A influ��ncia da hipertonia biomec��nica VS neuronal na selec����o das estrat��gias de interven����o em sujeitos com sequelas de acidente vascular encef��lico no território da art��ria cerebral m��dia

Introdu����o: Ap��s les��o do SNC o m��sculo pode perder a sua variabilidade e flexibilidade, tal como se verifica em indiv��duos ap��s AVE. A caracteriza����o do t��nus muscular tem sido um indicador a ter em aten����o para o diagn��stico cl��nico. As altera����es do t��nus podem resultar de uma combina����o de altera����es neurais, como consequ��ncia dos processos inerentes �� neuroplasticidade e altera����es biomec��nicas. Objectivo: Verificar quais as modifica����es no t��nus muscular, segundo a escala de Tardieu, ap��s a aplica����o de um programa de reabilita����o neuromotora baseado no conceito de Bobath em dois indiv��duos com sequelas de AVE. Pretendeu-se tamb��m verificar as repercuss��es nas actividades funcionais. Participantes e m��todos: Foram seleccionados dois indiv��duos e aplicado um programa de reabilita����o, durante onze semanas, e avaliados em dois momentos, antes da interven����o (PRE) e ap��s a interven����o (AP��S). Aplicaram-se v��rios instrumentos de avalia����o, nomeadamente a escala de Tardieu. O programa de reabilita����o realizado baseou-se no conceito de Bobath. Resultados: Na escala de Tardieu, foi comum aos dois indiv��duos melhorias a n��vel da qualidade de reac����o muscular. Ambos os indiv��duos apresentaram melhorias no controlo postural e equil��brio, que se evidenciaram na CIF. Conclus��o: Foi poss��vel observar modifica����es no t��nus muscular ap��s aplica����o de um programa de reabilita����o e, consequentemente modifica����es na distribui����o da carga na base de suporte, no alinhamento das estruturas articulares e musculares e na marcha. Ao longo da interven����o, observaram-se repercuss��es positivas em ambos os indiv��duos, permitindo a estes realizar as AVDs com menor dificuldade

Estrutura conceptual para a prepara����o e apresenta����o das demostra����es financeiras

Jornadas de Contabilidade e Fiscalidade promovidas pelo Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administra����o do Porto, em Abril de 2009

Conceptual model for decomposing the value for the customer

Value has been defined in different theoretical contexts as need, desire, interest, standard /criteria, beliefs, attitudes, and preferences. The creation of value is key to any business, and any business activity is about exchanging some tangible and/or intangible good or service and having its value accepted and rewarded by customers or clients, either inside the enterprise or collaborative network or outside. ���Perhaps surprising then is that firms often do not know how to define value, or how to measure it��� (Anderson and Narus, 1998 cited by [1]). Woodruff echoed that we need ���richer customer value theory��� for providing an ���important tool for locking onto the critical things that managers need to know���. In addition, he emphasized, ���we need customer value theory that delves deeply into customer���s world of product use in their situations��� [2]. In this sense, we proposed and validated a novel ���Conceptual Model for Decomposing the Value for the Customer���. To this end, we were aware that time has a direct impact on customer perceived value, and the suppliers��� and customers��� perceptions change from the pre-purchase to the post-purchase phases, causing some uncertainty and doubts.We wanted to break down value into all its components, as well as every built and used assets (both endogenous and/or exogenous perspectives). This component analysis was then transposed into a mathematical formulation using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), so that the uncertainty and vagueness of value perceptions could be embedded in this model that relates used and built assets in the tangible and intangible deliverable exchange among the involved parties, with their actual value perceptions.

Transmission costs allocation based on optimal re-dispatch

Congestion management of transmission power systems has achieve high relevance in competitive environments, which require an adequate approach both in technical and economic terms. This paper proposes a new methodology for congestion management and transmission tariff determination in deregulated electricity markets. The congestion management methodology is based on a reformulated optimal power flow, whose main goal is to obtain a feasible solution for the re-dispatch minimizing the changes in the transactions resulting from market operation. The proposed transmission tariffs consider the physical impact caused by each market agents in the transmission network. The final tariff considers existing system costs and also costs due to the initial congestion situation and losses. This paper includes a case study for the 118 bus IEEE test case.

Towards a future SCADA

Currently, Power Systems (PS) already accommodate a substantial penetration of DG and operate in competitive environments. In the future PS will have to deal with largescale integration of DG and other distributed energy resources (DER), such as storage means, and provide to market agents the means to ensure a flexible and secure operation. This cannot be done with the traditional PS operation. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a vital infrastructure for PS. Current SCADA adaptation to accommodate the new needs of future PS does not allow to address all the requirements. In this paper we present a new conceptual design of an intelligent SCADA, with a more decentralized, flexible, and intelligent approach, adaptive to the context (context awareness). Once a situation is characterized, data and control options available to each entity are re-defined according to this context, taking into account operation normative and a priori established contracts. The paper includes a case-study of using future SCADA features to use DER to deal with incident situations, preventing blackouts.

