Electronic textiles functionalized with conductive polymers

Smart textiles have received a lot of attention nowadays for combining two of the most prolific industries: fabrics and electronics. This was possible due to the evolution of conductive polymers, mean-ing that a material as conductive as metals with flexible properties was in the market. Its potential to integrate signals and stimuli from contact means that a myriad of applications might be in the making, spanning interest from electronics to communication, military and biomedical uses. The main goal of this work was to study different methodologies to functionalize commercial textiles with conductive polymers to obtain piezoresistive textiles. Polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) are two intrinsically conduc-tive polymers used to functionalize lycra and felt textiles. Such functionalization was carried out by in situ-polymerization of pyrrole (Py) and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT). Several polymerization con-ditions were evaluated to determine the most suitable ones to prepare stable conductive textiles. In-plane electrical conductivities of 6.707x10−3 Scm−1 to 1.808x10−2 Scm−1 and transversal conductivities of 1.837x10−4 Scm−1 to 2.040x10−3 Scm−1 were reached throughout textiles. Morphological, chemical and electrical characterization was carried before and out after polymerization. Piezoresistive behaviour of textiles was studied, because coated and agglomerated polymer comes into different contacts when stress is applied. Two different approaches were studied: stretch behaviour for elastic lycra ranging from 11-26kΩ and pressure behaviour for felt textiles ranging from 0.72-19.54kΩ. Finally, stability tests were studied. In this section, abrasion was performed to show the wear off textiles. Felt had the best stability with values from 3.903x10−4 S.cm−1 to 6.685x10−6 S.cm−1, while lycra had the worst results, from 1.242x10−4 S.cm−1 to 2.696x10−11 S.cm−1. Conductivity over time was studied, showing there is over a 50% conductivity decline over 6 months. Washing cycles, showed de-clines of over four orders of magnitude, compromising further use

Validation of technical analysis - crack outright case

G 11- Investments Decisions G17 – Financial Forecasting and SimulationThe Technical analysis is a study by nature that generates a lot of disagreement, both academic and amongst the market speculators investors’ population. The main objective of this thesis was to clarify the essence and basis of what is a Technical Analysis. The law of supply and demand rules the price variation of a given financial asset. When demand exceeds supply, the price increases. Applying the rational reverse, the price drops. It was based on this principle that was carried out analysis to identify investment opportunities. The reading and the graphic interpretation through price analysis were the author's analytical basis. This analysis focuses mostly on identifying price levels characterized by the probability of existence of many buyers or sellers. The use of technical indicators served merely as confirmation and support of price analysis. The challenge of this thesis was reflected in the practice. The goal was to prove the validity of Technical Analysis based on achieving at least 30 trades. The author reached an annual return of 3,075.92% using a thirty days sample period. This profitability surpassed significantly the 'target' initially set to 242% to complete the Technical Analysis validity. Consequently, this validation technique was proven with the assumptions defined in this study. The high profitability referred above is justified by the particularities and characteristics of the product in analyze, 'The Crack Outright'.A Análise Técnica é um estudo que por natureza gera muita discordância, tanto a nível académico como entre a população de investidores especuladores de mercado. O grande objectivo desta tese foi clarificar a essência e a base do que é a Análise Técnica. A variação do preço de um dado activo financeiro, rege-se pela lei da procura e da oferta. Quando a procura excede a oferta, o preço aumenta. Aplicando-se o racional inverso, o preço cai. Foi com base neste principio que se realizou a análise à identificação de oportunidades de investimento. A leitura e interpretação gráfica através da análise de preço, foram a base de análise do autor. Esta análise incidiu maioritariamente, na identificação de níveis de preço caracterizados pela probabilidade de existência de muitos compradores ou vendedores. A utilização de indicadores técnicos servira meramente como confirmação e suporte à análise de preço. O desafio da realização desta tese foi reflectido na parte prática. O objectivo era provar a validade da Análise Técnica como base na realização de pelo menos 30 trades. O autor atingiu uma rentabilidade anual de 3,075.92% utilizando como período amostral trinta dias. Esta rentabilidade ultrapassou de forma expressiva o ‘target’ inicialmente definido de 242%, para concluir a validade da Análise Técnica. Consequentemente, a validade da Análise Técnica foi comprovada perante as premissas definidas do presente estudo. Os elevados níveis de rentabilidade acima referidos, são justificados pela especificidade e características do produto analisado, ‘The Crack Outright’

Banif Bank: Value creation in the Maltese market

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsThe entry in a new market is always a major strategic challenge for a firm: competing in different regions and dealing with the specific conditions. This work project describes the entry of a new bank in the Maltese market, by exploring a new positioning. Through the real case of Banif Bank, this case intends to evaluate the potential of value creation in that industry, by first assessing its attractiveness and profitability. Then, Banif Bank positioning is analized to conclude if it can create a competitive advantage that would be sustainable in the long term

Adesão das pessoas com diabetes tipo 1 às atividades de autocuidado

Objective: to assess the adherence of people with type 1 diabetes to self-care activities. Method: quantitative study with 60 diabetics, from Porto, Portugal. The Self-Care Scale for Diabetes in its version translated and adapted to Portuguese was applied in January to February 2019. Results: respondents are mostly young (36.7%), employed (63.4%), female (73.3%), married (36.7%), high educated (60.0%) and diagnosed with recent diabetes (50.0%). Most have good mean adherence to self-care behaviors related to food (5.0), blood glucose monitoring (6.8), foot care (5.6) and medication (6.4). Regarding physical activity (2.6) and smoking, 73.3% of respondents say they smoked a cigarette in the last seven days lower adherence was identified. Conclusions: there is a need to develop educational programs to ensure a higher adherence to healthy lifestylesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adesão da pessoa com diabetes tipo I às atividades de autocuidado

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa para obtenção do grau de Licenciado em EnfermagemA não adesão às atividades de autocuidado é um problema mundial que, para além de afetar diretamente a saúde dos indivíduos, afeta também os recursos económicos e sociais. Apesar da importância da adesão às atividades de autocuidado, largamente fundamentada na evidência científica, facto é que, em muitos casos, os doentes não o fazem. Assim, entender as questões relacionadas com a adesão tem vindo a ganhar cada vez mais relevância. Deste modo, com este estudo pretendeu-se caraterizar uma amostra de indivíduos com diabetes mellitus tipo 1 e avaliar o seu nível de adesão às atividades de autocuidado. É um estudo descritivo, transversal e quantitativo, tendo sido desenvolvido na cidade do Porto e nele participaram 60 diabéticos tipo 1. Para a recolha de dados utilizou-se da Escala de Autocuidado com a Diabetes na sua versão traduzida e adaptada para português de Portugal, de Bastos (2004). Os resultados mostraram um perfil de participantes maioritariamente jovem, empregado, do género feminino, casados, com o ensino secundário completo e com um diagnóstico da diabetes recente. Foram avaliados à adesão as atividades de autocuidado, no domínio da alimentação geral, alimentação especifica, atividade física, monitorização da glicemia, cuidados com os pés, medicamentos e hábitos tabágicos. Conclusão: Através deste estudo, alcançou-se um conhecimento mais aprofundado da amostra, permitindo caraterizá-la sociodemográficamente e também conhecer e identificar os padrões de adesão às atividades de autocuidado, permitindo a recomendação de medidas educativas dirigidas para o cuidado da pessoa portadora de diabetes mellitus.Non-adherence to self-care activities is a worldwide problem that, in addition to directly affecting the health of individuals, also affects economic and social resources. Despite the importance of adherence to self-care activities, largely based on scientific evidence, in many cases patients do not. therefore, understanding issues related to accession has gained increasing relevance. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize a sample of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus and to assess their level of adherence to self-care activities. This study was carried out in the city of Oporto and was attended by 60 type 1 diabetics. Data collection was done using the Diabetes Self-Care Scale in its Portuguese version, adapted by Bastos (2004). The results showed a profile of participants mostly young, employed, female, married, with complete secondary education and with a recent diagnosis of diabetes. Self-care activities were evaluated at the general food, specific food, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, foot care, medication and smoking habits. Conclusion: Through this study, a more in-depth knowledge of the sample was obtained, allowing it to be characterized sociodemographically and also to know and identify patterns of adherence to self-care activities, allowing the recommendation of educational measures aimed at the care of the person with diabetes mellitus.N/