cement dosage on concrete mixtures is a key issue, combined with the mechanical and durability performances, allowing to improve its eco-efficiency. The goal of the present work consists in optimizing the formulation of concrete matrices, used to produce reinforced concrete poles for the electric lines, by increasing the packing density, reducing the cement dosage and incorporating different additions, in order to promote the performance. Two different formulations of matrices were considered, fresh moulded concrete with dry consistency and formwork moulded concrete with plastic consistency. For each one, different dosages of cement and various additions (limestone filler, fly ash, natural pozzolan, electric furnace slag) were considered to replace the cement, which were used single or combined. The mortar matrices of the concrete formulation were characterised regarding: fresh properties; mechanical properties (flexural and compressive strengths and Young’s modulus); shrinkage and durability properties (capillary water absorption, carbonation and chloride ingression resistances). The influence of the additions on those properties was analysed and compared with reference cement-based mixtures and the main conclusions are presented

Workers’ EU political alignments during the Great Recession

Using data from the European Election Study 2014, this article focuses on workers’ EU political alignments during the Great Recession. It deals with two research questions. First, how does the attitude of (manual) workers towards the EU compare to that of the middle and upper classes in the aftermath of the Great Recession? Second, when it comes to workers’ support for the EU, are there systematic differences between countries affected by the crisis? The article finds that, on the one hand, in terms of patterns of workers’ EU political alignments, there are no systematic differences between countries affected to varying degrees by the Great Recession. On the other hand, workers still feel fundamentally detached from the EU, especially when it comes to the manual workers. However, high levels of generalised detachment from the EU are not clearly translated into preferences for Eurosceptic parties, since there are high levels of vote fragmentation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of distance and illumination on detection of marks in augmented reality applied to transcranial magnetic stimulation

O estudo foi levado a cabo durante o desenvolvimento de uma aplicação móvel de Realidade Aumentada que representa modelos virtuais 3D do cérebro de um paciente sobre a imagem real da sua cabeça. O objetivo principal da aplicação é guiar os médicos no uso de uma terapia médica não invasiva, designada por Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana, que utiliza estímulos eletromagnéticos para tratar problemas neurológicos. O rastreio destas marcas provou ser um dos desafios principais da aplicação implementada e observámos que as condições luminosas e a distância às marcas são dois dos fatores principais que podem influenciar a sua deteção com precisão.The study was carried out while developing an Augmented Reality mobile application that represents 3D virtual models of the brain of a patient over the real image of the patient’s head. The main purpose of the application is to guide doctors during a non-invasive medical procedure called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation that uses electromagnetic stimulation to treat neurological problems. The tracking of these markers have proven to be one of the more challenging components of such an application and we observe that lighting conditions and distance to the markers are two of the main factors that can influence their accurate recognition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Valorização de Resíduos de Indústrias Conserveiras

Uma pesquisa sobre a produção e comercialização de conservas de peixe em Portugal permitiu evidenciar que existem inúmeras quantidades de resíduos que resultam desta prática, de maneira que surgiu a ideia de desenvolver dois produtos a partir desta matéria-prima: farinha para consumo animal e gelatina. Através da pesquisa efetuada, foi possível evidenciar a viabilidade da produção dos produtos pretendidos e conseguir definir métodos para a produção de cada um dos produtos mencionados. Neste contexto, foram realizados ensaios de caracterização às várias frações de resíduos de peixe (peles, espinhas, filetes e mistura de todos os resíduos) provenientes da indústria conserveira. Para produção de farinha utilizou-se a fração classificada por mistura de todos os resíduos como matéria-prima. Os resultados desta caracterização foram 59,2% de humidade, 13,5% de cinzas, 10,8% de teor de azoto, 67,6% de teor de proteínas e 39,5% de teor de carbono orgânico total. Para produção de gelatina utilizou-se a fração classificada por peles obtendo-se 54,7% de humidade, 8,3% de cinzas, 10,4% de teor de azoto, 65,5% de teor de proteínas. De seguida realizaram-se os ensaios experimentais com o objetivo de produzir farinha. Os ensaios definiram que o processo produtivo passa pelas etapas de trituração, cozedura, prensagem secagem e moagem. As análises físico-químicas ao produto final para o 3º ensaio reforçam que o processo produtivo definido é adequado para este tipo de valorização de mistura de resíduos de atum. Os resultados apresentam os seguintes valores 2,3% de humidade, 16,6% de cinzas, teor de azoto 11,8%, teor de proteínas 73,4% e teor de carbono orgânico total de 81,5%. Foram ainda realizados ensaios para extração de gelatina. Os produtos obtidos nestes ensaios não apresentavam aspeto visual semelhante à gelatina. Este resultado foi atribuído à falta de qualidade da matéria-prima utilizada. Verificou-se que a fração de resíduos recebida com a designação de peles, continha mais escamas do que peles e por isso não foi possível obter gelatina. Face aos resultados concluiu-se que os ensaios realizados com o objetivo de obter gelatina, no presente trabalho, não foram bemsucedidos sendo por isso necessário repetir este processo com novas amostras de resíduos de pele de atum, para se poder tirar alguma conclusão. Outro objetivo desta dissertação foi o dimensionamento de uma unidade industrial de produção de farinha, através de mistura de resíduos de atum proveniente da indústria conserveira. O processo de produção adotado foi baseado no conhecimento adquirido nos ensaios experimentais, selecionando-se as seguintes operações unitárias: trituração, cozedura, prensagem, secagem e moagem. Para cada uma destas etapas procedeu-se aos balanços necessários ao dimensionamento do processo e à seleção dos principais equipamentos para a produção de cerca de 3422 kg/dia de farinha.A research on the production and marketing of canned fish in Portugal has shown that there are numerous amounts of waste that result from this practice, so the idea of developing two products from this raw material: flour for animal consumption and gelatin appeared. Through the research, it was possible to demonstrate the viability of the production of the desired products and to be able to define methods for the production of each of the mentioned products. In this context, characterization tests were carried out on the various fractions of fish residues (skins, pimples, fillets and mixtures of all residues) from the canning industry. For the production of flour, the fraction classified by mixing all the residues as feedstock was used. The results of this characterization were 59.2% moisture, 13.5% ashes, 10.8% nitrogen content, 67.6% protein content and 39.5% total organic carbon content. For the production of gelatin, the fraction classified by skins was obtained obtaining 54.7% of humidity, 8.3% of ashes, 10.4% of nitrogen content, 65.5% of protein content. Experimental tests were then carried out in order to produce flour. The tests defined that the production process goes through the steps of grinding, baking, pressing drying and milling. The physical-chemical analysis of the final product for the 3rd test reinforces that the defined production process is suitable for the valorization of this type of tuna waste mix. The results showed the following values: 2.3% moisture, 16.6% ashes, 11.8% nitrogen content, 73.4% protein content and 81.5% total organic carbon content. Tests were also carried out to extract gelatin. The products obtained in these tests had no gelatin-like visual appearance. This result was attributed to the lack of quality of the raw material used. It was found that the fraction of waste received by the designation of skins, contained more scales than skins and therefore it was not possible to obtain gelatin. In view of the results, it was concluded that the tests carried out with the objective of obtaining gelatin in the present work were not successful, and it is therefore necessary to repeat this process with new samples of tuna skin residues in order to draw some conclusions. Another objective of this dissertation was the design of an industrial flour production unit, through mixing residues of tuna from the canning industry. The production process adopted was based on the knowledge acquired in the experimental tests, selecting the following unit operations: grinding, baking, pressing, drying and grinding. For each of these stages, the necessary balance sheets were designed for the process design and selection of the main equipment for the production of about 3422 kg / day of flour

Ankle stiffness assessment in individuals with chronic ankle instability in dual-task single leg stance on an unstable surface

The shoulder of handball players suffers from the ongoing repetition of movement that may lead to the development of joint instability and modification of proprioceptive condition. Because the articular components of the shoulder joint are considered to have extreme importance on the static and dynamic stabilisation and quality of proprioceptive information, they may compromise the athlete’s performance. The purpose of our study was to verify if shoulder strength parameters (SSP) and joint position sense (JPS) of shoulder internal and external rotation may contribute to the development of shoulder instability in handball players.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Talent Identification and Development in Male Futsal: A Systematic Review

This review aimed to identify and synthesize the most significant literature addressing talent identification and development in futsal. A systematic review of Web of Science™ (all databases), Scopus, PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study included original articles in English, Spanish or Portuguese containing relevant data on talent development/identification of male futsal players. The search yielded 238 articles. After screening, a total of 32 manuscripts were fully reviewed. The quality of the data reviewed was generally good. Results indicate that the most successful players exhibit technical, tactical, anthropometric, physiological and psychological advantages and are distinguished from lower-level players based on their earlier dedication to training. This review highlights the need for those involved in the process of identifying and developing talented futsal players to consider the technical and tactical skills of futsal players, along with their anthropometric and physiological characteristics, scaled to age. Finally, special attention should be paid to the supportive psychosocial environments created in sports academies for developing futsal players. Overall, talent identification and development programmes in futsal need to be dynamic and offer the possibility of changing assessment parameters in the long term.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ADOÇÃO DE UM MODELO DE PLANO DE MARKETING INTERNACIONAL PARA AS PME PORTUGUESAS

Os mercados empresariais deixaram de ser locais, regionais ou nacionais, para passarem a ser internacionais. A globalização passou a ser um fator critico de sucesso, com as empresas, especialmente as Pequenas e Médias Empresas, a terem que adequar a sua estrutura empresarial de forma a poderem responder às diferentes necessidades dos seus clientes nacionais e internacionais e à crescente agressividade e competitividade empresarial. A adoção de um plano de marketing internacional, surge então como uma ferramenta fundamental para apoiar as empresas no processo de internacionalização. Neste sentido, o presente estudo tem como objetivo principal a escolha de um modelo de plano de marketing internacional para as Pequenas e Médias Empresas portuguesas. Para esse efeito, procedemos a uma extensa revisão bibliográfica de trabalhos que abordavam o tema, tendo escolhido três estudos que nos pareciam mais adequados e procedido à sua análise detalhada. No final escolhemos um plano de marketing internacional, adequado às especificidades das Pequenas e Médias Empresas portuguesas, que apresentava caraterísticas de simplicidade de compreensão e implementação, diversidade e complementaridade dos temas abordados e dava especial relevância ao fator de implementação e controlo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio