Artificial Intelligence Applied to Supply Chain Management and Logistics: Systematic Literature Review

The growing impact of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) on supply chain management and logistics is remarkable. This technological advance has the potential to significantly transform the handling and transport of goods. The implementation of these technologies has boosted efficiency, predictive capabilities and the simplification of operations. However, it has also raised critical questions about AI-based decision-making. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out, offering a comprehensive view of this phenomenon, with a specific focus on management. The aim is to provide insights that can guide future research and decision-making in the logistics and supply chain management sectors. Both the articles in this thesis and that form chapters present detailed methodologies and transparent results, reinforcing the credibility of the research for researchers and managers. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of technology on logistics and supply chain management. This research offers valuable information for both academics and professionals in the logistics sector, revealing innovative solutions and strategies made possible by automation. However, continuous development requires vigilance, adaptation, foresight and a rapid problem-solving capacity. This research not only sheds light on the current panorama, but also offers a glimpse into the future of logistics in a world where artificial intelligence is set to prevail

Hans Kelsen and the tradition of natural law: why Kelsen’s objections to the natural-law doctrine does not apply against Aquinas’s theory of natural law

In his works, Hans Kelsen elaborates several objections to the so-called “doctrine of natural law”, especially in his essay The Natural-Law Doctrine Before the Tribunal of Science. Kelsen argues that natural law theorists, searching for an absolute criterion for justice, try to deduce from nature the rules of human behavior. Robert P. George, in the essay Kelsen and Aquinas on the ‘Natural Law Doctrine’ examines his criticism and concludes that what Kelsen understands as the Natural-law doctrine does not include the natural law theory elaborated by Thomas Aquinas. In this paper, we will try to corroborate George’s theses and try to show how Aquinas’ natural law theory can be vindicated against Kelsens criticisms

Cyclodextrins as medicine and therapeutic adjuvants in drug delivery systems

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, 2021, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia.Ao longo de várias décadas desde a sua descoberta, as ciclodextrinas foram sendo usadas como excipientes e veículos de muitas substâncias ativas para aumentar a solubilidade aquosa, estabilidade físico-química e fisiológica e a veiculação destes fármacos. Atualmente, as ciclodextrinas estão presentes nas mais diversas formulações de fármacos, como comprimidos, pomadas, gotas oftálmicas, entre outras. Adicionalmente a esta função de excipientes, recentemente as ciclodextrinas também são encontradas como substância ativa no tratamento de algumas patologias. Esta monografia foca-se em avanços recentes e encorajantes sobre a aplicação de ciclodextrinas como fármacos e adjuvantes terapêuticos em sistemas de veiculação de fármacos. As primeiras três secções fornecem uma perspetiva histórica e descrição das ciclodextrinas e ciclodextrinas modificadas, enquanto que a quarta secção fornece uma revisão dos avanços atuais no uso terapêutico das ciclodextrinas. O potencial terapêutico das ciclodextrinas é maioritariamente derivado da sua habilidade em formar complexos com colesterol e outras moléculas. Deste modo, estas moléculas estão a ser estudadas como novo agente terapêutico em muitas patologias conhecidas onde outras classes terapêuticas não conseguem reduzir a severidade da doença e/ou controlar a mesma, e até como entidades químicas para algumas patologias sem terapia conhecida. Na maioria das situações, as ciclodextrinas modificadas são frequentemente usadas devido ao facto de terem uma maior afinidade para o alvo terapêutico, colesterol, quando comparadas às ciclodextrinas “convencionais”, tendo também uma menor taxa de efeitos adversos e toxicidade. Em algumas patologias, o mecanismo exato da atividade das ciclodextrinas é desconhecido. Assim é necessário continuar a investigação, incluindo a iniciação e conclusão de muitos estudos clínicos antes que estas moléculas cheguem a farmácias, hospitais e doentes como fármaco. A produção destes dados, incluindo considerações toxicológicas, são relevantes para a sua aprovação e uso posterior ou comparticipação dos diversos sistemas nacionais de saúde. Assim, num futuro próximo, poderemos ter novas estratégias disponíveis com diferentes ações benéficas no organismo humano, com a máxima segurança e benefício para o doente.Over several decades since its discovery, cyclodextrins have been used as excipients and vehicles of many active pharmaceutical ingredients to enhance aqueous solubility, physicochemical and physiological stability, and the deliverability of these drugs. Currently, cyclodextrins are present in diverse drug formulations, such as pills, ointments, ophthalmic drops, among other formulations. In addition to the function of pharmaceutical excipients, cyclodextrins have also found recent use as active substances in the treatment of some pathologies. This monograph focuses on some recent and encouraging advances in the application of cyclodextrin as medicine and therapeutic adjuvants in drug delivery systems. The first three sections provides an historical overview and description of cyclodextrins and modified cyclodextrins while the fourth section reviews the current advances in the therapeutic use of cyclodextrin molecules. Cyclodextrin’s therapeutic potential is mainly derived from their ability to form complexes with cholesterol and other molecules. As such they are being studied as new therapeutic agents in many known pathologies where other therapeutic classes are not able to reduce the severity of the disease and/or even control it, and as new chemical entities for some pathologies with no known therapy. In most situations, modified cyclodextrins are more frequently used as they will have greater affinity for the therapeutic target, cholesterol, when compared to “conventional” cyclodextrins, also having a lower rate of adverse effects and toxicity. In some pathologies, the exact mechanism of cyclodextrins activity is unknown. Further research activities, including the initiation and completion of many clinical trials are required before these molecules reach pharmacies, hospitals and patients as active substance. The production of these data, including toxicity consideration, will be relevant for its approval and later use or reimbursement by multiple national health systems. Thus, in a near future, we could have new strategies available with different beneficial actions in the human body, with maximum safety and benefit for the patient

