Robots and humans as co-workers? The human-centred perspective of work with autonomous systems

The design of work organisation systems with automated equipment is facing new challenges and the emergence of new concepts. The social aspects that are related with new concepts on the complex work environments (CWE) are becoming more relevant for that design. The work with autonomous systems implies options in the design of workplaces. Especially that happens in such complex environments. The concepts of “agents”, “co-working” or “human-centred technical systems” reveal new dimensions related to human-computer interaction (HCI). With an increase in the number and complexity of those human-technology interfaces, the capacities of human intervention can become limited, originating further problems. The case of robotics is used to exemplify the issues related with automation in working environments and the emergence of new HCI approaches that would include social implications. We conclude that studies on technology assessment of industrial robotics and autonomous agents on manufacturing environment should also focus on the human involvement strategies in organisations. A needed participatory strategy implies a new approach to workplaces design. This means that the research focus must be on the relation between technology and social dimensions not as separate entities, but integrated in the design of an interaction system.

Innovation and environmental policy: Clean vs. dirty technical change

We study a two sector endogenous growth model with environmental quality with two goods and two factors of production, one clean and one dirty. Technological change creates clean or dirty innovations. We compare the laissez-faire equilibrium and the social optimum and study first- and second-best policies. Optimal policy encourages research toward clean technologies. In a second-best world, we claim that a portfolio that includes a tax on the polluting good combined with optimal innovation subsidy policies is less costly than increasing the price of the polluting good alone. Moreover, a discriminating innovation subsidy policy is preferable to a non-discriminating one.

Prospective system analysis of stationary battery systems under the frame of Constructive Technology Assessment

Based on the report for the unit “Project IV” of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment under the supervision of Dr.-Ing. Marcel Weil and Prof. Dr. António Brandão Moniz. The report was presented and discussed at the Doctorate Conference on Technologogy Assessment in July 2013 at the University Nova Lisboa, Caparica campus.

A regulação da atividade espacial

The technological evolution of the past fifty years has provided Humanity the contact with the last frontier of knowledge: space. An unknown world, explored by a small group of nations, which has become crucial to understanding who we are and where we come from. Space assets in recent years have opened the way to a digital society, shaped by the rapid exchange of information, whose means are mostly in space. A place of fascination and curiosity, restricted to a few people in these decades, which may soon be changing. This essay addresses some legal issues concerning the private exploration of space. Liability on space tourism is the core of this investigation, focusing on the comprehension of the international legal framework and its connection with the states national law. In particular, the study of the main international treaties, the U.S. legal system of space law and the developments in Europe are the fundamental tools of the current analysis, not forgetting the point of view of a possible international harmonization. Besides the needed theoretical context on the evolution of space law and a brief approach of the technical matters of the current aerospace engineering, the goal is to examine the characteristics of international space law and its relation with the new private actors, responsible for providing suborbital flights, operating in a near future. Within these circumstances, given the economic potential of the growing private space industry, it is essential to discuss the legal aspects of a spatial regulation. Being liability, undoubtedly, the emerging issue in the legal debate on this topic, it is important to safeguard the interests of the operators, States and, above all, future space tourists.

Experimental characterization of an earth eco-efficient plastering mortar

Earthen plastering mortars are becoming recognized as highly eco-efficient. The assessment of their technical properties needs to be standardized but only the German standard DIN 18947 exists for the moment. An extended experimental campaign was developed in order to assess multiple properties of a ready-mixed earth plastering mortar and also to increase scientific knowledge of the influence of test procedures on those properties. The experimental campaign showed that some aspects related to the equipment, type of samples and sample preparation can be very important, while others seemed to have less influence on the results and the classification of mortars. It also showed that some complementary tests can easily be performed and considered together with the standardized ones, while others may need to be improved. The plaster satisfied the requirements of the existing German standard but, most importantly, it seemed adequate for application as rehabilitation plaster on historic and modern masonry buildings. Apart from their aesthetic aspect, the contribution of earthen plasters to eco-efficiency and particularly to hygrometric indoor comfort should be highlighted.

To what extent do aspects of sustainability impact established firms' resilience

An organizations´ level of sustainability has so far been primarily been analyzed within the context of economic performance. This study changes that dependent variable to “resilience”, namely a company’s ability to recover from potential lethal shocks or disruptive events. The research questions aims to investigate whether sustainability and resilience are related. This study utilizes the financial crisis from 2007/08 as disruptive event, as it encompassed market phase-out but also survival by established firms. Two Swiss luxury watchmaking companies have been chosen as industry sample and the study’s investigation is based on a comparative case study approach. The latter applies both quantitative data, in the form of the respective annual company reports, and qualitative data, in the form of semi-structured interviews with three stakeholder groups. Findings indicate that the investigated measures of sustainability are related the investigated companies’ level of resilience. These findings contribute to the building of new theory towards resilience as this study outlines specifically which measures have been proven to be of relevance for companies’ resilience. Moreover, the results are of high relevance for companies that are operating in constant evolving markets and struggling adapting to any disruptive environment as it is outlined why and how comparative companies have to be sustainable in order to become more resilient towards future shocks.

Aspects of Passives in Capeverdean (Santiago’s variety)

The present dissertation intends to study passives in Capeverdean. I argue that Capeverdean have eventive passives with specific morphology, postverbal morphemes, -du and -da, which affix to the verb to form passives and interact with the TMA morphemes available in the language in the same way as in the active voice. I also show that Capeverdean only allows short passives. However, this study demonstrates that the by-phrase, although not expressed phonologically, is implicit and can be tracked through instrumentals and Agent-oriented adverbs. In order to account for this specific property of Capeverdean passives, I assume the existence of a Voice head which introduces the external argument in all finite sentences in Capeverdean, except in unaccusatives, following proposals from Marantz (1984), Kratzer (1996), Sailor & Ahn (2010), Pratas (2014). I also assume that this Voice head is subject to a Doubly Filled Comp Filter, similar to what is proposed in Koopman (1997), which determines that either heads or specifiers can be overt, never both. In the case of passives, I propose that external argument is in Spec,Voice and the passive morphology is lexicalized in Voice0 and that while Spec,Voice is silent, Voice0 is not. This configuration can be explained if it is assumed, following Costa & Martins (2004), that in Capeverdean passives Voice0 is a strong functional head, thus requiring visibility at PF. This restriction, combined with the Doubly Filled Comp filter, imposes that Spec,Voice is silent.

Technical optimization of the synthesis of flavours

The goal of this thesis is the investigation and optimization of the synthesis of potential fragrances. This work is projected as collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences in Merseburg and the company Miltitz Aromatics GmbH in Bitterfeld‐Wolfen (Germany). Flavoured compounds can be synthesized in different ways and by various methods. In this work, methods like the phase transfer catalysis and the Cope‐rearrangement were investigated and applied, for getting a high yield and quantity of the desired substances and without any by‐products or side reactions. This involved the study of syntheses with different process parameters such as temperature, solvent, pressure and reaction time. The main focus was on Cope‐rearrangement, which is a common method in the synthesis of new potential fragrance compounds. The substances synthesized in this work have a hepta‐1,5‐diene‐structure and that is why they can easily undergo this [3,3]‐sigma tropic rearrangement. The lead compound of all research was 2,5‐dimethyl‐2‐vinyl‐4‐hexenenitrile (Neronil). Neronil is synthesized by an alkylation of 2‐methyl‐3‐butenenitrile with prenylchloride under basic conditions in a phase‐transfer system. In this work the yield of isolated Neronil is improved from about 35% to 46% by according to the execution conditions of the reaction. Additionally the amount of side product was decreased. This synthesized hexenenitrile involved not only the aforementioned 1,5‐diene‐structure, but also a cyano group, that makes this structure a suitable base for the synthesis of new potential fragrance compounds. It was observed that Neronil can be transferred into 2,5‐dimethyl‐2‐vinyl‐4‐hexenoic acid by a hydrolysis under basic conditions. After five hours the acid can be obtained with a yield of 96%. The following esterification is realized with isobutanol to produce 2,5‐dimethyl‐2‐vinyl‐4‐hexenoic acid isobutyl ester with quantitative conversion. It was observed that the Neronil and the corresponding ester can be converted into the corresponding Cope‐product, with a conversion of 30 % and 80%. Implementing the Cope‐rearrangement, the acid was heated and an unexpected decarboxylated product is formed. To achieve the best verification of reaction development and structure, scrupulous analyses were done using GC‐MS, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐ NMR.

Consumer satisfaction with water, wastewater and waste services in Portugal

While the concept of consumer satisfaction is a central topic in modern marketing theory and practice, citizens' satisfaction with public services, and especially water and waste services, is a eld that still remains empirically rather unexplored. The following study aims to contribute to this area by analysing the determinants of user satisfaction in the water, wastewater and waste sector in Portugal, using a unique survey of 1070 consumers undertaken by the Portuguese Water and Waste Regulator ERSAR. I perform an analysis of the relation between overall service satisfaction and attributespeci c service satisfaction with an ordered logit model. I then explore if subjective consumer satisfaction can be re ected by ERSAR's technical performance indicators. The results suggest that overall consumer satisfaction is driven by consumer's satisfaction with speci c service aspects but unrelated to socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Furthermore, I show that there is no monotonic association between ERSAR's technical performance indicators and consumers' levels of satisfaction.

A technical investigation of an oil painting on copper support, including a study on consolidants for treatment

Paper submitted to e-conservation Journal: Maria Leonor Oliveira, Leslie Carlyle, Sara Fragoso, Isabel Pombo Cardoso and João Coroado, “Investigations into paint delamination and consolidation of an oil painting on copper support”.

Ajustamento pelo risco : da conceptualização à operacionalização

RESUMO - As organizações de saúde, em geral, e os hospitais, em particular, são frequentemente reconhecidos por terem particularidades e especificidades que conferem uma especial complexidade ao seu processo produtivo e à sua gestão (Jacobs, 1974; Butler, 1995). Neste sentido, na literatura hospitalar emergem alguns temas como prioritários tanto na investigação como na avaliação do seu funcionamento, nomeadamente os relacionados com a produção, com o financiamento, com a qualidade, com a eficiência e com a avaliação do seu desempenho. O estado da arte da avaliação do desempenho das organizações de saúde parece seguir a trilogia definida por Donabedian (1985) — Estrutura, Processo e Resultados. Existem diversas perspectivas para a avaliação do desempenho na óptica dos Resultados — efectividade, eficiência ou desempenho financeiro. No entanto, qualquer que seja a utilizada, o ajustamento pelo risco é necessário para se avaliar a actividade das organizações de saúde, como forma de medir as características dos doentes que podem influenciar os resultados de saúde. Como possíveis indicadores de resultados, existem a mortalidade (resultados finais), as complicações e as readmissões (resultados intermédios). Com excepção dos estudos realizados por Thomas (1996) e Thomas e Hofer (1998 e 1999), praticamente ninguém contesta a relação entre estes indicadores e a efectividade dos cuidados. Chamando, no entanto, a atenção para a necessidade de se definirem modelos de ajustamento pelo risco e ainda para algumas dificuldades conceptuais e operacionais para se atingir este objectivo. Em relação à eficiência técnica dos hospitais, os indicadores tradicionalmente mais utilizados para a sua avaliação são os custos médios e a demora média. Também neste domínio, a grande maioria dos estudos aponta para que a gravidade aumenta o poder justificativo do consumo de recursos e que o ajustamento pelo risco é útil para avaliar a eficiência dos hospitais. Em relação aos sistemas usados para medir a severidade e, consequentemente, ajustar pelo risco, o seu desenvolvimento apresenta, na generalidade, dois tipos de preocupações: a definição dos suportes de recolha da informação e a definição dos momentos de medição. Em última instância, o dilema que se coloca reside na definição de prioridades e daquilo que se pretende sacrificar. Quando se entende que os aspectos financeiros são determinantes, então será natural que se privilegie o recurso quase exclusivo a elementos dos resumos de alta como suporte de recolha da informação. Quando se defende que a validade de construção e de conteúdo é um aspecto a preservar, então o recurso aos elementos dos processos clínicos é inevitável. A definição dos momentos de medição dos dados tem repercussões em dois níveis de análise: na neutralidade económica do sistema e na prospectividade do sistema. O impacto destas questões na avaliação da efectividade e da eficiência dos hospitais não é uma questão pacífica, visto que existem autores que defendem a utilização de modelos baseados nos resumos de alta, enquanto outros defendem a supremacia dos modelos baseados nos dados dos processos clínicos, para finalmente outros argumentarem que a utilização de uns ou outros é indiferente, pelo que o processo de escolha deve obedecer a critérios mais pragmáticos, como a sua exequibilidade e os respectivos custos de implementação e de exploração. Em relação às possibilidades que neste momento se colocam em Portugal para a utilização e aplicação de sistemas de ajustamento pelo risco, verifica-se que é praticamente impossível a curto prazo aplicar modelos com base em dados clínicos. Esta opção não deve impedir que a médio prazo se altere o sistema de informação dos hospitais, de forma a considerar a eventualidade de se utilizarem estes modelos. Existem diversos problemas quando se pretendem aplicar sistemas de ajustamento de risco a populações diferentes ou a subgrupos distintos das populações donde o sistema foi originalmente construído, existindo a necessidade de verificar o ajustamento do modelo à população em questão, em função da sua calibração e discriminação.

A indústria de defesa na cooperação Brasil-Portugal

The global dynamics of alliances are strongly determined by the level of cooperation among states. This cooperation can be embodied in various aspects, but the level of defense and security cooperation becomes usually more doctrinal and lasting. By the nature of sovereignty that instills in the bilateral relationship, cooperation at defense and security level can leverages other forms of cooperation. The circumstances and relational balance between Brazil and Portugal seem to evolve towards distancing opportunities, despite they are culturally and institutionally untainted. The economic dynamics, the strategic projection in global sustainability terms, the scale and ambition of Brazilian regional leadership, contrasts with the actual context of Portugal, distancing himself both on the stage where they operate. On the other hand, the historical and cultural roots, the language, the affinity of the peoples of CPLP and some opportunities for economic niches, trend to attract both countries. The condition of Portugal in NATO and Europe, coupled with the ability to export technical and human resources to value-added for Brazil, seems also to become approaching factors. On the balance of these dynamics, there is a set of exogenous factors (economic, external global relations matrix, regional stability, among others), which are not always controlled by any of both countries. These factors call for strong capacity for foresight analysis and decision making, with the inherent risk. There is cooperation vectors that are not apparently penalized by geographic distance, or by the difference of realities. Among these vectors we shall highlight synergies in technological niches, highly tradable goods and, mostly, using the domain of dual technologies. The thirteen niches herein identified are: Monitoring, Navigation, Command and Control, Electronics, Optoelectronics, Communication and remote sensing, Information Technologies, Flight Simulation, Specialized Training, Fiber Optic Sensors, Materials Engineering, Nanotechnology and Communications. Cumulating with identified opportunities in traditional relational framework, both countries are growing (in geography and economic terms) into the Atlantic, making it a central element in the bilateral approach. By being at the same time a growing stage of disputes and which stability tends to be threatened, it will be done an analysis of these synergistic vectors, superimposed on the impact on Atlantic securitization process.

