Identification of proteaginous pea cultivars (Pisum sativum L.) using microsatellites molecular markers

Abstract: Conventionally morphological descriptors are routinely used for establishing the identity of varieties. This kind of descriptors has some disadvantages, namely most of them are quantitative, controlled by several pairs of genes, and their expression is influenced by environmental factors. Molecular markers have a potential to facilitate this procedure, increase the reliability of decisions, and substantially save the time and space needed for experiments. In this study we intended to identify 20 cultivars of proteaginous pea (Pisum sativum L.), registered in the Community Catalog of Varieties, by microsatellites molecular markers. After DNA extraction, seven different loci were analyzed. PCR amplifications were conducted and the resulting fragments were separated on an 3,5% MS-8 agarose gel in TBE buffer, at 90V/h. The gels were analyzed for the presence/ absence of bands and a table with binary code was made. The data were processed with the statistical software NTSYS-pc, using the SIMQUAL module and Jaccard similarity coefficient, followed by UPGMA cluster analysis. With the analysis of six polymorphic loci was possible to distinguish almost all of cultivars. The most informative loci were AD61 and AB53. The cluster analysis of SSR markers separated the pea genotypes into two distinct clusters. The first cluster included the five cultivars: Isard, Cartouche, Audit, Corrent and James. The second cluster included the remaining fifteen cultivars and was further divided in two subclusters. The first subcluster had the Portuguese genotype Grisel and second subcluster contained the remaining fourteen cultivars. In this subcluster Ideal and Alezan had 100 percent similarity. There was a low number of heterozygous loci which is consistent with the nature of self pollinated species. The results showed a high potential and resolving power of SSR markers in distinctness assessment. SSR markers might also be useful in Pisum sativum L. germplasm management and genetic diversity studies.The present study was financially by the EU within the POCTEP – “Programa Operacional de Cooperação Transfronteiriça Espanha - Portugal”, Project 0186_AGROCELE_3_E

A roadmap to designing advergames: how major video games can help in the design of advergames and the impact of memories

This paper looks into ways to design advergames and tries to incorporate memories into them. To assess it, two experimental groups were created: one watched a The Sims 2 video and another one a generic Ikea advergame. At the end, as expected, when happy memories of past experiences playing major video games were activated willingness to buy increased. Therefore, to create the biggest amount of value possible, companies should use elements of major titles, from gameplay to audio tracks, when designing an advergame, so players can relieve good times they had when paying them

Inter-industry analysis of the impacts and attitudes of a chat versus human representative

Technology disruptions are known to keep on changing the way people interact with brands thus contributing to experiences that may or may not lead to better events if companies don’t invest on understanding the critical pain points in the consumer journey. The aim of this dissertation is to understand the impacts that the implementation of a chat has on the user and compare this effect with the outcome that traditional agents have for similar situations, leading to an observation if there are differences when satisfying a need through digital or physical instruments. Other objects of research include investigating which are the drivers that lead to a better consumer experience through chat coupled with understanding which are the attributes that makes the software unique from all other platforms and which retract the acceptance. To finish, it is studied which are the current attitudes towards the inevitable diffusion of chatbots. It was possible to conclude that for low involvement situations chat leads to underperforming valuations of loyalty, that the drivers of a satisfying experience are focused on the outcome whereas to foster loyalty it additionally needs to transmit sincerity, that the value added of this channel is its convenience and communication style although the impersonality and technical difficulties may repeal users and the sample is not yet comfortable with the upcoming of chatbots.As disrupções tecnológicas levam a que as pessoas mudem a maneira como interagem com as marcas, contribuindo para melhores ou piores experiências dependendo se as empresas investem em perceber os pontos críticos na jornada do consumidor. O objetivo desta dissertação é de perceber os impactos que a implementação de um chat tem e comparar este efeito com o resultado que os agentes tradicionais têm em situações similares, levando a perceber se existem diferenças na satisfação de uma necessidade através de meios digitais ou físicos. Outros objetos de pesquisa incluem investigar quais os fatores que levam a uma melhor experiência no chat, juntamente com a compreensão de quais os atributos que tornam o software único face a outras plataformas e também quais retraem a sua aceitação. Para terminar, é também analisado as atitudes atuais face à difusão dos chatbots. Foi possível concluir que para situações de baixo envolvimento o chat leva a avaliações inferiores de lealdade, que a avaliação de uma experiência satisfatória é focada somente no resultado providenciado, mas para gerar lealdade é necessária também sinceridade, que o valor adicional deste canal é a conveniência e o estilo de comunicação apesar de a impessoalidade e dificuldades técnicas poderem repelir os utilizadores e a amostra não se encontra ainda confortável com a iminente chegada dos chatbots

Whirlpool corporation business risk factors: sensitivity analysis

In this section it is performed a sensitivity analysis on three Whirlpool business risks identified in the main report. The current loss of market share and consequential negative results in EMEA influence Whirlpool’s price, but only a very pessimistic scenario would change the investor Holding recommendation. Concerning the large North American trade customer, Lowe’s, its demand requirements may imply Whirlpool’s selling price reduction, which can have a large impact in its final valuation. Lastly, the main Latin America market drivers forecast a positive tendency growth for this instable region. Nevertheless, the prolongation of the political and economic instability in Latin America could result in a change in investor recommendation from Hold to Sell

Avaliação de modelos de dimensionamento para o reforço à flexão com CFRP (FIB vs ACI)

A concepção do reforço com sistemas de FRP pressupõe para a sua adequada aplicação um conhecimento rigoroso dos modelos de dimensionamento e de verificação de segurança. Este artigo tem como objectivos principais a avaliação dos métodos de cálculo expostos nas propostas normativas da FIB (Bulletin 14, 2001) e ACI (2002) para a verificação da segurança à flexão de estruturas de betão armado reforçadas com sistemas compósitos de CFRP e a avaliação da relevância de alguns parâmetros para o dimensionamento. Pretende-se avaliar se, para uma dada base de dados de ensaios experimentais, os resultados obtidos respeitam as condições de segurança em relação ao Estado limite Último (ELU) definidas nas publicações acima referidas e identificar, entre os diversos métodos propostos, os que melhor se adequam a este tipo de estruturas. Para a análise comparativa e paramétrica que é feita, recorreu-se a uma vasta gama de modelos experimentais seleccionados com base nos três critérios seguintes: a) Tipo de elemento estrutural: Laje e Viga; b) Técnica de reforço: EBR e NSM; c) Sistema de reforço: pré-fabricado (laminado ou varão) e moldado in situ (manta). Com base na informação dos resultados experimentais de todos os modelos reunidos, recorreu-se a uma folha de cálculo automático, desenvolvida pelos autores, para se determinarem os valores do momento resistente (Mt) e da deformação máxima mobilizada pelo compósito (eft), em ELU, que seriam de prever (resultados teóricos), adoptando as filosofias de cálculo sugeridas nas propostas regulamentares. Procedeu-se à verificação de segurança através da análise comparativa entre os resultados teóricos e os experimentais para os modelos de Lajes EBR, de Vigas EBR por adição de laminados, de Vigas EBR por adição de mantas e de Vigas NSM (por adição de laminados e de varões), primeiro, sobre a previsão do momento resistente e depois sobre a estimativa da deformação máxima do CFRP

Solução de Cibersegurança através de dispositivos móveis

Trabalho de projeto de mestrado, Engenharia Informática (Sistemas de Informação), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2021A plataforma Cybersecurity Cloud é uma solução SaaS (Software as a Service), desenvolvida pela empresa Emvenci Business Services, projetada para ajudar o utilizador a obter informações importantes e melhorar as respostas de cibersegurança, através da integração de diferentes módulos que se focam em pontos como a gestão de incidentes e vulnerabilidades, formação e treino nas áreas de segurança de informação, agregação e transformação de análises de dados para rápida consulta, interpretação e decisão, partilha de informação crucial e compatibilidade com o RGPD. Com o aumento do uso e dependência de dispositivos móveis o imediatismo de informação é potenciado, e quando falamos em questões de segurança esse ponto é precioso para evitar ou resolver rapidamente possíveis problemas. Atualmente, a plataforma não está otimizada e em certos casos não é suportada, em dispositivos móveis na sua versão web, o que limita o seu uso e acaba por afetar esse imediatismo na medida em que os computadores não possibilitam a mesma portabilidade e acessibilidade em comparação com dispositivos móveis. O trabalho passa por desenvolver uma aplicação móvel baseada na plataforma web já existente, usando não só a tecnologia da mesma, Angular, como integrando a framework NativeScript que possibilita o desenvolvimento de aplicações nativas para iOS e Android. A solução móvel terá como objetivo possibilitar que utilizador reveja rapidamente as suas tarefas, que seja notificado de informações importantes a qualquer momento, potenciando tomadas de decisão mais eficientes e que aceda a toda a informação fornecida pela plataforma de uma forma mais dinâmica e imediata, sem a necessidade de ter um computador por perto.The Cybersecurity Cloud platform is a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, developed by Emvenci Business Services, designed to help the user to obtain important information and improve cybersecurity responses, through the integration of different modules that focus on points such as the management of incidents and vulnerabilities, education and training in the areas of information security, aggregation and transformation of data analysis for quick consultation, interpretation and decision, sharing of crucial information and compatibility with the GDPR. With the increase in the use and dependence of mobile devices, the immediacy of information is enhanced, and when we talk about security issues, this point is precious to avoid or quickly solve possible problems. Currently, the platform is not optimized and in some cases it is not supported, on mobile devices in its web version, which limits its use and ends up affecting this immediacy insofar as computers do not allow the same portability and accessibility in comparison with mobile devices. The work involves developing a mobile application based on the existing web platform, using not only its technology, Angular, but also integrating the NativeScript framework that enables the development of native applications for iOS and Android. The mobile solution will aim to enable the user to quickly review their tasks, to be notified of important information at any time, enabling more efficient decision making and to access all the information provided by the platform in a more dynamic and immediate way, without the need to have a computer close by

Affective responses to stretching exercises: Exploring the timing of assessments

Affective responses during exercise have been identified as a predictor of exercise adherence. However, research has been mostly limited to aerobic and resistance exercise. Considering that stretching activities are also an important component of physical fitness, this quasi-experimental study was designed to: 1) compare affective responses during and immediately after stretching exercises in apparently healthy adults, and 2) assess the consistency and repeatability of affect ratings obtained one week apart. For this purpose, we analyzed the Feeling Scale (FS) and Felt Arousal Scale (FAS) ratings using Time (during and after stretching) x Intensity (light, moderate, vigorous) x Stretched Muscle Group (quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, latissimus dorsi, triceps) with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANCOVA) in 34 participants (21 males; aged 32.8 ± 8.6 years). The repeatability of FS and FAS ratings was assessed using two-way random-effects models, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman plots. FS scores were higher following the stretching exercises, whereas FAS scores were lower, particularly in the vigorous intensity. In general, the inter-day repeatability for FS and FAS measurements was good across muscle groups. ICC tended to be higher at vigorous intensities. Ratings of core affect can be collected during static passive stretches using the FAS and FAS in ecologically valid settings. These results suggest that an adequate assessment of core affective responses to stretching activities should be performed during the exercises.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Integrating a graph builder into python tutor

Analysing unknown source code to comprehend it is quite hard and expensive task. Therefore, the Program Comprehension (PC) subject has always been an area of interest as it helps to realize how a program works by identifying the code that implements each functionality. This means being able to map the problem domain with the program domain. PC is a complex area, but its importance for programmers is so high that many approaches and tools were proposed along the last two decades. Program Animation is one of those approaches requiring specialized techniques. For each programming language, there are already tools that enable us to execute a program step by step, visualize its execution path, observe the effect of each instruction on its data structures, and inspect the value of its variables at any point. In the present context, we sustain the idea that PC techniques and tools can also be of great value for students taking the first steps in programming using a specific language. To this end, we aim to improve Python Tutor, a well-known program visualization tool, with graph-based representations of source code such as Control Flow Graph (CFG), Data Flow Graph (DFG), Function Call Graph (FCG) and System Control Graph (SCG). This helps novice programmers to understand the source code analyzing not only the variable contents but also a set of automatically generated graph-based visualizations, that were not included in Python Tutor so far. This will allow the students to be focused on certain aspects of the program (depending on the graph), abstracting others such as details of its syntax.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Projects Scopes: UIDB/05757/2020 and UIDB/00319/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio