CNN-based eye pattern analysis and BER prediction in PAM4 inter-datacenter optical connections impaired by intercore crosstalk

To meet the required future challenge of providing enough bandwidth to achieve high data traffic rates in datacenter links, four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) signals transmission in short-haul intensity modulation-direct detection datacenters connections supported by homogeneous weakly-coupled multicore fibers has been proposed. However, in such fibers, a physical effect known as inter-core crosstalk (ICXT) limits significantly the performance of short-reach connections by causing large bit error rate (BER) fluctuations that can lead undesirable system outages. In this work, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed for eye-pattern analysis and BER prediction in PAM4 inter-datacenter optical connections impaired by ICXT, with the aim of optical performance monitoring. The performance of the CNN is assessed using the root mean square error (RMSE). Considering PAM4 interdatacenter links with one interfering core and for different skew-symbol rate products, extinction ratios and crosstalk levels, the results show that the implemented CNN is able to predict the BER without surpassing the RMSE limit. The CNNs trained with different optical parameters obtained the best performance in terms of generalization comparing to CNNs trained with specific optical parameters. These results confirm that the CNN-based models can be able to extract features from received eye patterns to predict the BER without prior knowledge of the transmitted signals.De modo a colmatar a necessidade de fornecer largura de banda suficiente para atingir altas taxas de tráfego de dados em ligações entre centros de dados, foi proposta a transmissão de sinais com modulação de impulsos em amplitude com 4 níveis (PAM4) em ligações de curto alcance entre centro de dados com modulação de intensidade e deteção direta suportadas por fibras homogéneas multinúcleo fracamente acopladas. No entanto, neste tipo de fibras, a diafonia entre núcleos (ICXT) limita significativamente o desempenho das ligações, causando grandes flutuações da taxa de erros binários (BER), o que pode conduzir à indisponibilidade da ligação. Neste trabalho, através da análise de diagramas de olho usando uma rede neuronal convolucional (CNN) é estimada a BER em ligações ópticas entre centros de dados PAM4 degradadas por ICXT com o objetivo de monitorização do desempenho. Para avaliar o desempenho da CNN é usada como métrica a raiz do erro quadrático médio (RMSE). Para diferentes atrasos de propagação entre núcleos, razões de extinção e níveis de diafonia, a CNN é capaz de prever BERs sem ultrapassar o limite estabelecido para o RMSE. As CNNs treinadas com diferentes parâmetros ópticos obtiveram o melhor desempenho em termos de generalização em comparação com CNNs treinadas com parâmetros ópticos específicos. Estes resultados confirmam que os modelos baseados em CNN são capazes de extrair informação a partir de imagens de diagramas de olhos, prevendo a BER sem conhecimento prévio dos sinais transmitidos

Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Glycaemic control, and Metabolic profile in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a study in the Portuguese Population

Introdução: As Experiências Adversas na Infância (ACE) são muito prevalentes na população geral. Enquanto formas de trauma psicológico com início precoce, as ACE alteram as respostas metabólicas, endócrinas e imunológicas, e promovem um risco acrescido para desenvolvimento de diversas doenças, físicas ou psiquiátricas, na idade adulta. A relação entre as ACE e o diagnóstico e controlo de Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (T2DM) foi estudada. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a relação entre as ACE, o stress percecionado e o perfil clínico e laboratorial de um grupo de doentes com T2DM. Métodos: Sessenta e seis pacientes adultos com T2DM foram submetidos a uma avaliação psicossocial, os seus dados clínicos e laboratoriais foram recolhidos dos registos clínicos. As ACE e os níveis de stress percecionado foram medidos através do Questionário de História na Infância - Versão reduzida (ACEQ) e da Escala do Stress Percecionado 10 (PSS-10); foram examinados o perfil metabólico (HbA1c, glicemia, IMC, perfil lipídico e perfil tensional), comportamentos de risco e complicações clínicas da T2DM. Resultados: A idade média dos participantes é 67.3 anos (SD 10.5), a maioria é homem (65.2%), com uma duração média de doença de 9.2 anos. Quarenta e cinco reportaram pelo menos um ACE. Os pacientes apresentaram uma média de 2.4 (SD 2.57) ACE e uma pontuação de 15.1 (SD 7.38) na PSS-10. Daqueles que apresentaram lesões macro ou microvasculares, 67.7% e 65.8%, respetivamente, reportaram ACE. Em pacientes com ACE, a tendência era de maior HbA1c e glicemia, os pacientes com níveis de stress mais altos apresentavam pior controlo metabólico. Conclusões: Os parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais da T2DM apresentaram-se mais severos nos pacientes que reportaram experiências adversas na infância. Os resultados do perfil metabólico e dos níveis de stress elevados, encontrados neste subgrupo podem indicar uma resposta endócrina disfuncional determinada pelos fatores de stress no início da vida.Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are highly prevalent in the general population. As a form of early psychological trauma, ACE alter metabolic, endocrine, and immunologic responses, and promote higher risk for several physical and psychiatric diseases in adulthood. A relationship has been reported between ACE and the diagnosis and control of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This study goal was to evaluate the relationship between ACE, perceived stress, and clinical and laboratory profile in a group of T2DM patients. Methods: Sixty-six adult patients with T2DM were submitted to a psychosocial evaluation, and clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the clinical charts. The occurrence of ACE and stress levels were measured with the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire - Short Version (ACEQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10); metabolic (HbA1c, glycemia, BMI, lipid, and tensional profile), health behaviours, and T2DM clinical outcomes were examined. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.3 years (SD 10.5), the majority were males (65.2%), with a mean length of disease of 9.2 years. Forty-five reported at least one ACE. Participants presented a mean number of 2.4 (SD 2.57) ACE and a PSS-10 score of 15.1 (SD 7.38). From those presenting macro or microvascular lesions, 67.7% and 65.8%, respectively, reported ACE. A trend was found to higher HbA1c and glycaemia in patients with ACE; higher perceived stress was associated with poorer metabolic control. Conclusions: More severe clinical and laboratory parameters of T2DM were detected in patients who reported adverse experiences during childhood. Specific metabolic profile and higher stress levels found in this subgroup may indicate a dysfunctional endocrine response determined by early-life stressors

Sports in Digital Era

The thesis's primary purpose is to demonstrate the growth of the digital era on the sports industry for awareness and better management. Moreover, it aims to explain the digital technology revolution and its effect on physical activities and sports. The paper presents a social analysis of sports regarding the effects of the IV Industrial Revolution, driven by an unprecedented level of development in materials sciences, digital technology, and biology. The future views on the evolution of the sports industry and options for the sports manager in the phase of digital transition are illustrated. The conclusion summarizes the implications and represents the direction of the sports industry.O objetivo desta tese é demonstrar o crescimento da era digital na indrústia desportiva para a consciencialização e uma melhor gestão. Além disso, visa explicar a revolução tecnológica digital e a sua influência na atividade física e desporto. O documento apresenta uma análise social do desporto em relação aos efeitos da IV Revolução Industrial, impulsionada pelo sem precedente nível de desenvolvimento nas ciências materiais, tecnologia digital e biologia. O futuro da evolução da indústria do desporto e as opções dos gestores desportivos na fase de transição do digital. A conclusão resume as implicações e reflete a direção da indústria do desporto

