GEMA: sistema de gestão magra

Mestrado em Engenharia de Computadores e TelemáticaAs mudanças comportamentais nos negócios industriais foram iniciadas pelos pressupostos de Taylor, exigindo que os novos gestores implementassem acções técnicas, que se traduzissem em ganhos operacionais motivados, principalmente, pela adopção de técnicas e ferramentas já conhecidas e aplicadas em processos produtivos. Este novo comportamento tem como suporte as filosofias de melhoria contínua (kaizen), introdução de práticas de prevenção de erros, introdução do sistema pull, empowerment, tornando os sistemas de produção flexíveis, orientados à satisfação do cliente, através da eliminação dos desperdícios. O software de gestão de produção tem, por isso, um papel muito importante. Armazena os dados de todo o processo de produção, permitindo, com recurso a diversas ferramentas, monitorizar, melhorar e alterar as diferentes etapas. Pretende-se, então, combinar três aspectos importantes. O primeiro passa por manter o desenvolvimento do software e respectiva manutenção com custos baixos, de forma a ser suportável pelo mercado que se pretende abranger. O segundo aspecto tem como objectivo que, na solução final, estejam presentes as ferramentas essenciais para a gestão de produção. No terceiro e último aspecto pretende-se que a solução seja escalável, com desenvolvimentos à medida e com possibilidade de integração com ferramentas de terceiros.The behavioural changes in the industrial business were started by the assumptions of Taylor, demanding that the new managers implement technical actions, which resulted in operating profit motivated primarily by the adoption of tools and techniques known and applied in production processes. This new behaviour is supported by the philosophies of continuous improvement (kaizen), introduction of practices to prevent errors, introduction of pull, empowerment, making productions systems more flexible, oriented by customer satisfaction, by eliminating waste. The production management software has therefore a very important role. Storing the data of the entire production process, allowing the use of various tools, monitor, improve and change the various steps. It is intended then to combine three important aspects; The first is to maintain the development of software and its maintenance costs low, to let it to be affordable by the market that is intended to cover. The second aspect is that, in final solution, the essential tools for production management are present. In the third and final aspect, is intended that the solution to be scalable, allowing custom developments and possible integration with third-party tools

A adoção no âmbito da parentalidade homoafetiva

Hoje em dia, a parentalidade e o conceito de família tendem a desprender-se da vertente exclusivamente biologista, aproximando-se cada vez mais da vertente afetiva ou social. A adoção enquanto instituto com o objetivo fundamental de realizar o superior interesse da criança deverá sempre ser encarada numa perspetiva afetiva, emocional e social, sendo função do Estado garantir que seja dada a cada criança uma família capaz de satisfazer as suas necessidades. Sabe-se hoje que não é a conformação do meio familiar que garante o desenvolvimento da criança e acautela devidamente o seu superior interesse, mas sim a qualidade dos afetos e a sua estabilidade. Como tal, a família que tantas crianças procuram não poderá nunca ter como critério último a orientação sexual dos envolvidos, sob pena de uma desvirtuação inconstitucional do superior interesse da criança.The notions of parenting as of family itself nowadays tend to move away from a single focus on biological ties to an increasing emphasis in social and emotional ties. The adoption as an institute whose primary goal is the child’s best interests must be always considered through an emotional and social perspective at the same time that the role of the State is to ensure that each and every child is given a family able to meet his/her needs and expectations. We now know that is not the composition of the family household that ensures the child development and duly protects his/her best interests, but rather the quality and stability of family bonds. As such, the family so many children seek cannot be chosen based only on the sexual orientation of those involved, otherwise we will be witnessing an illegitimate and unconstitutional understanding of the notion of the child’s best interests

Sensibilidade, especificidade e validade do teste dos 60 metros

Objectivos: (1) estudar o impacto das provas de aptidão física (ApF) de admissão no processo de recrutamento e selecção dos candidatos ao CFOP (cCFOP); e (2) avaliar a especificidade, sensibilidade e validade dos valores de corte (VC) do teste de velocidade de 60 m (V60m) do protocolo de admissão ao CFOP. Metodologia: participaram no estudo (1) a população de cCFOP (n = 22645); e (2) a população de cCFOP avaliados no V60m (n = 2841). Resultados: observou-se que (1) o número de cCFOP tem aumentado desde 1984; (2) 76% dos cCFOP realizaram as provas de ApF de admissão, e (3) 44% dos que realizaram as provas ficaram Aptos (33% do total); (4) os testes V60m, impulsão horizontal e agilidade, são os que mais candidatos eliminam, e os testes de salto do muro e Sit-up são os que menos eliminam; (5) a percentagem de homens Aptos é significativamente superior; (6) a percentagem de mulheres classificadas com Apto aumentou significativamente com a 3ª bateria de testes (+20.29%); (7) nos últimos 30 anos a prova de velocidade eliminou aproximadamente 30% dos cCFOP (femininos, 32.44%; masculinos, 4%); (8) os homens são significativamente mais rápidos; (9) as mulheres que pertencem ao quadro da PSP são significativamente mais rápidas que as civis (ao contrário do observado no sexo masculino); (10) os VC do V60m situam-se no P40 para o sexo feminino, e no P5 para o sexo masculino; e (11) o P25 e P5 reúnem maior sensibilidade, especificidade e validade quando considerados os candidatos do sexo feminino e masculino, respectivamente. Conclusão: Perante uma bateria de testes de aptidão física (BTApF) centrada na avaliação do rendimento, os resultados sugerem que (1) a BTApF pode ser simplificada; (2) a 3ªBTApF reduziu a diferença entre os sexos; e (3) os VC do V60m podem ser revistosPurposes: (1) study the impact of the physical fitness tests on the recruitment and selection process for admission to CFOP; and (2) Assess the specificity, sensitivity and validity of the cutoff values of the speed test (60 m) of the protocol for admission to CFOP. Methodology: participated in the study (1) all the CFOP candidates (n = 22645) and (2) all the candidates evaluated in the linear 60 m test (n = 2841). Results: It was observed that: (1) The number of applications to CFOP has increased since 1984; (2) 76% of the candidates performed the physical tests for admission; (3) 44% of the candidates who performed the tests were classified as Fit (33% of the total applications); (4) The speed tests (60 meters), long jump and agility tests, were those where more candidates were eliminated, and the tests of jumping the wall and sit-ups were those where less candidates were eliminated; (5) the percentage of male candidates considered Fit is significantly higher; (6) The percentage of female candidates considered Fit has increased significantly with the 3rd battery of tests (+20,29%); (7) In 30 years, this test has eliminated 32.44% of female candidates and 4% of male candidates to CFOP; (8) The male candidates are significantly faster than females; (9) the female candidates who belong to the PSP are significantly faster than the civilian female candidates on contrary to what happens with the male candidates; (10) the VC of the V60 are located in the 40 percentile for female candidates and in the P5 for male candidates; and (11) the P25 and P5 meet higher sensitivity, specificity and validity when considered female and male candidates, respectively. Conclusion: Face with a battery of tests focused on the performance evaluation, the results suggests that: (1) this instrument can be simplified; (2) the introduction of the 3rd battery of tests reduced the difference between genders; (3) The VC of the V60 can be reviewed

Desenvolvimento de métodos preditivos de análise

Mestrado em Biotecnologia - Biotecnologia AlimentarNeste relatório são apresentados os resultados obtidos no estágio que decorreu entre 19/09/2012 e 17/05/2013 na empresa UNICER, Bebidas S.A.. Foram avaliados os efeitos do perfil de aminoácidos na performance fermentativa de 5 mostos produzidos com recurso a sub-lotes de malte industriais de atributos conhecidos. As características de cada um destes sub-lotes de matérias-primas foram correlacionadas, tendo sido identificadas relações estatisticamente significativas entre as características das matérias-primas e do mosto obtido posteriormente. A ocorrência de variações de performance fermentativa entre os mostos com diferentes concentrações de FAN (mg/L) e diferentes perfis de aminoácidos foi analisada e discutida. Verificaram-se valores de atenuação real (%) entre 66,44% e 69,37%, sendo evidente que nenhuma das fermentações terminou prematuramente. Destacou-se a existência de uma relação linear positiva entre a presença de glutamato e aspartato e a produção de etanol. Concluiu-se que a variação de performance fermentativa não é independente do perfil de aminoácidos, estabelecendo-se uma relação entre a presença das classes de aminoácidos no mosto e a performance fermentativa. Com base na literatura existente foram propostos mecanismos para descrever os resultados verificados na fase experimental. Por fim foram discutidas as vantagens de estudos posteriores para a elaboração de critérios de seleção baseados na presença de aminoácidos. Num projeto paralelo, duas instalações de produção foram comparadas, de modo a compreender e registar a influência que diferentes escalas possuem na performance fermentativa. Esta comparação abordou as etapas de produção de mosto, fermentação e filtração. Verificou-se que o mosto obtido à escala industrial apresentou os melhores resultados de performance fermentativa. A produção de mosto otimizada para a instalação piloto obtém resultados em linha com o melhor mosto do teste. A análise de filtrações permitiu concluir que existe uma perda acrescida de características do líquido na filtração à escala piloto, sugerindo-se alterações para melhoria do processo na instalação piloto.In this report are presented the results attained in the internship that took place between 19/09/2012 and 17/05/2013 in the facilities of UNICER, Bebidas S.A.. The effects of the amino acid profile in the fermentation performance of 5 worts produced from the constituent lots of industrial malts, whose properties are known, were assessed. The properties of each malt were correlated, and statistically significant relationships between the raw materials and the produced wort were identified. The variations in fermentative performance, between worts with different FAN (mg/L) concentrations and different amino acid profiles, were analyzed and discussed. The values of real degree of fermentation (%) were between 66,44% and 69,37%, therefore there was no evidence of stuck fermentations. A positive linear relationship between ethanol production and the concentration of glutamate and aspartate was verified. It was concluded that the variations in fermentative performance are not independent of amino acid concentration, and a relationship between the presence of the groups of amino acid and fermentative performance was established. Based on the existing scientific literature, mechanisms were proposed in order to describe the experimental results. The advantages of further studies, to define new raw material selection criteria based on amino acid content, were discussed. In a parallel project, two production facilities, one industrial and one pilot, were compared in order to understand and pinpoint the influence that different scales exert on the fermentative performance. The processes of wort production, fermentation and filtration were reviewed. It was verified that the industrial wort achieved the best fermentation performance results. The optimized production of wort in the pilot plant allows results of fermentative performance in line with the best wort of the test. The analysis of the filtrations in different plants showed that there is a higher loss of the characteristics of the fermentation product in the pilot plant than on the industrial plant. Several adjustments were suggested in order to improve the pilot plant process

Low-Molecular Weight Metabolites from Polyphenols as Effectors for Attenuating Neuroinflammation

Funding This work has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 804229. The iNOVA4Health Research Unit (Grant LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007344), which is cofunded by Fundaca̧ o para a Cie ̃ ncia e Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministe ̂ rio da ́ Ciencia e do Ensino Superior, through national funds, and by ̂ FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement is acknowledged. The authors would like to acknowledge FCT for financial support of R.C. (Grant PD/BD/135492/2018).Age-associated pathophysiological changes such as neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial conditions with increasing incidence and no existing cure. The possibility of altering the progression and development of these multifactorial diseases through diet is an attractive approach with increasing supporting data. Epidemiological and clinical studies have highlighted the health potential of diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Such food sources are rich in (poly)phenols, natural compounds increasingly associated with health benefits, having the potential to prevent or retard the development of various diseases. However, absorption and the blood concentration of (poly)phenols is very low when compared with their corresponding (poly)phenolic metabolites. Therefore, these serum-bioavailable metabolites are much more promising candidates to overcome cellular barriers and reach target tissues, such as the brain. Bearing this in mind, it will be reviewed that the molecular mechanisms underlying (poly)phenolic metabolites effects, range from 0.1 to <50 μM and their role on neuroinflammation, a central hallmark in neurodegenerative diseases.publishersversionpublishe

