Enterprise architecture as enabler of organizational agility : a municipality case study

Organizational agility is one of the top management concerns as organizations face today increasingly changing environments. Among enterprise architecture (EA) benefits, organizational agility has been claimed as one of them, perceived as a direct or indirect benefit, for example, through business-IT alignment, another top management concern. However, even with reasonable explanations in the EA literature, there is still a lack of empirical evidence to support such claim. Our research looks for that evidence seeking to understand how the development and use of EA may contribute for organizational agility. Having one of the biggest municipalities in the country as the research setting, using a mix-methods approach, a case study was carried out to identify EA artefacts, understand EA at use and examine agility in a specific change situation. In this case, enterprise architecture was not just used but was developed and improved during the change situation to enable organizational agility.PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/201

Enterprise architecture as enabler of organizational agility : a municipality case study

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia e Gestão de Sistemas de InformaçãoOrganizations are forced to constantly adapt and strive in a volatile environment. Not only in the private sector but also in the public one, ever-growing responsibilities and legal constraints require organizations to be efficient and agile. Any organization willing to succeed must rely in information technology to achieve efficiency and agility, what makes alignment between business strategy and information technology a key issue. Enterprise Architecture (EA) may be a way of achieving that alignment as it provides a set of principles, methods and models for a wide, integrated view of an enterprise’s organizational structure, business processes, information and IT systems. Several theoretical models in the literature highlight many benefits of EA, but few empirical studies have been done to verify those benefits. One of the most cited benefits is organizational agility. Having first to find evidence of the existence and use of components of an EA in a big municipality – Câmara Municipal do Porto (CMP), the research moved on to evaluate the EA impact on organizational agility using data collection methods such as document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and observations of the work environment. Qualitative and quantitative tools were created since no material was available to undertake the necessary analysis. The research process was done in three sequential phases as proceeding to the next phase depended on previous findings. Our study at CMP shows increased efficiency and agility from using and improving EA. Besides the verification of organizational agility benefits, also some suggestions for EA improvements to CMP result from our research. Both for enterprise architects and academics researching EA, this work provides empirical evidence of EA as an enabler of organizational agility.As organizações são constantemente pressionadas a sobreviver e a adaptarem-se num ambiente volátil. Isto acontece tanto no sector privado como no público onde o acréscimo de responsabilidades e restrições legais obrigam as organizações a serem ágeis e eficientes. Qualquer organização que queira ter sucesso deve tirar partido das Tecnologias de Informação (TI) para atingir a eficiência e agilidade desejadas. Isto torna o alinhamento entre a estratégia de negócio e as TI um aspecto fulcral. A Arquitetura da Organização poderá ser uma forma de atingir o alinhamento necessário uma vez que oferece um conjunto de princípios, métodos e modelos para uma visão alargada e integrada da estrutura organizacional, processos de negócio, informação e sistemas de TI de qualquer organização. Existem vários modelos teóricos que destacam os benefícios da Arquitetura da Organização mas poucos estudos empíricos que os comprovem. Um dos benefícios mais referidos é a agilidade organizacional. Este estudo decorreu na Câmara Municipal do Porto (CMP) começando na procura de evidências da existência e utilização de componentes de uma Arquitetura da Organização. A investigação evoluiu para a avaliação do impacto que a Arquitetura da Organização tem na agilidade organizacional. Para tal foram utilizados diversos métodos de recolha de dados como análise documental, questionários, entrevistas e observações do ambiente de trabalho. Devido à falta de material para realizar este tipo de análise, foram criadas ferramentas qualitativas e quantitativas. O processo de investigação foi feito em três fases sequenciais e dependentes. Este estudo revelou um aumento da eficiência e agilidade na CMP pela utilização e optimização da Arquitetura da Organização. Foram feitas algumas sugestões de melhoria da Arquitetura da Organização para a CMP. Para arquitetos empresariais e académicos nesta área de investigação, este estudo proporciona suporte empírico à Arquitetura da Organização como facilitadora da agilidade organizacional

Use of short podcasts to reinforce learning outcomes in biology

Podcast, a powerful Web 2.0 tool increasingly used in higher education, refers to an audio or a video file which can be automatically downloaded to one’s computer as it becomes available, then later transferred to a portable player for listening. The technology thereby enables the user to listen to and/ or to watch the content anywhere and anytime. This paper describes an exploratory study conducted at University of Minho, Portugal, in a 2nd year graduation course, where podcasts were introduced and used as a tool to present learning outcomes and to give some study guidelines The research was conducted in order to evaluate students’ and teacher’s reactions to the integration of this resource in teaching/ learning as well as students´ interest in having podcasts in the future. In conclusion, students and the lecturer considered the introduction of podcasts a very positive experience and they would like to have access to podcasts in other pedagogical contexts.This work was supported by FCT project PTDC/CED/70751/2006

Integration of podcasts with undergraduate and graduate students and their reactions

Os podcasts, uma ferramenta da Web 2.0, têm vindo a ser integrados no ensino como forma de apoio à aprendizagem. Alguns estudos têm sido realizados em universidades abordando as utilizações dos podcasts. O estudo apresentado foi realizado na Universidade do Minho, com alunos de licenciatura e de mestrado, e envolveu docentes de três escolas que utilizaram podcasts de diferentes tipos e de duração variável. Pretendeu-se aquilatar da aceitação dos alunos pelos podcasts, nomeadamente no que concerne ao seu tipo e duração, bem como o uso de tecnologias móveis para ouvirem os podcasts, e quais os locais e os momentos do dia preferenciais para a sua audição. Os dados obtidos indicam a aceitação dos podcasts pelos alunos, preferindo estes audições de curta duração, que ouvem sobretudo em casa durante a tarde ou à noite. Os alunos mostraram-se receptivos a que outras unidades curriculares integrassem podcasts, indicando os tipos a usar.Podcasts, a web 2.0 tool, have been used at different levels, including higher education. Our study was conducted at the University of Minho, in Portugal, with undergraduate and graduate students. Three teachers from three different faculties participated in this study. They used different types of podcasts and with a different length. We analyzed students’ acceptance and use of podcasts, namely its type and length, as well as the mobile technology used to listen to them, and the preferred places and moments of the day. Results show that students accept the podcasts, and they prefer short podcasts that they listen to at home and in the afternoon or at night. Students consider the possibility of listening to podcast in other courses, suggesting types of podcasts they were interested in.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PTDC/CED/70751/2006

Purification of bioactive peptides from spent yeast autolysates

Spent brewer’s yeast have been described as an important source for bioactive peptides, with their properties well proven over the years. Besides the brewing sector, growing of large-scale processes on synthetic biology industry has generated a substantial amount of spent engineered yeast with further potential to be valued in a circular economy approach. In line with this perception, in this work, peptide-rich fractions were obtained from spent yeast peptide-rich extract autolysate (“ESY1”), using two different techniques, namely protein ultrafiltration and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Both methods allowed the production of different peptide fractions with diverse protein content, molecular weight distribution and peptides sequences. Overall, fractions with higher protein content and more purified reveal higher bioactivities, namely antihypertensive and anticholesterolemic, emphasizing that the purification process is an important step to include in production process of a dietary supplement with these specific features. In addition, significant antioxidant capacity values for peptide fractions purified by SEC were obtained, highlighting their potential use in economic sectors where antioxidant capacity has a massive impact, such as cosmetics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing cognitive function in older adults using a videoconference approach

Background: The use of communication technologies is an emerging trend in healthcare and research. Despite efficient, reliable and accurate neuropsychological batteries to evaluate cognitive performance in-person, more diverse and less expensive and time consuming solutions are needed. Here we conducted a pilot study to determine the applicability of a videoconference (VC, Skype (R)) approach to assess cognitive function in older adults, using The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified - Portuguese version (TICSM-PT). Methods: After inclusion and exclusion criteria, 69 individuals (mean age = 74.90 +/- 9.46 years), selected from registries of local health centers and assisted-living facilities, were assessed on cognitive performance using videoconference, telephone and in-person approaches. Findings: The videoconference administration method yielded comparable results to the traditional application. Correlation analyses showed high associations between the testing modalities: TICSM-PT VC and TICSM-PT telephone (r=0.885), TICSM-PT VC and MMSE face-to-face (r=0.801). Using the previously validated threshold for cognitive impairment on the TICSM-PT telephone, TICSM-PT VC administration presented a sensitivity of 87.8% and a specificity of 84.6%. Interpretation: Findings indicate for the range of settings where videoconference approaches can be used, and for their applicability and acceptability, providing an alternative to current cognitive assessment methods. Continued validation studies and adaptation of neuropsychological instruments is warranted.This work was funded by the European Commission (FP7): "SwitchBox" (Contract HEALTH-F2-2010-259772), and co-financed by the Portuguese North Regional Operational Program (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by the Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian (Portugal) (Contract grant number: P-139977; project "Better mental health during ageing based on temporal prediction of individual brain ageing trajectories (TEMPO)"). TCC and LA are recipients of a doctoral fellowship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal; SFRH/BD/90078/2012 and SFRH/BD/101398/2014, respectively, the latter from the POCH program and co-financed by the Fundo Social Europeu and MCTES); PSM is supported by the FCT fellowship grant (PDE/BDE/113601/2015 from the PhD-iHES program); and, NCS of a Research Assistantship by FCT through the "FCT Investigator Programme (2008 Ciencia)".info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Age and growth of the smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena, in the Eastern Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, using vertebral sections

The smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena (Sphyrnidae) is regularly caught as bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries, but is one of the least studied of all pelagic sharks. Recently, ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) issued recommendations underlining the need for more studies on the life history parameters of this and other pelagic shark species. To this end, the age and growth of S. zygaena were studied in the Eastern Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, in an area where growth parameters were not yet available for this species. Data from 139 specimens, caught between June and September 2009, ranging in size from 136 to 233 cm fork length (FL), were analysed. Preliminary trials were carried out to assess the most efficient growth band enhancement technique. These indicated that sectioning the vertebrae into 500 μm sections followed by staining with crystal violet produced the best results. Growth models were fitted using the traditional von Bertalanffy growth equation and a modification of this equation using a known size at birth. Growth models were compared using the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The von Bertalanffy growth equation seemed to be the most adequate model to describe growth in this species, with resulting growth parameters of L inf = 272 cm FL, k = 0.06 year for males and L inf = 285 cm FL, k = 0.07 year for females. In the first four years of life, S. zygaena grows 25 cm per year on average, but its growth slows down in later life. Future stock assessment models should incorporate these age and growth parameters for species management and conservation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Are local extinctions and recolonizations continuing at the colder limits of marine fish distributions? Halobatrachus didactylus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), a possible candidate

In this paper, we compare the populations of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus along the Portuguese shore, using a putative fragment of the mitochondrial control region and the first intron of the S7 ribosomal protein gene. This demersal species ranges from the tropical West African coast to the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean, having its northern limit in the Tagus River. For the putative control region, a single haplotype occurs in all fish from Tagus and Sado (the location immediately to the south) with a clear increase in diversity to the South, peaking at Algarve (south Portugal). The data seem to point to a very recent Holocenic colonization of Tagus and Sado from the South (possibly Algarve). We suggest that even small oscillations in sea surface temperature (SST) may cause local extinctions and subsequent recolonizations in populations of thermophilic fish that are at the cold limit of their distributions

Proposta para a qualificação da Avenida Doutor Lourenço Peixinho

Esta proposta constitui mais uma etapa para a construção de um Programa de Qualificação da Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho, dos consequentes projetos e das consequentes ações. O processo iniciou-se com uma fase de discussão pública, de que resultou a publicação “O futuro da Avenida Dr. Lourenço Peixinho”. Este relatório corresponde à entrega de uma encomenda, centrada sobretudo no Espaço Público, mas incluindo também propostas relativas aos Edifícios e não deixando de considerar como desejável que a intervenção inclua ainda um programa de Animação Sociocultural

Portuguese Football Federation consensus statement 2020: nutrition and performance in football

Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football's physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio