Implementation of Compressed Sensing in Telecardiology Sensor Networks

Mobile solutions for patient cardiac monitoring are viewed with growing interest, and improvements on current implementations are frequently reported, with wireless, and in particular, wearable devices promising to achieve ubiquity. However, due to unavoidable power consumption limitations, the amount of data acquired, processed, and transmitted needs to be diminished, which is counterproductive, regarding the quality of the information produced. Compressed sensing implementation in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) promises to bring gains not only in power savings to the devices, but also with minor impact in signal quality. Several cardiac signals have a sparse representation in some wavelet transformations. The compressed sensing paradigm states that signals can be recovered from a few projections into another basis, incoherent with the first. This paper evaluates the compressed sensing paradigm impact in a cardiac monitoring WSN, discussing the implications in data reliability, energy management, and the improvements accomplished by in-network processing

using network analysis to understand the position of Portugal in a global FDI network

Lima, F., Pinheiro, F. L., Silva, J. F., & Matos, P. (2020). Foreign direct investment: using network analysis to understand the position of Portugal in a global FDI network. In Bridging measurement challenges and analytical needs of external statistics: evolution or revolution?: Proceedings of the IFC Conference on external statistics, Lisbon, Portugal, 17-18 February 2020 (pp. 1-16). (IFC Bulletin; No. 52). Bank of International Settlements. https://www.bis.org/ifc/publ/ifcb52.htmUnderstanding the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) is of utmost importance in a world economy of increasingly interdependent economies. However, the lack of an unified data source of FDI covering a long time frame has posed serious challenges to its analysis. In this article we apply methods of network analysis to build a representation of the global FDI relationships. We show how the network representation of the global FDI can be used to identify patterns, identify preferential paths for investment, establish trends and describe the relations between countries over time. We present the results by using specific visualisation tools that graphically illustrate the interlinkages between the economies, and that can be a valuable instrument for the design and deployment of regulating instruments.publishersversionpublishe

Agent Strategies in Smart Energy Markets - PowerTAC 2016

The current energy models and infrastructures need to be restructured in order to face the changes in energy consumption, production and management. The adoption of renewable power sources combined with the capability of a more reasonable and autonomous participation on the grid lead to this energy revolution. These changes demand improvements in the way participants act, not only related to the physical electricity grid, but mainly regarding the related services, as energy markets. Since there is no real-life market to test new approaches for smart grid markets, simulations should be used. This work focus on the PowerTAC simulation framework, a top-of-the-art platform in which competitors develop broker agents to enact market companies. In this context, the tariff composition problem plays a fundamental role since customers (both real and simulated) interact with the market by selecting a tariff. Brokers should seek for creating and updating tariffs to be competitive and still profitable. Broker's performance is given by its market share and profit on the market. Current competitors use a centralized approach, with focus on single features to compose tariffs. In this work an alternative approach to this problem is presented. We propose the creation of a Broker that is inherently a Multi-Agent System - a broker composed by different specialist agents that evaluate different features to compose the final tariff. To validate the results from our work we will analyse the results from the participation of our broker on the PowerTAC, firstly in a local version of the competition against previous years public competitors and secondly, by trying to qualify to the annual competition

Graph Theory approach to COVID-19 transmission by municipalities and age groups

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a global problem that affects the health of millions of people and the world economy. Identifying how the movement of people between regions of the world, countries, and municipalities and how the close contact between individuals of different age groups promotes the spread of infectious diseases is a pressing concern for society, during epidemic outbreaks and pandemics, such as COVID-19. Networks and Graph Theory provide adequate and powerful tools to study the spread of communicable diseases. In this work, we use Graph Theory to analyze COVID-19 transmission dynamics between municipalities of Aveiro district, in Portugal, and between different age groups, considering data from 2020 and 2021, in order to better understand the spread of this disease, as well as preparing actions for possible future pandemics. We used a digraph structure that models the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus between Aveiro’s municipalities and between age groups. To understand how a node fits over the contact digraphs, we studied centrality measures, namely eigencentrality, closeness, degree, and betweenness. Transmission ratios were also considered to determine whether there were certain age groups or municipals that were more responsible for the virus’s spread. According to the results of this research, transmissions mostly occur within the same social groupings, that is, within the same municipalities and age groups. However, the study of centrality measures, eliminating loops, reveals that municipalities such as Aveiro, Estarreja and Ovar are relevant nodes in the transmission network of municipalities as well as the age group of 40–49 in the transmission network of age groups. Furthermore, we conclude that vaccination is effective in reducing the virus.publishe

BREEDING SITES OF AEDES AEGYPTI (LINNAEUS) (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE): A STUDY ABOUT THE CONTAINERS DIVERSITY IN DRY AND RAINY SEASONS IN A DENGUE-ENDEMIC CITY / CRIADOUROS DE AEDES AEGYPTI (LINNAEUS) (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE): ESTUDO SOBRE RECIPIENTES EM ESTAÇÕES SECA E CHUVOSA EM CIDADE ENDÊMICA PARA DENGUE

AbstractIntroduction: Mosquito-borne diseases are currently the biggest public health problem globally. Dengue fever infection is one ofthe most important arboviral diseases in humans. Aedes aegypti is the most efficient vector for arboviruses because it is highlyanthropophilic, frequently bites, and thrives in close proximity to humans. Stored water in the containers for long period,extended rainfall during the rainy season, and ambient relative humidity and temperature may favor the breeding of Ae. aegyptiand other mosquitoes. Objective: We assessed potential container breeding sites of Ae. aegypti in a peripheral area of a mediumsizedmunicipality of the State of Maranhão, Brazil. Methods: In this study, Ae. aegypti breeding sites were investigated in the dryand rainy seasons, in 800 properties, located in peripheral area with poor urbanization and sanitation. Results: During the dryseason 35 (4.37%) residences showed the presence of immature forms of Ae. aegypti and in the rainy season we have found 82positive residences (10.25%). The group of containers with higher positivity to immature forms of Ae. aegypti was water storagecontainers, with values of 100% and 94.05% in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. We found 3,529 immature forms in the dryseason and 17,827 in the rainy. Conclusion: Storage containers are the main recipients found with Ae. aegypti, and the mostproductive for immature forms, markedly during the rainy season, and contribute to the maintenance of this vector in high ratesin this period, in addition to providing the right conditions for vector survival during the dry period, in this semi-arid region.Keywords: Aedes aegypti. Arboviroses. Dengue.ResumoIntrodução: As doenças transmitidas por mosquitos atualmente são os maiores problemas de saúde pública globalmente. Ainfecção por dengue é uma das arboviroses mais importantes em humanos. O Aedes aegypti é o vetor mais eficiente para os arbovírusporque é altamente antropofílico, pica frequentemente e prospera nas proximidades dos seres humanos. A água armazenadaem recipientes durante um longo período, a precipitação prolongada durante a estação chuvosa e a umidade e temperaturaambiente podem favorecer a criação de Ae. aegypti e outros mosquitos. Objetivo: Avaliou-se potenciais criadouros do Ae. aegyptiem uma área periférica de um município de médio porte do Estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Métodos: Neste estudo, os criadouros doAe. aegypti foram investigados nas épocas seca e chuvosa, em 800 imóveis, localizadas em área periférica com baixa urbanizaçãoe saneamento. Resultados: Durante a estação seca, 35 (4,37%) dos imóveis mostraram a presença de formas imaturas de Ae.aegypti e na estação chuvosa foram encontradas 82 residências positivas (10,25%). O grupo de recipientes com maior positividadepara as formas imaturas do Ae. aegypti foi o de armazenamento de água, com valores de 100% e 94,05% nas estações seca echuvosa, respectivamente. Foram encontrados 3.529 imaturos na estação seca e 17.827 na estação chuvosa. Conclusão: Osrecipientes de armazenamento são os principais criadouros encontrados com Ae. aegypti, e os mais produtivos para formasimaturas, marcadamente durante a estação chuvosa, e contribuem para a manutenção do vetor em altas taxas neste período,além de fornecer as condições adequadas para a sobrevivência do vetor durante o período seco, nessa região do semiárido.Palavras-chave: Aedes aegypti. Arboviroses. Dengue

Quem tem medo do piso regional? Uma reflexão a partir dos dados da RAIS 2010 para o Rio Grande do Sul