The effects of systemic risk in Portugal: A CoVaR approach

The Great Recession in the context of financial globalization raised the interest in systemic risk's measurement. The main goal of this dissertation is the study of systemic risk dynamics in the Portuguese financial system between 02/06/2003 and 30/06/2020. Specifically, we analyze the impact of Portuguese banks distress on the domestic financial system as well as the repercussions of a crisis in the Portuguese financial system on domestic banks. For that purpose, we use ΔCoVaR systemic risk measure. Furthermore, the bootstrap KS test is applied to determine the statistical accuracy of the ΔCoVaR forecasts and to rank banks according to their systemic importance and systemic vulnerability. Throughout this dissertation alternative methodologies to obtain banks returns and to estimate VaR are applied to analyze the sensitivity of VaR and ΔCoVaR forecasts. The empirical results reveal that no Portuguese bank is considered systemic important or vulnerable in the analyzed period. However, considering the studied banks, all of them present its highest contribution to the financial system's systemic risk and its highest vulnerability to the system's shocks in the context of the Great Recession. Furthermore, BES and BNF are more vulnerable to the Portuguese financial system's impact in the last phase of their life cycles. Additionally, from 02/06/2003 to 13/10/2010, BCP is the bank with the major contribution to the financial system's systemic risk and the most vulnerable to system's shocks. Finally, VaR and ΔCoVaR estimates reveal sensitivity to the banks returns computation methodology as well as to the VaR model used.No contexto da globalização financeira, a Grande Recessão aumentou o interesse na medição do risco sistémico. O principal objetivo desta dissertação é o estudo do risco sistémico no sistema financeiro português entre 02/06/2003 e 30/06/2020. Especificamente, é analisado o impacto da crise dos bancos portugueses no sistema financeiro nacional e as repercussões de uma crise no sistema financeiro português nos bancos nacionais. Para esse efeito, é utilizado como medida de risco sistémico o ΔCoVaR. Adicionalmente, o teste "bootstrap" KS é aplicado para determinar a precisão estatística das estimativas de ΔCoVaR e para ordenar os bancos de acordo com a sua importância e a sua vulnerabilidade sistémica. Ao longo da dissertação são utilizadas várias metodologias para obter os retornos dos bancos e o VaR de forma a analisar a sensibilidade dos valores de ΔCoVaR e VaR estimados. Os resultados empíricos mostram que nenhum banco português pode ser considerado sistemicamente importante ou vulnerável no período analisado. No entanto, entre os bancos considerados, todos apresentam uma maior contribuição para o risco sistémico do sistema e uma maior vulnerabilidade aos choques do sistema no contexto da Grande Recessão. Adicionalmente, o BES e o BNF são mais vulneráveis ao sistema na última fase dos seus ciclos de vida. Entre 02/06/2003 to 13/10/2010, o BCP é o banco que contribui mais para o risco do sistema e o mais vulnerável aos impactos do sistema. Por fim, as estimativas de ΔCoVaR e VaR revelaram-se sensíveis às metodologias utilizadas para calcular os retornos dos bancos e o VaR