Multi-agent based electricity market simulator with VPP: Conceptual and implementation issues

This paper presents a new architecture for the MASCEM, a multi-agent electricity market simulator. This is implemented in a Prolog which is integrated in the JAVA program by using the LPA Win-Prolog Intelligence Server (IS) provides a DLL interface between Win-Prolog and other applications. This paper mainly focus on the MASCEM ability to provide the means to model and simulate Virtual Power Producers (VPP). VPPs are represented as a coalition of agents, with specific characteristics and goals. VPPs can reinforce the importance of these generation technologies making them valuable in electricity markets.

Corporate brand identity ��� a conceptual redefinition

There is a wide agreement that identity is a multidisciplinary concept. Branding is an identity expression. Although there are some frameworks to assess brand identity there isn���t an accepted definition. The authors consider this a gap in literature and investigate the components to assess brand identity under a holistic approach. Literature was reviewed and reinterpreted under an integrated perspective evolving corporate and brand identity studies. The authors propose a definition and nine componentscharacterizing corporate brand identity: reputation, culture, positioning, personality, relationships network, presentation style, communication, environmental influences and mission. Some are related with internal and others to external facets. The authorsare strongly encouraged to test these results empirically towards validity and reliability of the proposed construct.

Demand response in future power systems management ��� a conceptual framework and simulation tool

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrot��cnica ��� Sistemas El��ctricos de Energia

Abordagem �� estrutura����o conceptual de um subdom��nio do dicion��rio

Uma das abordagens mais importantes da terminologia �� a desenvolvida pelas disciplinas t��cnico-cient��ficas, para as quais representa a reflex��o formal da sua organiza����o conceptual e, como tal, um meio essencial de express��o e comunica����o. De forma a desenvolver as diferentes tarefas a que se prop��e, a terminologia tem como principal objecto de estudo os textos de l��nguas de especialidade, que s��o o primeiro ve��culo, por excel��ncia, de express��o e comunica����o das disciplinas suprareferidas. Estes textos reflectem, normalmente, um tipo de comunica����o especializada, cujo objectivo �� o da transfer��ncia de conhecimentos, realizada com recurso a um sistema de representa����o verbal. No entanto, a abertura e a extens��o do texto escrito a outros meios de representa����o, sobretudo nas ��reas t��cnicas, est�� a conduzir a uma nova tend��ncia no campo da terminologia e da pesquisa das l��nguas de especialidade, que tem vindo a refor��ar a import��ncia da utiliza����o de formas n��o-verbais para representar o conhecimento. A tend��ncia para o aumento do uso destas formas de representa����o, normalmente em complemento ou conjuga����o com a informa����o verbal, aponta para um novo paradigma em que a linguagem, como representa����o do pensamento, parece estar em busca de uma nova abordagem que venha transformar a maneira de produzir, organizar e transmitir conhecimentos, recorrendo ��s novas tecnologias, cada vez mais �� disposi����o da chamada sociedade do conhecimento. A nossa percep����o desta realidade ganhou maior consist��ncia ao longo do desenvolvimento de um projecto terminogr��fico de elabora����o do Dicion��rio Multilingue de Popula����o e Desenvolvimento, no qual o recurso a sistemas de representa����o n��overbais (organigramas e outro tipo de representa����es visuais), utilizados como forma de percep����o e organiza����o dos conceitos e dos dom��nios a incluir no dicion��rio, se tornou um meio importante de aquisi����o, discuss��o, estrutura����o e transmiss��o do conhecimento. Da�� a decis��o de abordarmos, ainda que de forma breve, a an��lise de duas problem��ticas sugeridas pelo desenrolar daquele projecto. A primeira recai sobre o estabelecimento de rela����es sem��nticas entre os conceitos, sobre as implica����es deste processo na estrutura����o conceptual e sobre a sua import��ncia no processamento da informa����o terminol��gica. A segunda incide na an��lise do recurso aos meios de representa����o n��o-verbais e do papel que desempenham e que podem vir a desempenhar no desenrolar do processo terminol��gico, enquanto elementos de estrutura����o de um sistema conceptual, de estrutura����o de um projecto terminol��gico e de comunica����o especializada. Estas duas problem��ticas est��o directamente interrelacionadas e devem ser analisadas em conjunto, sobretudo quando se trata de formalizar a informa����o e armazen��-la numa base de dados terminol��gica, de forma a poder ser processada (semi)automaticamente.

