Constraints and Opportunities for Digital Transformation in Portuguese SMEs

Pinto, J. P. C., & António, N. (2023). Minding the Gaps: Constraints and Opportunities for Digital Transformation in Portuguese SMEs. In 2023 18th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies, CISTI 2023 (pp. 1-7). (Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies, CISTI; Vol. 2023-June). IEEE Computer Society Press. https://doi.org/10.23919/CISTI58278.2023.10211746The widespread use of digital technologies is at the heart of a massive global transformation. Business models and processes are becoming increasingly more dependent on data to the point that it is a critical success factor for many companies. However, not all enterprises are fully engaged with this relatively new reality, while some others procrastinate due to the absence of knowledge or easily and financially accessible tools.Based on data collected via a survey, we offer a characterization on the perception of people working in Portugal in respect to the value of technological innovation and its adoption on the enterprises where they work. Our data corroborates the existence of a bias, unfavourable to SMEs, both in terms of implementation and perception of relevance of Digital Transformation and Data-Driven Management in their operational and strategical routines. Based on the assumption that SMEs will face an increasing competitive pressure in the future, since technology progressively benefits economies of scale, we set on to identify business sectors where those enterprises were already lagging compared to larger ones in respect to several structural business metrics. A comparison with information from other European Countries underlines a generic dire picture of businesses in Portugal, where the value added per unit of capital and labour investment are much lower than those found in most European countries.This works emphasizes the need to facilitate the adoption and use of technology in Portuguese SMEs, as well as building up management literacy that encourages continuous improvement and innovation.publishersversionpublishe

Integration of seismic, well, potential-field and geological data for ore prospecting in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Ore prospecting using gravimetric and magnetic data has become one of the traditional approaches in the last decades, often complemented with electric and electromagnetic methods. However, due to the problem of non-uniqueness inherent to potential-filed modelling, constrains provided by structural methods such as seismic reflection are often used. During the exploration of massive sulphide polimetallic minerals in the Iberian Pyrite Belt Figueira de Cavaleiros sector, located in the Sado Tertiary Basin, several gravimetric and magnetic anomalies were considered as interesting targets. In order to reduce ambiguity of the gravimetric modelling and to confirm the geological model of the area, two seismic reflection profiles were acquired. The interpretation of these profiles was assisted by three mechanical boreholes, two of them located in the research area, in order to make a seismostratigraphic interpretation. Unfortunately, the gravimetric modelling suggests that the anomaly has a lithological and structural origin and is not related with massive sulphides. Nevertheless, a good agreement between the seismic and potential-field data was achieved and new insights into the geological model for the region were obtained form this work, with accurate data about the Tertiary cover and Palaeozoic basement

Neotectonic activity on the Carcavai fault zone (Algarve, Portugal)

Studies performed on the Carcavai fault zone, Eastern Algarve, revealed several deformational features in Plio-Quaternary sediments with potential neotectonic implications. These features include fracturing (faults and joints) and clastic dikes, located along the Carcavai fault. Most of the fractures appear to be the expression of the fault activity affecting the Plio-Quaternary sediments. This is suggested by a consistent strike, subparallel to the major tectonic structure, and by the location pattern. Evidences of the fault activity were also identified in the Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks, though the age of that deformation is poorly constrained. It consists in the presence of zones of intensely brecciated rock and of adjoining coarse sedimentary deposits probably related to the dismantling of a fault scarp. The acquired data point to a late hercynian structure, reactivated as a left-lateral strike-slip fault with a thrust component during the Plio-Quaternary

Estudos de neotectónica na falha de Carcavai, Algarve Oriental

Estudos levados a cabo na zona da falha de Carcavai revelaram a ocorrência de deformações (fracturação e filões detríticos) em sedimentos plio-quaternários, indicando actividade neotectónica. A generalidade das fracturas aparenta corresponder à expressão superficial secundária da actividade naquela zona de falha. Os dados adquiridos apontampara uma zona de falha complexa de desligamento esquerdo, com componente vertical inversa, desde o final do Mesozóico ou início do Cenozóico. Os filões detríticos foram interpretados como estruturas resultantes de liquefacção induzida sismicamente

Looking for earthquake sources in the Lisbon area

The Lisbon and surrounding areas have suffered the effect of historical earthquakes that caused important damages and loss of lives. Some of these earthquake sources are local but they are still poorly known. The knowledge of these sources is important for seismic hazard studies. The use of geophysical methods in the area is required due to the difficulty in finding geological outcrops, together with low-slip rates and erosion/sedimentation processes that erase surface ruptures. Furthermore, most of earthquake occurs at great depth, emphasizing the need for the application of the latter methods. In this paper we present a revised structural interpretation of the area using newly reprocessed and reinterpreted seismic reflection and potential-field data, relocated epicentres, geological outcrop and well data. This interpretation differs in some aspects from previous ones. Well known active faults zones like the Azambuja fault and the Pinhal Novo-Setúbal fault have new interpretations, while other previously unknown structures, like the Ota-V. F. de Xira-Lisbon-Sesimbra fault zone, for example, have been interpreted. These studies, together with shallow geophysical data, which has been and will be acquired over selected targets from this work, will constitute na improvement to the seismic hazard evaluation of the area

High-Resolution Chrono-Transcriptome of Lactococcus lactis Reveals That It Expresses Proteins with Adapted Size and pI upon Acidification and Nutrient Starvation

Whole-genome transcriptional analyses performed on microorganisms are traditionally based on a small number of samples. To map transient expression variations, and thoroughly characterize gene expression throughout the growth curve of the widely used model organism Lactococcus lactis MG1363, gene expression data were collected with unprecedented time resolution. The resulting gene expression patterns were globally analyzed in several different ways to demonstrate the richness of the data and the ease with which novel phenomena can be discovered. When the culture moves from one growth phase to another, gene expression patterns change to such an extent that we suggest that those patterns can be used to unequivocally distinguish growth phases from each other. Also, within the classically defined growth phases, subgrowth phases were distinguishable with a distinct expression signature. Apart from the global expression pattern shifts seen throughout the growth curve, several cases of short-lived transient gene expression patterns were clearly observed. These could help explain the gene expression variations frequently observed in biological replicates. A method was devised to estimate a measure of unnormalized/absolute gene expression levels and used to determine how global transcription patterns are influenced by nutrient starvation or acidification of the medium. Notably, we inferred that L. lactis MG1363 produces proteins with on average lower pIs and lower molecular weights as the medium acidifies and nutrients get scarcer. IMPORTANCE This data set is a rich resource for microbiologists interested in common mechanisms of gene expression, regulation and in particular the physiology of L. lactis. Thus, similar to the common use of genome sequence data by the scientific community, the data set constitutes an extensive data repository for mining and an opportunity for bioinformaticians to develop novel tools for in-depth analysis

A soil classification for seismic hazard assessment and mitigation of the Algarve

The Algarve province of Portugal is located near the E-W Eurasia-Africa plate boundary. It is characterized by a moderate seismicity, with some important historical earthquakes causing important damage and economical losses. Not only has it suffered the effects of large plate boundary events but also the impact of local onshore moderate-sized earthquake sources. The seismic hazard evaluation and mitigation of the area is therefore of great importance to the local populations and the large number of tourists that frequent the region. This paper focuses the evaluation of the most interesting and useful geotechnical near-surface parameters and a soil classification. The classification based upon the European Code 8 for civil engineering and SPT bedrock data, was carried out for land use planning and design of critical facilities. P-wave and S-wave seismic velocities were obtained through the acquisition, processing and interpretation refraction profiles. Hundreds of SPT parameters from available boreholes drilled for engineering and water supply were used and subsoil classification based on geophysical and geotechnical parameters is presented. Other parameters, such as Vp/Vs ratios and the Poisson coefficient were estimated and were computed to provide information for future site effect studies. The experimental procedure tested here is relatively fast, economical and easy to perform and can be useful to estimate soil microzoning and seismic hazard mapping in the absence of local earthquake records

Dye-sensitized solar cells using fluorone-based ionic liquids with improved cell efficiency

POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016387. POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007265. UID/QUI/50006/2019. LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125. SFRH/BD/135087/2017.Six trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride (P6,6,6,14Cl) based ionic liquids (IL) with dianionic fluorone derivatives were synthesized with total exchange of chloride from the dianionic dye: Fluorescein (a), Rose Bengal (b), Phloxine B (c), Eosin B (d), Eosin Y (e) and Erythrosin B (f). Spectroscopic characterization of these viscous salts indicated the presence of the expected 1 or 2 strong absorption bands. A total of 12 compounds, as sodium (from a to f) or as trihexyltetradecylphosphonium dianion salts (from a′ to f′), were used for sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2. Here, we report the sensitization activity of these metal free dyes in terms of current-potential curve, open-circuit potential, fill factor, and overall solar energy conversion efficiency which have been evaluated under 100 mW cm-2 light intensity. We developed a strategy to improve the light harvesting of these conventional dyes by simple cationic exchange which was accompanied by a minimum of 30% increase in the cell photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Also, for Eosin B the binding to TiO2 apparently allows reduction of the-NO2 electron-withdrawing group to-NO22-. This provides a new interaction between the reduced nitro group and the TiO2 surface, reflecting an improvement in the overall DSSC performance reaching its maximum of 0.65% efficiency after light DSSC soaking. Factors that improve DSSC performance like aggregate inhibition, increment of the electrode's quasi-Fermi level and slight red shift in the absorption spectra of the tested anionic dyes were achieved by simple cationic exchange.authorsversionpublishe