Customers satisfaction in pediatric inpatient services: A multiple criteria satisfaction analysis

Objective: To assess customer satisfaction determinants in a public pediatric inpatient service and propose some strategies to enhance the consumer and customer experience. Methods: We applied a Multiple Criteria Customer Satisfaction Analysis to estimate the value functions associated with each satisfaction (sub)criterion and determine the corresponding weights. We characterized satisfaction criteria (according to the Kano’s model), estimated the customers’ demanding nature and the potential improvements, and proposed strategic priorities and opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction. Main findings: Strategies for satisfaction enhancement do not depend solely on the criteria with the lowest satisfaction levels and the estimated weights, each criterion’s nature, the customers’ demanding nature, and the technical margin for improvements. Conclusions: Areas deserving attention include clinical staff’s communication skills, the non-clinical professionals’ efficiency, availability, and kindness; food quality; visits’ scheduling and quantity; and facilities’ comfort.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Quality assessment of the Portuguese public hospitals: A multiple criteria approach

The Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) was created to provide universal, equal, and tendentiously free care. There are different levels of care (primary, secondary, continued, and palliative) and all of them should deliver quality care services. Quality in healthcare is assessed according to several criteria, such as patient safety, care appropriateness or access. However, over the last years political and economic events have had an impact on the SNS. Hence, structural reforms have occurred, and new healthcare policies have been implemented, mostly focused on improving efficiency and reducing costs. It associated to di vestment can increment barriers to access, compromise infrastructures and equipment, and, above all, the service’s quality. This work aims to assess quality of the Portuguese public hospitals (secondary care providers) in this line. To this aim, we adopt a multiple criteria decision aiding approach, applying the Electre Tri-nC method to build a decision model with intervention of an expert, who acts as the decision maker. Hospitals are assessed and assigned to predefined categories, taking into account the hospitals’ performances on various criteria. Each criterion is characterized by different subcriteria, resulting in a complex criteria tree. Thus, to construct a multidimensional scale for each criterion, we propose an innovative approach using an Electre Tri-based method. The results are analyzed and the robustness of the model is tested. This work’s findings may have potential application to healthcare policy and hospital funding in the SNS, in which financial sustainability is a permanent challenge.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A network Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate nations’ efficiency in the fight against SARS-CoV-2

The ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has been deeply impacting health systems worldwide. In this context, it is pivotal to measure the efficiency of different nations’ response to the pandemic, whose insights can be used by governments and health authorities worldwide to improve their national COVID-19 strategies. Hence, we propose a network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiencies of fifty-five countries in the current crisis, including the thirty-seven Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, six OECD prospective members, four OECD key partners, and eight other countries. The network DEA model is designed as a general series structure with five single-division stages – population, contagion, triage, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission –, and considers an output maximisation orientation, denoting a social perspective, and an input minimisation orientation, denoting a financial perspective. It includes inputs related to health costs, desirable and undesirable intermediate products related to the use of personal protective equipment and infected population, respectively, and desirable and undesirable outputs regarding COVID-19 recoveries and deaths, respectively. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study proposing a cross-country efficiency measurement using a network DEA within the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study concludes that Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are the countries exhibiting higher mean system efficiencies. Their national COVID-19 strategies should be studied, adapted, and used by countries exhibiting worse performances. In addition, the observation of countries with large populations presenting worse mean efficiency scores is statistically significant.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio