SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN PORTUGAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE HOST COUNTRY DEPENDING ON THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

This study intends to be an extension of another, already published in 2012 titled "ERASMUS students in Portugal: The perception and the impact of international crisis." However, even if both studies remain in the domain of social representations, what we propose is a comparative analysis of how international students in Portugal look at the host country depending on being, or not being, from Latin countries. In methodological terms, we decided to construct a questionnaire that was subjected to statistical analysis. We present some comments on the evolution of the Portuguese economy, before and after the crisis, and on the importance of EU policies to improve the perception of European values among students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Portuguese Diaspora: Life Stories / Documentaries

The return is a change that is configured at various levels - relationships , routines , roles - and can interfere with the self - concept and the concept that individuals have about the other . (Schlossberg , Waters & Goodman , 1995).The mobility in this case the return is a transition and / or a crisis in that the individual initiates an adaptation process . This process is influenced by several variables , including the subjective perception regarding the event and the different characteristics of the contexts of exit and reception and the characteristics of the actors in this event. (Pine and Ferreira , 2002; Evans & Forney , Guido DiBrito , 1998). If migrations occur regularly , this process can not interfere with the return movement of the Portuguese diaspora since decolonization that constituted for the Portuguese a transition not expected and , but configuring contexts breakthrough.The intention is to understand the contexts of life of the people involved in the process ( rupture, integration , opportunities , etc. ) through the documentaries made for the purpose

Smart cities, smart tourism? The case of the city of Porto

The so-called Smart Cities have been playing an important role in the academic literature as well as in the agenda of public policies. With the forward thinking of “creating” new urban development models, the cities intend to strategically positioning themselves and at the same time develop cooperation networks. Frequently using the Information and Communication Technologies (while as a means to an end and not as an end itself), the cities try to assure a greater economic competitiveness, the environmental sustainability and the reinforcement of citizenship (calling out to people to participate, in the scope of an inclusive logic and in an appeal to creativity and social responsibility).Even the 2020 European strategy promotes this development.The geographic scope of the study is limited to the city of Porto. This is justified by the fact that, in 2015, Porto was one the five European cities selected to participate in the GrowSmarter (model of organization of cities of the future), an ambitious project with the objective of making Europe more sustainable and environmentally intelligent. Besides that, the Portuguese Smart Cities Index, 2016, points out the city of Oporto as the Portuguese city with better results in what concerns the main vectors of intelligence (policy, strategies and projects implemented, edification, mobility, energy and smart services).At the same time, in the international press, the city of Porto appears as a reference for its architectural wealth and as one of the more indicated European destinations for one who would like to enjoy quality holidays at a reasonable price.That is perhaps why Shermans Travel presents Porto as one of the top 10 destinations for intelligent tourists. The purpose of the present study is to understand if the emergence of smart cities can be in some way connected to the appearance of smart tourism. For such a purpose, we will study the city of Porto and a survey will be conducted among the tourists of the city.This article compiles some of the first results of the study, referring to the data collected during the months of August and September of 2017, and intends mainly to set out some hypotheses about the motivation for the choice of a tourist destination, that will be developed in future works.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Utilização de um modelo de transfusão de eritrócitos in vitro para monitorizar a divisão e expressão de CD28 em linfócitos T ativados

Introduction: Blood transfusions are associated with transfusion related inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Although residual leukocytes present in the transfused red blood cell units have been implicated in these effects, clinical trials of leukoreduction have shown conflicting results. Our previous in vitro studies with human T cells have demonstrated that red blood cells (RBC), either autologous or heterologous, have cell growth and survival bioactivities that allow activated T cells to enter consecutive cycles of cell division. However, these studies did not characterize expression of CD28, an important receptor for naïve T cells that is lost by most CD8+ T cells during aging and chronic inflammation. Objective: The purpose of this study was to use our in vitro model of blood transfusion to analyze the extent of proliferation and the expression of CD28 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from blood samples of regular blood donors and iron overloaded phlebotomized patients after centrifugation over Lymphoprep, labeled with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, a fluorescent dye that allows monitoring of cell division, and cultured for 6 days with the polyclonal T cell mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in the absence or presence of red blood cells at a 50:1 RBC to PBMC ratio. Afterwards, cells were harvested, labeled with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies against CD4, CD8 and CD28, acquired in a flow cytometer, and proliferation and expression of CD28 determined. Results: T cells proliferated more vigorously when RBC were present in the culture. Dividing CD8+ T cells showed a higher loss of CD28 than CD4+ T cells, namely in cultures with red blood cells. As a result, the percentage of CD8+CD28- T cells increased at the end of the culture period. Finally, a tendency to downregulate CD28 expression with each cell division is seen in cultures with PHA+RBC. In cultures with PHA alone a tendency to increase the values of CD28 is observed in CD4+. Conclusions & Discussion: This preliminary study suggests that red blood cells induce a population of CD8+CD28- T cells by promoting CD28 downregulation. Taking into consideration that CD8+CD28- T cells contain both immunosuppressive and inflammatory lymphocytes, these results may be relevant in the context of human pathologies where blood transfusions are needed.Introdução: As transfusões de eritrócitos estão associadas a efeitos imunomoduladores e inflamatórios. Apesar dos leucócitos residuais presentes nas unidades de sangue transfusional terem sido implicados nestes efeitos, ensaios clínicos com leucorredução mostram efeitos controversos. Estudos prévios realizados pelo nosso grupo demostraram que os eritrócitos, quer autólogos quer heterólogos, possuem bioatividades que favorecem o crescimento e a sobrevivência de linfócitos T activados in vitro, permitindo-lhes entrar em ciclos de divisão consecutivos. Contudo, esses estudos não caracterizaram a expressão de CD28, um receptor importante para a activação de linfócitos T naïve que deixa de ser expresso pela maior parte dos linfócitos T CD8+ com a idade, e em condições inflamatórias. Objetivo: A finalidade deste estudo foi utilizar um modelo in vitro de transfusão de eritrócitos para analisar a proliferação e expressão de CD28 nos linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+. Métodos: Foram isoladas células mononucleares de sangue periférico de dadores saudáveis e de pacientes flebotomizados após centrifugação sobre um gradiente de densidade (Lymphoprep), marcadas com carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), um corante fluorescente que permite a monotorização da divisão celular, e cultivadas durante 6 dias com fitohemaglutinina (PHA), um mitogénio policlonal de linfócitos T, na ausência ou presença de eritrócitos numa proporção 50RBC:1PBMC. As células foram colhidas e marcadas com anticorpos conjugados com fluorocromos contra os receptores CD4, CD8 e CD28, e depois adquiridas em um citómetro de fluxo para determinação da proliferação e a expressão de CD28. Resultados: Os linfócitos T proliferaram mais vigorosamente em culturas com eritrócitos. A proliferação esteve associada com a perda do receptor CD28, parecendo mais evidente nos linfócitos T CD8+. Isto resultou num aumento da percentagem de linfócitos CD8+CD28- no fim do período de cultura. Nas culturas com PHA há uma tendência para o aumento na expressão do CD28 nos linfócitos CD4+. Conclusão e Discussão: Este estudo preliminar sugere que os eritrócitos induzem a formação de linfócitos CD8+CD28- através da perda de expressão do receptor CD28. Considerando que os linfócitos T CD8+CD28- contem quer células imunossupressoras quer inflamatórias, estes resultados podem ser relevantes no contexto de patologias humanas onde as transfusões são necessárias

Surface chemistry of nanocellulose and its composites

Cellulose is recurrently defined as the most abundant biopolymer on planet Earth, displaying an overall estimated production rate of more than 0.2 billion tons in a single day. Cellulose prompt availability allied to it its mechanical properties made it virtually indissociable from the majority of anthropogenic commodities. Nevertheless, continuous progress demands superior features form daily common materials, being most of them adequately suited by low-cost petrochemical polymers. Fortunately, the higher Environmental awareness of the global population as well as 1 the remarkable properties of biosynthesized polymers, has driven an extensive research on a plethora of biopolymers, including cellulose. Cellulose most notable features are associated to its crystal domains, which are impressively underscored with the development of cellulose nanotechnology. Moreover, at nanoscale the cellulose surface richness in hydroxyl groups is comprehensively more available, considerably t broadening he effectiveness and potential of their interaction per se, but also by enhancing the efficacy of surface modification and functionalization. Nanocellulose surface modification was implemented almost contemporary to its discovery and characterization, and its objectives ranged between improving yield of nanocellulose production, lower its production costs, and to provide nanocellulose a completely distinct surface properties by changing its polarity, generating different functional groups, decorating it with adsorbed or tightly bound nanoparticles, and to provide additional chemical compatibility with distinct compounds to generate advanced nanocomposites. The plethora of successfully reported modifications and functionalizations underscore notable properties of both modified nanocellulose and its composites. This Chapter intends to highlight these remarkable features, hopefully widening the scope of novel applications of these impressive bio-based polymers

Preferências dos Idosos em Relação ao Feedback dos Instrutores, em Aulas de Grupo de Hidroginástica

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção de Grau de Mestre em Atividade Física em Populações Especiais conferido pela Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior – Instituto Politécnico de SantarémO presente estudo tem como objetivo caracterizar as preferências de praticantes idosos, no que diz respeito à frequência dos vários tipos de feedback dos instrutores, nas sessões de hidroginástica. A amostra foi constituída por 218 idosos, praticantes de hidroginástica. Foi utilizado o questionário denominado, Questionário de Feedback de Instrutores de Fitness – Aulas de Grupo (QUEFIF – AG), na versão preferências dos praticantes. O questionário era constituído por 45 questões, sendo que cada questão corresponde a um tipo de comportamento de feedback. Os resultados mostraram quais os tipos de comportamento mais e menos preferidos, dos praticantes. Os praticantes preferem que o instrutor informe como se deve realizar o exercício, através da forma verbal para que estes possam ouvir as informações dadas. Durante a realização dos exercícios, os praticantes preferem que o instrutor realize os mesmos exercícios e que este se encontre próximo, ou seja, a uma distância que seja possível existir contacto físico. O instrutor quando emite feedback deve mostrar afetividade positiva, ou seja, rir, ou manter qualquer tipo de contacto positivo com os seus praticantes. Quando este emite feedback deve-se dirigir a toda a classe e em relação a um exercício de cada vez, pois torna-se mais fácil assimilar as informações dadas. O feedback emitido deve ser dado imediatamente após a realização do exercício fazendo referência à forma como os praticantes devem respirar, na execução dos exercícios. O instrutor deve orientar-se de frente para os praticantes e emitir feedback ficando a observar os praticantes e emitir um novo feedback.The aim of the present study was to characterize the elderly participants preferences about instructors’ feedback behaviour in Aquafitness classes. The sample was 218 elderly participants of Aquafitness classes. An instructors’ feedback behaviors questionnaire (QUEFIF-AG) was used, in participants preferences version. The questionnaire has 45 questions and each question corresponded to a type of feedback behavior. The results showed which types of behavior are more and less preferred, of the participants. Participants prefer that the instructor inform how they perform the exercise, through the verbal form so they can hear the information given. During an exercise, participants prefer that the instructor perform the same exercises and that the instructor is close, that is, at a distance that it is possible to exist physical contact. The instructor should show positive affectivity, that is, laugh or maintain any type of physical contact with its participants. When you send feedback should be directed to the whole class and in relation to one exercise at a time, as it becomes easier to assimilate the information given. The feedback issued must be given immediately after the exercise and the instructor should give more importance to how participants should breathe, in the execution of the exercises. The instructor should be facing the participants and choose to issue feedback, stay watching the participants and issue new feedback.N/

“Forma Urbis LAB” and the Morphological Atlas of Portuguese City

This paper presents the results of the Morphological Atlas that has been built over the past decade. In 2018 the research group “Forma Urbis LAB” won a grant to develop an extensive inventory of the Portuguese building typologies that address the final chapter of the Atlas of urban form in Portugal. After the accomplishment of the several previous phases with the approach to the city: urban-fabric; urban-layout; theoretical grid, urban samples, and later to the public space: square and street; and finally, to the block, plots and buildings as units of the city's private space it will be possible for the first time, to carry out an articulated approach between all the components of urban fabric having as case study around 100 Portuguese cities. The project aims to satisfy three main objectives. The first is to provide a didactic and pedagogical tool for the study and teaching of architecture and urbanism that will prove as fundamental as cartography itself. The second is to provide a tool that can be used for the professional practicing in architecture and urbanism. Provides types that consist of tangible, well-known examples that are dealt with in such a way that they can be taken as reference points for the conceptual stage itself. The third and most ambitious objective is to set up a thorough database of readily available information, which will enable to all scientific community to have access to a unique source of material for conducting and extending research on urban morphology topics, standing as a resource the Portuguese city form

ERASMUS STUDENTS IN PORTUGAL: THE PERCEPTION AND THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS

Studies on social representations already seem to be relatively common in the field of Social Sciences. However, the particular circumstances being experienced throughout Europe as a result of the international crisis seem to bring with it new possibilities for analysis. It is in this context that falls this present analysis in which are presented the preliminary results of a larger study on the perception and experience of Erasmus students in Portugal within the economic environment in which we live in. Thus, we intend to initially assess the extent the financial crisis has had impact on the motivations and expectations of those students, later to suggest an interpretative model of these results. From a conceptual standpoint, we supported this analysis in international studies and on migratory phenomena studies. In terms of methodology we chose to carry out a questionnaire then subjected to statistical analysis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fault tolerant decentralized deep neural networks

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Informatics EngineeringMachine Learning is trending in computer science, especially Deep Learning. Training algorithms that follow this approach to Machine Learning routinely deal with vast amounts of data. Processing these enormous quantities of data requires complex computation tasks that can take a long time to produce results. Distributing computation efforts across multiple machines makes sense in this context, as it allows conclusive results to be available in a shorter time frame. Distributing the training of a Deep Neural Network is not a trivial procedure. Various architectures have been proposed, following two different paradigms. The most common one follows a centralized approach, where a centralized entity, broadly named parameter server, synchronizes and coordinates the updates generated by a number of workers. The alternative discards the centralized unit, assuming a decentralized architecture. The synchronization between the multiple workers is assured by communication techniques that average gradients between a node and its peers. High-end clusters are the ideal environment to deploy Deep Learning systems. Low latency between nodes assures low idle times for workers, increasing the overall system performance. These setups, however, are expensive and are only available to a limited number of entities. On the other end, there is a continuous growth of edge devices with potentially vast amounts of available computational resources. In this dissertation, we aim to implement a fault tolerant decentralized Deep Neural Net work training framework, capable of handling the high latency and unreliability characteristic of edge networks. To manage communication between nodes, we employ decentralized algorithms capable of estimating parameters globallyMachine Learning, mais especificamente Deep Learning, é um campo emergente nas ciências da computação. Algoritmos de treino aplicados em Deep Learning lidam muito frequentemente com vastas quantidades de dados. Processar estas enormes quantidades de dados requer operações computacionais complexas que demoram demasiado tempo para produzir resultados. Distribuir o esforço computacional por múltiplas máquinas faz todo o sentido neste contexto e permite um aumento significativo de desempenho. Distribuir o método de treino de uma rede neuronal não é um processo trivial. Várias arquiteturas têm sido propostas, seguindo dois diferentes paradigmas. O mais comum segue uma abordagem centralizada, onde uma entidade central, normalmente denominada de parameter server, sincroniza e coordena todas as atualizações produzidas pelos workers. A alternativa passa por descartar a entidade centralizada, assumindo uma arquitetura descentralizada. A sincronização entre workers é assegurada através de estratégias de comunicação descentralizadas. Clusters de alta performance são o ambiente ideal para a implementação de sistemas de Deep Learning. A baixa latência entre nodos assegura baixos períodos de inatividade nos workers, aumentando assim o rendimento do sistema. Estas instalações, contudo, são muito custosas, estando apenas disponíveis para um pequeno número de entidades. Por outro lado, o número de equipamentos nas extremidades da rede, com baixo aproveitamento de poder computacional, continua a crescer, o que torna o seu uso desejável. Nesta dissertação, visamos implementar um ambiente de treino de redes neuronais descentralizado e tolerante a faltas, apto a lidar com alta latência nas comunicações e baixa estabilidade nos nodos, caraterística de redes na extremidade. Para coordenar a comunicação entre os nodos, empregamos algoritmos de agregação, capazes de criar uma visão geral de parâmetros numa topologia