Improving fECG signal acquisition in the evaluation of fetal well-being

The ability to monitor fetal heart rate is vital during late pregnancy and labor in order to evaluate fetal well-being. Current monitoring practice is essentially based on external cardiotocography and, less frequently, during labor, invasive fetal scalp electrocardiography. Many current and envisaged applications could benefi t from simpler devices using a 3-lead ECG confi guration. We are designing a maternity support belt with an embedded wireless 3-lead ECG sensor, and have investigated the infl uence of the ground electrode position on signal quality. Data from over 100 pregnant women was collected with the ground electrode placed in 3 locations in order to determine optimum electrode placement and belt form factor.

Sugarcane productivity correlated with physical-chemical attributes to create soil management zone

The socioeconomic importance of sugar cane in Brazil is unquestionable because it is the raw material for the production of ethanol and sugar. The accurate spatial intervention in the management of the crop, resulting zones of soil management, increases productivity as well as its agricultural yields. The spatial and Person's correlations between sugarcane attributes and physico-chemical attributes of a Typic Tropustalf were studied in the growing season of 2009, in Suzan��polis, State of S��o Paulo, Brazil (20��28'10'' S lat.; 50��49'20'' W long.), in order to obtain the one that best correlates with agricultural productivity. Thus, the geostatistical grid with 120 sampling points was installed to soil and data collection in a plot of 14.6 ha with second crop sugarcane. Due to their substantial and excellent linear and spatial correlations with the productivity of the sugarcane, the population of plants and the organic matter content of the soil, by evidencing substantial correlations, linear and spatial, with the productivity of sugarcane, were indicators of management zones strongly attached to such productivity.

Application of Gage R&R methodology for improving the training and evaluation of automatic optical inspection machine operators

The current level of demand by customers in the electronics industry requires the production of parts with an extremely high level of reliability and quality to ensure complete confidence on the end customer. Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) machines have an important role in the monitoring and detection of errors during the manufacturing process for printed circuit boards. These machines present images of products with probable assembly mistakes to an operator and him decide whether the product has a real defect or if in turn this was an automated false detection. Operator training is an important aspect for obtaining a lower rate of evaluation failure by the operator and consequently a lower rate of actual defects that slip through to the following processes. The Gage R&R methodology for attributes is part of a Six Sigma strategy to examine the repeatability and reproducibility of an evaluation system, thus giving important feedback on the suitability of each operator in classifying defects. This methodology was already applied in several industry sectors and services at different processes, with excellent results in the evaluation of subjective parameters. An application for training operators of AOI machines was developed, in order to be able to check their fitness and improve future evaluation performance. This application will provide a better understanding of the specific training needs for each operator, and also to accompany the evolution of the training program for new components which in turn present additional new difficulties for the operator evaluation. The use of this application will contribute to reduce the number of defects misclassified by the operators that are passed on to the following steps in the productive process. This defect reduction will also contribute to the continuous improvement of the operator evaluation performance, which is seen as a quality management goal.

Economic evaluation of occupational safety preventive measures in a hospital

BACKGROUND: When an organization performs an integrated analysis of risks through its Occupational Health and Safety Management System, several steps are suggested to address the implications of the identified risks. Namely, the organization should make a detailed analysis of the monetary impact for the organization of each of the preventive measures considered. However, it is also important to perform an analysis of the impact of each measure on society (externalities). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to present a case study related to the application of the proposed economic evaluation methodology. METHODS: An analysis of the work accidents in a hospital has been made. Three of the major types of accidents have been selected: needle stings, falls and excessive strain. Following the risk assessment, some preventive measures have been designed. Subsequently, the Benefit/Cost ratio (B/C) of these measures has been calculated, both in financial terms (from the organization���s perspective) and in economic terms (including the benefits for the worker and for the Society). RESULTS: While the financial ratio is only advantageous in some cases, when the externalities are taken into account, the B/C ratio increases significantly. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider external benefits to make decisions concerning the implementation of preventive measures in Occupational Health and Safety projects

The use of quantitative performance information by local elected politicians in top managers��� performance evaluation: case studies

This paper studies the use of results oriented performance information (outputs and outcomes) by local elected politicians (aldermen) in top managers��� performance evaluation. The main goal is to understand the top managers��� performance evaluation process conducted by Portuguese aldermen and to identify the dominant evaluation style. In line with Bogt (2001), an exploratory field research was developed in three large municipalities: Porto, Braga and Matosinhos. We intend to answer the following research questions: to what extent are local politicians (aldermen) 1 using results information (about outputs and outcomes) to evaluate top managers��� performance? Do aldermen give any importance to quantitative output information and report them on current planning and control documents? Will the output performance information be used on performance evaluation in a different way concerning policy field (task orientation)? Based on the Hopwood evaluation styles (adapted from the private to the public sector by Bogt, 2001), we have found that the performance evaluation process of top managers is more featured by the ���operations-conscious styles��� (or ���implicit style���). Portuguese aldermen recognize the importance to quantify outputs and outcomes, but these days they focus on the information about activities and the realized operations when they evaluate performance. We haven��t found significant differences between different tasks (some exceptions for culture and environment areas). However, the municipality of Matosinhos paid more attention on quantitative performance information. This finding is reinforced by the quality of quantitative data on outputs reported on its management report. Generally speaking, aldermen are aware that more attention should be paid to quantitative information about results and performance, taking into account recent reforms introduced in Portuguese municipalities (PLG) on this field, but the ���implicit��� style is dominant.

Evaluation of collaborative strategies for ecotourism and recreational activities in natural parks of Rio de Janeiro

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, the management agencies of environmental conservation units of the park type have been attempting to meet five primary objectives set by the National System for Conservation Units (NSCU), using participatory management guidelines for these units. Two of these objectives relate to the development of recreation activities that involve contact with nature and ecological tourism. This article presents the analyses and conclusions regarding the implementation of collaborative strategies with businesses to achieve such objectives; it is part of a series of research studies having a broader scope. Case studies were conducted in eight parks by means of dozens of interviews with managers and other interested social actors, as well as by documentary research and direct observation. The results suggest that the ecotourism objective is still far from being reached, and that the collaborative strategies used are not sufficient to compensate for the organizational, material and human limitations that encumber these agencies. It was also concluded for the sample that there lacks a strategic vision on the part of the three branches of government involved in the management of these parks in the sense of viewing ecotourism in the city's conservation units as a powerful means to foster local sustainable development.

Avalia����o do desempenho docente : objectivos e controv��rsias

Actualmente, no campo espec��fico da educa����o, a avalia����o do desempenho tem vindo a assumir uma import��ncia crescente e uma maior aten����o dos investigadores pelos contextos escolares e pela rela����o directa entre a qualidade das abordagens de ensino e os n��veis de desempenho dos alunos. No contexto do sistema educativo portugu��s, a preocupa����o com a efic��cia passa a considerar a avalia����o dos professores como uma prioridade, trazendo �� discuss��o a profissionalidade docente e a sua avalia����o. Assim, este estudo tem como objectivo a an��lise dos elementos potenciadores e condicionadores do actual modelo proposto pelo Decreto Regulamentar 2/2008 de 10 de Janeiro, bem como a sistematiza����o de elementos complementares e /ou alternativos ao modelo vigente, a partir do que perspectivam os professores de uma escola secund��ria. Para a sua realiza����o utilizou-se uma abordagem qualitativa suportada na grounded theory - estudo de caso. As t��cnicas de colheita de dados foram as entrevistas a nove docentes participantes e a an��lise de documentos relacionados com a pol��tica educativa da escola. O estudo permitiu concluir que o modelo apresenta dimens��es controversas e que estas condicionam os objectivos intr��nsecos do mesmo, sendo que a preval��ncia de quest��es burocr��ticas dificulta a sua implementa����o. Em consequ��ncia foram apresentadas algumas recomenda����es.

A bot spooler architecture to integrate virtual worlds with e-learning management systems for corporate training

Joining efforts of academic and corporate teams, we developed an integration architecture - MULTIS - that enables corporate e-learning managers to use a Learning Management System (LMS) for management of educational activities in virtual worlds. This architecture was then implemented for the Formare LMS. In this paper we present this architecture and concretizations of its implementation for the Second Life Grid/OpenSimulator virtual world platforms. Current systems are focused on activities managed by individual trainers, rather than groups of trainers and large numbers of trainees: they focus on providing the LMS with information about educational activities taking place in a virtual world and/or being able to access within the virtual world some of the information stored in the LMS, and disregard the streamlining of activity setup and data collection in multi-trainer contexts, among other administrative issues. This architecture aims to overcome the limitations of existing systems for organizational management of corporate e-learning activities.

Contributo da an��lise ergon��mica do trabalho para o estudo de acidentes de trabalho em enfermeiros no servi��o de urg��ncia

Mestrado em Seguran��a e Higiene no Trabalho.

Programas de self-management em pacientes com DPOC: uma revis��o sistem��tica

Introdu����o: Programas de self-management t��m como objectivo habilitar os pacientes com estrat��gias necess��rias para levar a cabo procedimentos espec��ficos para a patologia. A ��ltima revis��o sistem��tica sobre selfmanagament em DPOC foi realizada em 2007, concluindo-se que ainda n��o era poss��vel fornecer dados claros e suficientes acerca de recomenda����es sobre a estrutura e conte��do de programas de self-managament na DPOC. A presente revis��o tem o intuito de complementar a an��lise da revis��o anterior, numa tentativa de inferir a influ��ncia do ensino do self-management na DPOC. Objectivos: verificar a influ��ncia dos programas de self-management na DPOC, em diversos indicadores relacionados com o estado de sa��de do paciente e na sua utiliza����o dos servi��os de sa��de. Estrat��gia de busca: pesquisa efectuada nas bases de dados PubMed e Cochrane Collaboration (01/01/2007 ��� 31/08/2010). Palavras-chave: selfmanagement education, self-management program, COPD e pulmonary rehabilitation. Crit��rios de Selec����o: estudos randomizados sobre programas de selfmanagement na DPOC. Extrac����o e An��lise dos Dados: 2 investigadores realizaram, independentemente, a avalia����o e extrac����o de dados de cada artigo. Resultados: foram considerados 4 estudos randomizados em selfmanagement na DPOC nos quais se verificaram benef��cios destes programas em diversas vari��veis: qualidade de vida a curto e m��dio prazo, utiliza����o dos diferentes recursos de sa��de, ades��es a medica����o de rotina, controle das exacerba����es e diminui����o da sintomatologia. Parece n��o ocorrer altera����o na fun����o pulmonar e no uso de medica����o de emerg��ncia, sendo inconclusivo o seu efeito na capacidade de realiza����o de exerc��cio. Conclus��es: programas de self-management aparentam ter impacto positivo na qualidade de vida, recurso a servi��os de sa��de, ades��o �� medica����o, planos de ac����o e n��veis de conhecimento da DPOC. Discrep��ncias nos crit��rios de selec����o das amostras utilizadas, per��odos de seguimento desiguais, consist��ncia das vari��veis mensuradas, condicionam a informa����o disponibilizada sobre este assunto.

A import��ncia dos fluxos de caixa na an��lise da solv��ncia, liquidez e visibilidade das empresas

Orientada por: Prof. Doutora Cl��udia Lopes

Virtual power players demand response programs management based on locational marginal prices

Power systems have been suffering huge changes mainly due to the substantial increase of distributed generation and to the operation in competitive environments. Virtual power players can aggregate a diversity of players, namely generators and consumers, and a diversity of energy resources, including electricity generation based on several technologies, storage and demand response. Resource management gains an increasing relevance in this competitive context, while demand side active role provides managers with increased demand elasticity. This makes demand response use more interesting and flexible, giving rise to a wide range of new opportunities.This paper proposes a methodology for managing demand response programs in the scope of virtual power players. The proposed method is based on the calculation of locational marginal prices (LMP). The evaluation of the impact of using demand response specific programs on the LMP value supports the manager decision concerning demand response use. The proposed method has been computationally implemented and its application is illustrated in this paper using a 32 bus network with intensive use of distributed generation.

Gest��o sustent��vel da ��gua em empreendimentos tur��sticos

O presente documento enquadra-se no ��mbito do trabalho final do mestrado (TFM) do curso de Engenharia Civil, na ��rea de especializa����o de Hidr��ulica, do Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, sob a forma de um projeto na fase de estudo pr��vio com o t��tulo ���Gest��o Sustent��vel da ��gua no empreendimento tur��stico Parque de Campismo da Ilha do Pessegueiro situado em Porto Covo - Regi��o de Turismo do Alentejo���. Este trabalho �� constitu��do essencialmente por 5 partes. Sendo a primeira uma breve introdu����o ��s quest��es a abordar, a segunda corresponde �� discri����o te��rica do uso eficiente da ��gua baseando-se no PNEUA (Programa nacional para o uso eficiente da ��gua). J�� a terceira parte �� relativa ao atual sistema de utiliza����o da ��gua no Parque de campismo da ilha do pessegueiro (PCIP), sendo a quarta o estudo do desenvolvimento do projecto para a gest��o eficiente da ��gua no empreendimento e a quinta parte o estudo de viabilidade econ��mica e financeira a implementar no projecto. Para al��m da implementa����o de medidas de poupan��a s��o tamb��m objetivos principais deste trabalho a reutiliza����o da ��gua atrav��s da recolha, o tratamento e armazenamento das ��guas residuais e aproveitamento das ��guas pluviais para posterior abastecimento do sistema de utiliza����o em descargas sanit��rias, lavagem de pavimentos e regas de espa��os verdes. S��o, portanto, tr��s os subsistemas de gest��o eficiente da ��gua que se pretende implementar. D��-se import��ncia ao estudo de viabilidade econ��mica do projeto, cujo per��odo de retorno do capital investido em capitais pr��prios e alheios �� de seis anos. Este projeto pretende dar apoio t��cnico ao uso eficiente da ��gua no PCIP, de forma a conseguir por um lado obter vantagens econ��micas e por outro proteger o ambiente. As vantagens econ��micas s��o interessantes para orientar os recursos financeiros para outros investimentos e as quest��es ambientais s��o a base de uma campanha, j�� em curso, para obten����o de certifica����o energ��tica, em conjunto com outras pr��ticas j�� em curso, nomeadamente a recolha seletiva de res��duos s��lidos para recircular e aproveitamento de energia solar.

Management of agricultural waste on a sample of farms on the island of S��o Miguel (A��ores)

Disserta����o de Mestrado em Ambiente, Sa��de e Seguran��a.

Contribui����o da fluoresc��ncia de Raios���X na avalia����o e modela����o de georrecursos

O presente estudo diz respeito a um trabalho de pesquisa no ��mbito de uma Tese de Mestrado compreendida no segundo ciclo de estudos do curso de Engenharia Geot��cnica e Geoambiente, realizado sobre a contribui����o da Fluoresc��ncia de Raios ��� X (FRX) no Zonamento de Georrecursos, com particular ��nfase para a utiliza����o do instrumento port��til e de ferramentas tecnol��gicas de vanguarda, indispens��veis �� prospec����o e explora����o dos recursos minerais, designadamente na interpreta����o e integra����o de dados de natureza geol��gica e na modela����o de m��todos de explora����o e processamento /tratamento de dep��sitos minerais, assim como do respectivo controlo. Esta disserta����o discute os aspectos fundamentais da utiliza����o da t��cnica de Fluoresc��ncia de Raios-X (port��til, FRXP), quanto �� sua possibilidade de aplica����o e metodologia exigida, com vista �� defini����o de zonas com caracter��sticas qu��micas an��logas do georrecurso e que preencham as exig��ncias especificadas para a utiliza����o da mat��ria-prima, nas ind��strias consumidoras. Foi elaborada uma campanha de recolha de amostras de calc��rio proveniente da pedreira do Sangard��o, em Condeixa���a���Nova, que numa primeira fase teve como objectivo principal a identifica����o da composi����o qu��mica da ��rea em estudo e o grau de precis��o do aparelho port��til de FRX. Para al��m desta an��lise foram, tamb��m, realizadas an��lises granulom��tricas por peneira����o e sedimenta����o por Raios-X a amostras provenientes das bacias de sedimenta����o e do material passado no filtro prensa. Validado o m��todo de an��lise por FRXP, realizou-se uma segunda fase deste trabalho, que consistiu na elabora����o de uma amostragem bastante significativa de pontos, onde se realizaram an��lises por FRXP, de forma a obter uma maior cobertura qu��mica da ��rea em estudo e localizar os locais chave de explora����o da mat��ria-prima. Para uma correcta leitura dos dados analisados recorreu-se a ferramentas aliadas ��s novas tecnologias, as quais se mostraram um importante contributo para uma boa gest��o do georrecurso em avalia����o, nomeadamente o ���XLSTAT��� e o ���Surfer��� para tratamento estat��stico dos dados e modela����o, respectivamente.