High-temperature plasmas of interest to astrophysics and fusion reactors

Physical interpretations of astrophysical observations of hot plasmas are made with models based on atomic data, being most of this from theoretical calculations of atomic structure and collisional processes. Recently, discrepancies have been arising between observations, laboratory experiments and the theoretical models. Among the several collision processes included in these theoretical plasma models, Dielectronic Recombination (DR) constitutes an essential process for the plasma ionic balance. In this work, measurements of DR of Fe XVII and Kr XXVII from EBIT, as well as charge state dynamics simulations of the experiments and new FAC, MBPT and MCDF cross section calculations, are presented. Moreover, experimental DR rates were extracted and compared with widely used atomic databases. Several discrepancies between the experimental data, the new calculations and existing atomic databases were found and discussed. This dissertation provides new DR atomic data for Fe XVII that is relevant for charge state balance calculations and spectral simulation of astrophysical plasmas. Furthermore, new data of DR of Kr XXVII is also presented, which can have future implications for the development of diagnostic tools that are currently in need for the development of future fusion reactors

Not your Fault, but your Responsibility: Worsened Consumer Sentiment on Work-from-Home Products during COVID-19

[EN] This study analyses the evolution of people’s sentiment towards Work from Home (WFH)-related products during the pandemic, using user-generated content from Twitter on responses for the largest US online furniture stores. The goal of this study is threefold. First, we test if Covid-19 disrupted the volume of  Electronic Word of Mouth for WFH-related products and if Covid-19 changed people's sentiment toward WFH-related products. Finally, we assess which online furniture stores had a more positive or negative impact on sentiment during the covid-19 outbreak. We find that people interacted more about WFH products during the Covid-19 lockdowns, but sentiment towards WFH products worsened. For some online furniture stores, Covid-19 restrictions may explain the changes in sentiment, but firms’ idiosyncrasies also play a role. The methodology of this study allows companies to assess the impact of external effects on customers’ sentiments, allowing them to identify specific problems and to connect more naturally with their customers.This research has been financed by Portuguese public funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the framework of the project UIDB/04105/2020.Cintra, G.; Grilo, F. (2023). Not your Fault, but your Responsibility: Worsened Consumer Sentiment on Work-from-Home Products during COVID-19. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 127-128. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/20169512712

Analysis of AGV indoor tracking supported by IMU sensors in intra-logistics process in automotive industry

The Industry 4.0 is a new revolution that is introducing a paradigm shift in the in dustry. Automation, decentralization and modulation are concepts that are becoming significantly more relevant, leading to a transformation in the industry. Namely, within the motor industry, the increase in the use of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) is essential for there to be a bigger efficiency in intralogistics processes, since they allow automation in the transport of essential materials for this process, providing a better quality of service. However, some AGVs do not have sensory capabilities that are capable of providing data, in real time, regarding their status, thus making it impossible to apply the concept of industry 4.0, meaning, a connected factory, in these phases. Even though these AGVs do not possess said capabilities, which enable a constant monitoring, like their positioning, it is necessary to find solutions that would allow the data from them to be acquired for the monitoring, without being necessary an investment in more advanced AGVs. The proposed solution under this thesis, as an objective, is a contribution to the development of an AGV fleet manager, where it will be possible to monitor the entire process regarding the transport of batteries, between the sequencing zone, where the batteries are arranged and catalogued, and the assembly line, called point-of-fit, from providing a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the entire process, as well as the detection of failures / anomalies that may occur during the same. This solution will bring a greater capacity for optimization and efficiency for the entire process, improving aspects related to automotive production. All this work is part of the European project BOOST 4.0, which was validated at Volkswagen Autoeuropa.A indústria 4.0 consiste numa nova revolução que está a introduzir uma mudança de paradigma na indústria. A automação, a descentralização e a modulação são conceitos que se estão a tornar significativamente mais relevantes, originando uma transformação na indústria. Nomeadamente, dentro da indústria automóvel, o incremento da utilização de Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) é essencial para que haja uma maior eficiência nos processos intra-logísticos, uma vez que eles permitem a automação no transporte de materiais essenciais para esse processo, criando assim uma maior qualidade de serviço. No entanto, alguns AGVs não possuem capacidades sensoriais que sejam capazes de fornecer dados, em tempo-real, referentes ao estado dos mesmos, impossibilitando assim a aplicação do conceito de indústria 4.0, isto é, uma fábrica conectada, nestas fases. Ape sar de certos AGVs não possuírem estas capacidades, que permitem uma monotorização constante dos mesmos, como a sua localização, é necessário arranjar soluções que possi bilitam então adquirir estes mesmo dados para efeitos de monotorização, sem que seja necessário investir em AGVs mais avançados. A solução proposta no âmbito desta tese, tem como objectivo, é uma contribuição para o desenvolvimento de um gestor de frota de AGVs, onde será possível acompanhar todo o processo referente ao transporte de baterias entre a zona de sequenciação, onde as baterias são ordenadas e catalogadas, e a linha de montagem, chamada de point-of fit, desde o fornecimento de uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa de todo o processo, bem como a detecção de falhas/anomalias que possam ocorrer durante o mesmo. Esta solução irá trazer uma maior capacidade de optimização e eficiência para todo o processo, melhorando os aspectos referentes à produção automóvel. Todo este trabalho insere-se no âmbito do projeto Europeu BOOST 4.0, e que foi validado na Volkswagen Autoeuropa

Making sense of executive-opposition relations in local governance contexts through the perceptions of local elected representatives

Local democratic governance is a mixture of rivalry and cooperation between majority and minority political forces. With the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments had to rethink its action mode and carry out a swift digital transition of their modus operandi. This digital transition affected both the administrative and political dimensions of local government, in particular the nature of ExecutiveOpposition relations. Although local democracy was not suspended, the context of exceptionality raised a series of institutional challenges. Using new survey data on the perceptions of local elected representatives (directly elected and ex-officio members of Municipal Assemblies) about the performance of their local democracy, we will seek to characterize Executive-Opposition relations in the Portuguese local government context. We will then run a probit regression model to assess three theory-driven factors influencing the nature of such institutional relationship in normal and exceptional contexts: the way minority rights are protected in practice in normal governance contexts; and the extent to which democratic performance and communication have been negatively affected by the pandemic context. The results show that Executive-Opposition relations are tendentiously conflictual. Our findings also show that the Executive’s capacity to explain to its constituents the scope and impact of the exceptional measures adopted to cope with the pandemic crisis and its formal duty to communicate these decisions to the Municipal Assembly may hinder Executive-Opposition cooperative relations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Consciencialização ambiental e consumo sustentável no desporto : desportos de natureza (surf) e desportos urbanos (fitness)

A consciencialização ambiental trouxe a perspectiva de consumo sustentável, que deriva do conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável. No entanto, nem sempre a consciência ambiental tem a acção consequente (YOUNG et All, 2009 e JACKSON, 2005). Investigando os factores que estão na origem deste fenómeno, Paiva (2008) refere a consciência do indivíduo sobre o próprio corpo obtida nas actividades na natureza, como meio de compreender e promover o interesse em questões de preservação, mas também, de mudar as atitudes. O objectivo deste trabalho é identificar as diferenças entre os desportos da natureza (surf) e os desportos urbanos (fitness) no desenvolvimento de uma consciência ambiental e na acção consequente que, no presente estudo, é o consumo sustentável. Para realizar esta pesquisa foi aplicado um questionário a 466 indivíduos, sendo analisado por três dimensões: a consciência ambiental geral, o consumo sustentável e as atitudes e comportamentos ambientais no contexto desportivo. Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas entre as modalidades escolhidas para o nível de preocupação ambiental, para a motivação na prática e para a influência do desporto na mudança de atitudes ambientais. As conclusões retiradas neste estudo reafirmam a importância da proximidade com a natureza para melhor compreender e estar sensível aos assuntos relacionados com o ambiente.The environmental awareness has brought the perspective of sustainable consumption, which derives from the concept of sustainable development. However, environmental awareness does not always have to act accordingly (YOUNG et all, 2009 and Jackson, 2005). Investigating the factors that are causing this phenomenon, Paiva (2008) refers to the individual conscience over his own body obtained in activities in nature as a means of understanding and foster interest in preservation issues, but also to change attitudes. The purpose of this study is to identify the differences between nature sports (surfing) and urban sports (fitness) to develop an environmental conscience and act accordingly, in the present study is sustainable consumption. To accomplish this research a questionnaire was administered to 466 individuals, analyzed by three dimensions: the general environmental awareness, sustainable consumption and environmental attitudes and behaviors in the context of sport. The results showed significant differences between the methods chosen for the level of environmental concern, for motivation in practice and the influence of sport in changing environmental attitudes. The conclusions of this study reaffirm the importance of proximity to nature to better understand and be sensitive to issues related to the environment

Ferramentas de avaliação da sustentabilidade no ensino superior : a adequação ao contexto de uma universidade a distância

Ao ensino superior acresce o papel de exemplo para a sociedade, muito para além do desempenho no ensino. Beneficiando do todo o conhecimento científico produzido e da circulação de informação pertinente de forma privilegiada, as universidades começam, de forma gradual e crescente, a empreender em formas de avaliar as suas iniciativas e práticas de sustentabilidade. Sabendo que os critérios de avaliação ditam o resultado da própria avaliação, é necessário investigar os vários fatores que podem concorrer para uma melhor avaliação da sustentabilidade no ensino superior, tendo em consideração as suas próprias especificidades. Uma dessas características específicas é o ensino a distância, onde o processo de aprendizagem se passa no contexto online. Assim, este estudo procurou perceber se as universidades a distância se diferenciam face ao procedimento de implementação de uma ferramenta de avaliação de cariz internacional e holístico, onde a sustentabilidade é avaliada nos pilares ambiental, social e económico. Para esse efeito, este estudo de caso, investigou a Universidade Aberta, enquanto universidade a distância, e uma das ferramentas de avaliação da sustentabilidade mais utilizadas internacionalmente, a STARS, num trabalho de investigação-ação. No seguimento do processo de avaliação da sustentabilidade, foi também investigada a abordagem participativa como fator diferenciador no sucesso da implementação da avaliação da sustentabilidade. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a aplicabilidade da STARS para a avaliação de universidades com regime de ensino a distância. Contudo, dos mesmos resultados foi possível identificar quatro indicadores para os quais a STARS pode melhorar, e assim traduzir, de forma mais específica, o regime de ensino a distância. Foi ainda possível identificar as áreas onde a UAb pode melhorar o seu desempenho para a sustentabilidade e as áreas para as quais a sustentabilidade já se encontra implantada. Quanto à abordagem participativa, este estudo evidenciou as suas mais valias na implementação da sustentabilidade, quer pela capacidade reflexiva face aos resultados obtidos pela ferramenta, quer pelas propostas que puderam ser elaboradas pelos vários participantes, envolvendo-os e motivando-os para ação.Higher education adds the role of example to society, far beyond performance in teaching. Benefiting from all the scientific knowledge produced and the circulation of relevant information in a privileged way, universities are gradually and increasingly beginning to undertake ways of evaluating their initiatives and practices of sustainability. Knowing that the evaluation criteria dictate the result of the evaluation itself, it is necessary to investigate the various factors that may contribute to a better evaluation of sustainability in higher education, taking into account their own specificities. The distance learning regime is one of that distinct characteristics where the learning process is online based. Thus, this case study sought to understand how universities at a distance differ from the procedure of implementing an international and holistic assessment tool, where sustainability is evaluated in its environmental, social and economic pillars, using the Universidade Aberta as an online university and the international tool – STARS in an action-investigation methodology. Following the sustainability assessment process, the participatory approach was also investigated as a differentiating factor in the success of the implementation of the sustainability assessment. The results obtained proved the effectiveness of STARS as a universal and holistic assessment tool. However, from the same results it was possible to identiy four indicators for which STARS can improve, and thus translate, more specifically, the e-learning regime. As for the participatory approach, this study evidenced its added value to the implementation of sustainability, either by its reflective capacity in relation to the results obtained by the tool, or by the proposals that could be elaborated by the various participants, involving and motivating them for action

Regeneração das infra-estruturas náuticas na frente ribeirinha de Alcácer do Sal

Tema: Regeneração das Infra-Estruturas Náuticas na frente ribeirinha de Alcácer do Sal Localização: Margem do Rio Sado em Alcácer do Sal. Projecto: Um Porto Fluvial, o Centro de Alto Rendimento de Remo e Canoagem, o Estaleiro Naval, o Museu e a Raia de Competição proporcionam à cidade de Alcácer do Sal um novo ponto de interesse turístico, desportivo e cultural, contribuindo para a requalificação da margem ribeirinha. O percurso efectuado ao longo do rio até ao Estuário do Sado, revela várias identidades históricas importantes para esta região, tendo como principais pontos de interesse a sua visita através da navegabilidade pelo rio. Programa: Implantado ao longo da margem do rio, este redefine e configura o limite Sul de Alcácer do Sal, tornando-se assim um elemento valorizador da paisagem Sendo o projecto linear com o rio, torna-o assim um limite entre a água, os arrozais e a terra. Materiais: Betão armado e vidro

Family culture and adolescent sexuality

Background: Adolescence is characterized by an increase in autonomy and the transformation of family relationships. Their experience has different meanings in future quality of life. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between the sociodemographic variables, of Sexual context and attitudes adopted by teenagers facing sexuality with the organizational culture of the family. Methods: Observational descriptive and correlational, transversal study. The non-probabilistic convenience sample consists of 1216 adolescents attending the 9th year of study in Portuguese Public Schools and is part of the project PTDC/CPE-CED/103313/2008, the questionnaire applied was family organizational culture of Nave (2007) and attitudes towards sexuality of Nelas et al (2010). Results: The majority lives in a village (47.5% of boys and 50.0% girls).12.9%of boys do not use condoms in all relationships, and the same applies to 17.8% of girls. They belong mostly (55.8% boys and 49.5% girls) to a family with poor interpersonal relationships culture. The majority (51.8%) males and (58.9%) females have a family with moderate heuristic culture. Boys and girls (33.6% and 36.9%) both demonstrate a predominantly moderate hierarchy family culture and a moderate social goals family culture as well. Adolescents who have a bad attitude towards sexuality, mostly (43.2%) present a weak interpersonal relationships family culture with statistical significance (chi(2) = 32,092, p = 0.000) and have moderate hierarchy family culture and also moderate social goals family culture, without statistical significance. Conclusion: The family that loves, welcomes and cares is the same that educates and informs about sexuality, promoting youth empowerment making them safer, healthier and happier (C) 2013 Elsevier Espana, S.L. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND licenseFCT [PTDC/CPE-CED/103313/2008]; CIDETS FCT [PEstOE/CED/UI4016/2011]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uma Aplicação ao Turismo do Distrito de Portalegre

Este projeto tem como objetivo determinar em que medida as redes sociais influenciam as práticas de Gestão e Marketing Relacional no setor do Turismo, tendo como unidade de análise, o espaço geográfico do Distrito de Portalegre (Portugal). O desenho metodológico do projeto envolveu a recolha de informação sobre a temática das redes sociais, incluindo dados secundários disponibilizados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) e dados primários recolhidos através da administração de um questionário que versa diversas dimensões das práticas de gestão e marketing relacional nas unidades do setor do Turismo. Na análise dos dados, utilizou-se um modelo de regressão logística, tendo como variável de resposta ou dependente, uma variável binária que permite aferir da probabilidade de influência de um conjunto de fatores determinantes aplicados ao setor do Turismo. A principal contribuição do estudo é revelar a influência determinante das redes sociais sobre as formas de gestão do relacionamento entre o prestador de serviços e o cliente final, mediante uma aplicação a unidades empresariais do setor do Turismo.This project aims to determine in what way Social Networks influence the management and the relational marketing methods when applied to the Tourism area. In the district of Portalegre The research strategy of the project included an updated state of the art concerning social networks, including secondary data from the national statistics center, as well as primary data, through the design and the launch of a survey which addresses several dimensions of management practices and relational marketing techniques in Tourism units. In the analysis of results, a logistic regression model is used, having as a dependent or response variable, whose dependent binary variable assesses the influence of a set of key factors applied to tourism. The main contribution of the study is to reveal the core importance of social networks on the final customer and the service provider relationship, through an application to Tourism business units