Corruption and inflation in agricultural production: the problem of the chicken and the egg

Corruption and inflation are two economic problems with serious social consequences. This paper analyzes the link between these two problems, focusing on the case of 19 prices observed for agricultural products in 90 countries since 2000. Using ‘panel data cointegration’ techniques, we conclude that, in most cases, there is a long-term relationship between inflation and corruption. The direction of causality favors the hypothesis that the inflation of agricultural products promotes incentives that lead to an increase in corruption levels. These results have important implications in terms of fighting corruption, giving special attention to controlling inefficiencies in agricultural markets that lead to higher prices that are then tapped into corruption mechanisms.This research was funded by National Funds through the FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Refª UIDB/00681/2020

Importance of statistics for Data Mining and Data Science

Knowledge has been significantly recognized by managers as an important asset for organizations. This recognition stems from the fact that knowledge is increasingly used as a strategic resource to create competitive advantage, improve organizational processes, reduce costs, and more. Data Mining (DM) is an area of study that facilitates that process, allowing you to extract useful information and predictions from the vast data sets produced by the company. With the help of statistics and their mathematical methods, DM has gradually become important and useful. Some of the main statistical metrics used to perform data analysis are mean, median, variance, standard deviation, variance analysis, correlation and regression. This study aims to highlight and prove the importance of statistics in DM, which has so much potential in terms of creating a competitive advantage on behalf of the companies. A case study using Intensive Care Medicine data were chosen to prove the importance of statistics for Data Mining.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145- FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/201

Cobertura, Conectividade e Requisitos de uma Rede de Sensores sem Fios

Ferry Jules. Rapports adressés par les inspecteurs d'académie aux Conseils généraux et académiques. In: Bulletin administratif de l'instruction publique. Tome 22 n°443, 1879. pp. 480-481

Elegibilidade, caracterização e diagnóstico nas equipas de Intervenção Precoce do Alentejo

O diagnóstico é um processo fundamental das práticas de Intervenção Precoce. O presente estudo tem como principal objectivo conhecer a forma como as Equipas de Intervenção Precoce do Alentejo procedem à elegibilidade das crianças para os seus serviços, bem como a forma como fazem o seu diagnóstico e caracterização. Para o efeito, foi aplicado um questionário a 34 equipas de Intervenção Precoce do Alentejo, apontando os resultados obtidos para a necessidade de implementação de práticas mais consistentes de avaliação e diagnóstic

Digitalization of musculoskeletal risk assessment in a robotic-assisted assembly workstation

The ergonomic assessment of adopted working postures is essential for avoiding musculoskeletal risk factors in manufacturing contexts. Several observational methods based on external analyst observations are available; however, they are relatively subjective and suffer low repeatability. Over the past decade, the digitalization of this assessment has received high research interest. Robotic applications have the potential to lighten workers’ workload and improve working conditions. Therefore, this work presents a musculoskeletal risk assessment before and after robotic implementation in an assembly workstation. We also emphasize the importance of using novel and non-intrusive technologies for musculoskeletal risk assessment. A kinematic study was conducted using inertial motion units (IMU) in a convenience sample of two workers during their normal performance of assembly work cycles. The musculoskeletal risk was estimated according to a semi-automated solution, called the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) report. Based on previous musculoskeletal problems reported by the company, the assessment centered on the kinematic analysis of functional wrist movements (flexion/extension, ulnar/radial deviation, and pronation/supination). The results of the RULA report showed a reduction in musculoskeletal risk using robotic-assisted assembly. Regarding the kinematic analysis of the wrist during robotic-assisted tasks, a significant posture improvement of 20–45% was registered (considering the angular deviations relative to the neutral wrist position). The results obtained by direct measurements simultaneously reflect the workload and individual characteristics. The current study highlights the importance of an in-field instrumented assessment of musculoskeletal risk and the limitations of the system applied (e.g., unsuitable for tracking the motion of small joints, such as the fingers)

Desempenho motor das habilidades de controlo de objetos das crianças e as suas caraterísticas empreendedoras

O crescente desenvolvimento da tecnologia e consequente crescimento económico determinaram diversas modificações no comportamento dos cidadãos nas últimas décadas, nomeadamente no aumento do sedentarismo e maus comportamentos alimentares. Constatamos que o jogo é um bom promotor não só do desenvolvimento motor mas também cognitivo e social e que muitas das competências que o jogo promove são características consideradas empreendedoras sendo as mais referenciadas pela literatura, a assunção de riscos, autoconfiança, criatividade, inovação, identificação de oportunidades, liderança e persistência. Será então que o jogo pode também promover características empreendedoras em crianças? Terá sentido falar de empreendedorismo em crianças?. O presente estudo teve como objetivos: (I) Identificar o score de habilidades motoras de controlo de objetos em crianças do 1º e 3º ano; (II) Identificar a existência ou não de caraterísticas empreendedoras em crianças do 1º e 3º ano; (III) Verificar e a relação entre as variáveis anteriores quanto à idade. Participaram 39 alunos de duas turmas. Uma do 1º ano com 10 (52,6%) meninos e 9 (47,4%) meninas e outra do 3º ano com 10 (50%) alunos de cada género. As idades estão compreendidas entre os 6 e os 9 anos (7,2±1,1). Para a determinação do desempenho motor das crianças do 1º e 3º ano de escolaridade, utilizou-se a bateria de testes TGMD-2 (Ulrich, 2000). Para a verificação das características empreendedoras realizou-se observação não participante em contexto de recreio escolar. Verificou-se que os alunos do 1º ano de escolaridade apresentam um score bruto mínimo de 24 e um máximo de 41 correspondendo a uma média de 31,1±4,9. Em relação ao score bruto dos alunos do 3º ano de escolaridade, o score mínimo obtido foi 22 e o máximo 45 em que a média corresponde a um score de 34,6±6,2. Verificamos que, a criatividade/inovação e a comunicação foram as características que mais se observaram no 1º ano e a assunção do risco a comunicação e as relações interpessoais foram as características mais observadas nos alunos do 3º ano de escolaridade. É importante compreender a relação que pode existir entre o desenvolvimento motor e a presença de caraterísticas empreendedoras e potenciamlmente desenvolve-las na escola.Apoio financeiro do CIEC (Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho; UI 317 da FCT, Portugal) através do Projeto Estratégico UID/CED/00317/2013, financiado através dos Fundos Nacionais da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predicting death and morbidity in perforated peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcers are defined as defects in the gastrointestinal mucosa that extend through the muscularis mucosae. Although not being the most common complication, perforations stand out as being the complication with the highest mortality rate. To predict the probability of mortality, several scoring systems based on clinical and biochemical parameters, such as the Boey and PULP scoring system have been developed. This article explores, using data mining in the medical data available, how the scoring systems perform when trying to predict mortality and patients’ state complication. We also try to conclude, from the two scoring systems presented, which predicts better the situations described. Regarding the results, we concluded that the PULP scoring allows a better mortality prediction achieving, in this case, above 90% accuracy, however, the results may be inconclusive due to the lack of patients who died in the dataset used. Regarding the complications, we concluded that, on the other hand, the Boey system achieves better results leading to a better prediction when it comes to predicting patients’ state complication.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (UID/CEC/00319/2013

Digitalization of musculoskeletal risk assessment in a robotic-assisted assembly workstation

The ergonomic assessment of adopted working postures is essential for avoiding musculoskeletal risk factors in manufacturing contexts. Several observational methods based on external analyst observations are available; however, they are relatively subjective and suffer low repeatability. Over the past decade, the digitalization of this assessment has received high research interest. Robotic applications have the potential to lighten workers’ workload and improve working conditions. Therefore, this work presents a musculoskeletal risk assessment before and after robotic implementation in an assembly workstation. We also emphasize the importance of using novel and non-intrusive technologies for musculoskeletal risk assessment. A kinematic study was conducted using inertial motion units (IMU) in a convenience sample of two workers during their normal performance of assembly work cycles. The musculoskeletal risk was estimated according to a semi-automated solution, called the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) report. Based on previous musculoskeletal problems reported by the company, the assessment centered on the kinematic analysis of functional wrist movements (flexion/extension, ulnar/radial deviation, and pronation/supination). The results of the RULA report showed a reduction in musculoskeletal risk using robotic-assisted assembly. Regarding the kinematic analysis of the wrist during robotic-assisted tasks, a significant posture improvement of 20–45% was registered (considering the angular deviations relative to the neutral wrist position). The results obtained by direct measurements simultaneously reflect the workload and individual characteristics. The current study highlights the importance of an in-field instrumented assessment of musculoskeletal risk and the limitations of the system applied (e.g., unsuitable for tracking the motion of small joints, such as the fingers).This work was supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund (ESF). This work was also supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020