Improving the quality of Portuguese SMEs through competence evaluation

UIDB/04647/2020 UIDP/04647/2020Problem and goal. Since we are going through a key moment in terms of technological advances and their effect on the labour field, the investigation of the on-the-job training processes gains a predominant role. Moreover, the need to research an approach that promotes a balance between the four spheres of development of learning – economic, sustain-able, community and personal – is emerging. This study was conceived as a result of this ur-gency, aiming to respond to the following problem: to what extent does a training model, based on the VPL (Validation of Prior Learning) approach and supported by principles of the educational sciences, can contribute to individual empowerment and, consequently, to an improvement in the organizational quality of Portuguese SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)? Methodology. The division of the research into two parts – Study 1 and Study 2 – al-lowed the collection and analysis of structural data (Study 1) that served as a basis for the defi- nition of a dynamic strategy (Study 2). Although undertaken at different times, they have thus proved to be complementary. In fact, the design of the training model was based, firstly, on the results obtained through exploratory interviews with key informants and, secondly, on the data obtained throughout the training process that involved ninety-two employees from ten Portuguese SMEs from diverse categories and sectors. Results. The training model, which emerged from the interaction between the theoreti-cal reflection and the practical context, comprises five components: distance learning, recog-nition of skills, language skills, intercultural skills and an individual action plan. Conclusion. This study, being an important contribution to the topic of on-the-job training in Portuguese SMEs, at the same time opens the way for the continuation of the research.publishersversionpublishe

Nitrogen removal in a Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor : effect of carbon availability and intermittent aeration

This study aimed to investigate the effects of carbon availability and intermittent aeration on nitrogen removal in a Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor (SBBR). The percentage of nitrogen removal in the SBBRs operating with dump fill and slow fill with optimum intermittent aeration was quite similar, 75.7% and 69.2%, respectively, indicating that intermittent aeration allowed a considerable energy saving without compromising significantly nitrogen removal. Accumulation of storage polymers by heterotrophic bacteria was only observed in the dump fill mode of operation. FISH analyses of the biofilm indicated that ammonia-oxidisers belonged to the beta-subclass Proteobacteria and nitrite-oxidisers were affiliated with the genus Nitrospira.Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Do different sites in the same river have similar Trichoptera assemblages?

During the summer of 2001, trichoptera larvae were sampled with a kick-net in 15 sites belonging to 3 rivers of the Mondego River basin, in central-north Portugal. Simultaneously, 42 environmental variables were evaluated for each site. Twenty five species and genera of caddisflies were identified. The objective was to assess if trichoptera assemblages within a river tended to be more similar among each other than between rivers, giving the physical continuity of the habitat. Localities showed low segregation between all samples (MDS, CLUSTER and ANOSIM). The Alva River samples had the higher number of taxa and animals while the Ceira River samples had the lowest values. In terms of environmental characteristics, PCA showed high similarities between samples of the same river. However there was not total segregation of rivers. BIOENV analysis identified the set of parameters that best explain trichopteran associations per river. For the rivers, these variables were all related to habitat (e.g. pool quality, depth, substrate quality). The differences between the Alva and Ceira rivers seem to be related to the deterioration of the water quality in the Ceira river (increasing levels of sulphate, chloride and % of industrial, urban and degraded areas), which increased down the river.Durante el verano de 2001 se capturaron larvas de tricópteros en 15 puntos de muestreo pertenecientes a 3 ríos de la cuenca hidrográfica del Mondego, en el centro-norte de Portugal. Los muestreos fueron realizados con una red de mano (tipo "kicknet") y, simultáneamente, se evaluaron 42 variables ambientales para cada localidad. En total fueron identificadas 25 especies de tricópteros. El objetivo del estudio era evaluar si, dada la continuidad físico-química del habitat, las asociaciones de tricópteros de las localidades situadas en un mismo río son más semejantes entre sí que las pertenecientes a localidades de ríos diferentes. Los locales se presentaran poco segregados de acuerdo con los análisis MDS, CLUSTER y ANOSIM. Las muestras del río Alva tuvieron un número más elevado de taxa y animales mientras que las muestras del río Ceira tuvieron los valores más bajos. Desde el punto de vista ambiental el PCA reveló que las muestras de un mismo río eran más semejantes entre si. Sin embargo, no hubo segregación completa de ríos. El análisis BIOENV identificó el grupo de parámetros que mejor explican las asociaciones de tricópteros por río. Para los ríos, esas variables estaban todas relacionadas con el hábitat (e.g., calidad de las zonas lénticas, calidad de substrato y profundidad). Las diferencias entre los ríos Alva y Ceira parecen ser debidas al empeoramiento de la calidad de las aguas del río Ceira (mayores niveles de sulfato, cloro y porcentaje de degradación industrial y urbana) que aumentan río abajo

