Broadband feed for a parabolic antenna for satellite tracking.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201

Equity valuation : EDP Renováveis

The renewables industry has been facing an important diffusion in the world of long-term energy scenarios. The necessary strict control over carbon dioxide emissions and the diversification of energy sources through ambitious world commitments is leading to a promising and continuously development of this sector. The equity valuation exercise here proposed aims to explore the connection between theoretically fundamentals with the practitioners work basis. We have designed a well theoretically supported work, with a cautious literature revision, and strongly adjusted for what equity research industry defends in practice, trying to deeply explore a more robust valuation exercise. EDP Renováveis (EDPR) is considered to be one of the leading players in the wind industry and its valuation requires a thorough analysis of industry and company specifications, considering also the actual financial markets conditions. This dissertation foresees a future development path of EDPR, based on its current framework, investment plan and natural redirections of its growth, as it has been assisted in the entire industry. We forecast a standalone valuation for EDPR of €12.509 Billion, corresponding to a target price per share of €7.10. Nevertheless, the consistent uncertainty of few main drivers’ comportments and whole projects construction, a sensitivity analysis is computed in order to account the potential future of this company. Independently of the sensitivity results of the base case, this equity valuation exercise clearly indicates a BUY recommendation

What has been driving the fluctuations in the portuguese economy? A business-cycle accounting approach

Mestrado em EconomiaA comunidade cientifica tem examinado a economia portuguesa na procura por uma possível justificação para a década perdida e, mais recentemente, a crise da dívida soberana. Nesta dissertação dedico-me a medir e avaliar as flutuações da economia portugesa através de um método chamado Business cycle Accounting. Na aplicação deste método foco-me em três períodos chave, que resultam da subdivisão do período entre 1992 e hoje. Após obter o resultado que a Investment wedge foi a distorção que melhor explica as flutuações da economia portuguesa entre 1992 e 2001, e entre 2007 e 2014 e a efficiency wedge a que melhor explica esta evolução para o período entre 2001 e 2007, dedico me a procurar na literatura explicações plausíveis para este resultado. Em conclusão, estes resultados obtidos discordam com literatura passada na aplicação deste método à economia portuguesa.The Portuguese economy has been submitted to a thorough evaluation by the scientific community, in a search to explain the Portuguese ?lost decade? and, more recently, the sovereign-debt crisis following the Great Recession. In this dissertation I measure and evaluate the fluctuations in the Portuguese economy using the Business-Cycle Accounting (BCA) method. I especially focus on three economic crises that hit the Portuguese economy from 1992 to the present day. I also provide some context on the shape of the Portuguese economy, mainly by checking what were the biggest obstacles to growth according to the literature. Applying the BCA procedure to the Portuguese economy led to the conclusion that the investment wedge had the largest role in explaining the fluctuations of the economy as a whole for both the 1992-2001 and 2007-2014 periods and that the efficiency wedge played a major role in the 2001-2007 slump. According to Portugal and Blanchard (2017) there is a cycle throughout 1992-2013. The period studied on this dissertation will focus on this cycle and its boom, slump and recession sub-periods. The conclusions obtained are somewhat different from those in the previous BCA literature on the Portuguese economy. Namely, the efficiency wedge is the main explainer in both Iskrev (2013) and Cavalcanti (2007), although providing a similar result to the period in study they disregard the importance of the investment wedge.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Regular physical exercise training assists in preventing type 2 diabetes development: focus on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Diabetes mellitus has emerged as one of the main alarms to human health in the 21st century. Pronounced changes in the human environment, behavior and lifestyle have accompanied globalization, which resulted in escalating rates of both obesity and diabetes, already described as diabesity. This pandemic causes deterioration of life quality with high socio-economic costs, particularly due to premature morbidity and mortality. To avoid late complications of type 2 diabetes and related costs, primary prevention and early treatment are therefore necessary. In this context, effective non-pharmacological measures, such as regular physical activity, are imperative to avoid complications, as well as polymedication, which is associated with serious side-effects and drug-to-drug interactions

Perception of naturalness in materials and user’s choice: hardwood and melamine foil finished products

In this study we have sought to identify the existing relationship between materials perception of naturalness, and interviewee’s preferences between hardwood and low-pressure melamine foil MDF products. Prototypes of the same product were built in five different materials: ceramics, hardwood, polyethylene, wood-like décor melamine foil MDF, and aluminum. At first, 30 interviewees from ages 20-60, ranked samples of materials according to a) perceived degree of naturalness and b) preference (hedonic scale). After that, they identified the use of the product (prototype) and chose one, under the criteria of material adequacy. The results have shown that wood and its imitations are the materials perceived as most natural, and preferred by the interviewees. However, naturalness is not necessarily the deciding factor upon choosing a product

Perceived Environmental Supportiveness Scale: Portuguese Translation, Validation and Adaptation to the Physical Education Domain

Aim: Grounded on Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to translate, adapt and validate the Perceived Environmental Supportiveness Scale (PESS) in a sample of Portuguese physical education students. Methods: The global sample was comprised of 964 students (518 females), divided in two groups: the calibration (n = 469) and the validation one (n = 483), all of them enrolled in two Physical Education (PE) classes/week. Results: The analysis provided support for a one factor and 12 items model, which are in line with the values adopted in the methodology (χ² = 196.123, df = 54, p = <.001, SRMR = .035, NNFI = .943, CFI = .954, RMSEA = .074, 90% CI .063-.085). Results express that the models are invariant in all analysis (i.e., calibration vs. validation, male vs. female,and 3rd vs. secondary cycle; three and single factor models). Conclusion: The present study suggests that the PESS with one factor and 12 items has good psychometric properties and can be used to assess perceived need supportive motivational environments provided by PE teachers. Additionally, invariance analysis showed support for the use of the scale in both genders and in the 3rd and secondary cycles.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise de sistemas de recuperação de informação em redes peer-to-peer

TCC (graduação em Biblioteconomia) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, FlorianópolisO presente trabalho analisa os sistemas de recuperação de informação em redes peer-to-peer a partir dos fundamentos teóricos da recuperação de informação, usabilidade e redes peer-to-peer. A Internet ampliou as possibilidades individuais de produção de bits de informação e seu compartilhamento. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, buscou-se neste trabalho identificar os recursos disponibilizados pelos sistemas de recuperação de informação das redes peer-to-peer selecionadas, para posterior realização de análise de usabilidade, segundo os critérios ergonômicos de Bastien e Scapin e após isso, concluindo com uma comparação entre os sistemas estudados. Foram identificados por semelhança, programas que tem em comum funcionalidades e identificadas diferenças devido há alguns critérios pré-estabelecidos na pesquisa. As características de recuperação de informação em redes de compartilhamento de arquivos dispõem de fatores relevantes para o presente estudo, tendo em vista o desenvolvimento de novos conhecimentos nesta área

Aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos do forrageamento de Speotyto cunicularia (Aves: Strigiformes) no município de Uberlândia - MG

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)Este trabalho verificou o comportamento alimentar de Speotyto cunicularia. Tais dados permitirão conhecer as espécies envolvidas em sua cadeia alimentar, bem como verificar se a mesma auxilia ou não no controle de insetos e roedores, tanto no perímetro urbano como em ambiente natural

Function Of The Bio: Computational Biology For Evolutionary Spatial Systems

Tez (Doktora) -- İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2014Thesis (PhD) -- İstanbul Technical University, Institute of Science and Technology, 2014Tarih boyunca artistik, felsefi ve bilimsel alanlardan çıkarılan estetik prensiplerin kullanımı, mekansal sanatlar alanında ön plana çıkan etmenlerdir. Benzer şekilde mimarlıkta da aynı prensip geçerlidir. Fakat bilimsel temelli şemalar genellikle sadece biçim-bulma teknikleri olarak lanse edilirler. İşin biyoloji boyutuna girdiğimizde ise bu sentez ister istemez biçimsel durumları akla getirir, ve çoğunlukla biyolojik bir sistemin bütününü oluşturan parçalarını ihmal etmemize neden olur. Biyolojik paradigma üzerinden mekansal sanat ve mimarlığın birlikteliğinin dirilişi, çoklu biçimsel modellerin eşzamanlı gerçekleşebileceği dinamik mekansal sistemlerin oluşma potansiyelini arttırır. Bu yanıyla oluşan mekanlar biyolojik modelin fonksiyonu ile daha yakın bir ilişki kurmaktadır. 19. Yüzyılın başında ortaya çıkan “Gesamtkunstwerk” hareketinin tanımından ve özellikle Kiesler’in “On Correalism and Biotechnique” çalışmalarından yola çıkarak, bu tezin mimarlık alanına yapacağı kavramsal ve teorik katkı, çoklu model ve bunu izleyen mekansal usullerin içine sokulmuş biyolojik tutumun oluşturduğu açık-uçlu bir kurgudur. Bu çeşitlilik arz eden ifade modları, yeni medya ve hesaplamalı mimarlığı tek bir mekan içinde birleştirir. Aynı zamanda yeni medya ve mekan arasında bütünleşik ve aynı anda her yerde olan biyolojik bir örgüyü, biyolojik bedensel tasarımı yaratır. Bu tez evrimsel stratejiler ve mekansal sistemler hipotezinin ilişkili kullanımıyla “Biyonun Fonksiyonu”nun ne olabileceğini araştırır. Bu araştırma biyolojik bir motivasyonla tasarlanmış bir anlayış için teorik ve formel bir yaklaşımı temin edebilir.Throughout history, the use of aesthetic principles derived from artistic, philosophical and scientific domains are emphatic factors in the field of spatial arts. Similarly, architecture falls under the same principle however, its scientific-based schemes are often simply introduced as form-finding techniques. By focusing into the biological realm, this procedural synthesis intentionally extracts formal aspects often neglecting integral parts of the biological system. Thus the combination of spatial art and architecture through a biological paradigm potentiates dynamic spatial systems that can simultaneously acquire multiple formal models. This aspect draws a closer relation to the function of the biological model. By departing from the definition of the “Gesamkunstwerk” and in particular F. Kiesler’s work “On Correalism and Biotechnique”, the theoretical and conceptual contribution to the field of architecture is an open-ended construct that embeds the biological stance into multiple models and subsequent modalities of space. These diverse modes of expression combine a biological body of design that is a ubiquitous and integrated network between new media and space. The dissertation describes an exploration of what is the “Function of the Bio” through the correlated use of evolutionary strategies and spatial systems hypothesis, which provides theoretical and a formal approach to the understanding of biological driven design.DoktoraPh

Construção de um sensor eletroquímico molecularmente impresso para a monitorização de Naloxona

A relativa facilidade em aceder a drogas e outras substâncias psicoativas nos dias correntes provocou, à escala mundial, um significativo aumento do numero de overdoses nos seus consumidores. Devido às consequências graves e por vezes fatais de uma overdose, são frequentemente usados fármacos, como a naloxona (NLX), no tratamento destes casos clínicos. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um sensor eletroquímico seletivo, com o objetivo de monitorizar a NLX em amostras de soro humano, Para isso recorreu-se a tecnologia de impressão molecular (MIT) para preparar um polímero seletivo à NLX. Inicialmente procedeu-se a deposição de uma solução de nanotubos de carbono de parede múltipla (MWCNT) em elétrodos “sreen printed” de carbono (SPCE). O polímero molecularmente impresso foi obtido através de eletropolimerização por voltametria cíclica de uma solução ontendo ácido 4-aminobenzoico (4-ABA) na presença de NLX em tampão fosfato 0,1M pH 7. De seguida procedeu-se à extração da NLX usando uma solução de metanol/HCl 0,1M (50:50). A deteção e quantificação da NLX foram realizadas posteriormente, após incubação de 5 min em soluções de NLX e análise por voltametria diferencial por impulsos (DPV). Foram testadas e otimizadas as condições de polimerização, a concentração de MWCNT depositados, o pH do eletrólito e as condições de extração. O sensor desenvolvido apresenta um comportamento linear entre a intensidade de corrente de pico e a concentração de NLX numa gama entre 0,25 e 10µM (R2=0,9997), tendo-se estimado um limite de deteção (LOD) de 0,20µM e um limite de quantificação (LOQ) de 0,67µM. Para uma concentração de 4µM foi obtida uma repetibilidade de 4,6 % e uma reprodutibilidade entre diferentes sensores de 9,6%. A aplicabilidade do sensor foi testada em amostras de soro humano, dopadas com 2 e 8µM de NLX tendo-se obtido taxas de recuperação de 98 e 92%, respetivamente. O sensor desenvolvido é barato, de fácil fabrico, descartável e apresenta boa performance analítica para deteção de NLX em amostras reais.The relative ease of access to drugs and other psychoactive substances in current days caused, worldwide, a significant increase in the number of overdoses in their consumers. Due to the serious and sometimes fatal consequences of an overdose, drugs are often used, such as naloxone (NLX) in the treatment of such clinical cases. In this work a selective electrochemical sensor in order to monitor the NLX in human serum samples for that resorted to molecular imprinting technology (MIT) to prepare a selective polymer NLX. Initially carried by the deposition of a solution of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on electrodes "sreen printed" carbon (SPCE). The molecularly imprinted polymer was obtained by cyclic voltammetry by electropolymerization of a solution containing 4-aminobencoico acid (4-ABA) in the presence of NLX in 0.1M phosphate buffer pH 7. Then it proceeded to the extraction using a solution NLX methanol / HCl 0.1M (50:50). The detection and quantification of NLX were subsequently carried out after incubation 5 min in NLX solutions and analysis by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). They were tested and optimized the polymerization conditions, the concentration of MWCNT deposited, measuring the pH of the electrolyte and extraction conditions. The sensor developed has a linear relationship between the intensity of the peak current and the concentration of NLX in the range of 0.25 to 10μM r2 = 0.9997), having estimated a detection limit (LOD) of 0,20μM and one limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0,67μM. At a concentration of 4μM 4.6% repeatability and reproducibility between different sensors of 9.6% was obtained. The applicability of the sensor was tested in samples of human serum, and 2 doped with 8μM of NLX thereby obtaining recovery rates of 98 and 92%, respectively. The developed sensor and cheap, easy to manufacture, disposable, and has good analytical performance for NLX detection in real samples