International partner selection Indian technical textile market

Due to a combination of a vast agricultural industry and a tremendously growing technical textile industry, Ludvig Svensson identified India as target market for possible expansion through domestic production and supply. However, Svensson needed additional information about the industry structure and key players. Therefore, this project focused on a detailed analysis of the technical textile market and its players by following the international partner selection process. Thereby, five key players were identified as potential partners, as well as the need for additional research to determine alternative entry modes, as the market does not currently seem to be receptive for Svensson products.

Otimização da anisotropia fronto-calosa e ressonância magnética [1,5T] no idoso normal e com risco cérebro-vascular

RESUMO: Os mais recentes métodos de neuro imagem tal como a Ressonância Magnética (RM) permitiram obter imagens detalhadas do cérebro humano in vivo. Essas imagens revelam, muitas vezes, achados imprevistos face ao padrão normal, com elevada propensão para os indivíduos idosos e franca coexistência com fatores de risco vascular, como característica dum processo de envelhecimento normal. Embora na última década tenham surgido várias publicações sobre este assunto, ele continua ainda pouco explicado. Um pouco por todo o mundo têm emergido os programas de prevenção da doença e promoção da saúde desenvolvidos pela Saúde Pública suportadas sobretudo pelo avanço das tecnologias médicas que resultaram, entre outros impactos, num crescimento da população idosa. Estima-se, em 2030, uma composição demográfica com 20% de indivíduos acima dos 65 anos. Neste contexto, a doença microvascular cerebral é a causa mais frequente de comprometimento cognitivo vascular no idoso sendo as características senescentes na imagem por RM do tipo lesões isquémicas da Substância Branca (Leukoaraiosis) e enfartes lacunares (Status lacunar), atrofia cerebral, gliose e acumulação excessiva de ferro nos núcleos da base. Esta tese, considerando a linha de investigação de que deriva – Ciências da Vida - especialização em Medicina Clinica - Biotecnologia, reúne e reflete sobre três vertentes ligadas à RM e interdependentes em relação a uma problemática comum. A primeira trata da caracterização da Tecnologia por Ressonância Magnética existente em Portugal, a qual inclui uma avaliação exploratória da aplicação da técnica de Difusão Anisotrópica nos estudos cerebrais. As dimensões analíticas estudadas foram a Tecnológica, Sociodemográfica e Económica. Na recolha de dados recorreu-se a várias fontes de informação e a uma metodologia exploratória faseada, validada pela triangulação dos resultados. A sua análise obedeceu a critérios de estratificação e agrupamento segundo as mesmas dimensões analíticas. Otimização da anisotropia fronto-calosa e [RM 1,5T] no idoso normal e com risco cérebro-vascular A segunda descreve o estudo anátomo – radiológico que recaiu sobre parâmetros de quantificação assente na temática do cérebro do idoso em cadáver segundo uma metodologia experimental aplicada às métricas da difusão por RM. Na terceira, e última, é apresentado o estudo técnico - radiológico para avaliação e otimização da imagem ponderada em difusão em estudos clínicos associados ao cérebro do idoso “The Usual Brain Aging” ou Envelhecimento Cerebral Normal, com base metodológica assente nos critérios e indicadores estabelecidos pelo Estudo de Imagem de Roterdão (Rotterdam Scan Study - RSS). Como principais resultados obteve-se que não existem em Portugal estruturas para avaliação dos equipamentos pesados ou Agência de Avaliação das Tecnologias da Saúde para desenvolver o importante papel da produção de estudos comparativos entre os equipamentos disponíveis no mercado, a relação preço-qualidade e a sua afetação às necessidades clínico-epidemiológicas. Constatou-se que a implementação de equipamentos de RM está fortemente assente em critérios económicos carecendo de recomendações e diretivas para o uso racionalizado destas tecnologias. Quanto a dados quantitativos concluímos que a maioria dos equipamentos está instalada em instituições privadas (80,2%); a intensidade de campo magnético mais frequente é [1,5T] com 119 equipamentos; os equipamentos estão instalados maioritariamente nos distritos de Lisboa (55 unidades) e do Porto (39 unidades); o rácio