Learning on demand: dynamic creation of customized, coherent eLearning experiences

This paper presents a conceptual model concerning automatic creation of coherent eLearning experiences through dynamic aggregation of heterogeneous learning objects. The model uses detailed user profiles as the main key to create customized learning content, tailored to each user’s needs, preferences and skills. Aggregation of heterogeneous learning objects may result in a very incoherent learning sequence. Therefore, the model incorporates a method to improve the learning coherence of the generated course. The compromise between customization and coherence is fully adjustable from maximum coherence to maximum customization

Experience and Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Perceptions of Community Pharmacy Professionals

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacy (CP) professionals were among those who experienced the greatest risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, which forced major adaptations. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe the changes implemented in CP professionals during the pandemic, understand the perception of professionals about their experience, and explore changes to remain. Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted via an online questionnaire (June-September 2020). The target population was CP professionals working in Portugal for >2 years and serving the public during the pandemic. Results: Of a total of 353 participants, 84% were female (mean age of 37.6 years), and 81% were pharmacists (mean professional experience of 12.9 years). In the management and organizational dimensions, the most mentioned changes were adaptation to legislative changes (90%), fluctuations in the treasury (82%), and reduction of working hours (46%). Only 2% resorted to simplified layoff. In the back office, there was a need to adapt stock management (93%) and purchase personal protective equipment (99%). In the front office, there was a change in service policies - wicket or conditional opening (92%), routes of the arrival of user requests (91%), and home delivery (82%). Physical changes occurred in 100% of pharmacies. The most frequently implemented procedures were the use of protection systems and PPE, articulation with hospital pharmacies for dispensing in proximity (75%), and training in this area (55%). Regarding interpersonal climate, improvements in the connection between team members are evident: increase in mutual help (57%), solidarity (54%), and group cohesion (50%); in the relationship with clients, the majority indicated the replacement of the usual user by third parties (71%), and changes in communication channels (increase in use of technological means 68%). Conclusions: Results illustrate the profound impact of the pandemic on CP professionals, both professionally and personally. It also highlights the importance of their roles in proximity and community support. © 2023 S. Karger AG. All rights reserved.This work was funded by 4IE project (0499_4IE_PLUS_4_E) funded by the Interreg V-A España-Portugal (POCTEP) 2017/2022 ( https://4ie.eu/ )

Descrição de uma forma autossômica dominante de síndrome de Kabuki por mutação no gene MLL2

Aims: Although there are more than 400 cases of Kabuki syndrome described in the literature, it is believed that this syndrome is under-diagnosed. Most cases occur sporadically, despite cases with autosomal dominant familial transmission being described. Here we describe three cases identified in the same family. Cases description: A family (mother and two children) was diagnosed with Kabuki syndrome. The three patients show the typical characteristics (facial appearance, musculoskeletal abnormalities, cognitive impairment, growth retardation and peculiar dermatoglyphic pattern) associated with other anomalies described in the syndrome (congenital heart disease and increased susceptibility to infections). Genetic studies revealed a nonsense mutation c.14710 C > T (p.Arg4904X) in the MLL2 gene in the three members of the family. Conclusions: With the description of another case of familial Kabuki syndrome, the authors wish to illustrate the autosomal dominant inheritance with variable expressivity, which are present in this situation, and to alert to the need for a rigorous clinical and molecular evaluation of the affected patient’s relatives, allowing appropriate genetic counseling

Characterization of polyester with fiberglass materials as reinforcement in interior dividing walls

Some synthetic fibers present better mechanical performance compared with the natural fibers. Therefor research works were carried out to focus the characterization of polyester and glass fibers to be used as reinforcements in the internal dividing walls. Results from polyester fabrics made of compression with or without fiberglass were obtained

Modelo espacial de avaliação do uso do solo em ambiente SIG: o caso da localização industrial

O planeamento do território, no qual se insere a localização industrial, obedece a um processo de classificação do uso do solo. Este diferencia o espaço territorial para um determinado tempo de vigência, devidamente regulamentado, possibilitando controlar as intervenções sobre o território. A localização de novas unidades industriais no território assume grande importância, quer do ponto de vista da sua estruturação, quer do ponto de vista do impacto ambiental causado. Assim, a escolha da sua localização deverá harmonizar diversos factores relativos às características físicas, políticas e sócio-económicas de uma dada região, de forma a conciliar os interesses dos investidores com os de uma gestão adequada do uso do solo. A apreciação da aptidão do uso do solo, quer qualitativa quer quantitativa, para a localização de novas indústrias, envolve a selecção e avaliação de um conjunto de critérios associados à decisão em causa. O modelo espacial de avaliação do Uso do Solo desenvolvido, e aqui apresentado, considera na sua formulação a perspectiva dos empresários industriais e do ordenamento do território permitindo desenvolver mapas de aptidão para um território em análise. O modelo espacial é implementado em ambiente SIG o que permite modelar e visualizar a contribuição de cada critério no processo de decisão e possibilita a identificação das áreas mais aptas para o uso industrial por comparação das diferentes alternativas espaciais existentes. O facto do modelo ser implementado em ambiente SIG torna fácil qualquer reavaliação da aptidão do território devido a alterações que impliquem variações na importância relativa dos critérios avaliados para o território em análise. A metodologia apresentada permite ainda que se obtenham diferentes mapas de acordo com diferentes estratégias associadas ao processo de decisão, alterando a importância relativa dos critérios, fazendo variar a trade-off entre critérios ou admitindo diferentes tipos de atitude perante o risco associado à decisão. Será ainda apresentado um Caso de Estudo aplicado ao município de Vieira do Minho que permitirá validar a metodologia apresentada, bem como identificar as suas potencialidades

Learning scorecard: Monitor and foster student learning through gamification

This paper presents the Learning Scorecard (LS), a platform that enables students to monitor their learning progress in a Higher Education course during the semester, generating the data that will also support the ongoing supervision of the class performance by the course coordinator. The LS uses gamification techniques to increase student engagement with the course. Business Intelligence best practices are also applied to provide an analytical environment for student and faculty to monitor course performance. This paper describes the initial design of the LS, based on a Balanced Scorecard approach, and the prototype version of the platform, currently in use by graduate and undergraduate students in the fall semester of 2016-2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The vernacular house between the Cávado and the Ave, Portugal

Publicado em "Vernacular heritage and earthen architecture : contributions for sustainable development", ISBN 978-1-138-00083-4With acknowledged authenticity and cultural heritage value, rural vernacular construction of Entre-Douro-e-Minho represents the results of the centuries-old relation between men and available natural resources. Abandoned or victim of armful interventions, this unique heritage acquired economi- cal value by the growing interest on rural environment and life. It represents a mean to economical and social boosting of these depressed areas, but at the same time exposing them to the threatening lack of knowledge and property speculation. In order to protect and prevent future damages to this fragile herit- age, it’s fundamental the study and identification of its identity and technical-constructive key features. This paper presents the results of a fieldwork study performed between the Cávado and Ave rivers, which aimed to identify morfo-typologies, materials and construction techniques of the existent schist heritage. The data collected aims to contribute to its preservation and to assist technicians in future rehabilitation projects in the area

Resolving the AGN and host emission in the mid-infrared using a model-independent spectral decomposition

We present results on the spectral decomposition of 118 Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) spectra from local active galactic nuclei (AGN) using a large set of Spitzer/IRS spectra as templates. The templates are themselves IRS spectra from extreme cases where a single physical component (stellar, interstellar, or AGN) completely dominates the integrated mid-infrared emission. We show that a linear combination of one template for each physical component reproduces the observed IRS spectra of AGN hosts with unprecedented fidelity for a template fitting method, with no need to model extinction separately. We use full probability distribution functions to estimate expectation values and uncertainties for observables, and find that the decomposition results are robust against degeneracies. Furthermore, we compare the AGN spectra derived from the spectral decomposition with sub-arcsecond resolution nuclear photometry and spectroscopy from ground-based observations. We find that the AGN component derived from the decomposition closely matches the nuclear spectrum, with a 1-sigma dispersion of 0.12 dex in luminosity and typical uncertainties of ~0.19 in the spectral index and ~0.1 in the silicate strength. We conclude that the emission from the host galaxy can be reliably removed from the IRS spectra of AGN. This allows for unbiased studies of the AGN emission in intermediate and high redshift galaxies -currently inaccesible to ground-based observations- with archival Spitzer/IRS data and in the future with the Mid-InfraRed Instrument of the James Webb Space Telescope. The decomposition code and templates are available at http://www.denebola.org/ahc/deblendIRS.Comment: 16 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Ap