A Multiple Criteria Framework to Evaluate Bank Branch Potential Attractiveness

Remarkable progress has occurred over the years in the performance evaluation of bank branches. Even though financial measures are usually considered the most important in assessing branch viability, we posit that insufficient attention has been given to other factors that affect the branches’ potential profitability and attractiveness. Based on the integrated used of cognitive maps and MCDA techniques, we propose a framework that adds value to the way that potential attractiveness criteria to assess bank branches are selected and to the way that the trade-offs between those criteria are obtained. This framework is the result of a process involving several directors from the five largest banks operating in Portugal, and follows a constructivist approach. Our findings suggest that the use of cognitive maps systematically identifies previously omitted criteria that may assess potential attractiveness. The use of MCDA techniques may clarify and add transparency to the way trade-offs are dealt with. Advantages and disadvantages of the proposed framework are also discussed.

Textile based electrodes for ECG and EMG measurements

Biopotential signals are an important tool for monitoring our health and thanks to the evolution of technology, they are being increasingly used in several areas. There are however some problems with conventional electrodes such as irritation that need to be surpassed and textile electrodes may represent a good alternative. This paper proposes a design approach for textile based electrodes developed by our research group, in which the construction of the electrodes is based on 3D surface design of weft knitted structures, which increases thickness and allows to improve the permanent contact between electrode and skin, thus contributing for the solution of one of the problems identified by the research community.This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Analysis and development of a localization system based on Radio Frequency

This paper presents an analysis on several strategies for location based on Radio-Frequency. The purpose of this study is to develop an infrastructure able to determine the position of a target within an area of 0.1 acres (aprox.11000 ft2 or 1000 m2) with an acceptable precision for the specific task. Along with the analysis of the many strategies and approaches on Radio- Location, this study tries to determine the best solution to implement a working system of location in an easy, secure and less expensive way, a solution able to be used in football field, without the use of large and/or expensive infrastructures like the Global Position System (G.P.S.) network

Adding Value to Bank Branch Performance Evaluation Using Cognitive Maps and MCDA: A Case Study

The performance evaluation of bank branches is a difficult task. One of the main reasons for this difficulty is the complexity inherent in the variety of aspects to be considered in the evaluation, and the multiple and conflicting interests of the different stakeholders involved. In this paper we aim to show how cognitive mapping and the MACBETH approach can be used to support the evaluation of bank branches through the development of multidimensional performance evaluation systems, and to deal explicitly with the trade-offs between the different dimensions of performance and interests of different stakeholders. A case study is discussed where these techniques are used in a constructive way, making the learning activity easier and introducing transparency in the decision making process. The strengths and weaknesses of the integrated use of these two operational research techniques in this context are also discussed.

Geochronology and petrogenesis of late-Variscan plutonism (NW Portugal) : synthesis and inferences on crustal recycling and growth

In NW Portugal large volumes of granitoids were emplaced during the post-collisional stage of the Variscan orogeny. This was the main period of successive granite generation, which exhibit different chemical and isotopic signatures. Geochronological and petrogenetic results are presented and inferences on the geodynamic evolution of the Iberian Variscides are discussed

Solid-state carbon-based textile supercapacitors for energy storage applications

In this work, carbon-based conducting electrodes based on two different types of carbon nanofibers (CNF) have been produced by the dip and dry coating method onto cotton substrates. Furthermore, activated carbon (Norit A Supra Eur) and manganese oxide (MnO2) have been subsequenlty added to the CNF-based dip-coated cotton fabrics electrodes and asymmetric supercapacitors have been constructed and tested with the focus of obtaining devices with increased capacitive performance. In particular, the carbon-based active layer was prepared by spreading on the CNF-based electrodes a slurry containing the activated carbon (AC) material, graphite fibres, polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) as binder and N,N dimethylacetamide (DMA) solvent, whereas the MnO2 based active layer was prepared by spreading on the CNF-based textile electrodes a slurry formed by MnO2, carbon black, graphite fibers, PVDF and DMA. A solution of 1M Na2SO4 impregnated in porous paper separator (Nippon Kodoshi Corportion, Japan) was employed as neutral aqueous electrolyte. The supercapacitors were electrochemical investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicated that with this particular combination of carbon and manganese oxide active layers on CNF-based cotton fabrics it was possible to obtain specific capacitance of 100 F/g and a high specific energy density of 10 Wh/kg.This work was partly financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136. A. J. Paleo acknowledges the support of COST Action CA15107- Multi-Functional Nano-Carbon Composite Materials Network (MultiComp) by means of a short term scientific mission (STSM).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Design and characterization of a textile extension sensor for sports and health applications

Electronic textiles (e-textiles) are a form of textiles that, integrating technology, can add new functionalities or forms of expression. The fabric can, for instance, have sensing properties, emerging as a textile sensor, which is a subfield of the e-textiles, widely reported in literature. One such kind of sensors are the extension sensors, usually studied for breathing monitoring, posture detection or characterization of movements. There are several challenges associated with the production of a textile extension sensor with high precision and repeatability. This paper reports the design and development of a knit-based sensor that uses a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) adhesive and film to either bond or insulate the sensing area (respectively), in order to improve the sensor’s performance. The sensors were found to be appropriate for measuring breathing rate, but not for absolute extension measurements. The use of elastic tape or TPU produced the most stable results.This work is financed by Project “Deus ex Machina”, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000026, funded by CCDRN, through Sistema de Apoio à Investigação Cientifica e Tecnológica (Projetos Estruturados I&D&I) of Programa Operacional Regional do Norte, from Portugal 2020 and by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How to create indices for bank branch financial performance measurement using MCDA techniques: an illustrative example

Most banks have been negatively affected by the recent economic recession, which has forced them to evaluate their operating performance including the financial performance of bank branches. Approaches that have been applied to address the financial performance evaluation of bank branches include: optimization techniques, simulations, stochastic tools, fuzzy logics and decision support systems. Although recent improvements have been made in assessing financial performance, the potential for significant further improvement remains since the recent world economic crisis is adding pressure on business margins. The purpose of this paper is to construct an exemplificative evaluation index for bank branch financial performance by integrating cognitive maps with measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique. We aim to apply this methodology constructively to serve as a learning mechanism and introduce transparency in the decision making process. Practical applications, strengths and weaknesses of the proposed evaluation index are also discussed