A Knowledge Based System for Supporting Sustainable Industrial Management in a Clothes Manufacturing Company Based on a Data Fusion Model

In this paper we propose a knowledge based system (KBS), based on smart objects and a data fusion model to support industrial management decision making applied to a clothes manufacturing enterprise. The management processes cover factory-production levels to higher decision-making levels. Therefore, the proposed KBS contributes to solving different kind of decision problems, including factory supervision, production planning and control, productivity management, real-time monitoring, and data acquisition and processing. The web access via different middleware devices and tools at different process levels, along with the use of integrated algorithms, decision methods, and smart objects, promote an optimized use of knowledge and resources. In this paper the proposed KBS is introduced and an example of its use is illustrated with an example of a clothes manufacturing resources selection, using the embedded dynamic multi-criteria fusion model.This work was supported by FCT “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” under the program: PEST2015-2020, reference: UID/CEC/00319/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Durabilidade de argamassas de base cimentícia reforçadas com fibras sintéticas

O presente artigo apresenta os resultados obtidos num programa experimental de caracterização de três argamassas de matriz cimentícia reforçadas com diferente tipo de fibras, nomeadamente, fibras de poliacrilonitrila (PAN), vidro (GF), polipropileno (PP) e de álcool polivinílico (PVA). A avaliação do desempenho das fibras como reforço efetivo de materiais de matriz cimentícia, foi realizada com ensaios de avaliação das propriedades reológicas, mecânicas (compressão e flexão) e de durabilidade (absorção de água por capilaridade e permeabilidade ao ar e à água). De modo a comparar e analisar os resultados obtidos, foram também realizados os mesmos ensaios com uma argamassa comercial de base cimentícia. Os ensaios são descritos e os principais resultados obtidos são apresentados e discutidos.Esta investigação foi realizada no âmbito do projeto InoTec - Material inovador de ultra elevada ductilidade para a reabilitação do património construído, promovido pela Empresa CiviTest e pela Universidade do Minho e financiado pelo COMPETE / QREN / FEDER (NORTE-07-0202 FEDER-023024). O primeiro autor agradece a bolsa de investigação atribuída ao abrigo deste projeto. Um especial agradecimento à empresa Owens Corning pelo fornecimento das fibras de vidro, à Exporplas pelas fibras de polipropileno, à Sika pelo superplastificante, à Secil pelo cimento, à CHRYSO pelo VMA e à S&P Clever Reinforcement Ibérica pelo fornecimento da argamassa comercial

Durabilidade do betão auto-compactável reforçado com fibras de aço

A durabilidade é uma das características mais importantes que o betão deve possuir devido à sua fundamental incidência na vida útil das estruturas. Para os betões convencionais, sem adição de fibras de aço, existem indicadores de durabilidade que são já de utilização corrente. No entanto, para o betão auto-compactável reforçado com fibras de aço (BACRFA) a investigação relacionada com a durabilidade ainda é escassa, nomeadamente os aspetos relacionados com a resistência à corrosão das fibras. Neste seguimento, desenvolveu-se um trabalho experimental com provetes de BACRFA e provetes de betão auto-compactável (BAC) sem fibras, com o objetivo de caracterizar o comportamento mecânico (módulo de elasticidade, resistência à compressão e à flexão) e avaliar parâmetros indicadores de durabilidade (absorção de água por imersão e por capilaridade, permeabilidade ao ar, resistividade elétrica, difusão de cloretos por migração em regime não estacionário e resistência à carbonatação). Os resultados obtidos para os diferentes betões em estudo são apresentados e analisados.

