Hardware and software in smart decision rooms

Since the last decade research in Group Decision Making area have been focus in the building of meeting rooms that could support the decision making task and improve the quality of those decisions. However the emergence of Ambient Intelligence concept contributes with a new perspective, a different way of viewing traditional decision rooms. In this paper we will present an overview of Smart Decision Rooms providing Intelligence to the meeting environment, and we will also present LAID, an Ambient Intelligence Environment oriented to support Group Decision Making and some of the software tools that we already have installed in this environment

Game as text as game: the communicative experience of digital games

We propose to regard video game as text, but not by literally understanding it as a verbal expression, and instead recognizing that many assumptions of literary theory are relevant to its analysis. This option seems to put us in sync with the narratologists, who exalt games as new manifestations of narrative, but cling to a conception of text as world that values illusionist effects. Instead, we are interested in experiences that, against this perspective, recognize the possibility of regarding game as a text that is a game - an incomplete object that is to be updated by the reader in a self-reflective relationship with the signs that compose it, a central notion to theories such as Iser’s and Dewey’s. Then, instead of focusing on strategies of immersion on large virtual worlds, we favor small independent casual games (such as Small Worlds, Grey, The Beggar, and Dys4ia) analyzing how, in these, take place experiences that allow us to re-examine the aesthetic potential of the medium

Estudo e análise do sistema de arranque e paragem automática do motor no automóvel

Estágio realizado no Centro Técnico da SEAT e orientado pelo Eng.º Ignácio CastillaTese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Mecânica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Adenoid bacterial colonization in a paediatric population

Adenoids play a key role in both respiratory and ear infection in children. It has also been shown that adenoidectomy improves these symptoms in this population. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate adenoid bacterial colonization and document a possible relation with infectious respiratory disease. A prospective observational study was designed to evaluate the proposed hypothesis in a paediatric population submitted to adenoidectomy by either infectious or non-infectious indications and compare these two cohorts. A total of 62 patients with ages ranging from 1 to 12 years old were enrolled in the study. Adenoid surface, adenoid core and middle meatus microbiota were compared. A close association between adenoid colonization and nasal infection was found, supporting that adenoids may function as bacterial reservoir for upper airway infection. The obtained results also contribute to explain the success of adenoidectomy in patients with infectious indications.Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (Grant 2015DDI1143)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DAS ESPÉCIES FLORESTAIS EM PLANOS DE MANEJO FLORESTAL SUSTENTÁVEL EM PEQUENA ESCALA NO ESTADO DO AMAZONAS

O manejo em pequena escala é uma alternativa de uso dos recursos madeireiros para pequenos produtores no estado do Amazonas. Estudos florísticos são importantes para o conhecimento da flora regional e seus potenciais diversos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a composição florística e estrutura florestal em planos de manejo em pequena escala a fim de se conhecer quais espécies tem sido mais visada pelos pequenos produtores rurais do Amazonas e verificar se a diversidade de espécies dessas áreas condiz com o esperado para a região Amazônica. Foram utilizadas planilhas de inventário florestal de planos de manejo licenciados no ano de 2013. Foi realizada a análise da estrutura horizontal considerando os parâmetros de densidade, dominância, frequência e valor de importância das espécies. A diversidade da vegetação foi avaliada a partir dos índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H') e equabilidade de Pielou (J). Houve um total de 5716 indivíduos mensurados, representando 158 espécies e 35 famílias botânicas. As 10 famílias com maior riqueza de espécies foram Fabaceae (37), Lauraceae (18), Lecythidaceae (15), Sapotaceae (9), Moraceae (9), Chrysobalanaceae (8), Malvaceae (7) Myristicaceae (6), Anacardiaceae (5) e Caryocaraceae (4). As 10 espécies com maior valor de importância foram Micropholis williamii, Goupia glabra, Couratari tauari, Chrysophyllum L., Scleronema micranthum, Licania heteromorfa, Couepia subcordata, Tachigali paniculata, Peltogyne densiflora e Dipteryx odorata. A diversidade de espécies em planos de manejo em pequena escala condiz com o esperado para a ragião amazônica, sendo considerada alta

A Quarta Revolução Industrial e os Impactos na Profissão Contábil

A globalização proporciona verdadeira revolução na eliminação de barreiras entre as nações, na geração de crescimento acelerado e na inserção de novas tecnologias. Com isso, vê-se a necessidade de desenvolver pesquisas que mostrem os impactos advindos dessas mudanças na profissão contábil. Dessa forma, objetiva-se analisar os conhecimentos dos profissionais de contabilidade em relação aos avanços tecnológicos, especificamente a quarta revolução industrial, visando explorar a forma como a profissão se comporta em relação às novas tendências. Para atender ao objetivo, a metodologia utilizada corresponde à uma pesquisa aplicada, descritiva, por intermédio de um levantamento, com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da aplicação de um questionário elaborado a partir de estudos de Souza (2018) e Xavier (2020). O instrumento foi enviado para 18 escritórios de contabilidade no município de Santa Maria – RS. A análise dos dados obtidos deu-se por meio descritivo a partir de tabelas, gráficos e elementos da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que os profissionais possuem pouco conhecimento sobre o assunto, mas se julgam preparados para as novas transformações. Os mesmos relatam que a indústria 4.0 propicia uma comunicação imediata, menos trabalho manual, padronização de processos por meio de sistemas interligados e trabalho em nuvem. Diante disso, conclui-se que para os trabalhadores da área contábil os avanços tecnológicos são eminentes. O estudo contribui cientificamente para o avanço da literatura quanto à temática de indústria 4.0 nos procedimentos e rotinas contábeis. Profissionalmente, apresenta contribuições no sentido de evidenciar desafios e oportunidades para a classe profissional. E, socialmente evidencia alguns impactos da indústria 4.0 em profissões populares, como a contábil, além de instigar a reflexão das instituições de ensino em relação a preparação de futuros profissionais

Restructuring of the "Macaronesia" biogeografic unit: a marine multi-taxon biogeographical approach

The Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cabo Verde are commonly united under the term “Macaronesia”. This study investigates the coherency and validity of Macaronesia as a biogeographic unit using six marine groups with very different dispersal abilities: coastal fishes, echinoderms, gastropod molluscs, brachyuran decapod crustaceans, polychaete annelids, and macroalgae. We found no support for the current concept of Macaronesia as a coherent marine biogeographic unit. All marine groups studied suggest the exclusion of Cabo Verde from the remaining Macaronesian archipelagos and thus, Cabo Verde should be given the status of a biogeographic subprovince within the West African Transition province. We propose to redefine the Lusitanian biogeographical province, in which we include four ecoregions: the South European Atlantic Shelf, the Saharan Upwelling, the Azores, and a new ecoregion herein named Webbnesia, which comprises the archipelagos of Madeira, Selvagens and the Canary Islandsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Co-creation on Active Aging Challenges in Portugal

With a rapid increase in aging population worldwide, there is a need to ensure good health and wellbeing for the elderly. Healthcare system in Portugal supports opportunities and addresses challenges of its aging population by well-maintained associations between its government and private institutes. In order to stimulate an innovation ecosystem in the region, Innovation Think Tank (ITT), a part of Siemens Healthineers (SHS), has been actively engaging in various interdisciplinary projects by collaborating with local healthcare institutions. Following an invitation from the University of Evora and SHS Portugal, ITT at Evora was institutionalized. As a part of this association, a certification program was organized at Evora University, in association with Espirito Santo Hospital, Portugal. The goal of this program was to 1) train the participants on the ITT methodology 2) capture and validate healthcare trends and solutions concerning aging challenges in Portugal 3) deep dive and tackle the most prominent healthcare and aging challenges in Portugal with a focus on five key areas of Lifespan and Health, Lifespan and Demographics, Lifespan and Arts, Lifespan and Ethics & Citizenship, Lifespan and Economy. Over 30 multidisciplinary participants comprising of researchers, students, professors, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs, representing over 20 hospitals, universities, and consultancies worldwide participated in this two-week hybrid program where they learnt to apply the innovative thinking approach by working on real life problems and proposed solutions with a focus on the aging challenges and future of healthcare in Portugal. The consolidated results were presented at the outcome exhibition which included a feedback session and panel discussion with healthcare experts from Portugal and other locations worldwide. The overall outcomes of the program comprised for the definition of some of the research areas for the Lifespan Chair, academic training proposals and community intervention proposals. With its global network and infrastructure, ITT envisions to boost future research at the university, and hospital by collaborating in projects that impact the future of healthcare in Portugal and globally, as well as identifying grants and partners for implementation

Historical analysis of the Brazilian cervical cancer screening program from 2006 to 2013: a time for reflection

BACKGROUND: The Cervical Cancer Database of the Brazilian National Health Service (SISCOLO) contains information regarding all cervical cytological tests and, if properly explored, can be used as a tool for monitoring and managing the cervical cancer screening program. The aim of this study was to perform a historical analysis of the cervical cancer screening program in Brazil from 2006 to 2013. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data necessary to calculate quality indicators were obtained from the SISCOLO, a Brazilian health system tool. Joinpoint analysis was used to calculate the annual percentage change. RESULTS: We observed important trends showing decreased rates of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and an increased rate of rejected exams from 2009 to 2013. The index of positivity was maintained at levels below those indicated by international standards; very low frequencies of unsatisfactory cases were observed over the study period, which partially contradicts the low rate of positive cases. The number of positive cytological diagnoses was below that expected, considering that developed countries with low frequencies of cervical cancer detect more lesions annually. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of indicators from 2006 to 2013 suggests that actions must be taken to improve the effectiveness of cervical cancer control in Brazil