médio de equipamentos por habitante em Portugal é de 1 para 65 195 habitantes; a amplitude de gradientes com maior expressão na amostra é 30-39mT/m; a maioria dos equipamentos foi instalada no intervalo temporal [2009-2012] com 59 equipamentos; apenas 6 instituições desenvolvem investigação clinica e a maioria das bobinas para estudos de crânio são do tipo Array. O estudo de otimização da técnica da difusão revelou, quanto à avaliação dos valoresb, que os mais baixos (b=500 s/mm2 e b=1000 s/mm2), apresentam maior IS e SNR sendo esta uma boa medida referente à qualidade de imagem, no entanto, os valores-b mais elevados (b=2000 s/mm2) apresentam maior CNR e CR, face aos anteriores, o Otimização da anisotropia fronto-calosa e [RM 1,5T] no idoso normal e com risco cérebro-vascular que apesar de proporcionar inferior detalhe anatómico e consequentemente inferior qualidade de imagem, num encéfalo normal, pode auxiliar na interpretação e apresentar vantagens na identificação de lesões microvasculares sempre que persistirem dúvidas em relação ao diagnóstico diferencial de doença microvascular do tipo status lacunar ou Hiperintensidades da Substância Branca. As alterações deste parâmetro são particularmente refletidas nas diferenças da avaliação da qualidade de imagem na região fronto-calos Concluímos da avaliação quantitativa da concentração média de ferro (26Fe) em todas as faixas etárias que os núcleos da base que apresentam maior concentração são, por ordem decrescente: Substância Nigra, Globus Pallidus, Putamen, Tálamo, Núcleo Rubro e Núcleo Caudado; que existe uma predominância na concentração de ferro (26Fe) no hemisfério esquerdo e que os indivíduos do género masculino apresentam mais ferro (26Fe) que os do género feminino nas faixas etárias [30-40[, [40-50[ e [50-60[. Como principal conclusão do estudo da concentração média de ferro em relação à idade destacamos que a concentração média de ferro (26Fe) é superior nos grupos etários superiores, logo aumenta com a idade, sobretudo na Substância Nigra e no Núcleo Lenticular. No estudo técnico-radiológico encontrámos evidências do aumento da difusibilidade da água na substância branca subcortical dos sujeitos idosos comparativamente aos mais jovens. Uma relação idêntica foi avaliada nos tálamos. O aumento relacionado com a idade parece ser predominantemente observado em doentes com mais de 65 anos de idade o que pode refletir alterações estruturais ligeiras associados ao envelhecimento normal. Os resultados indicam que a análise quantitativa das imagens ponderadas em difusão fornece informações, sobre a estrutura do cérebro, as quai s não estão disponíveis apenas por inspeção visual, tanto nas imagens ponderadas em difusão como em outras sequências de aplicação clínica de rotina. Para fazer face às desvantagens dos sistemas de quantificação das HSB os quais são dispendiosos, complexos, requererem tecnologia e formação específicas, recomendamos que a aplicação automatizada GUIAL, desenvolvida ao longo do nosso trabalho é de utilização elementar e prática para que seja introduzida nos sistemas de aquisição de imagem por RM com o fim de integrar o processamento de imagem nos indivíduos portadores de fatores de risco vascular. A avaliação do ADC, nesta amostra, permitiu concluir que a variação desta variável é explicada estatisticamente pela existência da condição clínica de status lacunar em ambos os hemisférios ou por outras palavras, o status lacunar influencia o valor de ADC. Embora uma pequena percentagem da variação do ADC seja explicada pelo género, o ADC nos homens foi superior ao das mulheres o que não nos surpreende, pois são também os homens onde a frequência de doença microvascular se revelou mais expressiva. Os valores do ADC, globalmente, entre os hemisférios cerebrais não mostraram alterações exceto na SB entre os idosos e não idosos. A SB da região frontal mostrou valores diminuídos na anisotropia e isotropia face às restantes áreas anatómicas. Os estudos indicam que na idade avançada existe uma maior predisposição para suscetibilidades de estrutura com status de desconexão. A classificação das HSB foi superior em indivíduos mais velhos e com status lacunar, e em menor quantidade (inferior rating de classificação) nos indivíduos idosos sem status lacunar. As alterações volumétricas foram mais frequentes no homem do que na mulher, presumivelmente devido à associação com a elevada classificação de status lacunar. Um