Lean Banking : estudo de caso na empresa BNP Paribas

Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia IndustrialDevido à crise existente no setor bancário verificado nos últimos anos, as instituições bancários tiveram de recorrer a novos sistemas de gestão e controlo das operações de maneira a reduzir desperdícios e conseguir manter a sua oferta de serviços com uma elevada qualidade, assumindo vantagem competitiva. Os conceitos lean services e lean banking são assim utlizados neste setor de serviços como resposta à situação atual do mercado bancário com o intuito de desenvolver um ambiente mais produtivo, que através do envolvimento de todos torna possível otimizar processos, reduzir desperdícios e aumentar a qualidade do produto final. Consequentemente, possibilita-se a redução de custos e o aumento da satisfação e confiança dos clientes. Tem como objetivo estudar os conceitos lean services aplicados a uma instituição bancária e expor as adaptações realizadas aos seus conceitos para a sua utilização como lean banking. Ao longo do presente trabalho foi realizada uma revisão sobre o estado de conhecimento da filosofia lean production e lean banking, designadamente os seus princípios, conceitos e ferramentas, desde a sua adoção na indústria automóvel até à atualidade. Foi posteriormente realizado um caso de estudo num departamento específico do BNP Paribas Portugal, onde foram implementados os conceitos lean, analisados os resultados obtidos e feita a proposta de melhoria com base nos mesmos, retirando conclusões sobre as vantagens da sua utilização.Due to the crisis in the banking sector in recent years, banking institutions have had to resort to new systems of management and control of operations in order to reduce waste and manage to maintain their offer of services with a high quality, assuming a competitive advantage. The lean services and lean banking concepts are thus used in this service sector as a response to the current situation of the banking market in order to develop a more productive environment, which, through the involvement of all, makes it possible to optimize processes, reduce waste and increase the quality of the final product. As a result, costs can be reduced and customer satisfaction and confidence increased. Its objective is to study the lean services concepts applied to a banking institution and expose the adaptations made to its concepts for their use as lean banking. Throughout this work, a review was carried out on the state of knowledge of lean production and lean banking philosophy, namely its principles, concepts and tools, from its adoption in the automotive industry to the present day. A case study was subsequently carried out in a specific department of BNP Paribas Portugal, where the lean concepts were implemented, the results obtained were analyzed and a proposal for improvement was made based on them, drawing conclusions about the advantages of their use.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Behaviour-based price discrimination under advertising and imperfectly informed consumers

This paper is a first look at the dynamic effects of BBPD in a horizontally differentiation product market, where firms need to invest in advertising to generate awareness. When a firm is able to recognize customers with different purchasing histories, it may send them targeted advertisements with different prices. In comparison to no discrimination, it is shown that firms reduce their advertising efforts, charge higher first period prices and lower second period prices. In comparison to no discrimination, in contrast to the profit and consumer welfare results obtained under full informed consumers, it is shown that BBPD boosts industry profits and harms consumers.COMPETE, QREN, FEDER, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Behavior-based pricing under imperfectly informed consumers

This paper is a first look at the dynamic efects of BBPD in a horizontally diferentiation product market, where rms need to invest in advertising to generate awareness. When a rm is able to recognize customers with diferent purchasing histories, it may send them targeted advertisements with diferent prices. We show that in comparison to no discrimination, rms reduce their advertising eforts, charge higher rst period prices and lower second period prices. As a result of that in contrast to the prot and consumer welfare results obtained under full informed consumers, we show that BBPD boosts industry prots at the expense of consumer welfare.FCT - Project PTDC/IIM-ECO/2280/2014; Compete 2020, Feder, Portugal 2020, FC

Being in or being out: social exclusion and destructive collective behaviour of disadvantaged groups