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the minimum regional wage applied in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, using the RAIS database for 2010. We report the legal-political process that gave rise to the minimum regional wage as well as present the conceptual difference between this policy and the nationwide minimum wage policy. We go further to analyze the potential coverage, from its definition (and delimitation) to its measurement within four classes; then, we indicate the professional careers contemplated and the regionalized by Conselhos Regionais de Desenvolvimento (Coredes). Based on this exercise, we evaluate the minimum regional wage policy in recent years and discuss proposals for a new set of rules. Key words Minimum regional wage; wage policy; Rio Grande do Sul. Artigo recebido em 12 de jan. 2012ENDEREÇO PARA ENVIO DE PUBLICAÇÕES: - FEERESUMO O presente trabalho discute o modelo de piso regional aplicado no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul a partir da base de dados da Relação Anual de Informações Sociais do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego -RAIS 2010. Relata-se o processo jurídico-político que deu origem ao piso, bem como se apresenta a diferença conceitual entre este e o salário mínimo. Passa-se, então, à análise da cobertura potencial desde sua definição (e delimitação) até a mensuração da mesma, em suas quatro faixas; expõem-se as categorias contempladas, com os dados sendo regionalizados por Conselhos Regionais de Desenvolvimento (Coredes). Com base nesse exercício, avalia-se a política de valorização do piso regional durante os últimos anos e se discutem propostas para novas regras de ajuste. Palavras-chave Piso regional; salário mínimo; Rio Grande do Sul

Ensino confessional: origens, percepções e contribuições na formação cidadã / Confessional education: origins, perceptions and contributions in citizen formation

Em um contexto educacional cada vez mais exigente e competitivo, notadamente marcado pela essência oriunda do sistema capitalista, cujos alicerces consubstanciam-se no lucro e na ascensão financeira, não raras vezes percebe-se a ausência de valores como respeito, amizade, companheirismo, educação, amor e altruísmo, necessários à verdadeira formação cidadã. Partindo do pressuposto que o ensino confessional, por apresentar resiliência no âmbito da educação, pode contribuir para a formação cidadã e conhecimento acadêmico, o presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar a contribuição do ensino confessional na formação cidadã e suas interfaces na sociedade pós-moderna. Para tanto, propôs-se, em um primeiro momento, um levantamento bibliográfico e histórico acerca do tema, para posteriormente promover-se a análise dos resultados obtidos em pesquisa de campo, a qual teve como foco inferir acerca das percepções de professores e alunos de duas escolas no município de Mossoró-RN acerca da relevânciada espécie. A pesquisa contribuiu para a resolução do problema, haja vista, a maioria dos alunos e professores afirmarem que a maior marca do ensino confessional e sua nota tônica é o respeito e amizades para a vida. Uma educação balizada por valores e princípios, pode gestar o verdadeiro cidadão fruto não de um momento inicial na escola, e sim de uma continuidade para fora dela, com honestidade e sucesso. Nesse sentido, pôde-se inferir que, na busca pela formação cidadã, o ensino confessional contribui para além do conhecimento de sala de aula, desenvolvendo relacionamentos que transmitam valores para a vida. Essa busca deve nortear de maneira continuada a formação, auxiliando assim, harmoniosamente, para uma convivência exitosa e de sucesso na sociedade.

Comparing the effects of glazing and chitosan-based coating applied on frozen salmon on its organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics over six-months storage

The perishable nature of fish, with an increase in fish consumption in recent years, led to the improvement of fish preservation techniques. Chitosan coatings adds to the traditional water glazing. The effect of a chitosan solution of 1.5% on the sensory properties of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was studied over six months of storage. The sensory properties of the salmon were assessed through the use of a texturometer and a trained panel of judges. Microbiological parameters were studied in the form of Total Volatile Base Nitrogen (TVB-N) and Total Viable Count (TVC) tests. Microbiological analysis showed that chitosan had an anti-microbiological effect on the salmon samples, reducing the number of microorganisms present, while TVB-N values were maitained stable during experiment. Textural Profile Analysis (TPA) was performed and the results showed no significant differences between different coatings regarding texture. Sensory analysis by a trained panel showed that chitosan was a better choice in frozen samples, while in thawed and cooked samples no significant differences existed between chitosan-coated and glazed samples. Flavor diffusion from the chitosan coating was assessed, and analysis of the results showed no correlation between coating type and sample flavor, indicating that no flavor diffusion had occurred.The contribution of VANIBRU, Lda. regarding the PhD scholarship of Nuno Soares and the use of industrial facilities are gratefully acknowledged