aumento do índice de Evan correspondeu, neste estudo, ao aumento das HSB, à diminuição do volume cerebral total, à expansão ventrículo-sulcal frontal e ao aumento da medida do ângulo caloso. Estes resultados foram agravados pela classificação elevada de status lacunar nos indivíduos que apresentaram indícios de doença de pequenos vasos, com manifesto aumento dos espaços de Virchow-Robin,enfartes lacunares ou HSB. Esses resultados foram mais expressivos no género masculino do que no feminino revelando uma maior vulnerabilidade sobretudo na atrofia frontal nos homens. Por sua vez as dimensões do Corpo Caloso tornaram-se reduzidas devido à compressão dos ventrículos laterais e terceiro ventrículo. Estes indicadores tiveram expressão particularmente nos indivíduos com mais de 65 anos. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT: The latest neuroimaging methods, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), have enabled detailed images of in vivo human brain. These images reveal often unexpected findings related to the normal pattern, with high predisposition for the elderly people with forthright coexistence with vascular risk factors such as characteristics of a normal aging process. Although it has been, in the last decade, several publications on this subject, it is still little explained. All over the world have emerged disease prevention programs and health promotion developed by the Public Health sector, supported mainly by the advancement of medical technologies that have resulted, among other impacts, in a growing of the elderly population. It is estimated, in 2030, a demographic composition with 20% o people over 65 years. In this context, microvascular disease is the most common cause of cognitive vascular impairment in the elderly and senescent characteristics in the MRI trough ischemic lesions of the white matter (Leukoaraiosis) and lacunar infarcts (lacunar status), cerebral atrophy, gliosis and iron accumulation in the basal ganglia in excess.This thesis, considering the research line that stems - Life Sciences - specialization in Clinical Medicine, Biotechnology, gathers and reflects on three aspects linked to MR, interdependent and related to a common problem. The first deals with the Magnetic Resonance Technology characterization in Portugal, which includes an exploratory evaluation of the implementation of Anisotropic Diffusion technique in brain studies. The analytical dimensions studied were the Technologic, Socio-demographic and Economics. Collecting data was supported by different sources of information and was applied an exploratory methodology whose results were validated by triangulation. The research method was grouped and stratified criteria under the same analytical dimensions. The second describes the anatomical study - which was focused on radiological measurement parameters, based on the brain’s specimen under an experimental methodology applied to MRI diffusion metrics. Radiological evaluation and optimization of the weighted image diffusion in clinical studies were associated with the brain of the elderly "The Usual Brain Aging" with methodological basis based on established criteria and indicators by Rotterdam Scan Study (RSS). The main results obtained reveal the inexistence frameworks in Portugal for evaluation of equipments or Agency of Health Technology to produce studies comparing the equipment available on the market, the value for money and its allocation to clinical and epidemiological needs. It was found that the implementation of MRI equipment is strongly based on economic criteria lacking recommendations and guidelines for the rationalized use of these technologies. As the quantitative data we conclude that most of the scanners are located in private clinical institutions (80,2%); the most frequent magnetic field intensity is [1.5T] with 119 scanners; the scanners are mainly installed in Lisbon (55 units) and Porto (39 units) districts; the average ratio of equipment per capita in Portugal is 1 to 65 195 people; the gradient power with higher expression in the sample is 30-39mT / m;most of the scanners were installed in the years range [2009-2012 years] with 59 equipment; only 6 clinical placements develop clinical research and the most coils for brain studies are of Array type. The optimization study of diffusion technique revealed, as the assessment of the bvalues, the lower (b = 500 s / mm2 and b = 