Building a person home behavior model based on data from smart house sensors 2015

Dissertação para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica Ramo de EnergiaO propósito deste trabalho é construir um modelo baseado em informação captada por sensores e câmaras em uma casa onde viva somente uma pessoa. A primeira parte do trabalho consistiu em reunir informação que ajuda-se a perceber o que já tinha sido feito neste âmbito por outros engenheiros. Na realização deste trabalho, a parte que se revelou mais acessível foi a que envolveu a procura de informação sobre os diferentes métodos a usar no sistema, tais como Lógica Fuzzy, Redes Neuronais ou o método Monte Carlo via Cadeias de Markov. Em contrapartida, investigar as diferentes maneiras de guardar a informação provou ser mais desafiante. Foi praticamente impossível encontrar informação sobre os métodos usados para guardar informação recolhida pelos sensores e câmaras. A maior parte das vezes, os engenheiros não mencionavam a parte da informação relativa a este aspecto, simplesmente apresentavam os seus resultados e as suas conclusões. Além disso, quando o uso de informação era mencionada, a mesma relacionava-se com informação online, ou só informação já recolhida por sensores e câmaras, sem quaisquer detalhes. Era espectável encontrar mais informação sobre os métodos de guardar informação, mais específica, como a informação recolhida era ligada entre si e como o sistema iria interpretá-la e que resposta iria dar. Devido à falta de informação sobre como armazenar a informação recolhida, ficou decidido que se teria de assumir uma maneira para o fazer e com isso construir o modelo. Este modelo será referido neste documento. Devido a problemas relacionados com a parte da programação e com a falta de tempo, foi impossível construir o modelo usando os, considerados, melhores métodos. Não obstante, foi possível decidir as melhores opções para construir o modelo, assim como algumas formas de o fazer. Foi decidido a maneira como armazenar informação, o protocolo de informação a usar e o método que irá inferir com as actividades e comportamentos do habitante.Abstract:The purpose of this work has been to build a model based on data collected from sensors and cameras in a house with only one inhabitant. The first part of the work consisted of gathering research in order to try to understand what was already made by other engineers. One part stood out to be less complicated, as it evolved around finding information about the different methods to use with a system like Fuzzy Logic, Neural Network or Markov Chain Monte Carlo. However, investigating different ways to store information proved to be more challenging. It was pretty much impossible to get some information about the way people store the information collected from sensors and cameras. Most of the time, other engineers never mention the part related with the data, but simply presented the results and then their conclusion. Moreover, when the use of data was mentioned, it was simply related to online data, or just data which was stored after being collected from sensors and cameras, without any further detail. It was expected to find more information about the way the data was used, more specific information, covering how all the information was connected to each other, and how the system would interpret all the data and the responses. Since the lack of information related with the data, it was decided to assume a way to store the information and with that, a model was built. This model will be referred to within this paper. Due to problems with programming and lack of time, it was impossible to build a model by using the best methods. Notwithstanding, it was possible to decide all the best options to use to build the model, along with some ways to do it. It was decided the way to store information, the Communication Protocol to use and the method to infer with the inhabitant activities and behaviors

Can geocaching be an indicator of cultural ecosystem services? The case of the montado savannah-like landscape

Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) are difficult to assess and are seldom considered by land managers. Geocaching, an outdoor game that uses Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled devices to find hidden containers (geocaches) in certain locations, has been seldom used as a data source to assess CES. However, contrary to other crowdsourcing databases, geocaching allows to associate particular experiences to accurate locations. Furthermore, databases generated by geocachers provide an ideal case to compare revealed preferences (the frequency of visits to a specific geocache) with stated preferences (a posteriori evaluation of each location). We tested the relevance of geocaching databases as CES indicators using a dataset of 50 818 geocaches spread across continental Portugal, over eight land-use classes, with a focus on the montado (a high nature value farmland found in Southwestern Iberian Peninsula). We found that site visitation frequency was related with its availability, showing no revealed preference towards any land use. However, site evaluations by geocachers, measured either through the number of words describing the experience, the number of photos taken, or the number of votes for “favourite geocaches”, showed marked differences in their stated preferences, with higher appreciation for open land uses in general, and montado in particular, especially when compared to other forested landscapes. Our results may contribute to the design of regional development and land-use management policies of this threatened landscape, since they show the system’s strong potential as CES provider and, consequently, promoter of diversification of activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Healthcare policies in Brazil and regulatory strategies in an environment of technological changes

This article examines regulatory policies currently in force, involving both the market for supplementary healthcare and the relations between the public administration, as well as the entities that provide services to SUS (the Unified Healthcare System). Discusses the specificities of the healthcare sector vis à vis those industries that are subject to new operating models, such as telecommunication, or the electrical and oil industries, and the trend toward more responsive and better adjusted regulatory policies as regards SUS and Supplementary Healthcare.O artigo discute as políticas regulatórias em curso que envolvem tanto o mercado expresso pelo setor de saúde suplementar como as relações entre a administração pública e os prestadores de serviço junto ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Aponta as especificidades do setor saúde frente às indústrias submetidas a novos regimes, como telecomunicações, setor elétrico e de petróleo, e a tendência a adoção de políticas reguladoras responsivas e mais pactuadas relacionadas ao SUS e à Saúde Suplementar.Este texto discute tales políticas en relación al mercado de las organizaciones proveedoras privadas y de los prestadores cuyos servicios adquieren las administraciones públicas locales. Apunta las singularidades del sector de salud por comparación a las industrias sometidas a los nuevos regiménes, como telecomunicaciones, electricidad y petróleo y se afirma la tendencia al uso de políticas reguladoras responsivas y concertadas junto a los sistemas públicos y privados.618

Parents' and students' talks about learning: A study with fifth grade students

O significado atribuído ao fenómeno “aprender” é influenciado pela inte-relação entre indivíduos, contextos e culturas. A idade do aluno, as concepções familiares e culturais e o contexto de ensino constituem-se como alguns dos aspectos que influenciam as concepções de aprendizagem dos alunos. O estudo apresentado, realizado no marco teórico fenomenográfico, está focalizado na descrição das concepções das pessoas sobre as várias facetas do fenómeno aprender. O principal objectivo centra-se no mapeamento das concepções de aprendizagem de alunos do 5.º ano de escolaridade e dos seus pais (encarregados de educação). Os dados foram obtidos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas e tratados qualitativa e quantitativamente. Os resultados sugerem que os pais conceptualizam o aprender maioritariamente como algo processual e experiencial, enquanto os filhos o conceptualizam sobretudo desde uma perspectiva processual e instrumental. São discutidas implicações destes dados para o processo de aprendizagem.People’s concept on ‘learning’ is influenced by the interrelation among individuals, contexts and cultures. The student’s age, his family and cultural conceptions and the learning context are some of the main aspects that can influence the conceptions regarding the student’s learning process. Under the framework of phenomenographic theory, this paper focus on people’s description of the learning conceptions which are present in daily life phenomena. Mapping fifth grade students and their parents’ conceptions concerning the learning process is the main goal of this study. Semi-structured interviews were used; data were treated by following qualitative and quantitative approaches. The outcomes suggest that parents use to conceptualize ‘learning´ as something ‘processual and experimental´, whereas their children, the students, understand ‘learning` under a processual, but also instrumental perspective. The implications of such findings, in relation to the learning process, are also discussed in the paper.El significado atribuido al fenómeno “aprender” es influenciado por la interrelación entre individuos, contextos y culturas. La edad del alumno, las concepciones familiares y culturales y el contexto de enseñanza se constituyen como algunos de los aspectos que influencian las concepciones de aprendizaje de los alumnos. El estudio presentado, realizado en el marco teórico fenómeno gráfico, está focalizado en la descripción de las concepciones de las personas sobre las varias facetas del fenómeno aprender. El principal objetivo se centra en el “mapeamiento” de las concepciones de aprendizaje de alumnos del 5.º año de escolaridad y de sus padres (encargados de educación). Los datos fueron obtenidos a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y tratados cualitativa y cuantitativamente. Los resultados sugieren que los padres conceptualizan el aprender mayoritariamente como algo procesual y experiencial, mientras los hijos lo conceptualizan sobretodo desde una perspectiva procesual e instrumental. Se discuten implicaciones de estos datos para el proceso de aprendizaje.(undefined

Control and Dynamic Simulation of Linear Switched Reluctance Generators for Direct Drive Conversion Systems

This chapter addresses the dynamic simulation and control of linear switched reluctance generators for direct drive conversion systems. The electromechanical energy conversion principles of linear switched reluctance machines are briefly explained. A detailed mathematical model is developed for linear switched reluctance generators. The different types of control strategies adopted for switched reluctance generators are referred. The hysteresis controller is applied to control the conversion system with constant damping load. The proposed control strategy also includes a DC/DC isolated converter to control the system DC bus voltage by adjusting the energy flow between the conversion system and the resistive load. The mathematical model is applied to simulate the behavior of a tubular linear switched reluctance generator as power take-off system in an ocean wave point absorber device. To accomplish this task, the dynamic equations of the point absorber are presented and integrated with the linear switched reluctance generator dynamic model. In the simulation process, the system is driven by a regular ocean wave and operates with constant damping load. The system performance is evaluated for different load values, and the simulation results are presented for the optimal damping load case scenario

Genetic diversity and signatures of selection of drug resistance in Plasmodium populations from both human and mosquito hosts in continental Equatorial Guinea

BACKGROUND: In Plasmodium, the high level of genetic diversity and the interactions established by co-infecting parasite populations within the same host may be a source of selection on pathogen virulence and drug resistance. As different patterns have already been described in humans and mosquitoes, parasite diversity and population structure should be studied in both hosts to properly assess their effects on infection and transmission dynamics. This study aimed to characterize the circulating populations of Plasmodium spp and Plasmodium falciparum from a combined set of human blood and mosquito samples gathered in mainland Equatorial Guinea. Further, the origin and evolution of anti-malarial resistance in this area, where malaria remains a major public health problem were traced. METHODS: Plasmodium species infecting humans and mosquitoes were identified by nested-PCR of chelex-extracted DNA from dried blood spot samples and mosquitoes. Analysis of Pfmsp2 gene, anti-malarial-resistance associated genes, Pfdhps, Pfdhfr, Pfcrt and Pfmdr1, neutral microsatellites (STR) loci and Pfdhfr and Pfdhps flanking STR was undertaken to evaluate P. falciparum diversity. RESULTS: Prevalence of infection remains high in mainland Equatorial Guinea. No differences in parasite formula or significant genetic differentiation were seen in the parasite populations in both human and mosquito samples. Point mutations in all genes associated with anti-malarial resistance were highly prevalent. A high prevalence was observed for the Pfdhfr triple mutant in particular, associated with pyrimethamine resistance.Analysis of Pfdhps and Pfdhfr flanking STR revealed a decrease in the genetic diversity. This finding along with multiple independent introductions of Pfdhps mutant haplotypes suggest a soft selective sweep and an increased differentiation at Pfdhfr flanking microsatellites hints a model of positive directional selection for this gene. CONCLUSIONS: Chloroquine is no longer recommended for malaria treatment in Equatorial Guinea but sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) remains in use in combination with artesunate and is the only drug recommended in preventive chemotherapy in pregnancy. The high prevalence of point mutations in Pfdhfr and Pfdhps points to the danger of an eventual reduction in the efficacy of SP combined therapy in P. falciparum populations in Equatorial Guinea and to the essential continuous monitoring of these two genes.This study was supported by PEst-OE/SAU/LA0018/2011 - Proj. Estratégico LA0018 2011/2012 (http://cmdt.ihmt.unl.pt/index.php/pt/) and PTDC/SAU-EPI/113326/2009, “Fundacão para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência”, FCT/MEC (http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/index.phtml.pt), Portugal and by “Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación”, Madrid, Spain. C. Mendes and P. Salgueiro hold FCT grants (SRFH/BD/41473/2007 and SFRH/BPD/72532/2010, respectively).S

Polar lipids of commercial Ulva spp. of different origins: profiling and relevance for seaweed valorization

Macroalgae of the genus Ulva have long been used as human food. Local environmental conditions, among other factors, can have an impact on their nutrient and phytochemical composition, as well as on the value of the seaweed for food and non-food applications. This study is the first to initiate a comparison between commercial Ulva spp. from different European origins, France (FR, wild-harvested Ulva spp.), and Portugal (PT, farm-raised Ulva rigida), in terms of proximate composition, esterified fatty acids (FA), and polar lipids. The ash content was higher in PT samples, while FR samples had higher levels of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and other compounds. The profile of esterified FA, as well as FA-containing polar lipids at the class and species levels were also significantly different. The FR samples showed about three-fold higher amount of n-3 polyunsaturated FA, while PT samples showed two-fold higher content of monounsaturated FA. Quantification of glycolipids and phospholipids revealed, respectively, two-fold and three-fold higher levels in PT samples. Despite the differences found, the polar lipids identified in both batches included some lipid species with recognized bioactivity, valuing Ulva biomass with functional properties, increasing their added value, and promoting new applications, namely in nutraceutical and food markets.UIDB/50011/2020+UIDP/50011/2020, UID/QUI/00062/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030962, BPD/UI51/5041/2017, BPD/UI51/5042/2018; EC/H2020/727892/EUinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Patient-physician discordance in assessment of adherence to inhaled controller medication: a cross-sectional analysis of two cohorts

We aimed to compare patient's and physician's ratings of inhaled medication adherence and to identify predictors of patient-physician discordance.(SFRH/BPD/115169/2016) funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT); ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) through the operations: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029130 ('mINSPIRERS—mHealth to measure and improve adherence to medication in chronic obstructive respiratory diseases—generalisation and evaluation of gamification, peer support and advanced image processing technologies') cofunded by the COMPETE2020 (Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização), Portugal 2020 and by Portuguese Funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Association between Elevated Iodine Intake and IQ among School Children in Portugal

Funding Information: This project was funded through grants by the Public Health Initiatives Programme (PT06), financed by EEA Grants Financial Mechanism 2009–2014, and supported by FEDER through the operation POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007746 funded by the Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização—COMPETE2020 and by National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDP/4255/2020) and within the scope of the project RISE, Associated Laboratory (reference LA/P/0053/2020). DP and VCF also received individual funding from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/109158/2015 in the first case; SFRH/BPD/109153/2015, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020 in the second case).The goal of this work was to examine whether elevated iodine intake was associated with adverse effects on IQ among school-age children in Portugal. In a representative sample of children from the north of the country, IQ percentiles by age (assessed with Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices) were dichotomized to <50 (“below-average” IQs) and ≥50. Morning urine iodine concentrations, corrected for creatinine, were dichotomized to <250 µg/g and ≥250 µg/g, according to the European Commission/Scientific Committee on Food’s tolerable upper level of daily iodine intake for young children. Data were examined with Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and GLM univariate analysis. The sample (N = 1965) was classified as generally iodine-adequate (median urinary iodine concentration = 129 µg/L; median iodine-to-creatinine ratio = 126 µg/g) according to the WHO’s criteria. A greater proportion of children in the ≥250 µg/g group had below-average IQs, compared to children with less than 250 µg/g (p = 0.037), despite a sizable (though non-significant) proportion of children in the less-than-250 µg/g group also presenting below-average IQs, at the bottom of the iodine distribution (<50 µg/g). The proportion of below-average IQs increased with increasingly elevated iodine concentrations (p = 0.047). The association remained significant after the adjustment for confounders, with the elevated iodine group showing increased odds of having below-average IQs when compared with the non-elevated iodine group (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.11–2.17; p = 0.011). Consistently, the former group presented a lower mean IQ than the latter (p = 0.006). High iodine intake was associated with lower IQs even in a population classified as iodine-adequate. These results bear on child cognition and on initiatives involving iodine supplementation.publishersversionpublishe