The drivers and challenges within an online fitness and health community : a netnography study on the BBG online community

The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the drivers for people joining fitness and health online communities and the main adversities faced by its members. In specific, it explores the “Bikini Body Guide”, a fitness and health online community, and uses Netnography as a qualitative research method to gather insights on online consumer behaviors. The results of the research reveal accountability to be the main driver for members joining the community. However, it also shows that its meaning differs from the social sciences when applied to the fitness and health context. While some members participate searching to create connections, others are looking for motivation and to sharing information. On the other hand, results show that the main challenge faced by members is in terms of frustrations, which can arise from two different sources. The first one is due to members’ ability to meeting their expectations, while the second derives from some struggles that appear along the journey such as lack of confidence, commitment or procrastination. Furthermore, this dissertation explains the implications and limitations of this study, and based on the insights collected suggests managerial recommendations, useful from a marketing viewpoint, that lies in helping marketers in the retention and increase of traffic of the community.Esta dissertação tem como objetivo compreender quais os motivos que levam as pessoas a participar em comunidades online de fitness e saúde e compreender quais os principais desafios que os seus membros enfrentam. Em específico, explora a comunidade de fitness e saúde “Bikini Body Guide” e utiliza Netnografia como método de pesquisa qualitativa para reunir ideias sobre os comportamentos online do consumidor. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam o sentido de responsabilidade como o principal motivo que leva os membros a participar na comunidade. No entanto, também mostra que o seu significado, no contexto de ciências sociais, difere quando aplicado ao mundo de fitness e saúde. Enquanto alguns membros participam com o objetivo de criar relações e de se conectarem com os demais membros, outros procuram motivação ou mesmo partilha de informações e conhecimento. Por outro lado, os resultados mostram que o principal desafio enfrentado pelos membros é em termos de frustrações, as quais podem surgir de duas origens diferentes. A primeira surge através das expectativas dos membros não serem correspondidas, enquanto a segunda relaciona-se com o aparecimento de algumas adversidades ao longo do percurso, tal como a falta de confiança, compromisso ou procrastinação. Mais ainda, esta dissertação explica as implicações e limitações do presente estudo e, com base nos resultados obtidos, sugere recomendações relevantes do ponto de vista do marketing, que consistem em ajudar na retenção e no aumento do tráfego da comunidade em estudo

Production and characterization of Chitin-Glucan Complex by Komagataella pastoris