Exopolysaccharide production by Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a widespread Gram-negative bacterium that infects the stomach of humans leading to the onset of several gastric disorders, such as, gastritis, gastric ulcers, and cancers. Studies from developing countries with low socioeconomic status and poor management of the drinking water suggest that it may serve as an environmental reservoir of H. pylori and therefore contribute to human infection. It has been reported that H. pylori has the ability to form microbial consortia embedded by a highly hydrated exopolysaccharidic matrix (biofilms) on surfaces exposed to water. The enhanced protection provided to microbial cells by the exopolysaccharides (EPS) brings added concerns about the possibility of H. pylori being transmitted through drinking water. H. pylori EPS as been reported to be composed mainly by Gal:Glc:GlcN in a proportion of 1.0:2.1:7.0, respectively (Stark et al., 1999). The present work brings about microscopical evidences of the capability of H. pilory to form free swimming bacterial aggregates and biofilms when submitted to nutrient depletion and hydrodynamic stress. Evidences that H. pylori aggregation is an exopolysaccharidic mediated phenomena both in planktonic and sessile states are also showed. Ethanol fractioning of the material recovered from these aggregates revealed an EPS composed of Gal:Glc:GlcN in a proportion of 1.0:0.4:1.6 respectively. A further structural detail about this EPS is under progress

Emotional recognition and empathy both in deaf and blind adults

Studies addressing the recognition of emotions in blind or deaf participants have been carried out only with children and adolescents. Due to these age limits, such studies do not clarify the long-term effects of vision and hearing disabilities on emotion recognition in adults. We assessed the ability to recognize basic emotions in 15 deaf adults (aged 32.4 +/- 8.1 yrs) and in 15 blind adults (48.3 +/- 10.5 yrs). Auditory and visual stimuli expressing six basic emotional states were presented to participants (Florida Affect Battery). Participants also performed an empathy test. Deaf participants showed difficulties in emotion recognition tasks compared to the typical hearing participantshowever, differences were only statistically reliable for Facial Emotion Discrimination and Naming tasks (specifically, naming expressions of fear). Deaf participants also revealed inferior levels of cognitive empathy. Concerning blind participants, their performance was lower than the controls' only when the task required the evaluation of emotional prosody while ignoring the semantic content of the sentence. Overall, although deaf and blind participants performed reasonably well on tasks requiring recognition of basic emotions, sensory loss may hinder their social perception skills when processing subtle emotions or when the extraction of simultaneous prosodic and semantic information is required.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, FCT Research Center [UID/BIM/04773/2013 CBMR]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sustainable practices for electrical energy network management: A literature review and proposal

Many different approaches have been proposed for improving energy network management. Although these diverse contributions, most approaches for clearly identifying and accurately solving the real problems remain rather inefficient. This is greatly due to the absence of use of completely integrated and sustainable models with Organizations playing fundamental rolls through the use of effective and efficient decision support tools. One such typical problem is related to the accurate identification and the precise calculation of electrical energy losses, which still remains unsolved as well as the clear specification of the critical points and segments in the networks were problems do occur. Consequently, there is still a lack of effective prioritization of actions and interventions in order to reduce those problems. Therefore, in this paper we propose a model for sustainable energy network management were the organizational element assumes a crucial function.This work was supported by FCT “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” under the program: PEst20152020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Corrosion effects on pullout behavior of hooked steel fibers in self-compacting concrete

Fiber reinforced concrete structures are subjected to chloride and carbonation penetration that could initiate corrosion of steel fibers, with eventual pernicious consequences in terms of structural and durability performance. Cracks in concrete are known to hasten initiation of steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. The investigation of the impact of cracks on the corrosion initiation and the associated interfacial damage between concrete and steel fibers is important for understanding the mechanical behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete. In the present work, with the aim of studying the corrosion action on the mechanical behavior of cracked Steel Fiber Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete (SFRSCC), an experimental program was performed to characterize the corrosion of hooked-end steel fibers and to assess the fiber pullout behavior in cracked concrete, previously subject to the action of corrosion by exposure to aggressive chloride environment.The study reported in this paper is part of the research project QREN number 5387, LEGOUSE - Development of cost competitive pre-fabricated modular buildings, involving the Companies Mota-Engil, CiviTest, the ISISE/University of Minho and PIEP. The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided by Maccaferri and Radmix for supplying the fibers, Sika for the superplasticizer, Secil for the cement and Omya Comital for the limestone filler. The first author acknowledges the research grant under this project