LEGOSC: Mindstorms NXT robotics programming for artists

Robotics is an interesting but difficult area for digital artists who generally don’t have much academic background on electronics or computer programming. Digital art students normally use high-level application to program their visual and sonorous installations. This paper presents LegOSC - a tool that allows the control of the Mindstorms NXT robots from any application that uses the Open Sound Control protocol which is implemented by most of those high-level applications. This allows artists to create works which incorporate robotic parts using the familiar programming environmen

Artesanato têxtil, consumidores e a importância do design

Actualmente o mundo do negócio é bastante complexo e competitivo. Oferecer produtos com design, preservando a herança cultural não se apresenta como um processo fácil para a “indústria” de artesanato têxtil. No caso português é percebido um aumento de procura de produtos de decoração de design e acesso fácil, ditos “modernos”, em detrimento de produtos artesanais. Importa assim compreender o que determina esta alteração e como é percebido o produto “artesanato” pelos consumidores. Este trabalho analisa os resultados de um inquérito que explora a percepção que os consumidores têm do artesanato têxtil e procura compreender as atitudes associadas ao processo de decisão de compra do consumidor português em relação ao artesanato têxtil. Dos 107 questionários recebidos e validados, os dados confirmam a importância do género e da idade como determinantes na temática, em particular no uso de artesanato têxtil, autosatisfação com a compra, compra para oferta e percepção do futuro do artesanato têxtil. Nos exemplos apresentados, salienta-se o elevado reconhecimento da sua beleza e esforço.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Textile handcraft: a lesson of sustainability

Nowadays, when the world is aware of the limitations of available resources, the sustainability appears as an up-to-date and relevant concept: it is the ability of humans to interact with the world, preserving the environment to avoid compromising the natural resources for future generations. The sense of limitations of environment resources makes the designers to re-think the use of their knowledge in a more responsible and conscious way and to look for viable solutions to the conservation of the ecosystem yet to discover and explore. The textile handcraft product is an excellent example of the sustainable product in various ways namely the recycling, the use of raw material available in each region and the re-gain of other materials to create unique pieces from local traditions. The interaction between design and handcraft will allow to renew the offer of products, making them differentiate and more attractive to consumers. This work intends to present the results of a questionnaire for textile design students. The study, called SustentArte analyzes the attitudes and perceptions of this future designers and the perceived role of concepts like sustainability and handcraft into future textile trends.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Perspectivas do papel do design no artesanato

O aparecimento de novas correntes de design como, por exemplo, o eco-design, o design social e inclusivo ou o slow design, são primordiais ao nível da gestão de recursos, da relação Homem - natureza, das deficiências e limitações humanas e da sustentabilidade do nosso planeta. O presente estudo explora as perspectivas do papel do design no artesanato. Numa abordagem teórica examina conceitos como: design, o papel do designer, as novas correntes de design e o design para a sustentabilidade. O trabalho prático incide na análise de entrevistas efectuadas a estilistas e artesãos no sentido de perceber a viabilidade de um trabalho conjunto. Os resultados preliminares confirmam que as ideias do design sustentável são perfeitamente adequadas a um contexto de artesanato têxtil como se demonstra nas expressões recolhidas como: emoções, tempo, valorização e fazer à mão.The appearance of new currents of design, for example, eco-design, social and inclusive design or slow design, are essentials for the management of resources, the relationship man - nature, human weaknesses and limitations and for the sustainability of our planet. This study explores the perspectives and the role of design in the handcraft. In a theoretical approach, it examines concepts such as design, the designer's role, the new currents of design and design for sustainability. The practical work focuses on analysis of interviews with designers and craftsmen in order to realize the feasibility of a joint work. Preliminary results confirm that the ideas of sustainable design are perfectly suited to a context of textile crafts as demonstrated in the expressions collected as emotions, time, value enhancement and hand made.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/62079/200

