Spatially resolved physical and chemical properties of the planetary nebula NGC 3242

Optical integral-field spectroscopy was used to investigate the planetary nebula NGC 3242. We analysed the main morphological components of this source, including its knots, but not the halo. In addition to revealing the properties ofthe physical and chemical nature of this nebula, we also provided reliable spatially resolved constraints that can be used for future photoionisation modelling of the nebula. The latter is ultimately necessary to obtain a fully self-consistent 3D picture of the physical and chemical properties of the object. The observations were obtained with the VIMOS instrument attached to VLT-UT3. Maps and values for specific morphological zones for the detected emission-lines were obtained and analysed with routines developed by the authors to derive physical and chemical conditions of the ionised gas in a 2D fashion. We obtained spatially resolved maps and mean values of the electron densities, temperatures, and chemical abundances, for specific morphological structures in NGC 3242. These results show the pixel-to-pixel variations of the the small- and large-scale structures of the source. These diagnostic maps provide information free from the biases introduced by traditional single long-slit observations. In general, our results are consistent with a uniform abundance distribution for the object, whether we look at abundance maps or integrated fluxes from specified morphological structures. The results indicate that special care should be taken with the calibration of the data and that only data with extremely good signal-to-noise ratio and spectral coverage should be used to ensure the detection of possible spatial variations.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Multilayer Complex Network Descriptors for Color-Texture Characterization

A new method based on complex networks is proposed for color-texture analysis. The proposal consists on modeling the image as a multilayer complex network where each color channel is a layer, and each pixel (in each color channel) is represented as a network vertex. The network dynamic evolution is accessed using a set of modeling parameters (radii and thresholds), and new characterization techniques are introduced to capt information regarding within and between color channel spatial interaction. An automatic and adaptive approach for threshold selection is also proposed. We conduct classification experiments on 5 well-known datasets: Vistex, Usptex, Outex13, CURet and MBT. Results among various literature methods are compared, including deep convolutional neural networks with pre-trained architectures. The proposed method presented the highest overall performance over the 5 datasets, with 97.7 of mean accuracy against 97.0 achieved by the ResNet convolutional neural network with 50 layers.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures and 4 table

Implementation of quality management systems in HEI: The approach of the Polytechnic Institute of Setubal (Portugal)

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have special features that matter to consider in the implementation of its Quality Management Systems (QMS). These should convey clear and broadly accepted messages, so they need to find the best balance between academic freedom and responsibility for accountability. Given these characteristics, as well as the weakness of diagnostic tools, the culture of independence of teachers and insufficient authority and stability of the management bodies, the QMS of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS) was designed to be based on two fundamental pillars: profound knowledge of the variables with impact on results and evidence-based management. In other words, it was not based on procedures (as usual), but in information. In this sense, and assuming known statement that “we cannot manage what we do not know”, the basic component of the QMS is a monitoring system. We applied the recommendation of Snyder et al. (2000, p.320) "Stimulating the imbalance with information", urging people to act on the basis of clear information. The work undertaken till now (last five years) is described and discussed critically. This work includes, among other activities and projects, the design of a Global Model Process, the design of the organizational structure of IPS’s Integrated Management System (SIGIPS), and the definition of the institutional Quality Policy. In addition, and assuming QMS as multidisciplinary fields, it has also been stepping up the contribution of Research and Development (R&D) activities of some teachers, combined with the needs of scientific and technical support related to the implementation of the system itself. It is in this context that SIGIPS’s central coordination unit (UNIQUA/IPS), whose constitution also includes a Studies and Planning Center, has been operating a set of complementary studies in priority areas, particularly with regard to the teaching and learning process. Examples of this are the (annual) reports of socio demographic characterization of students and the studies about the evaluation of the implementation of Bologna process in the context of the institution and about issues of academic success/failure and dropout. The main findings are presented, namely the reduction of the administrative and burocratic work, the increase of management support and the availability of updated and relevant information, reinforcing the management style based on facts. The initiatives have always had technical and scientific support, gathering support and credibility to QMS. The top structure of the QMS is innovative, balancing academic knowledge and the application of quality techniques and methods to HEI, contributing to a structure of practical research. The questionnaires for assessing student perceptions were discussed and it was concluded that traditionally they are "too reactive" (applied in end of semesters), which means that other diagnostic instruments (proactive and dynamic) are necessary. This situation has, therefore, reinforce the need to use instruments nearer to the "problem situation" in regard to the teaching learning process, which would contribute to more effective process improvement and could even involve the participation of students or be managed by them. Finally, an adequate Information System based on the Information and Communication Technologies is definitely an indispensable resource.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Forest-grassland biodiversity hotspot under siege: land conversion counteracts nature conservation

We report extent and rate of land use/land cover change in a forest–grassland mosaic of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during a recent period of increasing conflicts between native habitat protection and conversion. The area is part of the Atlantic rain forest biome, a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. Analyzing Landsat and Google Earth imagery, and calculating an effective conservation risk index (ECRI) as ratio of converted to remnant area, we specifically compared the effectiveness of designated fully protected areas (FP-PAs) and Sustainable Use areas (SU-PAs) in preventing conversion of native forest and grassland habitats for agri-and silviculture, relative to areas outside. Grassland area decreased by 17%, corresponding to a net loss of 59,671 ha, in the entire area. Forest gains exceeded losses, and ECRI was zero inside Full Protection PAs. Non-native tree plantation area increased by 94% over the entire study area; cropland increased by 7%. Conversion for silviculture predominated outside the designated PAs and conversion for agriculture predominated inside the designated PAs. ECRI was generally higher for grassland than forest, and in SU-PAs, grassland ECRI was several times higher than in areas without any protection status. These developments are in stark contrast to the high standards of the Brazilian protected area system and corresponding International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources categories. They are due to protracted regularization of land conversion and establishment of designated protection areas. Furthermore, they reveal the dilemma of previously managed grasslands in strictly protected areas being eventually succeeded by forest, and the hazards of broad interpretation of the term “sustainable development”.Julia-Maria Hermann, Marion Lang, Juliana Gonçalves, and Heinrich Hasenac

Strong curvature singularities in quasispherical asymptotically de Sitter dust collapse

We study the occurrence, visibility, and curvature strength of singularities in dust-containing Szekeres spacetimes (which possess no Killing vectors) with a positive cosmological constant. We find that such singularities can be locally naked, Tipler strong, and develop from a non-zero-measure set of regular initial data. When examined along timelike geodesics, the singularity's curvature strength is found to be independent of the initial data.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, uses IOP package, 2 eps figures; accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Gra

Project risk management in an automotive company

The main purpose of this research project was to analyse the project risk management practices in an automotive company, in order to recommend appropriate improvements. Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology chosen to conduct the study was case study, since the research was carried out in a multinational company in the automotive industry, and data was collected through observation, document analysis and a questionnaire. Findings - Although the company has defined how to approach project risk management, it was found out that the reality experienced does not reflect what is proposed by the major references. The proposal for an approach to risk management, process by process, was well received and appreciated by the project team. Research limitations/implications - Due to the size of company, and also in some cases due to confidentiality reasons, it was not possible to obtain all the necessary data for a more accurate analysis. Additionally, due to the work routine, communication with colleagues was rarely immediate or fluid. It is also important to highlight the fact that project risk management is not an established practice within the organization. Originality/value - Risk management practices as other project management practices are context dependent and should be adapted to the situation. Other companies working with a similar context can benefit from this study and adopt similar procedures to improve their risk management practices.(undefined

Estudo dos postos de trabalho de inspecção de defeitos da indústria têxtil

Pretende-se com esta comunicação apresentar o trabalho desenvolvido no âmbito da campanha Têxtil do IDICT, onde se realizou um estudo dos postos de trabalho de inspecção de defeitos da Industria Têxtil. O trabalho centrou-se particularmente nos aspectos Ergonómicos dos postos de trabalho: “Metedeira de Fios”, “Revistadeira” e “Inspecção Final”. Cada um dos postos de trabalho foi caracterizado em função dos seguintes aspectos: características gerais; postura e trabalho muscular; percepção, vigilância e destreza; ambiente físico e organização do trabalho. O modelo de actuação usado consistiu na realização de uma série de questões, cuja resposta conduziu à elaboração de um pré-diagnóstico dos postos de trabalho de inspecção. Este pré-diagnóstico constitui, por sua vez, a base para a proposta de um conjunto de recomendações e sugestões ao nível da iluminação, ruído, aspectos ergonómicos do assento e medidas administrativas

On the Finite Dimensional Laws of Threshold GARCH Processes

In this chapter we establish bounds for the finite dimensional laws of a threshold GARCH process, X, with generating process Z. In this class of models the conditional standard deviation has different reactions according to the sign of past values of the process. So, we firstly find lower and upper bounds for the law of \left ({X}_{1}^{+},-{X}_{1}^{+},\ldots,{X}_{n}^{+},-{X}_{n}^{+}\right), in certain regions of R^{2n}, and use them to find bounds of the law of \left ({X}_{1},\ldots,{X}_{n}\right). Some of these bounds only depend on the parameters of the model and on the distribution function of the independent generating process, Z. An application of these bounds to control charts for time series is presented