The Forking Paths revisited: experimenting on interactive film

Based on the triad film-interactivity-experimentation, the applied research project The Forking Paths, developed at the Centre for Research in Arts and Communication (CIAC), endeavours to find alternative narrative forms in the field of Cinema and, more specifically, in the subfield of Interactive Cinema. The films in the project The Forking Paths invest in the interconnectivity between the film narrative and the viewer, who is given the possibility to be more active and engaged. At same time, the films undertake a research on the development of audio-visual language. The project is available at an online platform, which aims to foster the creation and web hosting of other Interactive Cinema projects in its different variables. This article focusses on the three films completed up to the moment: Haze, The Book of the Dead, and Waltz.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Light pollution and energy efficiency: a case study of the village of Vialonga

Since industrialization and the formation of larger urban centers in the nineteenth century, pollution of the environment was always present in daily life in various ways, namely in the form of light. Light pollution can cause various consequences, both for humans and for their ecosystem, producing effects on environmental, social, economic and scientific level. In Portugal, the lighting is responsible for 3% of total electricity consumption, energy costs are in some cases more than 50% towards the costs incurred by municipalities with energy, checking-in recent years a trend similar to that improvement of illumination levels in the region (about 4 to 5% per year). Proper use of lighting brings many benefits both to the citizen and environment, since greater energy efficiency can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, energy costs, as well as to decrease the use of resources not-renewable and/or contamination of renewable resources, which can occurs in the process of obtaining electricity. The present study has a main goal to analyze the illuminance levels associated to the public lighting of the village of Vialonga, Vila Franca de Xira (Portugal), to verify if it is efficient. The aim is also to relate the efficiency of street lighting with the existence of light pollution

Autophagy in the fight against tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB), a chronic infectious disease mainly caused by the tubercle bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the world's deadliest diseases that has afflicted humanity since ancient times. Although the number of people falling ill with TB each year is declining, its incidence in many developing countries is still a major cause of concern. Upon invading host cells by phagocytosis, M. tuberculosis can replicate within infected cells by arresting the maturation of the phagosome whose function is to target the pathogen for elimination. Host cells have mechanisms of controlling this evasion by inducing autophagy, an elaborate cellular process that targets bacteria for progressive elimination, decreasing bacterial loads within infected cells. In addition, autophagy activation also aids in the control of inflammation, contributing to a more efficient innate immune response against M. tuberculosis. Several innovative TB therapies have been envisaged based on autophagy manipulation, with some of them revealing high potential for future clinical trials and eventual implementation in healthcare systems. Thus, this review highlights the recent advances on the innate immune response regulation by autophagy upon M. tuberculosis infection and the promising new autophagy-based therapies for TB.This work was funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (subcontract on the production of high quality chemical hit series with defined, tractable targets as drug leads for tuberculosis grant awarded to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health) (OPP1024021), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and EU-FEDER-COMPETE for funding (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028359; PTDC/BIAMIC/2779/2012). VM would like to acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for a postdoctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/79531/2011).This is the accepted manuscript. The final published version is available from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers at http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/dna.2014.2745

A methodology for understanding the speed of internationalization process: The role of individual-level characteristics

This article presents a methodology that aims to explore how the decision-makers’ cognition affects the speed of internationalization. Managerial cognition is evaluated through the lens of the dual-process theory, which assumes that human information processing is made by two systems: (1) the intuitive and experiential cognitive system – System X, and (2) the rational and analytical cognitive system – System C. The speed of internationalization process is examined in terms of earliness (how soon after inception a firm enters in international markets) and post-internationalization speed (how fast a firm involves with new foreign markets after the first entry). This methodology has been put in practice in a multiple case study: the Portuguese footwear industry. The presence of some misalignments between our initial proposal and its implementation helped us to reshape and emphasize specific processes and behaviors associated to the methodology. The results suggest that, when making the decision about the first international entry, the decision-makers of the firms internationalizing earlier mostly relied on the intuitive cognitive system, while the decision-makers of the firm delaying the first entry showed a predominance of the rational cognitive system. However, regardless of being an early or later entrant, the sampled firms combine intuition with analysis to make the final decision about further involvements with foreign markets, resulting in a gradual and slower post-internationalization. Our in depth-analysis suggests that the Uppsala model could be questioned because the speed of internationalization process seems to be governed by how decision-makers perceive a given reality based on its cognition.N/

How do managers behave? An analysis toward the cognitive configurations affecting Industry 4.0 adoption in international SMEs

Objectives: The adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often rests on its positive evaluation from managers, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs. Because of the mixed outcomes attainable through the SMEs’ openness to disruptive changes, managers must weigh the beneficial aspects of I4.0 adoption against the complexities, challenges, and drawbacks coming from its implementation. This study aims to shed light on the multifaceted nature of decision-making processes related to willingness or reluctance toward I4.0 adoption in international SMEs. Theoretical Framework: Our theorizing includes the dual-process theory (DPT) and complexity theory to explain the patterns of factors stimulating or constraining I4.0 implementation. Method: To test our propositions, we employ fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) on a sample of 157 managers and entrepreneurs working in international SMEs. Results/Implications: The results outline that decisional recipes associated with willingness to adopt I4.0 for internationalization are different than those associated with reluctance. This empirical evidence contributes to the “human side of I4.0” by providing reporting the specific combinations of cognitive and contextual factors of decision-makers in international SMEs concerning I4.0 practices.N/

Therapeutic futility in nursing: A focus group

Introduction: The implementation of futile nursing interventions seems to be a persistent problem in adult intensive care units. Understanding this phenomenon can contribute to its prevention and all deleterious effects associated with it. Objective: To identify the perceptions of expert nurses from adult intensive care units about therapeutic futility in nursing. Methods: This study consists of a conventional content analysis. Data was collected through a focus group interview that included five expert nurses in adult intensive care, with a minimum of fifteen years of professional experience in intensive care. To analyze the information, the technique of thematic categorical analysis was used, according to Bardin. Results: Four central categories were identified for the topic under study, for which several subcategories were identified that allow a better understanding of this phenomenon. Conclusion: Adult intensive care expert nurses advocate that therapeutic futility in nursing is a reality perceived by teams and families, which should be avoided due to the risk of potentiating the implementation of ethically reprehensible care

Design, manufacturing & analysis of an ABS differential gear system model

Com o apoio RAADRI.This work presents the assessment of Von Mises stresses in straight-tooth bevel differential gear system of a pedagogical model. This model was designed and the straight-tooth gears were formed using a 3D printing rapid prototyping. Two different percentages of densities (60% and 100%) of printed gears with ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) were analysed and compared. Von Mises stresses in the teeth of the gears were obtained using finite element analysis (FEA) with PTC Creo Parametric 2.0. Results showed that the manufactured gears by the method of 60% of ABS density are capable to withstand the applied forces, i.e. the allowable stress of the material is not achieved

Integral ecology and global pact on education. The integral education of Pope Francisco

After the conclave held in March 2013, Francisco became the first Latin American to occupy the seat of Peter. In November of that year, he presented his programmatic letter, the apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, on the proclamation of the gospel in today's world. In May 2015, he published the encyclical letter Laudato si', on caring for our common home. As we estimate, this document represents the culmination of Francisco's social teaching, a proposal for integral ecology that outlines a path in the face of the serious ecological crisis that, throughout the last century, emerged as the great global challenge to be faced in the third millennium. Accompanied by this reflection, the educational question emerges. It is a thematic area that has always received special attention from Jorge Mario Bergoglio. As expected, Francisco, in addition to reinforcing the importance of education, has tried to outline an educational proposal that, pari passu with his teaching, acquired greater relevance from his concern with the care of the common home. Hence the need to rebuild the global educational pact. Based on this, in this work, we try to present Francisco's integral education.Tras el cónclave realizado en marzo de 2013, Francisco se convirtió en el primer latinoamericano en ocupar el solio de Pedro. En noviembre de aquel año, él presentó su carta programática, la exhortación apostólica Evangelii gaudium, sobre el anuncio del Evangelio en el mundo actual. En mayo de 2015, publicó la carta encíclica Laudato si', sobre el cuidado de la casa común. Según estimamos, este documento representa el culmen de la enseñanza social de Francisco, una propuesta de ecología integral que perfila un camino frente a la grave crisis ecológica que, a lo largo del siglo pasado, emergió como el gran reto global a ser enfrentado en el tercer milenio. Acompasada por esta reflexión emerge la cuestión educativa. Se trata de un ámbito temático que desde siempre ha merecido una especial atención de Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Como era de esperar, Francisco, además de reforzar la importancia de la educación, ha tratado de ir perfilando una propuesta educativa que, pari passu con su magisterio, adquirió una mayor relevancia a partir de su preocupación por el cuidado de la casa común. De ahí la necesidad de reconstruir el pacto educativo global. Con base en esto, en este trabajo, tratamos de presentar la educación integral de Francisco

Impact of using cool paints on energy demand and thermal comfort of a residential building

This work studies the impact of using cool paints and/or thermal insulation on the thermal behavior andenergy demand of a residential building. Buildings with thermal characteristics representing both oldand new constructions are considered. The results were obtained using the dynamic computer simulatorESP-r. Recommendations for designers and/or house-owners in terms of deciding the best thermalcomfort solution are withdrawn.For a case-study building in Portugal, in the summer, it was found that an increase in roof and façadevalue of total solar reflectance (TSR) from 50% to 92% reduced the maximum indoor free-float temperature between 2.0 C and 4.7 C in old construction (without thermal insulation), and between 1.2 C and3.0 C in new construction (with thermal insulation). This had as a trade-off effect the decrease of theminimum indoor temperature of up to 1.5 C. The results of annual energy demand for heating showed amaximum penalty of about 30% when using cool paints. However, it was demonstrated that the coolingdemand almost vanishes, eliminating the need to install air-conditioning devices.The analysis of specific real hot weather time periods showed that the maximum altitude of the sun,which is related to the month of the year, determines the solution that originates the highest temperature reduction. As the maximum sun altitude decreases the cool paints show comparatively betterresults