Processing and characterization of 3D dense chitosan pieces, for orthopedic applications, by adding plasticizers

In this work, plasticizer agents were incorporated in a chitosan based formulation, as a strategy to improve the fragile structure of chitosan based-materials. Three different plasticizers: ethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitol, were blended with chitosan to prepare 3D dense chitosan specimens. The properties of the obtained structures were assessed for mechanical, microstructural, physical and biocompatibility behavior. The results obtained revealed that from the different specimens prepared, the blend of chitosan with glycerol has superior mechanical properties and good biological behavior, making this chitosan based formulation a good candidate to improve robust chitosan structures for the construction of bioabsorbable orthopedic implants.

B-learning quality: dimensions, criteria and pedagogical approach

Measuring the quality of a b-learning environment is critical to determine the success of a b-learning course. Several initiatives have been recently conducted on benchmarking and quality in e-learning. Despite these efforts in defining and examining quality issues concerning online courses, a defining instrument to evaluate quality is one of the key challenges for blended learning, since it incorporates both traditional and online instruction methods. For this paper, six frameworks for quality assessment of technological enhanced learning were examined and compared regarding similarities and differences. These frameworks aim at the same global objective: the quality of e-learning environment/products. They present different perspectives but also many common issues. Some of them are more specific and related to the course and other are more global and related to institutional aspects. In this work we collected and arrange all the quality criteria identified in order to get a more complete framework and determine if it fits our b-learning environment. We also included elements related to our own b-learning research and experience, acquired during more than 10 years of experience. As a result we have create a new quality reference with a set of dimensions and criteria that should be taken into account when you are analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and evaluating a b-learning environment. Besides these perspectives on what to do when you are developing a b-learning environment we have also included pedagogical issues in order to give directions on how to do it to reach the success of the learning. The information, concepts and procedures here presented give support to teachers and instructors, which intend to validate the quality of their blended learning courses.

Análise e optimização de processos numa empresa do sector automóvel

Trabalho de Projeto

Electrospun Polyaniline-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Nanofibers Based High Sensitive Ammonia Gas Sensor

Ammonia is an important gas in many power plants and industrial processes so its detection is of extreme importance in environmental monitoring and process control due to its high toxicity. Ammonia’s threshold limit is 25 ppm and the exposure time limit is 8 h, however exposure to 35 ppm is only secure for 10 min. In this work a brief introduction to ammonia aspects are presented, like its physical and chemical properties, the dangers in its manipulation, its ways of production and its sources. The application areas in which ammonia gas detection is important and needed are also referred: environmental gas analysis (e.g. intense farming), automotive-, chemical- and medical industries. In order to monitor ammonia gas in these different areas there are some requirements that must be attended. These requirements determine the choice of sensor and, therefore, several types of sensors with different characteristics were developed, like metal oxides, surface acoustic wave-, catalytic-, and optical sensors, indirect gas analyzers, and conducting polymers. All the sensors types are described, but more attention will be given to polyaniline (PANI), particularly to its characteristics, syntheses, chemical doping processes, deposition methods, transduction modes, and its adhesion to inorganic materials. Besides this, short descriptions of PANI nanostructures, the use of electrospinning in the formation of nanofibers/microfibers, and graphene and its characteristics are included. The created sensor is an instrument that tries to achieve a goal of the medical community in the control of the breath’s ammonia levels being an easy and non-invasive method for diagnostic of kidney malfunction and/or gastric ulcers. For that the device should be capable to detect different levels of ammonia gas concentrations. So, in the present work an ammonia gas sensor was developed using a conductive polymer composite which was immobilized on a carbon transducer surface. The experiments were targeted to ammonia measurements at ppb level. Ammonia gas measurements were carried out in the concentration range from 1 ppb to 500 ppb. A commercial substrate was used; screen-printed carbon electrodes. After adequate surface pre-treatment of the substrate, its electrodes were covered by a nanofibrous polymeric composite. The conducting polyaniline doped with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was blended with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) obtained by wet chemical synthesis. This composite formed the basis for the formation of nanofibers by electrospinning. Nanofibers will increase the sensitivity of the sensing material. The electrospun PANI-RGO fibers were placed on the substrate and then dried at ambient temperature. Amperometric measurements were performed at different ammonia gas concentrations (1 to 500 ppb). The I-V characteristics were registered and some interfering gases were studied (NO2, ethanol, and acetone). The gas samples were prepared in a custom setup and were diluted with dry nitrogen gas. Electrospun nanofibers of PANI-RGO composite demonstrated an enhancement in NH3 gas detection when comparing with only electrospun PANI nanofibers. Was visible higher range of resistance at concentrations from 1 to 500 ppb. It was also observed that the sensor had stable, reproducible and recoverable properties. Moreover, it had better response and recovery times. The new sensing material of the developed sensor demonstrated to be a good candidate for ammonia gas determination.

Obtenção de fotografia aérea para fins civis em Portugal, com câmara digital DMC

Trabalho de Projecto apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gestão do Território na Área de Especialização em Detecção Remota e Sistemas de Informação Geográfica

Life Cycle Assessment of the Hybrid Vehicle – Toyota Prius

Die Luftverschmutzung, die globale Erwärmung sowie die Verknappung der endlichen Ressourcen sind die größten Bedenken der vergangenen Jahrzehnte. Die Nachfrage nach jeglicher Mobilität steigt rapide. Dementsprechend bemüht ist die Automobilindustrie Lösungen für Mobilität unter dem Aspekt der Nachhaltigkeit und dem Umweltschutz anzubieten. Die Elektrifizierung hat sich hierbei als der beste Weg herausgestellt, um die Umweltprobleme sowie die Abhängigkeit von fossilen Brennstoffen zu lösen. Diese Arbeit soll einen Einblick über die Umweltauswirkungen des Hybridfahrzeuges Toyota Prius geben. Hierbei findet eine Gliederung in vier verschiedene Lebensphasen statt. Im Anschluss bietet die Sachbilanz die Möglichkeit die Umweltauswirkungen mit verschiedenen Antriebsmöglichkeiten und Brennstoffen zu vergleichen. Das Modell hat gezeigt, dass der Toyota Prius während der Nutzung einen hohen Einfluss auf das Treibhauspotenzial aufweist. Durch die Nutzung anderer Brennstoffe, wie beispielsweise Ethanol oder Methanol lassen sich die Auswirkungen am Treibhauspotenzial sowie der Verbrauch an abiotischen Ressourcen reduzieren. Vergleicht man die Elektromobilität mit der konventionellen, so ist festzustellen, dass diese Art der Mobilität die derzeit beste Möglichkeit zur Reduzierung der Umweltbelastungen bietet. Die Auswirkungen der Elektromobilität sind im hohen Maße abhängig von der Art des verwendeten Strommixes.

Reconfiguração dinâmica estruturada de workflows de serviços web

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

O b-Learning num contexto de aprendizagem ao longo da vida

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gestão de Sistemas de e-Learning,

Contributos para a implementação e utilização de um ambiente de aprendizagem online de Inglês como língua estrangeira, com bases em tecnologias assíncronas e síncronas

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências da Educação, Especialidade de Tecnologias, Redes e Multimédia na Educação e Formação

Avaliação de Riscos para a Segurança da Informação no ISEP Aplicação ao Processo de Notas

Desde que existe informação, há necessidade de criar um sistema que permita gerir e garantir que a informação está segura e que cumpre os requisitos básicos de segurança. Como tal, é necessário desenvolver técnicas e mecanismos para que os requisitos sejam testados e melhorados continuamente. Com esta necessidade em vista, apareceram padrões que dão resposta a um conjunto vasto de problemas, em diferentes sistemas e aplicações diversas. Estes tornaram-se guias de reflexão para quem os analisava, de arquitetura para quem os implementava e modelos para quem os geria. O padrão ISO 27001 dá resposta aos cuidados a ter para se conseguir um sistema de gestão da segurança da informação eficaz e eficiente. Esta norma preocupa-se com os detalhes de aplicação até à forma como é implementado e arquitetado o sistema. Os processos, atividades, fluxos de trabalho são essenciais para que esta norma seja cumprida. É necessário um bom escrutínio dos processos e suas atividades, assim como um fluxo de trabalho bem definido com papéis e responsabilidades de cada ator. É necessário também assegurar a forma como é gerido, a sua verificação e melhoria contínua. Foi aplicado no ISEP um exercício com o qual se pretendeu verificar se os processos e outros aspetos seguiam estes cuidados e se estavam de acordo com a norma. Durante o exercício foram verificados processos dentro de um certo âmbito, todas as suas atividades, papéis e responsabilidades, verificação de recursos, aplicação de controlos e aplicação de uma análise de risco. Esta análise tem como objetivo verificar o nível de segurança dos recursos, algo que a norma ISO 27001 propõe mas não especifica em que moldes. No final deste exercício pretendeu-se melhorar o sistema de gestão de informação do ISEP em vertentes tais como a documentação, a qual especifica quais os passos realizados no decorrer do mesmo.

UJI Navigation Network, Development of a pedestrian spatial network within the University Jaume I of Castellón (Spain)

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Building information modeling como ferramenta de visualização de realidade aumentada em obras de reabilitação – um caso de estudo

Congresso Construção 2012 - 4º Congresso Nacional/17, 18 e 19 Dezembro

Produção Lean com visualização do fluxo de trabalho em 3D

Magazine Digital eUAU - Março 2011

Gramática a /à distância

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino do Português como Língua Segunda e Estrangeira

BIM-lean synergies in the management on MEP works in public facilities of intensive use – a case study

21st Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction – IGLC 21 – Fortaleza, Brazil