Current mortars in conservation: an overview

Renders are an important item in historical buildings and the need for their periodical re-application is a basic conservation procedure. In modern times there has been a trend towards the replacement of traditional pure lime mortars by new formulations including Portland cement or hydraulic lime. Apart from those interventions on specific and very important monuments, in which the use oftraditional non-hydraulic mortars can be enforced, in most of the projects involving less than first order magnitude heritage the use of some sort of hydraulic components is becoming the rule rather than the exception. The present paper describes and analyses the results of an experimental study with ten formulations of current mortars - including some that can hardly be considered as adequate conservation procedures - allowing a direct comparison in terms of some of the most relevant characteristics.

Is ambient intelligence a truly human-centric paradigm in industry? Current research and application scenario

Based on the paper presented at the International Conference “Autonomous Systems: inter-relations of technical and societal issues”, organized by IET with the support of the Portuguese-German collaboration project on “Technology Assessment of Autonomous Robotics” (DAAD/CRUP) at FCT-UNL, Biblioteca da UNL, Campus de Caparica on 5-6 November 2009.

Digitally programmable delay-locked-loop with adaptive charge pump current for UWB radar system

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e Computadores

Vascularização do útero: estudo morfológico e experimental

RESUMO Os trabalhos de investigação, conducentes à elaboração do presente estudo morfofuncional, subordinado ao tema da "VASCULARIZAÇÃO ARTERIAL DO ÚTERO",fundamenta-se em conceitos da anatomia descritiva clássica, complementados por técnicas de estudo mais modernas, permitindo-nos observações originais. O principal objectivo é de definir um padrão descritivo da vascularização uterina e de estabelecer uma correlação anatomo-fisiológica e anatomo-clínica na descrição da angiomorfologia uterina, actualizando as descrições clássicas da artéria com dados de observação originais, segundo as técnicas de estudo angiomorfológicas correntemente empregues no Departamento de Anatomia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Correlacionam-se as observações com os mais recentes dados publicados, no âmbito da imuno-histoquímica e da moderna bioquímica endocrinológica, uma vez que os conceitos modernos de fisiologia uterina e ginecológica praticamente dominam a vasta literatura científica mundial. Como objectivos particulares, ou linhas orientadoras da tese, escolhemos: - A definição de parâmetros descritivos do padrão genérico da vascularização uterina, actualizando a nomenclatura descritiva de acordo com a moderna Nomina Anatomica mundialmente debatida, desde o XIV Congresso Internacional da Federação Internacional das Associações de Anatomistas, sob a presidência do Prof. Doutor J.A. Esperança Pina (1994) e publicada em 1999-2001. - A comparação do caso humano com o do animal de experiência, por observação meticulosa do maior número de casos possíveis, realizando um estudo comparativo que nos permita extrapolar dados de experimentação animal para o caso humano; - O estabelecimento de uma correlação anatomo-fisiológica, por análise do comportamento da vascularização uterina, ao longo da vida, desde o nascimento até à menopausa, e perante as influências hormonais a que se encontra exposta. A tese constrói-se em torno de três núcleos fundamentais: 1. Um capítulo introdutório, de contextualização teórica, por enquadramento histórico dos estudos dos órgãos genitais femininos e da evolução das técnicas de diagnóstico e terapêutica do útero, focando as primeiras referências à técnica da histerotomia (Cesariana) (com a lenda persa do nascimento do herói Rostam, ou do nascimento do deus Asclepius), as primeiras representações da vascularização uterina (por LEONARDO e iii VESÁLIO), ou as primeiras descrições anatómicas do útero, da autoria de Portugueses (RODRIGO DE CASTRO, 1516 e AMATO LUSITANO, 1551). Prossegue a contextualização teórica com breve referência à recente evolução das técnicas de diagnóstico e terapêutica dos fibromiomas uterinos, mencionando de modo particular a evolução das técnicas de embolização arterial uterina, por nos parecer corresponder a um campo de aplicação imediata dos estudos da vascularização do útero. Termina este capítulo com breve referência aos trabalhos do Prof. Doutor J. MARTINS PISCO que tem actualmente, no nosso País uma das mais extensas listas de trabalhos efectuados com sucesso a nível mundial, no campo da embolização arterial de fibromiomas uterinos. 2. O segundo núcleo fundamental, intitulado "Angiomorfologia uterina" corresponde a extensa revisão bibliográfica dos estudos descritivos da vascularização uterina, desde logo ilustrando a resenha teórica com algumas imagens fotográficas de úteros humanos, seleccionadas da nossa colecção. A descrição da vascularização uterina, fundamentada em 1500 citações bibliográficas, organiza-se, de acordo com o paralelismo entre a estratificação histológica e angiológica do órgão, e a hierarquia funcional, regulada pelas cíclicas variações hormonais. Descreve-se a camada serosa e correspondente vascularização; a camada muscular e vascularização do miométrio; e, por fim, a camada mucosa e os vasos endometriais. Verifica-se, perante os dados colhidos da literatura mundial, o interesse do aprofundamento dos estudos morfológicos da microvascularização endometrial e da adaptação das descrições aos resultados dos modernos estudos funcionais obtidos por técnicas da imuno-histoquímica. 3. Fundamentados nos dados colhidos das revisões bibliográficas, elaborámos um projecto de investigação original, visando o estabelecimento da relação morfo-funcional resultante do aprofundamento dos estudos descritivos da angiomorfologia e da microvascularização do útero. O capítulo de trabalho experimental organiza-se em três principais passos: – No capítulo de Materiais e métodos, procede-se à escolha, por um lado do animal de experiência mais adequado para os estudos da vascularização uterina (por estudo comparativo ao longo da escala animal) e, por outro lado, à escolha de três das técnicas disponíveis no Laboratório de Anatomia Experimental e aplicáveis à investigação angiomorfológica do útero; iv - No capítulo de Resultados, procedemos à exposição das nossas observações de 25 úteros humanos e de 154 úteros de animais de experiência, segundo as três técnicas seleccionadas (dissecção, Injecção-corrosão-fluorescência, Injecção-diafanização e injecção-corrosão paraobservação de moldes vasculares em microscopia electrónica de varrimento), organizando aselecção da vasta iconografia coleccionada em três novos subcapítulos: o útero humano, oútero do animal de experiência e um estudo comparativo, essencial para validar osresultados do trabalho experimental. - O capítulo de trabalho experimental, inteiramente efectuado por estudos na artéria uterina do rato Wistar, abrange primeiramente a tentativa de definição macroscópica de territórios de vascularização, seguido das observações microscópicas conducentes à definição dos parâmetros angiomorfológicos característicos de cada uma das etapas da grande variabilidade a que se sujeita a vascularização uterina, ao longo da vida, incluindo a infância, a gravidez, a paridade e o envelhecimento, e consoante as fases do ciclo hormonal ovárico. Aperfeiçoámos essa tarefa com a elaboração de três experiências distintas, para análise dos efeitos microvasculares uterinos da administração exógena de preparados comerciais hormonais, por observação em microscopia electrónica de varrimento. De acordo com as leituras da literatura clássica sobre a metodologia do trabalho científico, completamos os trabalhos por um capítulo de síntese e critica dos resultados, sequencialmente organizado consoante cada um dos passos experimentais atrás referidos. SUMMARY The aim of the present thesis is the description of the uterine arterial network, complementing the classical concepts of descriptive Anatomy with modern techniques of anatomical research, thus achieving original final results and observations. One of the main objectives of the research is to establish physiological and clinical correlations in the description of the uterine angiomorphology, with the techniques currently available for angiomorphological research in the Department of Anatomy of Faculty of Medical Sciences of the New University of Lisbon. As guidelines to our research, we established the following specific objectives: - defining the descriptive parameters of the standard pattern of the uterine vasculature, according to the modern Nomina Anatomica, as underlined in the latest Federative Congresses of the International Federation of the Associations of Anatomists, one of which took place in Lisbon, in 1994, under the presidency of Professor J.A. Esperança Pina, the supervisor of the present works; - comparing the human uterus with the uterus of the experimental animal, to extrapolate the experimental observations in animals to the particular case of the human uterus; - establishing a correlation between the physiology and the anatomical observations of the uterine vasculature throughout life, from childhood to menopause and in relation to the hormonal influences to which the uterus is exposed. The thesis is built around three main chapters: 1) The introduction chapter defines the historical framework of the studies of the female genital anatomy and the historical evolution of the clinical management of common uterine diseases, focusing on the first historical references to the Caesarean section (such as the Persian legend of the birth of the hero ROSTAM, or that of the birth of ASCLEPIUS, the Greek god of Medicine); the first depictions of the uterine vasculature (by LEONARDO and VESALIUS) or the first anatomical descriptions of the uterus, by Portuguese authors (RODRIGO DE CASTRO, 1517, or AMATUS LUSITANUS, 1551). The theoretical context proceeds, with reference to the recent evolution of the clinical and surgical management of uterine fibroids, and a particular mention to the modern techniques of Uterine Fibroid Embolisation, which corresponds to one of the fields of interest of the anatomic studies of uterine arterial vascularization. 2) The second chapter, devoted to the anatomical description of the Uterine Angiomorphology, is based on an extensive review of the available Medical literature,illustrated by a selection of our own research observations of the human uterine vasculature. The description is organized in view of the parallelism between histological and angiological stratification and the functional hierarchy, under the control of the cyclic hormonal variations. Each layer of the uterine wall is depicted with photographs of the human uterus and descriptions of its specific vascular network: the serosa, the muscular Myometrium, and the mucosa, or endometrium. This classical description, based on extensive quotations of the international scientific literature, enhances our interest for the research of a more detailed knowledge of the endometrial microvascular network, accordingly to the modern physiologic results obtained through immunohistochemical studies. 3) The results of our experimental research, aiming to establish the intimate relationship between the anatomical and functional studies of uterine vasculature, are organized in three main steps: - The chapter of Materials and Methods debates the choice of the experimental animal, based on a short review of the comparative anatomy of the uterus, and uterine physiology, throughout the animal scale. The selection of three fundamental techniques of anatomic research is made from the current variety available in the Laboratory of Experimental Anatomy of the Lisbon School of Medical Sciences. - The Results of our personal research and observations of 25 human and 154 animal uteri,after dissection, and the techniques of arterial injection for the preparation of fluorescent corrosion casts, of vascular injection and clearing, and of arterial injection and preparation of corrosion casts for Scanning Electron Microscopy are rganized in terms of human or animal macroscopic anatomy and microvascular network, followed by a summary of the comparative anatomy of human and rat uteri, which is essential to validate the resultant experimental observations of the rat endometrial microvasculature. - The experimental research is entirely devoted to the uterine artery of the Wistar rat. The first step consists of the attempt to define macroscopic territories of vascularization, followed by microscopic observations for the definition of the angiomorphological pattern that is characteristic of each stage of the extreme variations to which the uterus is subject throughout life, from childhood to sexual maturity, throughout the hormonal cycle, in pregnancy, according to parity, and through ageing. We complete these observations with the experimental exposure of the Wistar rat uterus to pharmacologic preparations of hormones, currently available in clinical practice, and observations of the vascular uterine changes in Scanning Electron Microscopy. The outcome results of our anatomical observations are followed by a critical synthesis of the results.

SI SC MDAC switched current-capacitor multiplying digital-to-analog converter

Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

Pipelined analog-to-digital conversion using current-mode reference shifting

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

The impact of Ireland’s current Mental Health Policy on the profile of community mental Health Services

RESUMO: Em 2006, foi aprovada uma nova política governamental para a saúde mental intitulada “Uma Visão para a Mudança”, a qual está neste momento no sétimo ano de implementação. A política descreve um enquadramento para o desenvolvimento e promoção da saúde mental positiva para toda a Comunidade e para a prestação de serviços acessíveis, baseados na comunidade, serviços especializados para pessoas com doença mental. A implementação da política e o tornar a “Vision for Change” uma realidade têm sido problemáticos, com críticas consideráveis por parte dos intervenientes, relativas à lenta e desconexa implementação. Este estudo fornece informação sobre as características dos serviços de três importantes tipos de instituições de saúde mental comunitária a nível nacional, nomeadamente Hospitais de Dia, Centros de Dia e residências comunitárias operantes 24 horas. A pesquisa analisa objetivos e funções, perfis dos pacientes, atividades terapêuticas, a eficácia das redes de comunicação e beneficia da perspectiva dos funcionários sobre o que mudou no terreno ao longo dos últimos sete anos. As questões identificadas a partir das características dos três serviços dizem respeito a todos. Os participantes indicaram que o ethos da recuperação parece ter alcançado um papel mais central no tratamento do paciente na comunidade mas reconheceram que o desafio de integrar os princípios de recuperação na prática clínica se mantém presente. Parece ser reconhecida a importância da planificação do cuidado individual nos serviços comunitários e os entrevistados indicaram que existe um empenho para garantir o envolvimento do usuário do serviço. Há diferenças entre os „pontos de vista do pessoal‟ e os „pontos de vista dos representantes‟ sobre uma série de aspetos da prestação de serviços. Este é o primeiro estudo irlandês deste género a examinar a prestação de serviços das três principais instituições comunitárias de saúde mental num só estudo. Estes serviços representam um enorme investimento em recursos, quer a nível monetário, quer humano. O estudo examinou os desafios e as questões fundamentais que lhe são aplicáveis e que têm impacto nestes três tipos de prestação de serviços. Também forneceu informações sobre os elementos de mudança positiva, os quais se começam a focar lentamente na prestação do serviço, assim como na importância da centralidade do utilizador do serviço e na promoção de um ethos da recuperação.----------ABSTRACT: In 2006, a new Government policy for mental health “A Vision for Change” was endorsed and is currently in the seventh year of implementation. The policy describes a comprehensive framework for building and fostering positive mental health across the entire community and for providing accessible, community based, specialist services for people with mental illness. The implementation of the policy and turning “Vision for Change” into reality has been problematic with considerable criticism from stakeholders concerning slow and disjointed implementation. This study provides information on three key community mental health service settings, namely Day Hospitals, Day Centres and 24 Hour Community Residences at a national level. The research looks at aims and functions, patient profiles, therapeutic activities, effectiveness of key communication networks and gains an insight from staff on what has changed on the ground over the past seven years. Issues identified from the three service settings pertain to all. Participants indicated that the recovery ethos appears to have moved to a more central role in patient care in the community but acknowledged that the challenge of integrating recovery principles in clinical practice remains present. The importance of individual care planning appears to be recognised in community services and respondents indicated that efforts are being made to ensure service user involvement. There were differences between „staff views‟ and „advocate views‟ on a number of aspects of service provision. This is the first Irish study of its kind to examine service provision across the three main community mental health settings in one study. These services represent a huge investment in resources both on a monetary and human level. This study has examined the challenges and key issues which are applicable and impacting on all three types of service provision. It has also provided information on the elements of positive change, which are slowly embedding themselves in service provision such as the importance of the centricity of the service user and the promotion of a recovery ethos.

Thermo-hydro-mechanical analysis of CO2 injection into deep aquifers

One of the biggest challenges for humanity is global warming and consequently, climate changes. Even though there has been increasing public awareness and investments from numerous countries concerning renewable energies, fossil fuels are and will continue to be in the near future, the main source of energy. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is believed to be a serious measure to mitigate CO2 concentration. CCS briefly consists of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere or stationary emission sources and transporting and storing it via mineral carbonation, in oceans or geological media. The latter is referred to as carbon capture and geological storage (CCGS) and is considered to be the most promising of all solutions. Generally it consists of a storage (e.g. depleted oil reservoirs and deep saline aquifers) and sealing (commonly termed caprock in the oil industry) formations. The present study concerns the injection of CO2 into deep aquifers and regardless injection conditions, temperature gradients between carbon dioxide and the storage formation are likely to occur. Should the CO2 temperature be lower than the storage formation, a contractive behaviour of the reservoir and caprock is expected. The latter can result in the opening of new paths or re-opening of fractures, favouring leakage and compromising the CCGS project. During CO2 injection, coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical phenomena occur, which due to their complexity, hamper the assessment of each relative influence. For this purpose, several analyses were carried out in order to evaluate their influences but focusing on the thermal contractive behaviour. It was finally concluded that depending on mechanical and thermal properties of the pair aquifer-seal, the sealing caprock can undergo significant decreases in effective stress.

