SKAN: Skin Scanner - System for Skin Cancer Detection Using Adaptive Techniques

SKAN: Skin Scanner - System for Skin Cancer Detection Using Adaptive Techniques - combines computer engineering concepts with areas like dermatology and oncology. Its objective is to discern images of skin cancer, specifically melanoma, from others that show only common spots or other types of skin diseases, using image recognition. This work makes use of the ABCDE visual rule, which is often used by dermatologists for melanoma identification, to define which characteristics are analyzed by the software. It then applies various algorithms and techniques, including an ellipse-fitting algorithm, to extract and measure these characteristics and decide whether the spot is a melanoma or not. The achieved results are presented with special focus on the adaptive decision-making and its effect on the diagnosis. Finally, other applications of the software and its algorithms are presented.

The AdapLib Library for Execution of Adaptive Devices: Architecture and Use

In this paper it is presented the theoretical background, the architecture (using the ""4+1"" model), and the use of the library for execution of adaptive devices, AdapLib. This library was created seeking to be accurate to the adaptive devices theory, and to allow its easy extension considering the specific details of solutions that employ this kind of device. As an example, it is presented a case study in which the library was used to create a proof of concept to monitor and diagnose problems in an online news portal.

A Specialized Processor for Emulating Peripherals of the PIC Microcontroller

This paper proposes and describes an architecture that allows the both engineer and programmer for defining and quantifying which peripheral of a microcontroller will be important to the particular project. For each application, it is necessary to use different types of peripherals. In this study, we have verified the possibility for emulating the behavior of peripheral in specifically CPUs. These CPUs hold a RAM memory, where code spaces specifically written for them could represent the behavior of some target peripheral, which are loaded and executed on it. We believed that the proposed architecture will provide larger flexibility in the use of the microcontrolles since this ""dedicated hardware components"" don`t execute to a special function, but it is a hardware capable to self adapt to the needs of each project. This research had as fundament a comparative study of four current microcontrollers. Preliminary tests using VHDL and FPGAs were done.

Redox properties of the adenoside triphosphate-sensitive K+ channel in brain mitochondria

Brain mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel (mito-K-ATP) opening by diazoxide protects against ischemic damage and excitotoxic cell death. Here we studied the redox properties of brain mito-K-ATP. Mito-K-ATP activation during excitotoxicity in cultured cerebellar granule neurons prevented the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death. Furthermore, mito-K-ATP activation in isolated brain mitochondria significantly prevented H2O2 release by these organelles but did not change Ca2+ accumulation capacity. Interestingly, the activity of mito-K-ATP was highly dependent on redox state. The thiol reductant mercaptopropionylglycine prevented mito-K-ATP activity, whereas exogenous ROS activated the channel. In addition, the use of mitochondrial substrates that led to higher levels of endogenous mitochondrial ROS release closely correlated with enhanced K+ transport activity through mito-K-ATP. Altogether, our results indicate that brain mito-K-ATP is a redox-sensitive channel that controls mitochondrial ROS release. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Structural and functional properties of Bp-LAAO, a new L-amino acid oxidase isolated from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom

An L-amino acid oxidase (Bp-LAAO) from Bothrops pauloensis snake venom was highly purified using sequential chromatography steps on CM-Sepharose, Phenyl-Sepharose CL4B, Benzamidine Sepharose and C18 reverse-phase HPLC. Purified Bp-LAAO showed to be a homodimeric acidic glycoprotein with molecular weight around 65 kDa under reducing conditions in SDS-PAGE. The best substrates for Bp-LAAO were L-Met, L-Leu, L-Phe and L-Ile and the enzyme showed a strong reduction of its catalytic activity upon L-Met and L-Phe substrates at extreme temperatures. Bp-LAAO showed leishmanicidal, antitumoral and bactericidal activities dose dependently. Bp-LAAO induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma and this activity was inhibited by catalase. Bp-LAAC-cDNA of 1548 bp codified a mature protein with 516 amino acid residues corresponding to a theoretical isoelectric point and molecular weight of 6.3 and 58 kDa, respectively. Additionally, structural and phylogenetic studies identified residues under positive selection and their probable location in Elp-LAAO and other snake venom LAAOs (svLAAOs). Structural and functional investigations of these enzymes can contribute to the advancement of toxinology and to the elaboration of novel therapeutic agents. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Political Parties and Governors as Determinants of Legislative Behavior in Brazil`s Chamber of Deputies, 1988-2006

This article examines the relative importance of regional and national forces in shaping the behavior of Brazilian legislators at the national level. A widely held view is that national legislators respond to state pressures in making decisions, rather than pressures from the national government. Governors not only can influence national debates but also can determine outcomes by exerting control over their states` legislative delegations. This article examines a dataset of all roll-call votes in the Chamber of Deputies between 1989 and 2006 to isolate and evaluate the impact of local pressures on legislative voting. Spanning the terms of five presidents and five different congresses, the data show that the local influence is weaker than the national on the voting decisions of individual legislators and the voting cohesion of state delegations. Alternative institutional resources allow the central government to counteract the centrifugal pressures of federalism and other institutional influences.

Carbon Nanofiber Type and Content Dependence of the Physical Properties of Carbon Nanofiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

The variation of the physical properties of four differ- ent carbon nanofibers (CNFs), based-polymer nano- composites incorporated in the same polypropylene (PP) matrix by twin-screw extrusion process was investigated. Nanocomposites fabricated with CNFs with highly graphitic outer layer revealed electrical isolation-to-conducting behaviors as function of CNF’s content. Nanocomposites fabricated with CNFs with an outer layer consisting on a disordered pyro- litically stripped layer, in contrast, revealed better mechanical performance and enhanced thermal sta- bility. Further, CNF’s incorporation into the polymer increased the thermal stability and the degree of crystallinity of the polymer, independently on the filler content and type. In addition, dispersion of the CNFs’ clusters in PP was analyzed by transmitted light opti- cal microscopy, and grayscale analysis (GSA). The results showed a correlation between the filler concentration and the variance, a parameter which measures quantitatively the dispersion, for all composites. This method indicated a value of 1.4 vol% above which large clusters of CNFs cannot be dispersed effectively and as a consequence only slight changes in mechanical performance are observed. Finally, this study establishes that for tailoring the physical properties of CNF based-polymer nanocomposites, both adequate CNFs structure and content have to be chosen.

Accounting and the “Doctor-Manager Relationship”

The adoption of the “new public management” in the hospital sector brought about greater presence and power to professional managers in hospitals, thus increasing the risk of conflict in the doctor-manager relationship. Aiming to enrich the discussion on the factors that could be the bases for this conflict and considering the role of accounting, the study presented here corresponds, basically, to what we call “content analysis” of qualitative studies. The results demonstrate that the Portuguese doctors as the sample studied accept, in essence, the principles of enterprise management and recognize the use of accounting information in the scope of their functions as long as they are called to participate as legitimate actors, and authorities respect their desires to preserve a practice which they consider of quality.

Integration of Individualized Management Systems (MSs) as an Aggregating Factor of Sustainable Value for Organizations: An Overview Through a Review of the Literature

Nowadays, there exist various standards for individual management systems (MSs), at least, one for each stakeholder. New ones will be published. An integrated management system (IMS) aims to integrate some or all components of the business into one coherent and efficient MS. Maximizing integration is more and more a strategic priority in that it constitutes an opportunity to eliminate and/or reduce potential factors of destruction of value for the organizations and also to be more competitive and consequently promote its sustainable success. A preliminary investigation was conducted on a Portuguese industrial company which, over the years, has been adopting gradually, in whole or in part, individualized management system standards (MSSs). A research, through a questionnaire, was performed with the objective to develop, in a real business environment, an adequate and efficient IMS-QES (quality, environment, and safety) model and to potentiate for the future a generic IMS model to integrate other MSSs. The strategy and research methods have taken into consideration the case study. It was obtained a set of relevant conclusions resulting from the statistical analyses of the responses to the survey. Globally, the investigation results, by themselves, justified and prioritized the conception of a model of development of the IMS-QES and consequent definition and validation of a structure of an IMS-QES model, to be implemented at the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) where the investigation was conducted.

Unit Commitment in a Competitive and Emission Constrained Environment

This paper is on the unit commitment problem, considering not only the economic perspective, but also the environmental perspective. We propose a bi-objective approach to handle the problem with conflicting profit and emission objectives. Numerical results based on the standard IEEE 30-bus test system illustrate the proficiency of the proposed approach.

Projecto de reabilitação e reforço de um túnel ferroviário

As obras de arte e as demais estruturas, são dimensionadas para um tempo de vida útil em serviço. Com o passar do tempo as estruturas começam a apresentar patologias e assim sendo há que intervir em serviços de manutenção ou, no limite, de recuperação e reforço. Estas intervenções servem para beneficiar ou reforçar as estruturas, com o intuito de evitar acidentes, pois estes, levariam a grandes prejuízos e contratempos, principalmente quando estas obras se situam em meios urbanos. Os problemas patológicos que surgem numa estrutura são ocasionados pela sua antiguidade, por manutenção inadequada ou mesmo ausência de total de manutenção, têm na sua origem o desconhecimento técnico e/ou problemas financeiros. Este trabalho consiste num projecto de beneficiação e reforço de um túnel ferroviário, fazendo uma abordagem das patologias existentes nos vários elementos construtivos e uma apresentação das técnicas de reabilitação e reforço utilizadas.

O ‘heróico cinema português’: 1930-1950

As décadas de trinta e quarenta do século XX português constituem, dentro da trajectória bastante irregular do cinema nacional, a época de maior regularidade. Com efeito, foi neste período que se verificou um considerável desenvolvimento do meio cinematográfico nacional. Este revelou-se um tempo dinâmico, quer a nível da produção, com o aparecimento dos filmes sonoros e das produtoras nacionais e respectivos estúdios, quer no que ao consumo diz respeito, com a multiplicação de salas de cinema; traduziu-se ainda no advento de revistas da especialidade, como a Kino, a Imagem ou o Cinéfilo, e no aparecimento de importantes realizadores portugueses – António Lopes Ribeiro, Leitão de Barros, Jorge Brum do Canto, Chianca Garcia –, produzindo-se relevantes trabalhos cinematográficos. Desta forma, neste artigo pretende-se apresentar o projecto cinematográfico nacional da época em estudo, possibilitando uma compreensão mais clara da evolução cinematográfica portuguesa no período de edificação do Estado Novo.

Modelação do transporte e dispersão de um marcador corado no Rio Febros

O rio Febros é um pequeno curso de água, situado no concelho de Vila Nova de Gaia, com cerca de 15 km de extensão, cuja bacia hidrográfica ocupa uma área de aproximadamente 35,4 km2. Nasce em Seixezelo e desagua na margem esquerda do Rio Douro no Cais do Esteiro, em Avintes. Em Maio de 2008, um acidente de viação teve como consequência o derrame de cerca de quatro toneladas de ácido clorídrico que rapidamente convergiu às águas do rio. Apenas um dia depois, o pH desceu para três e muitos foram os peixes que morreram. A solução adoptada para evitar o desaire foi introduzir milhares de litros de água de modo a diluir o ácido presente, ao longo de todo o curso de água. Tal facto não evitou a destruição de parte de um ecossistema, que ainda nos dias de hoje se encontra em recuperação. De forma a avaliar-se o impacto destas possíveis perturbações sejam estas de origem antropogénica ou natural é necessário possuir conhecimentos dos processos químicos tais como a advecção, a mistura devida à dispersão e a transferência de massa ar/água. Estes processos irão determinar o movimento e destino das substâncias que poderão ser descarregadas no rio. Para tal, recorrer-se-á ao estudo hidrogeométrico do curso de água assim como ao estudo do comportamento de um marcador, simulando uma possível descarga. A rodamina WT será o marcador a ser utilizado devido à panóplia de características ambientalmente favoráveis. Os estudos de campo com este corante, realizados em sequência de descarga previamente estudada, fornecem uma das melhores fontes de informação para verificação e validação de modelos hidráulicos utilizados em estudos de qualidade de águas e protecção ambiental. Escolheram-se dois pontos de descarga no Febros, um em Casal Drijo e outro no Parque Biológico de Gaia, possuindo cada um deles, a jusante, duas estações de monitorização. Pelo modelo ADE os valores obtidos para o coeficiente de dispersão longitudinal para as estações Pontão d’ Alheira, Pinheiral, Menesas e Giestas foram, respectivamente, 0,3622; 0,5468; 1,6832 e 1,7504 m2/s. Para a mesma sequência de estações, os valores da velocidade de escoamento obtidos neste trabalho experimental foram de 0,0633; 0,0684; 0,1548 e 0,1645 m/s. Quanto ao modelo TS, os valores obtidos para o coeficiente de dispersão longitudinal para as estações Pontão d’ Alheira, Pinheiral, Menesas e Giestas foram, respectivamente, 0,2339; 0,1618; 0,5057e 1,1320 m2/s. Para a mesma sequência de estações, os valores da velocidade de escoamento obtidos neste trabalho experimental foram de 0,0652; 0,0775; 0,1891 e 0,1676 m/s. Os resultados foram ajustados por um método directo, o método dos momentos, e por dois métodos indirectos, os modelos ADE e TS. O melhor ajuste corresponde ao modelo TS onde os valores do coeficiente de dispersão longitudinal e da velocidade de escoamento são aqueles que melhor se aproximam da realidade. Quanto ao método dos momentos, o valor estimado para a velocidade é de 0,162 m/s e para o coeficiente de dispersão longitudinal de 9,769 m2/s. Não obstante, a compreensão da hidrodinâmica do rio e das suas características, bem como a adequação de modelos matemáticos no tratamento de resultados formam uma estratégia de protecção ambiental inerente a futuros impactos que possam suceder.

Mammifères pleistocènes de Algoz, en Algarve: une revision

At Algoz, Algarve, some mammals were found. The fauna, as revised here, corresponds to lowermost Middle Pleistocene (Biharian), just before the first glacial advance of Gunz glaciation. It is much older than it was previously regarded (Riss-Wurm interglacial). Evidence indicates an humid, swampy, riparian environment rich in plant life, and a nearby forest. Climate seems to have been rather warm (see ANTUNES et al., 1985). Age and ecology suggest that Algoz and Morgadinho, also in Algarve, are correlative (Morgadinho's age is from Villanyian to Biharian, and is thus compatible with that from Algoz). Lithology and palynological analysis corroborate this view. Algoz is the first locality of this age known in Portugal. Morgadinho and perhaps lacustrine limestones at Ponte das Lavadeiras (Faro) are more or less the same age.

Impact of Social Responsibility Programmes in Stakeholder Satisfaction: An Empirical Study of Portuguese Managers’ Perceptions

Investigação no âmbito do Projeto de Doutoramento(PhD), especialidade de Gestão Global, Estratégia e Desenvolvimento Empresarial (ISCTE-IUL - 2012, classificação de “Aprovado com Muito Bom”).