Tourism sector competitiveness in Portugal: applying Porter's Diamond

The tourism sector has stood out for its enormous capacity for growth on a global scale and holding a relevant role both as a tool for the competitiveness and as a driver of regional development. This profile stems not only from its multiplier effects but also the opportunities susceptible to identification within the scope of offsetting regional disparities in growth and prosperity. The objective of this research project consists of evaluating the competitiveness of the regional areas and directorates of tourism in Portugal with the methodology applied requiring the input of primary data (a sample of 446 companies), through a questionnaire aimed at companies displaying the activities characteristic of the World Tourism Organisation satellite account. Through the application of Porter’s Diamond Model, we arrived at a conceptual model through recourse to the Partial Least Square – Path Modelling technique with the objective of analysing the relationships unfolding among the determinant variables to competitiveness in the tourism sector. Despite the results returned proving clear, we also verify that encapsulating competitiveness proves no easy task given how Portugal reports regions with simultaneously very varied and very specific characteristics.O sector do turismo destaca-se pela enorme capacidade de crescimento a nível mundial, desempenhando um papel relevante tanto como ferramenta para a competitividade como enquanto motor do desenvolvimento regional. Este perfil decorre não apenas dos seus efeitos multiplicadores, mas também das oportunidades suscetíveis de identificação no âmbito da compensação das disparidades regionais no crescimento e prosperidade. O objetivo desta investigação consiste em avaliar a competitividade das áreas regionais e direções do turismo em Portugal. Utilizamos dados primários (uma amostra de 446 empresas), através de um questionário destinado a empresas que exibem as atividades características da conta satélite da Organização Mundial de Turismo. Através da aplicação do Modelo de Diamante de Porter, alcançamos um modelo conceitual através do recurso à técnica de Partial Least Square – Path Modelling com o objetivo de analisar as relações que se desdobram entre as variáveis determinantes para a competitividade no setor de turismo. Apesar de os resultados retornados serem claros, verificamos também que o encapsulamento da competitividade não se revela uma tarefa fácil, dado o fato de Portugal englobar regiões com características simultaneamente muito variadas e muito específicas

Functional Outcome of Endovascular Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke With Large Vessel Occlusion: Mothership Versus Drip-and-Ship Model in a Portuguese Urban Region

Introduction Endovascular treatment (EVT) with mechanical thrombectomy and acute carotid stenting has become an integral part of the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Despite being included in the most recent stroke guidelines, only comprehensive centers can offer EVT and thus patients frequently need to be transferred from primary hospitals. We aimed to assess which pre-hospital model of care - direct admission to a comprehensive stroke center (mothership) or transfer to a comprehensive stroke center after the first admission to the nearest hospital (drip-and-ship) - had the most benefit in stroke patients in a Portuguese urban region. Methods We selected patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center who underwent EVTs between January 2018 and December 2020, in Lisbon, Portugal. We used data from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke (SITS) International registry on stroke severity, previous modified Rankin Scale (mRS), time from symptom onset to the first admission, time from symptom onset to the procedure, and mRS three months post stroke. We defined an unfavorable outcome as having an mRS >2 at three months post stroke. For patients with previous mRS >2, an unfavorable outcome was defined as any increase in mRS at three months post stroke. Results We analyzed the data of 1154 patients, of which 407 were admitted through a mothership approach and 747 through a drip-and-ship approach. Both groups were similar regarding sociodemographic characteristics, stroke risk factors, previous disability, and stroke severity. Median onset-to-door time was higher (126 vs 110 minutes, p-value=0.002) but onset-to-procedure time was lower (199 vs 339 minutes, p-value<0.001) in the mothership group. The mothership group had a higher proportion of patients with mRS <3 at three months post stroke than the drip-and-ship group (41.3% vs 34.9%, p-value=0.035). Mortality was similar in both groups. A multivariate logistic regression model confirmed a lower probability of unfavorable outcomes with the mothership approach (OR = 0.677, 95% CI 0.514-0.892, p-value=0.006). Surprisingly, onset-to-procedure time did not have an impact on functional outcomes. Conclusion Our findings show that the mothership model results in better functional outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion. Further studies are needed to better define patient selection for this strategy and the impact of a mothership model in comprehensive stroke centers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O artesanato têxtil e o design de interiores: percepções de valor dos consumidores portugueses

A “indústria” do artesanato têxtil não é imune à complexidade de negócio actual. Oferecer produtos com design, preservando a herança cultural não se apresenta como um processo fácil e em Portugal identifica-se um decréscimo de procura por produtos de decoração artesanais. Mas o que determina esta alteração e como é percebido o produto “artesanato” pelos consumidores portugueses? Este trabalho analisa os resultados de um inquérito que explora a percepção que os consumidores têm do artesanato têxtil e procura compreender as atitudes associadas ao processo de decisão de compra do consumidor português em relação ao artesanato têxtil. Dos 107 questionários recebidos e validados, cruza-se a informação com idade, sexo e profissão. Os dados confirmam a importância do género e da idade como determinantes na temática do artesanato têxtil, em particular no uso de artesanato têxtil, auto-satisfação com a compra, compra para oferta e percepção do futuro desaparecimento do artesanato têxtil.Textile hand-craft “industry” is not invulnerable to the complexity of current business. Offering products with design, preserving the cultural heritage is not presented as an easy process. Portugal has identified a decrease in demand for decorative products handmade. But what determines this change and how the product is perceived as "craft" by Portuguese consumers? This paper analyzes the results of a survey that explores the perception that consumers have about textile crafts. It seeks to understand the attitudes associated with the buying decision process of Portuguese consumers regarding textile crafts. Of the 107 questionnaires received and validated, answers are crossed with the age, gender and profession respondent information. Data confirms the importance of gender and age as determinants of textile hand crafts, particularly in the use of textile crafts, self-satisfaction with the purchase, offer to purchase and perception of the future demise of the textile crafts.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/62079/200

Jovens e artesanato têxtil : que futuro em comum?

Inserindo-se na temática da inovação do produto, este artigo visa explorar a percepção que os consumidores mais jovens têm do artesanato têxtil e perceber as principais variáveis intervenientes no processo de tomada de decisão da sua compra. O conceito básico de qualquer negócio deve ser o de satisfazer as necessidades dos seus clientes. No caso português pode-se identificar nos últimos anos e principalmente junto dos jovens consumidores a um movimento de “simplificação” da decoração das suas casa traduzido numa crescente procura por produtos mais simples, mais facilmente descartáveis, de certa forma mais uniformizados, mais baratos (tipo IKEA) e num menor interesse pelo “tradicional”. Este fenómeno de “simplificação” tem sido particularmente percebido nas revistas de decoração bem como nas lojas da especialidade. A procura de artesanato têxtil é percebida como para um público mais adulto, com mais posses, nomeadamente de mulheres de idade superior a 50 anos, o que constitui basicamente um nicho de mercado. Se a tendência percebida se mantiver e se a “indústria” do artesanato têxtil não for capaz de a contrariar com soluções próprias, verificar-se-á um envelhecimento do público-alvo o que por certo limitará o futuro de muitas empresas. O objectivo deste artigo é apresentar os principais resultados de um focus group conduzido na Universidade do Minho, sobre as atitudes dos jovens para com o artesanato têxtil.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Hyperprolinemia as a clue in the diagnosis of a patient with a psychiatric disorder

Background: Over the last few years, microdeletions of the 22q11.2 region responsible for DiGeorge syndrome, or velocardiofacial syndrome, have been increasingly related to neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. These signs seem to be related to certain genes located in the hemideleted region as the proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and the catecholo-methyltransferase (COMT) genes. The PRODH or proline oxidase deficiency is responsible for hyperprolinemia type 1 (HPI) also causing psychiatric manifestations. Case Report: We describe a 17 year old boy with previous mild psychomotor and speech delay, mild cognitive impairment, and obsessive behaviours who started his adolescent psychiatric care presenting irritablemood and aggressive behaviour with schizophrenia symptoms that scored a “severely ill” level PANSS assessment. Symptoms got worse when he was treated with valproic acid and plasma aminoacids showing increase in alanine and proline, suggested a mitochondrial involvement of the proline metabolic pathway. Results: Mild dysmorphia suggested a possible 22q11.2 deletion genetically confirmed involving both the PRODH and COMT regions. HPI that can present with psychiatric features is however a recessive disorder and therefore the symptoms could not be solely explained by this genetic deletion. Additional investigations also showed disclosed a p.L289m (c.1865 T > A) mutation in the PRODH gene. Discussion: We believe that the association of this mutation together with the 22q11.2 deletion would lead to a decrease of functional protein. Although it may be difficult to diagnosis chromosomal abnormalities in patients with no clear malformations and mild dysmorphic features as in this patient we emphasize need to investigate the aetiology in patients with psychiatric symptoms, especially if they have other systemic manifestations such as developmental delay or psychotic symptoms, as it may be important in the management of the patients