Evaluation of motor neuron excitability by CMAP scanning with modulated current

It is important to have better evaluation and understanding of the motor neuron physiology, with the goal to early and objectively diagnose and treat patients with neurodegenerative pathologies. The Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) scan is a non-invasive diagnosis technique for neurodegenerative pathologies, such as ALS, and enables a quick analysis of the muscle action potentials in response to motor nerve stimulation. This work aims to study the influence of different pulse modulated waveforms in peripheral nerve excitability by CMAP scan technique on healthy subjects. A total of 13 healthy subjects were submitted to the same test. The stimuli were applied in the medium nerve on the right wrist and electromyography signal collected on the Abductor Pollicis Brevis (APB) muscle surface on the right thumb. Stimulation was performed with an increasing intensities range from 4 to 30 mA, with varying steps, 3 stimuli per step. The procedure was repeated 4 times per subject, each repetition using a different single pulse stimulation waveform: monophasic square, monophasic triangular, monophasic quadratic and biphasic square. Results were retrieved from the averaging of the stimuli on each current intensity step. The square pulse needs less current intensity to generate the same response amplitude regarding the other waves and presents a more steep curve slope and this effect is gradually decreasing for the triangular and quadratic pulse,respectively, being the difference even more evident regarding the biphasic pulse. The control of the waveform stimulation pulse allows varying the stimulusresponse curve slope.

FPC current marketing strategy

Direct Research Internship Course

Structured products in the current low interest rate environment

Directed Research Internship

How do current term structure model behave beyond the last liquid point?: A comparison of the DNS and Smith-Wilson methods

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Master’s Double Degree in Finance from Maastricht University and NOVA – School of Business and Economics

The effectiveness of the “Processo Especial de Revitalização” as an instrument of corporate restructuring in the context of the current economic crisis

This work project intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the Portuguese Government’s strategy to promote the orderly deleveraging of the corporate sector in the context of the current economic crisis. The recommendations of the Troika and the commitments assumed under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government in 2011 required the creation of formal processes to avoid disorderly deleveraging. Conclusions and recommendations were drawn based on past experiences of large-scale corporate restructuring strategies in other countries and on the analysis of financial and statistical data on companies applying for “Programa Especial de Revitalização”.

The quest for growth in the German organic food retail market: Historical trends, current strategies, and future outlook

This paper aims to provide strategies for the organic supermarket chain “Alnatura” to shape the demand and its market share of the organic food & beverage (F&B) market in Germany within the next five years. Through the historic evolution and the current market assessment of Germany, compared to a benchmark country (US), as well as prospective trends in Germany, reasons and opportunities for market growth are evaluated. In addition, an industry attractiveness, competitor and company analysis is executed. Based on those findings and a conducted survey, suggestions to adjust Alnatura´s current business strategies are deduced and finally examined on its risk and feasibility.

Men's grooming in Germany: A consumer research and discussion of current consumer attitudes

The objective of this dissertation was to explore the German men’s grooming market and to discuss the usage and purchase behavior of young male adults. After a brief market analysis, this dissertation evaluates the results of qualitative and quantitative research. The conducted research explored the consumer’s reasoning for and attitude towards personal grooming, and their attitude towards product attributes and the aging process. The dissertation concludes that men attach high value to personal grooming but only to the extent that their personal need is satisfied. As the male involvement in MG is highly dependent on each consumer’s individual needs, the market requires a careful segmentation.