This thesis was focused on the production, extraction and characterization of chitin:β-glucan complex (CGC). In this process, glycerol byproduct from the biodiesel industry was used as carbon source. The selected CGC producing yeast was Komagataella pastoris (formerly known as Pichia pastoris), due the fact that to achieved high cell densities using as carbon source glycerol from the biodiesel industry. Firstly, a screening of K. pastoris strains was performed in shake flask assays, in order to select the strain of K. pastoris with better performance, in terms of growth, using glycerol as a carbon source. K. pastoris strain DSM 70877 achieved higher final cell densities (92-97 g/l), using pure glycerol (99%, w/v) and in glycerol from the biodiesel industry (86%, w/v), respectively, compared to DSM 70382 strain (74-82 g/l). Based on these shake flask assays results, the wild type DSM 70877 strain was selected to proceed for cultivation in a 2 l bioreactor, using glycerol byproduct (40 g/l), as sole carbon source. Biomass production by K. pastoris was performed under controlled temperature and pH (30.0 ºC and 5.0, respectively). More than 100 g/l biomass was obtained in less than 48 h. The yield of biomass on a glycerol basis was 0.55 g/g during the batch phase and 0.63 g/g during the fed-batch phase. In order to optimize the downstream process, by increasing extraction and purification efficiency of CGC from K. pastoris biomass, several assays were performed. It was found that extraction with 5 M NaOH at 65 ºC, during 2 hours, associated to neutralization with HCl, followed by successive washing steps with deionised water until conductivity of ≤20μS/cm, increased CGC purity. The obtained copolymer, CGCpure, had a chitin:glucan molar ratio of 25:75 mol% close to commercial CGC samples extracted from A. niger mycelium, kiOsmetine from Kitozyme (30:70 mol%). CGCpure was characterized by solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DCS), revealing a CGC with higher purity than a CGC commercial (kiOsmetine). In order to optimize CGC production, a set of batch cultivation experiments was performed to evaluate the effect of pH (3.5–6.5) and temperature (20–40 ºC) on the specific cell growth rate, CGC production and polymer composition. Statistical tools (response surface methodology and central composite design) were used. The CGC content in the biomass and the volumetric productivity (rp) were not significantly affected within the tested pH and temperature ranges. In contrast, the effect of pH and temperature on the CGC molar ratio was more pronounced. The highest chitin: β-glucan molar ratio (> 14:86) was obtained for the mid-range pH (4.5-5.8) and temperatures (26–33 ºC). The ability of K. pastoris to synthesize CGC with different molar ratios as a function of pH and temperature is a feature that can be exploited to obtain tailored polymer compositions.(...

Variability of black-hole accretion discs: a theoretical study

Accretion discs are fluid-dynamical entities which surround many black holes. Observations reveal that these systems exhibit variability on a range of time scales. This thesis investigates phenomena occurring in black-hole accretion discs which are likely to induce high-frequency quasi-periodic variability. Two classes of pseudo-relativistic theoretical models are investigated. The first is based on the stability of transonic accretion flows and its connection to a disc instability that takes the form of propagating waves (viscous overstability). The time-dependent study looks at the conditions under which the transition between subsonic disc-like accretion, which occurs at large radii, and the supersonic flow characteristic of the immediate vicinity of the black hole is stable. In agreement with previous findings, results indicate that the system reaches a steady state for low viscosity. Above that threshold the transonic solutions are unstable to viscous overstability. The overstable inertial-acoustic waves appear to be excited near the maximum of the epicyclic frequency and are global in the sense that their frequency is maintained for a wide range of radii. The second class of models looks at accretion-disc oscillations which are trapped due to the non-monotonic variation of the epicyclic frequency in relativistic flows. In particular, it focuses on inertial waves trapped below the maximum of the epicyclic frequency which are excited in deformed, warped or eccentric, discs. The excitation mechanism involves a non-linear coupling between the global deformation, an intermediate wave and the inertial mode and results, under a variety of conditions, in growth of the latter. Excitation is only effective when global deformations are capable of reaching the inner disc with non-negligible amplitude. With that in mind, the conditions favourable to the propagation of warped and eccentric modes from the outer to the inner regions are analysed. Another aspect that is taken into account is the influence of a transonic background, ignored in the coupling calculations, on the propagation of modes in the disc. It is found that, under certain conditions, inertial waves may be severely affected or destroyed in this background. On the other hand, results indicate that the decay rate of inertial waves due to the presence of the radial inflow is small in sufficiently thin discs. In this case, the coupling mechanism can still work to excite trapped inertial modes.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal) through grant number SFRH/BD/22251/2005

The evolution of the community Pharmacy in Portugal

The present dissertation has the goal of providing an overview of the community pharmacy sector in Portugal, its evolution and future tendencies and strategies to adopt. Being a segment extremely regulated by the State, during the past years, the community pharmacy sector faced major changes that forced an alteration in the vision and strategy of these organizations. In order to understand this progress, a literature review addressing the outline of the healthcare sector in Portugal is presented; main alterations in the community pharmacy sector and its current situation and the strategies to take into consideration in the shape of this segment´s future are also considered. To sustain this research, the case of Grupo Holon, a network of independent pharmacies that operate under the same image and brand and that introduced in the market an innovative approach to counter the negative path of this sector, is shown. Finally, teaching notes are provided with explanatory learning objectives and proposed questions to address the case as a study material, as well as final conclusions and future research.A presente dissertação tem como objetivo fornecer uma visão geral sobre o sector da farmácia comunitária em Portugal, a sua evolução e tendências futuras. Sendo um segmento extremamente regulado pelo Estado, ao longo dos anos a farmácia comunitária presenciou diversas mudanças que forçaram a alteração da visão e estratégia destas organizações. Com o intuito de compreender este processo, é apresentada uma revisão de literatura que aborda os contornos do sector da saúde em Portugal, as principais alterações na farmácia comunitária e a sua atual situação, bem como as estratégias a ter em consideração no molde futuro deste mercado. Para sustentar esta pesquisa, é apresentado o caso do Grupo Holon, uma rede nacional de farmácias independentes que operam segundo a mesma imagem e marca, e que veio introduzir no mercado uma inovadora abordagem que visa contrariar os contornos negativos que têm vindo a delinear este sector. Finalmente, são fornecidas notas para discussão do caso com explicação dos respetivos objetivos de aprendizagem e propostas de questões para aborda-lo como material de estudo, bem como conclusões finais e pesquisa futura

Fosfopeptídeos de caseína: fosfato de cálcio amorfo no tratamento de lesões de cárie iniciais

Introdução: A progressão das lesões de cárie iniciais é geralmente lenta, podendo ser controlada ou revertida, antes da cavitação. O complexo fosfopeptídeos de caseína - fosfato de cálcio amorfo tem demonstrado potencial anticariogénico ao induzir um estado de supersaturação de iões cálcio e fosfato na superfície dentária, iões estes que podem difundir-se em profundidade nas lesões cariosas subsuperficiais, promovendo assim a remineralização e prevenindo a sua desmineralização. Objetivo: Com este trabalho pretendeu-se realizar uma revisão bibliográfica narrativa sobre a ação do complexo fosfopeptídeos de caseína - fosfato de cálcio amorfo no tratamento de lesões de cárie iniciais. Metodologia: Procedeu-se a uma pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados PubMed, Elsevier, Scielo e Research Gate, utilizando as palavras-chave: “casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate”, “remineralization”, “initial caries lesions” e “efficacy”. Depois de aplicados os critérios de inclusão/exclusão definidos foram revistos 40 artigos.Introduction: The progression of early caries lesions is usually slow and can be controlled or reversed prior to cavitation. The casein phosphopeptide - amorphous calcium phosphate complex has shown an anticariogenic potential by inducing a state of supersaturation of calcium and phosphate ions on the dental surface, these ions can even diffuse in depth into the subsurface carious lesions, being able to promote remineralization and prevent remineralization. Objective: This work aimed to performed a narrative bibliographic review on the action of the casein phosphopeptide - amorphous calcium phosphate complex in the treatment of initial caries lesions. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed, Elsevier, Scielo and Research Gate databases, using as keywords: “casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate”, “remineralization”, “initial caries lesions” and “ efficacy”. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria defined by the author 40 articles were reviewed