Analysis of the workforce Skills for the factories of the future

Industry 4.0 is promoting the digitisation of manufacturing sector towards smart and more efficient factories, seen worldwide as the fourth industrial revolution. However, its complete adoption strongly depends on the skills that existing workforce and future professionals can have in the different dimensions of this multidisciplinary vision, contributing to increase the digital maturity level of companies from the industrial sector. Additionally, new job profiles are emerging to face the implementation of these innovative approaches, which implies the need for the re-qualification and up-skilling of existing workforce, particularly focusing the digital skills. In this context, this paper analyses the gap and impact in the non-technical and technical skills required for the successful transition into digitisation, particularly across six manufacturing areas covering the collaborative robotics (cobots), additive manufacturing, mechatronics and machine automation, data analytics, cybersecurity and humanmachine interface.This work is part of the FIT4FoF project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement nº 820701.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A supergeometric approach to Poisson reduction

This work introduces a unified approach to the reduction of Poisson manifolds using their description by graded symplectic manifolds. This yields a generalization of the classical Poisson reduction by distributions (Marsden-Ratiu reduction). Further it allows one to construct actions of strict Lie 2-groups and to describe the corresponding reductions.Comment: 40 pages. Final version accepted for publicatio

Poder de mercado no segmento de distribuição de Gasolina C: uma análise a partir da nova organização industrial empírica

Este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar o grau de poder de mercado no setor de distribuiçãode gasolina C, nas regiões brasileiras, no período de 2002 a 2008. Para tal,baseou-se na Teoria da Nova Organização Industrial Empírica (NOIE), especificamente,no modelo proposto por Bresnahan (1982) e Lau (1982). Uma versão dinâmica domodelo também foi estimada. Os resultados indicaram que, exceto para a região Norte,para o modelo estático, as empresas distribuidoras de gasolina C não agem comotomadoras de preços (Λ = 0). No outro extremo, a hipótese de conluio perfeito (Λ = 1) entre elas foi rejeitada. Verificou-se que, em várias regiões, os parâmetrosrevelaram-se suficientemente baixos, sugerindo que as empresas distribuidoras apresentamelevada competição entre si.This study aims to assess the degree of market power in the distribution sector gasolineC, in Brazilian regions, from 2002 to 2008. To this end, based on the Theory of the NewEmpirical Industrial Organization (NOIE), specifically, the model proposed by Bresnahan(1982) and Lau (1982). A dynamic version of the model was also estimated. The resultsindicated that, except for the northern region to the static model, the distributors ofgasoline C does not act as price takers. At the other extreme, the hypothesis of perfectcollusion between them was rejected. It was found that, in many regions, parametersproved to be sufficiently low, suggesting that the distributors have high competitionwith each other

Electrogenerated hydrophilic carbon nanomaterials with tailored electrocatalytic activity

This work investigates the influence of the type of buffer electrolyte used in the generation of Electrochemical Hydrophilic Carbon (EHC) on their physical-chemical properties and electrocatalytic activity. The EHC nanomaterials were prepared in three different biological buffers, phosphate, glycine and citrate buffers (EHC@phosphate, EHC@glycine, EHC@citrate) and their surface properties were fully characterized by AFM, XPS and Raman. The EHC nanomaterials drop cast onto a glassy carbon electrode were electrochemically characterized in [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+ redox probes solutions, and their electrocatalytic activity was investigated towards hydrogen peroxide and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) in a phosphate buffer solution. It was found that the nature of buffer electrolyte strongly influences the surface chemical state of the EHC materials, disorder degree in the hexagonal sp2 carbon network and oxygen functional groups, affecting both the EHC electrocatalytic activity towards the ORR and H2O2 reduction reaction. The most catalytic material for the ORR was EHC@citrate, whereas EHC@glycine showed the highest oxygen conversion (n ≅ 2.7 to 3). Moreover, it was shown that the content of oxygen singly bonded to carbon correlates strongly with the number of electrons transferred. A very singular behaviour in the electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide was observed on EHC@glycine, qualitatively interpreted as an autocatalytic reaction. In contrast, a blocking-like effect was depicted on EHC@phosphate. These results must have an important impact in the development of materials with peroxidase-like activity and in the design of O2 sensors with non-sensitivity to H2O2.publishe

Photosynthesis, yield and raw material quality of sugarcane injured by multiple pests

Understanding sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) response to multiple pest injury, sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis) and spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata), is essential to make better management decisions. Moreover, the consequences of both pests on the sugarcane raw material quality have not yet been studied. A field experiment was performed in São Paulo State, Brazil, where sugarcane plants were exposed to pests individually or in combination. Plots consisted of a 2-m long row of caged sugarcane plants. Photosynthesis was measured once every 3 months (seasonal measurement). Yield and sugar production were assessed. The measured photosynthesis rate was negatively affected by both borer and spittlebug infestations. Photosynthesis reduction was similar on plants infested by both pests as well as by spittlebug individual infestation. Plants under spittlebug infestation resulted in yield losses and represented 17.6% (individual infestation) and 15.5% (multiple infestations). The sucrose content and the sucrose yield per area were reduced when plants were infested by multiple pests or spittlebug

Dried brewers’ grain as a replacement for soybean meal on nutrient digestibility and rumen parameters of cattle