Prospec����o de recursos hidrominerais e geot��rmicos na Orla Ocidental Portuguesa: os casos das Termas dos Cucos e de Monte Real

A cobertura sedimentar da regi��o Oeste portuguesa �� constitu��da por uma s��rie possante de sedimentos com uma variedade de f��cies com idades compreendidas entre o Tri��sico Superior e o actual. Estes sedimentos foram depositados numa bacia alongada com direc����o NNE���SSW. A tect��nica desta cobertura sedimentar �� condicionada pelas falhas tardi���Variscas que afectaram o substrato e pelo complexo evapor��tico depositado na base das s��ries sedimentares. S��ries evapor��ticas espessas de idade Hetangiana formaram numerosas estruturas diap��ricas. Na regi��o Oeste de Portugal existem diversas nascentes minerais e termais usadas para hidroterapia. Esta tese tem por objectivo estudar as concess��es hidrominerais das Termas dos Cucos e das Termas de Monte Real (Portugal Central), bem como as suas ��reas envolventes. Estas actividades hidroterap��uticas s��o muito relevantes em termos s��cio���econ��micos para os concelhos de Torres Vedras e Leiria. Os estudos contemplados nesta tese (que inclu��ram trabalho de campo no dom��nio da geotect��nica, geomorfologia e hidrogeologia) permitiram delinear modelos hidrogeol��gicos conceptuais, apoiados, ainda, pela re���interpreta����o de estudos geof��sicos e hidrogeol��gicos pr��vios. A caracteriza����o destas ��reas foi suportada por invent��rios hidrogeol��gicos, tendo sido determinante para o projecto dos furos de capta����o, incluindo localiza����o e profundidade. Todos os dados compilados foram representados cartograficamente numa base de Sistemas de Informa����o Geogr��fica (SIG).

Re-use assessment of thermoset composite wastes as aggregate and filler replacement for concrete-polymer composite materials: a case study regarding GFRP pultrusion wastes

Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP), nowadays commonly used in the construction, transportation and automobile sectors, have been considered inherently difficult to recycle due to both the cross-linked nature of thermoset resins, which cannot be remoulded, and the complex composition of the composite itself, which includes glass fibres, polymer matrix and different types of inorganic fillers. Hence, to date, most of the thermoset based GFRP waste is being incinerated or landfilled leading to negative environmental impacts and additional costs to producers and suppliers. With an increasing awareness of environmental matters and the subsequent desire to save resources, recycling would convert an expensive waste disposal into a profitable reusable material. In this study, the effect of the incorporation of mechanically recycled GFRP pultrusion wastes on flexural and compressive behaviour of polyester polymer mortars (PM) was assessed. For this purpose, different contents of GFRP recyclates (0%, 4%, 8% and 12%, w/w), with distinct size grades (coarse fibrous mixture and fine powdered mixture), were incorporated into polyester PM as sand aggregates and filler replacements. The effect of the incorporation of a silane coupling agent was also assessed. Experimental results revealed that GFRP waste filled polymer mortars show improved mechanical behaviour over unmodified polyester based mortars, thus indicating the feasibility of GFRP waste reuse as raw material in concrete-polymer composites.

Supporting conceptualisation processes in collaborative networks: a case study on an R&D project

The development of new products or processes involves the creation, re-creation and integration of conceptual models from the related scientific and technical domains. Particularly, in the context of collaborative networks of organisations (CNO) (e.g. a multi-partner, international project) such developments can be seriously hindered by conceptual misunderstandings and misalignments, resulting from participants with different backgrounds or organisational cultures, for example. The research described in this article addresses this problem by proposing a method and the tools to support the collaborative development of shared conceptualisations in the context of a collaborative network of organisations. The theoretical model is based on a socio-semantic perspective, while the method is inspired by the conceptual integration theory from the cognitive semantics field. The modelling environment is built upon a semantic wiki platform. The majority of the article is devoted to developing an informal ontology in the context of a European R&D project, studied using action research. The case study results validated the logical structure of the method and showed the utility of the method.

Decision Support Concerning Demand Response Programs Design and Use ��� A Conceptual Framework and Simulation Tool

Demand response can play a very relevant role in the context of power systems with an intensive use of distributed energy resources, from which renewable intermittent sources are a significant part. More active consumers participation can help improving the system reliability and decrease or defer the required investments. Demand response adequate use and management is even more important in competitive electricity markets. However, experience shows difficulties to make demand response be adequately used in this context, showing the need of research work in this area. The most important difficulties seem to be caused by inadequate business models and by inadequate demand response programs management. This paper contributes to developing methodologies and a computational infrastructure able to provide the involved players with adequate decision support on demand response programs and contracts design and use. The presented work uses DemSi, a demand response simulator that has been developed by the authors to simulate demand response actions and programs, which includes realistic power system simulation. It includes an optimization module for the application of demand response programs and contracts using deterministic and metaheuristic approaches. The proposed methodology is an important improvement in the simulator while providing adequate tools for demand response programs adoption by the involved players. A machine learning method based on clustering and classification techniques, resulting in a rule base concerning DR programs and contracts use, is also used. A case study concerning the use of demand response in an incident situation is presented.