Classificação: 3000: Social Psychology; 3020: Group & Interpersonal ProcessesA presente tese expõe uma abordagem baseada na identidade social para explicar acções colectivas praticadas por grupos em desvantagem social consideradas pela maioria em vantagem social como mais problemáticas (i.e., destrutivas/danosas/violentas). Propomos que o comportamento destrutivo, e respectivas emoções negativas, não são meras expressões de conflito intergrupal, sendo antes respostas a acções praticadas pela maioria em vantagem percepcionadas pela minoria em desvantagem como transgressões que violam standards mínimos (por comparação a standards máximos), standards esses estabelecidos por categorias supra-ordenadas. Resultados de dois estudos de campo (Estudo 1 com imigrantes em Portugal e Estudo 2 com fumadores) e dois estudos experimentais laboratoriais nos quais se recorreu a um jogo virtual (Estudos 3 e 4) corroboram, em geral, as nossas hipóteses: A percepção de violação de standards mínimos conduz a emoções negativas e a comportamento destrutivo. Os Estudos 3-4 revelam que estas percepções são mais prováveis no caso de exclusão social (em comparação com formas mais benignas de privação, i.e., marginalização), sugerindo uma mediação em cadeia desde a exclusão até ao comportamento destrutivo, via percepção de standards mínimos e emoções negativas. Inesperadamente, a mediação via emoções negativas foi parcial, sugerindo uma ligação directa entre violação de standards mínimos e comportamento destrutivo. Também inesperadamente, ser marginalizado já conduz a emoções negativas (Estudos 2-3), mas não a comportamento destrutivo. Resultados do Estudo 1 sugerem que a identificação com categorias supra-ordenadas promove percepções de standards como mínimos e emoções negativas quando estes são violados, podendo também atenuar as intenções de recorrer a acções destrutivas.The current thesis presents a social-identity-based approach to explain collective actions by disadvantaged groups that are considered by advantaged majority members to be most problematic (i.e., destructive, harmful and/or violent). We propose that destructive behaviour and corresponding negative emotions are not mere expressions of intergroup conflict, but are responses to actions by the advantaged majority perceived by the disadvantaged minority as transgressions that violate minimal (as compared to maximal) standards established by inclusive superordinate categories. Results of two field studies (Study 1 with immigrants in Portugal and Study 2 with smokers) and two laboratory experiments using a virtual ball toss setting (Studies 3 and 4) generally support our hypotheses that perceived violation of minimal standards leads to stronger negative emotions and destructive behaviour. Studies 3-4 also show that these perceptions are most likely in the case of social exclusion (as compared to more benign forms of deprivation, i.e., marginalization), suggesting a two-step chain mediation from exclusion to destructive behaviour via minimal standard violation perception and negative emotions. Unexpectedly, mediation by negative emotions was only partial, speaking for a direct link between minimal standard violation perception and destructive behaviour. Unexpectedly as well, being only marginalized but not excluded increases already negative emotions (Studies 2 and 3), but these do not translate into destructive behaviour. Results of Study 1 suggest that identification with superordinate categories foster perceptions of standards as minimal and negative emotions when they are violated, but can also attenuate intentions to destructive actions

Technology market transfer plan launch of DELIVES to E.U. Market©

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em BiotecnologiaThe pharmaceutical industry faces one of the biggest waves of patent expirations. The magnitude of the potential loss of sales is such that Datamonitor, predicts that between 2011 and 2012 the revenue from the drug will decrease for the first time in four decades. Alternatively, the technologies for Drug Delivery (DD), which consist of the science of delivering an active ingredient in place of the body where this is necessary, in the right quantities at the right time in the most effective and convenient, are boosting the growth of pharmaceutical companies, increasing its revenue by extending the product life cycle and through new formulations and combinations. According to this perception, this marketing plan was developed for a future company, LIFE DELIVERY, which holds the patent of a new biomaterial, and intends to launch a new product - Deliver | Improving life quality - for the market. DELIVES is a New Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD), which consists of a DD directed to release the drug locally in the area of interest, extremely versatile and can be precisely adjusted to achieve the specific objectives of each client, providing a controlled release of drugs and elaborated through a process environmentally friendly. Using three types of segmentation (geographic, industry type and application) and applying different evaluation criteria to selected segments, the final conclusions point to the following target customers: large pharmaceutical companies, the European Union, acting in the markets of the following therapeutic areas: inflammation and Musculosketal, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases, the latter being the ideal customers for market entry strategy. According to the perceived value, of target customers - translated in cost-saving -, LIFE DELIEVERY will adopt a position based on three main pillars: quality, innovation and organizational image. The business model adopted aims to license the technology, using different communication strategies, and € 322.078.48, is the cost to implement this marketing plan in the first year of life of the company