Printable organic and inorganic materials for flexible electrochemical devices

Portuguese Science Foundation - project Electra PTDC/CTM/099124/2008 and the PhD grant SFRH/BD/45224. financial support: Professor E. Fortunato’s ERC 2008 Advanced Grant (INVISIBLE contract number 228144), “APPLE” FP7-NMP-2010-SME/262782-2 and “SMARTEC” FP7-ICT-2009.3.9/258203

Participatory Surveillance and Mathematical Models in Epidemiologic Research: Successes and Challenges

Theoretical epidemiology aims to understand the dynamics of diseases in populations and communities. Biological and behavioral processes are abstracted into mathematical formulations which aim to reproduce epidemiological observations. In this thesis a new system for the self-reporting of syndromic data — Influenzanet — is introduced and assessed. The system is currently being extended to address greater challenges of monitoring the health and well-being of tropical communities.(...)

Learning Activities with Semantic. Hypermedia in Higher Education

The increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in diverse professional and personal contexts calls for new knowledge, and a set of abilities, competences and attitudes, for an active and participative citizenship. In this context it is acknowledged that universities have an important role innovating in the educational use of digital media to promote an inclusive digital literacy. The educational potential of digital technologies and resources has been recognized by both researchers and practitioners. Multiple pedagogical models and research approaches have already contributed to put in evidence the importance of adapting instructional and learning practices and processes to concrete contexts and educational goals. Still, academic and scientific communities believe further investments in ICT research is needed in higher education. This study focuses on educational models that may contribute to support digital technology uses, where these can have cognitive and educational relevance when compared to analogical technologies. A teaching and learning model, centered in the active role of the students in the exploration, production, presentation and discussion of interactive multimedia materials, was developed and applied using the internet and exploring emergent semantic hypermedia formats. The research approach focused on the definition of design principles for developing class activities that were applied in three different iterations in undergraduate courses from two institutions, namely the University of Texas at Austin, USA and the University of Lisbon, Portugal. The analysis of this study made possible to evaluate the potential and efficacy of the model proposed and the authoring tool chosen in the support of metacognitive skills and attitudes related to information structuring and management, storytelling and communication, using computers and the internet.

Context-based identification of energy consumption in industrial plants

Nowadays, reducing energy consumption is one of the highest priorities and biggest challenges faced worldwide and in particular in the industrial sector. Given the increasing trend of consumption and the current economical crisis, identifying cost reductions on the most energy-intensive sectors has become one of the main concerns among companies and researchers. Particularly in industrial environments, energy consumption is affected by several factors, namely production factors(e.g. equipments), human (e.g. operators experience), environmental (e.g. temperature), among others, which influence the way of how energy is used across the plant. Therefore, several approaches for identifying consumption causes have been suggested and discussed. However, the existing methods only provide guidelines for energy consumption and have shown difficulties in explaining certain energy consumption patterns due to the lack of structure to incorporate context influence, hence are not able to track down the causes of consumption to a process level, where optimization measures can actually take place. This dissertation proposes a new approach to tackle this issue, by on-line estimation of context-based energy consumption models, which are able to map operating context to consumption patterns. Context identification is performed by regression tree algorithms. Energy consumption estimation is achieved by means of a multi-model architecture using multiple RLS algorithms, locally estimated for each operating context. Lastly, the proposed approach is applied to a real cement plant grinding circuit. Experimental results prove the viability of the overall system, regarding both automatic context identification and energy consumption estimation.

Evaluation of diagnostic tests for Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Brazilian schoolchildren

Introduction Since the launch of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, more than 70% of the endemic countries have implemented mass drug administration (MDA) to interrupt disease transmission. The monitoring of filarial infection in sentinel populations, particularly schoolchildren, is recommended to assess the impact of MDA. A key issue is choosing the appropriate tools for these initial assessments (to define the best intervention) and for monitoring transmission. Methods This study compared the pre-MDA performance of five diagnostic methods, namely, thick film test, Knott's technique, filtration, Og4C3-ELISA, and the AD12-ICT card test, in schoolchildren from Brazil. Venous and capillary blood samples were collected between 11 pm and 1 am. The microfilarial loads were analyzed with a negative binomial regression, and the prevalence and associated 95% confidence intervals were estimated for all methods. The accuracies of the AD12-ICT card and Og4C3-ELISA tests were assessed against the combination of parasitological test results. Results A total of 805 schoolchildren were examined. The overall and stratified prevalence by age group and gender detected by Og4C3-ELISA and AD12-ICT were markedly higher than the prevalence estimated by the parasitological methods. The sensitivity of the AD12-ICT card and Og4C3-ELISA tests was approximately 100%, and the positive likelihood ratios were above 6. The specificity of the Og4C3-ELISA was higher than that of the AD12-ICT at different prevalence levels. Conclusions The ICT card test should be the recommended tool for monitoring school-age populations living in areas with ongoing or completed MDA.

Evaluation of parasitological examination, kDNA polymerase chain reaction and rK39-based immunochromatography for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in seropositive dogs from the screening-culling program in Brazil

Introduction Dogs play a primary role in the zoonotic cycle of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Therefore, the accurate diagnosis of infected dogs, primarily asymptomatic dogs, is crucial to the efficiency of VL control programs. Methods We investigated the agreement of four diagnostic tests for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL): parasite detection, either after myeloculture or by direct microscopic examination of tissue imprints; kinetoplast-deoxyribonucleic acid-polymerase chain reaction (kDNA-PCR); and an immunochromatographic test (ICT). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT), both of which were adopted as part of the screening-culling program in Brazil, were used as reference tests. Our sample set consisted of 44 seropositive dogs, 25 of which were clinically asymptomatic and 19 were symptomatic for CVL according to ELISA-IFAT. Results The highest and lowest test co-positivities were observed for ICT (77.3%) and myeloculture (58.1%), respectively. When analyzed together, the overall percentage of co-positive tests was significantly higher for the symptomatic group compared to the asymptomatic group. However, only ICT was significantly different based on the results of a separate analysis per test for each group of dogs. The majority (93.8%) of animals exhibited at least one positive test result, with an average of 2.66 positive tests per dog. Half of the symptomatic dogs tested positive for all four tests administered. Conclusions The variability between test results reinforces the need for more efficient and reliable methods to accurately diagnose canine VL, particularly in asymptomatic animals.

Implementação de um Sistema b-Learning na Escola Secundária do Nambambe-Lubango

Esta dissertação tem como objecto de estudo a implementação de um sistema b-learning na Escola Secundaria do Nambambe -Lubango, uma vez que a instituição reúne condições para a sua materialização, ainda que não a tenha. Por isso, pensámos fazer um estudo pormenorizado sobre o tema, a fim de descrever e explicar as condições existentes para a sua implantação. O Sistema a ser utilizado é o Moodle, com todas as suas ferramentas e potencialidades, nomeadamente: o fórum e a avaliação, que poderão complementar as actividades presenciais com maior rigor e originalidade. A metodologia empregue é o estudo de caso com vista a explicar a implantação do b-learning que é a modalidade aceite para ser efectuada nesta instituição, a julgar pelas vantagens que ela oferece e os benefícios que trará para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, mormente para os professores e alunos em termos de tecnologia, informação e conhecimento, libertando-se da infoexclusão digital. Com a pesquisa bibliográfica referente à temática e aplicação de um questionário dirigido aos professores e alunos que, depois de analisados os dados, podemos concluir que os inqueridos revelam competências básicas para a execução do projecto e os benefícios que este sistema oferecer para qualquer aprendente, tanto durante a vida como ao longo da vida.

O estatuto disciplinar da literatura angolana : contributo para uma epistemologia dos estudos literários africanos

A presente investigação procura inscrever-se no domínio da epistemologia dos estudos literários, fazendo apelo a uma abordagem interdisciplinar que aponta para a necessidade de um comparatismo literário africano e, ao mesmo tempo, mundial. O conceito-chave com que operamos neste trabalho é o de disciplinarização, tendo em conta o seu potencial explicativo para entender o processo que nos irá conduzir à integração dos Estudos Literários Africanos no sistema disciplinar actual. Por disciplinarização entendemos o processo de definição que consiste na demarcação de uma determinada disciplina, por força de dinâmicas endógenas e exógenas, durante o qual se transita de uma fase pré-disciplinar para outra disciplinar, admitindo-se a existência de uma compatibilidade entre os fundamentos epistemológicos e metodológicos da produção e transmissão de conhecimentos e, por outro lado, a consagração da institucionalidade da disciplina como objecto de estudo. A profissionalização disciplinar será uma consequência desse processo e da formação de comunidades de agentes epistémicos que, conhecendo profundamente a história e os universos de referência da disciplina, sejam capazes de aplicar as metodologias mais adequadas no domínio da investigação e do ensino. Para compreender os fundamentos epistemológicos dos Estudos Literários Africanos, importa refletir sobre o momento a partir do qual se constituem como campo disciplinar na história da produção do conhecimento sobre o continente africano. Por outro lado, com o presente trabalho pretende-se avaliar o estatuto disciplinar da Literatura Angolana, num exercício que procura justificar as determinações da epistemologia disciplinar, operacionalizando os sentidos em que se pode analisar o conceito de disciplina. Deste modo, a atribuição do referido estatuto pressupõe o domínio de um instrumental teórico que implica a descrição dos tipos de conhecimento veiculados através dos processos de transmissão que caracterizam as disciplinas escolares e as disciplinas académicas.

Semantic architecture for sensors

Based on the report for the unit “Sociology of New Information Technologies” of the Master on Computer Sciences at FCT/University Nova Lisbon in 2015-16. The responsible of this curricular unit is Prof. António Moniz

Desenvolvimento de competências digitais nos internos da Associação Assistencial Amigos do Amanhã

A presente pesquisa tem por objetivo investigar mediante observações e entrevistas as consequências da implantação de uma política inclusiva, utilizando-se de tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) em uma associação assistencial. Possibilitando, através da disponibilização de computadores e programas educativos, observar o desenvolvimento do sujeito portador de condições cognitivas desfavoráveis em função de problemas associados a fatores físicos e socioeconômicos. Buscou-se com este trabalho, através de uma abordagem qualitativa de natureza aplicada, analisar quais elementos determinantes de boa absorção de conteúdos e desenvolvimento de competências estão suscetíveis a entraves, verificando-se o quanto do fator motivacional pode estar envolvido no processo, identificando formas de se trabalhar a retenção e participação dos internos da instituição. A diversidade de anseios e expectativas associadas às condições cognitivas de cada participante foi determinante para acarear as representações de grupos distintos em suas particularidades, onde cada indivíduo apresentava uma resposta diferente aos estímulos apresentados durante o processo de exposição do material educacional. Concluiu-se que a política de inclusão digital objetivando minimizar os efeitos da marginalização de um contingente esquecido pela sociedade, tem de estabelecer critérios de continuidade e diversificação, onde, além de perseguir resultados voltados ao desenvolvimento de competências, deve possibilitar momentos de ludicidade para todos os internos em associações assistenciais.

Operation modes of battery chargers for electric vehicles in the future smart grids

This paper presents an on-board bidirectional battery charger for Electric Vehicles (EVs), which operates in three different modes: Grid-to- Vehicle (G2V), Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H). Through these three operation modes, using bidirectional communications based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), it will be possible to exchange data between the EV driver and the future smart grids. This collaboration with the smart grids will strengthen the collective awareness systems, contributing to solve and organize issues related with energy resources and power grids. This paper presents the preliminary studies that results from a PhD work related with bidirectional battery chargers for EVs. Thus, in this paper is described the topology of the on-board bidirectional battery charger and the control algorithms for the three operation modes. To validate the topology it was developed a laboratory prototype, and were obtained experimental results for the three operation modes.

Vehicle-to-anything application (v2anything app) for electric vehicles

This paper presents a mobile information system denominated as Vehicle-to-Anything Application (V2Anything App), and explains its conceptual aspects. This application is aimed at giving relevant information to Full Electric Vehicle (FEV) drivers, by supporting the integration of several sources of data in a mobile application, thus contributing to the deployment of the electric mobility process. The V2Anything App provides recommendations to the drivers about the FEV range autonomy, location of battery charging stations, information of the electricity market, and also a route planner taking into account public transportations and car or bike sharing systems. The main contributions of this application are related with the creation of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform, recommender systems, data integration systems, driver profile, and personalized range prediction. Thus, it is possible to deliver relevant information to the FEV drivers related with the electric mobility process, electricity market, public transportation, and the FEV performance.

Aggregating community resources of care and assistance services for the elderly population

Changes in population age structure are a major concern and represent a priority in the agendas and policies of the developed world, which are demanding for renewed models of social and healthcare as well as assistance services to the elderly population. Studies indicate that as far as possible these types of services should desirably be provided at the user’s home, and that ICT-based solutions can have tremendous impact on the delivery of new services. This paper highlight and discusses some of the main results of a project undertaken in a Portuguese Municipality that demonstrates the potential contribution of an e-Marketplace of care and assistance services to the well-being of elderly people. Studies undertaken allowed identifying the main services that should be provided by such e-Marketplace (termed GuiMarket), the relevance that the population grant to this platform and, conversely, the fact that the Digital Divide phenomena influences the potential utilization of this project (and alike projects). The findings support that there is a strong relation between age and qualifications, and between access to ICT and the intended use of GuiMarket.

A utilização das TIC em contexto de ensino - aprendizagem: potencialidades da Internet na promoção da expressão escrita

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ensino de Português no 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e no Ensino Secundário e de Espanhol nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário

Tecnologias da informação e comunicação na formação continuada de professores: estudode caso em escolas do Brasil e Portugal com recursos e aplicação do Google+

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Educação (área de especialização em Tecnologia Educativa)