1000 s / mm 2), promotes an increase in the SI and SNR being this measure related to a higher image quality, however the highest b values (b = 2000 s / mm 2) have a higher CNR (Contrast to Noise-Ratio) and CR (Contrast Ratio), compared to the previous ones. This may provide less anatomical details and, thus, ower image quality, of a normal brain, however can help the interpretation and have advantages in identifying microvascular injuries when doubts persist regarding the differential diagnosis of microvascular disease of lacunar or WMH (White Matter Hyperintensities) status type. Changes on this parameter are Otimização da anisotropia fronto-calosa e [RM 1,5T] no idoso normal e com risco cérebro-vascular particularly reflected in the differences of image quality evaluation in the frontocallosum anatomical area. We conclude from the quantitative assessment of the average concentration of iron (26Fe), in all age groups to the basal ganglia, that the higher concentrations are, in descending order: Nigral Substantia, Globus pallidus, Putamen, Thalamus, Rubio nucleus and Caudate nucleus; that there is a predominance in the concentration of iron (26Fe) in the left hemisphere and that male gender show higher iron (26Fe) level tha females, in the age groups [30-40 [[40-50 [and [50- 60 [. Regarding a main conclusion of the mean concentration study of iron, in terms of age we point out that the average concentration of iron (26Fe) is higher among older groups and increases with age, especially in Nigral Substantia and Lenticular Nucleus. On the technical and radiological study we found evidence of an increased in water /diffusivity in the ubcortical white matter of the elderly compared with younger subjects. A similar relationship was assessed in the Thalamus. The increase agerelated seems to be predominantly observed in patients over 65 years which may reflect minor structural changes associated with normal aging. The results indicate that quantitative analysis of diffusion weighted imaging can provide information about the structure of the brain which is not reached only by visual inspection or standard sequences applied in clinical routine. To address the disadvantages the systems of quantification of WMH which the authors state that are costly, complex, require specific technology and training, we recommend that the automated application GUIAL, developed over our work is basic and practical to use and to be introduced in MR image systems acquisition in order to integrate image processing in patients with vascular risk factors. The evaluation of the ADC showed that its variation is statistically explained by the existence of the medical condition of lacunar status, in both hemispheres, or in other words, the lacunar status influences the ADC value. Although a small percentage of the ADC variation is explained by gender, the ADC in men was higher than women which Otimização da anisotropia fronto-calosa e [RM 1,5T] no idoso normal e com risco cérebro-vascular do not surprise us, since they are also men where the frequency of microvasculardisease has proved more significant. The values of ADC, overall, between the cerebral hemispheres showed no changes but were different in WM among the elderly and non-elderly subjects.The WM's forehead showed decreased values in anisotropy and isotropy face the other anatomical areas. The studies indicate that in old age there is a greater tendency to higher susceptibility to disconnection- status framework. The classification of WMH was higher in elderly people and lacunar status, and fewer (lower classification rating) in the elderly without lacunar status. volumetric changes were more frequent in men than in women, most probably because of its association with high lacunar status rating. An increase of Evan index corresponded, in this study, to an increase in WMH, to a decreased of total brain volume, to a ventricle sulcal frontal and callous angle expansion. These results were wound up by high ranking of lacunar status in subjects who had small vessel disease, clear increase in spaces of Virchow-Robin, lacunar infarctions or WMH. These results were more significant in males than in females revealing vulnerability particularly in the frontal atrophy in men. In turn the size of Corpus Callosum because reduced due to the compression of the lateral and third ventricles. These indicators had expression particularly in individuals over 65 years.