Baer-Levi semigroups of linear transformations

Given an infinite-dimensional vector space V, we consider the semigroup GS(m,n) of all injective linear transformations of V into itself with defect n, where n is an infinite cardinal less or equal than m, the dimension of V. This is a linear version of the well-known Baer-Levi semigroup BL(p,q) defined on an infinite set X with cardinal p and where q is an infinite cardinal less or equal than p. We show that, although the basic properties of GS(m,n) are the same as those of BL(p,q), the two semigroups are never isomorphic. We also determine all left ideals of GS(m,n) and some of its maximal subsemigroups: in this, we follow previous work on BL(p,q) by Sutov (1966) and Sullivan (1978) as well as Levi and Wood (1984).Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Programa Operacional “Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação” (POCTI)

Maximal inverse subsemigroups of the symmetric inverse semigroup on a finite-dimensional vector space

Yang (1999) classified the maximal inverse subsemigroups of all the ideals of the symmetric inverse semigroup $I(X)$ defined on a finite set $X$. Here we do the same for the semigroup $I(V)$ of all one-to-one partial linear transformations of a finite-dimensional vector space. We also show that $I(X)$ is almost never isomorphic to $I(V)$ for any set $X$ and any vector space $V$, and prove that any inverse semigroup can be embedded in some $I(V)$.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Inverse semigroups generated by linear transformations

Suppose X is a set with cardinal p and let q be an infinite cardinal less or equal than p. Let B=BL(p,q) denote the Baer-Levi semigroup defined on X. In 1984, Howie and Marques-Smith showed that, if p=q, then BB^{-1}=I(X), the symmetric inverse semigroup on X, and they described the subsemigroup of I(X) generated by B^{-1}B. In 1994, Lima extended that work to `independence algebras', and thus also to vector spaces. In this paper, we answer the natural question: what happens when p>q? We also show that, in this case, the analogues BB^{-1} for sets and GG^{-1} for vector spaces are never isomorphic, despite their apparent similarities.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Programa Operacional “Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação” (POCTI

Organização dos cuidados de reabilitação nas unidades de cuidados intensivos portuguesas

Objective: To describe the different rehabilitation care models in practice in Portuguese adult intensive care units. Methods: A simple observational (cross-sectional) study was conducted through an online survey sent to the head nurses or individuals responsible for the 58 adult intensive care units that are part of the database of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Cuidados Intensivos. Results: We identified three models of organization of rehabilitation care: care provided by the staff of the intensive care unit (22.9%), care provided by specialized external teams (25.0%), and a mixture of the previous models, combining the two situations (52.1%). In the first model, the care was provided mainly by nurses with specialization in rehabilitation and, in the second model, the care was provided by physiotherapists. No significant differences were found between the models regarding the availability of care, in hours/day or days/week (p = 0.268 and 0.994, respectively), or results such as length of hospital stay in intensive care, ventilation time, or mortality rate in the unit (p = 0.418, 0.923, and 0.240, respectively). Conclusion: The organization of rehabilitation care in Portuguese intensive care units is unique and heterogeneous. Despite different care organization models, the availability of hours of care is similar, as are the overall results observed in patients.Objetivo: Descrever os diferentes modelos de prestação de cuidados de reabilitação em prática nas unidades de cuidados intensivos de adultos portuguesas. Métodos: Estudo observacional simples (transversal), realizado por meio de inquérito on-line enviado aos enfermeiros-chefes ou responsáveis das 58 unidades de cuidados intensivos de adultos que integram a base de dados da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cuidados Intensivos. Resultados: Foram identificados três modelos de organização dos cuidados de reabilitação: cuidados prestados pela equipe da unidade de cuidados intensivos (22,9%), cuidados prestados por equipes externas especializadas (25,0%), um misto dos modelos anteriores, conjugando as duas situações (52,1%). No primeiro modelo, os cuidados eram prestados essencialmente por enfermeiros com especialização em reabilitação e, no segundo, por fisioterapeutas. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os modelos no que diz respeito à disponibilidade de cuidados, em horas/dia ou dias/semana (p = 0,268 e 0,994 respetivamente), ou a resultados como tempo de internamento em cuidados intensivos, tempo de ventilação ou taxa de mortalidade na unidade (p = 0,418, 0.923 e 0,240 respetivamente). Conclusão: A organização dos cuidados de reabilitação nas unidades de cuidados intensivos portuguesas é singular e heterogênea. Apesar dos diferentes modelos de organização de cuidados, a disponibilidade de horas de cuidados é semelhante, bem como os resultados gerais observados nos doentes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contribution for a better understanding of the technological sustainability in electrical energy production through photovoltaic cells

The conversion of solar energy into electricity reveals a huge importance in the production of “clean” energy, mainly when applied to decentralized production systems (micro-generation). However, there is the need to develop and optimize these processes in order to turn it more sustainable in economic and technological scoops. The main purpose of this work is to study the solar energy conversion into electricity through photovoltaic cells, characterizing the process efficiencies. This study intends to evaluate the energetic and exergetic efficiencies defining them as indicators in the formulation of a sustainability index. All the procedures are in a theoretical scope with an illustrative example in the end of this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Planar projection of mobile laser scanning data in tunnels

Laser scanning is now a common technology in the surveying and monitoring of large engineering infrastructures, such as tunnels, both in motorways and railways. Extended possibilities exist now with the mobile terrestrial laser scanning systems, which produce very large data sets that need efficient processing techniques in order to facilitate their exploitation and usability. This paper deals with the implementation of a methodology for processing and presenting 3D point clouds acquired by laser scanning in tunnels, making use of the approximately cylindrical shape of tunnels. There is a need for a 2D presentation of the 3D point clouds, in order to facilitate the inspection of important features as well as to easily obtain their spatial location. An algorithm was developed to treat automatically point clouds obtained in tunnels in order to produce rectified images that can be analysed. Tests were carried with data acquired with static and mobile Riegl laser scanning systems, by Artescan company, in highway tunnels in Portugal and Spain, with very satisfactory results. The final planar image is an alternative way of data presentation where image analysis tools can be used to analyze the laser intensity in order to detect problems in the tunnel structure

Performance-based outcome measures to assess functionality in hospitalised patients with COPD exacerbations: a systematic review of the measurement properties

Support statement: This work was supported by Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (numbers process: 2015/12763-4; 2015/26501-1 (Project grant); 2021/03493-4 (NTL scholarship)). The funding source had no involvement in this analysis or in the writing of this manuscript. Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.Projeto financiado: Bolsa de doutoramento da FAPESP (Brasil).Introduction Hospitalised patients with exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) may have physical and functional impairments that impact morbidity and readmission. Therefore, it is crucial to properly identify reduced functionality in these patients to support a personalised rehabilitation. The objective of this study is to summarise and compare the measurement properties of functionality performance-based outcome measures for hospitalised patients with ECOPD. Methods A systematic review based on the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) was performed. The PubMed, Embase, PEDro and Cochrane databases were searched using terms related to functionality, hospitalised patients with ECOPD and measurement properties. Studies were selected and extracted by two researchers. The COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist was applied to assess the methodological quality of the studies and measurement property results were compared with the criteria for good measurement properties. Quality of evidence was graded using a modified Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Results 13 studies were included with nine outcome measures, namely the 6-min pegboard ring test, the de Morton mobility index, the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), the Berg balance scale, 4-m gait speed, handgrip strength and the 6-min stepper test. Construct validity was rated as sufficient, except for the ISWT. Responsiveness, assessed only for MIP, was considered insufficient and measurement errors for the ISWT and 6MWT were insufficient, with a very low quality of evidence for all measurement properties. Conclusion Measurement properties of performance-based outcome measures to assess functionality in patients hospitalised with ECOPD are still scarce, with very low evidence supporting validity and a lack of evidence of responsiveness and reliability. Further studies are needed to address this topic and guide assertive and personalised management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Performance-based outcome measures to assess functionality in hospitalised patients with COPD exacerbations: a systematic review of the measurement properties

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalised patients with exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) may have physical and functional impairments that impact morbidity and readmission. Therefore, it is crucial to properly identify reduced functionality in these patients to support a personalised rehabilitation. The objective of this study is to summarise and compare the measurement properties of functionality performance-based outcome measures for hospitalised patients with ECOPD. METHODS: A systematic review based on the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) was performed. The PubMed, Embase, PEDro and Cochrane databases were searched using terms related to functionality, hospitalised patients with ECOPD and measurement properties. Studies were selected and extracted by two researchers. The COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist was applied to assess the methodological quality of the studies and measurement property results were compared with the criteria for good measurement properties. Quality of evidence was graded using a modified Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: 13 studies were included with nine outcome measures, namely the 6-min pegboard ring test, the de Morton mobility index, the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), the 6-min walk test (6MWT), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), the Berg balance scale, 4-m gait speed, handgrip strength and the 6-min stepper test. Construct validity was rated as sufficient, except for the ISWT. Responsiveness, assessed only for MIP, was considered insufficient and measurement errors for the ISWT and 6MWT were insufficient, with a very low quality of evidence for all measurement properties. CONCLUSION: Measurement properties of performance-based outcome measures to assess functionality in patients hospitalised with ECOPD are still scarce, with very low evidence supporting validity and a lack of evidence of responsiveness and reliability. Further studies are needed to address this topic and guide assertive and personalised management

Innovative moments and change in Career Construction Counseling

This article presents an exploratory study of the process of change during Career Construction Counseling (CCC). The Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS) and the Return to the Problem Coding System (RPCS) were used to an intensive analysis of a career counseling case — the case of Michael. Both systems are grounded in a narrative conception of the self which suggests that narrative change results from the elaboration and development of narrative exceptions to a client's core problematic self-narrative. The IMCS identifies and tracks the occurrence of five different types of narrative change and the RPCS tracks the ambivalence present in the clients discourse throughout the therapeutic process. This is the first attempt to use these methods with a career counseling case. The results suggest that the narrative elaboration progresses from the first to the third session. We discuss these results, emphasizing the process of change in career counseling with clients in which maladaptive repetition underlies career decision-making difficulties

Local seismic cultures: the use of timber frame structures in the south of Portugal

Given the fact that using timber frame structures has proven to improve the seismic behavior of vernacular architecture, as has been reported in past earthquakes in many countries, its preservation as a traditional earthquake resistant practice is important. This paper firstly intends to evaluate whether the use of timber frames as a traditional seismic resistant technique for vernacular architecture in the South of Portugal, traditionally a seismic region, is still active. Secondly, the city of Vila Real de Santo António was selected as a case study because it also followed a Pombaline development contemporary to the reconstruction of Lisbon. The plan included the provision of timber frame partition walls for some of the buildings and, thus, an overview of the type of constructions originally conceived is provided. Finally, the alterations done in the original constructions and the current state of the city center are described and the effect of these changes on the seismic vulnerability of the city is discussed.The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for the scholarship granted in the scope of the research project 'SEISMIC-V-Vernacular Seismic Culture in Portugal' (PTDC/ATP-AQI/3934/2012)