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of replacing soybean meal with dried brewers’ grains (DBG) in intake and digestibility of the nutrients and the ruminal parameters of cattle. Four ruminal cannulated Jersey oxen with initial body weight of 662.7 ± 85.5 kg were distributed in a 4x4 Latin square design. The treatments were levels of 0%, 33%, 66% and 100% DBG replacing soybean meal in the diet. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intake were not influenced by the treatments. There were linear increases in ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) intakes because of higher levels of these nutrients in diets with DBG. Non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake showed a decreasing linear effect. Dry matter and NFC digestibility decreased linearly with rising DBG levels, while EE, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities were not affected. Ruminal pH was not influenced by DBG levels in the diet. There was a quadratic effect in ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration in the rumen, with the maximum occurring at a level of 36.7% DGB. The replacement of soybean meal with DBG in cattle diets did not alter DM intake and ruminal pH, but reduced TDN intake.Keywords: Ammonia nitrogen, by-product, digestibility, intake, p

Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from traditional Portuguese sausage products

Nowadays the use of fermentative microbiota in food products is researched in order to confer protection to the products and furnish health benefits to consumers The aim of this work was to evaluate antibiotics susceptibility of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from fermented traditional meat products in order to select them to be used as starters or protective bacteria on fermented meat products. The susceptibility of different L. plantarum isolates (n=44) from fermented/dry/smoked meat products of three different Portuguese industries were tested by Agar disc diffusion method for Vancomycin, Quinupristin/Dalfopristin, Rifampicin, Penicillin G, Erythromycine, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, Lincomycin and Chloramphenicol. Most of the studied L plantarum isolates were susceptible for Tetracycline (75%) and Erythromycin (71%) and could be used safely as starter cultures. Those that presented resistance need to be genetically evaluated since the mechanism of resistance is probably related to mobile genetic elements carried by L plantarum

Inter-relation of sylvatic and domestic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in areas with and without domestic vectorial transmission in Minas Gerais, Brazil

During the period 1980-1986, we captured triatomine bugs and mammalian reservoir hosts from sylvatic and domestic situations in different municipalities of the State of Minas Gerais. Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated from captured bugs, mammals and patients. After cultivation in LIT medium, the electrophoretic enzyme profiles were determined. We obtained a total of 32 parasite isolates from regions with active domestic transmission, and 24 isolates from areas under control. For the first areas the results suggest introduction of T. cruzi from sylvatic habitats, through incursion of infected opossums and/or sylvatic T. sordida, which appears to have given rise to at least one acute human infection. Of particular interest is the finding of sylvatic opossums and a T. sordida nymph infected with ZB, that could indicate return of parasites from chronic human infections to sylvatic transmission cycles. For the areas under control we also interpret the results as interaction between sylvatic and domestic cycles of transmission, here through the invasion of houses by bugs carrying the Z1 zymodeme from the sylvatic environment. The Multivariate Correspondence Analysis gives a spatial description between the different parasite isolates and confirms the existence of a bridge in the opposite direction in the region with active vectorial transmission including the exporting of Z2 through the peridomestic environment into the sylvatic cycle. For the other areas this bridge corresponds especially to Panstrongylus megistus, importing Z1 into the domestic environment

Contribuição para a caracterização nutricional de alguns produtos de salsicharia

8º Encontro de Química dos Alimentos. Congresso. Beja, Portugal 4 – 7 Março 2007O consumo de produtos de salsicharia é comum na dieta mediterrânica. No entanto, eles são tidos como alimentos de elevado valor calórico e o seu consumo tem sido associado a doenças do foro cardiovascular. A maioria dos produtos de salsicharia disponíveis no mercado, não apresenta informação nutricional, a qual seria um atributo a acrescentar na rotulagem, facilitando a escolha do consumidor, visto que nem todos apresentarão o mesmo aporte energético. Este trabalho surge como uma tentativa de caracterização nutricional de alguns produtos de salsicharia. Com esse objectivo, utilizaram-se resultados de análises físico-químicas realizadas a um total de 383 amostras (fiambre da perna, n=31; fiambre da pá, n=12; filete afiambrado, n=18; mortadela, n=18; paio York; n=18; painho, n=13; toucinho fumado, n=9; chouriço corrente, n=217; chourição, n=26; salpicão, n=7; linguiça, n=14). Estas análises, realizadas no âmbito do controlo de qualidade, foram efectuadas em produtos finais de salsicharia de diferentes indústrias, a serem colocados no mercado. O valor energético foi determinado, utilizando os coeficientes de conversão de Atwater, expressando-se os resultados em kcal e em kJ por 100 gramas da parte edível. Concluiu-se que estes produtos apresentam distintas características nutricionais; com base nos resultados obtidos, propõe-se, tentativamente, a classificação em três grupos: (1) Baixo valor calórico: ( 627 kJ/100g) que inclui produtos como o Fiambre da Perna, Fiambre da Pá e o Paio York; (2) Médio valor calórico: (entre 150 e 300 kcal/100g 627 e 1254 kJ/100g) para produtos como Paínho, Filete Afiambrado, Salpicão e Mortadela; (3) Alto valor calórico: (>300 kcal/100g 1254 kJ/100g) que caracteriza produtos como o Toucinho Fumado, Chourição, Linguiça e Chouriço Corrente

Co-design process for upskilling the workforce in the factories of the future

The digital transformation that the world is facing has a strong impact in the professional occupations and job profiles in the factories of the future context, requiring the need of upskilling and re-qualification of the workforce. Taking this into account, an Industrial Collaborative Educational Design (ICoED) is presented comprising three stages and eight steps, and considering a democratic and collaborative participation of the different stakeholders, namely the managers, educators and learners, each one providing its own perspective on the design of the training programme. In this co-design process, the analysis of the skills’ gap is a crucial task to prepare the initial stage of the process, particularly identifying the needs in terms of soft and hard skills. The proposed ICoED process was applied to solve an upskilling problem of an industrial metal stamping company, with the participants performing three workshops to execute the eight steps, reaching a training programme with five modules, each one settled with proper activities, resources and infrastructures.This work is part of the FIT4FoF project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n. 820701.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio