Actas da II International Conference «Learning and Teaching in Higher Education/ Learning Orchestration in Higher Education»

É ponto assente que o desenvolvimento social e económico de um país depende do conhecimento e do nível educativo dos seus cidadãos. Num momento de crise económica profunda em que a sustentabilidade do ensino superior se encontra ameaçada e a sua organização com rumo incerto, importa, mais do que nunca, criar um espaço de reflexão em que a ciência se pronuncie, aproximando e colocando em evidência os contributos que em vários domínios se vão produzindo. Nesta conferência, que se pretende em continuidade com a realizada em 2010, elegemos como tema central a qualidade do ensino e da aprendizagem e, tendo em conta a realidade em que nos inscrevemos, alargamos a discussão aos contextos e aos modelos de organização que os podem consubstanciar. Pode parecer um paradoxo centrar esta conferência na componente mais pedagógica do ensino superior quando toda a pressão de avaliação interna e externa das instituições e dos docentes incide particularmente sobre a produção científica. Mas talvez não. Assumimos que a reflexão de cariz pedagógico continua a não ser uma prática corrente no meio universitário português que, durante gerações, se habituou a um ensino universitário tradicional destinado apenas a uma pequena elite e se alheou dos desafios da massificação de que foi alvo. A ideia de que pedagogia apenas diz respeito à relação do professor com crianças ou jovens até ao ensino secundário permaneceu latente, tornando estéril qualquer discussão que, na perspectiva de alguns, seria desnecessária e até contraproducente no ensino superior. Um novo paradigma terá de ser assumido por um ensino universitário que busca o ideal da excelência, colocando no centro do debate o equilíbrio entre as dimensões pedagógica e investigativa e uma redobrada atenção à sociedade e às mudanças se, verdadeiramente, o que pretendemos é ganhar o desafio da qualidade.

Spatial and temporal downscaling of solar global radiation and mean air temperature from weather forecast data - an introductory numerical study and validation

This short paper presents a numerical method for spatial and temporal downscaling of solar global radiation and mean air temperature data from global weather forecast models and its validation. The final objective is to develop a prediction algorithm to be integrated in energy management models and forecast of energy harvesting in solar thermal systems of medium/low temperature. Initially, hourly prediction and measurement data of solar global radiation and mean air temperature were obtained, being then numerically downscaled to half-hourly prediction values for the location where measurements were taken. The differences between predictions and measurements were analyzed for more than one year of data of mean air temperature and solar global radiation on clear sky days, resulting in relative daily deviations of around -0.9±3.8% and 0.02±3.92%, respectively.

Some common fallacies about learning and teaching English as a Lingua Franca

Over the past decades, English language teachers have become familiar with several terms which attempt to describe the role of English as a language of international communication. Presently, the term English as a lingua franca (ELF) seems to be one of the most favoured and adopted to depict the global use of English in the 21st century. Basically, the concept of ELF im-plies cross-cultural, cross-linguistic interactions involving native and non-native speakers. Conse-quently, the ELF paradigm suggests some changes in the language classroom concerning teachers’ and students’ goals as far as native speaker norms and cultures are concerned. Based on Kachru’s (1992) fallacies, this article identifies thirteen misconceptions in ELT regarding learning and teach-ing English varieties and cultures, suggesting that an ethnocentred and linguacentred approach to English should be replaced by an ELF perspective which recognizes the diversity of communicative situations involving different native and non-native cultures and varieties of English

Study and experimental characterization of the laser welding process for the manufacturing of electric powertrain components in the automotive industry

The PhD project that will be presented in this thesis is focused on the study and optimization of the production process for the manufacturing of electrical powertrain components in the automotive field using the laser beam welding process (LBW). The objective is to define, through experimental activities, an optimized process condition for applications in the electrical field that can be generalized, that is, which guarantees its reproducibility as the types of connections vary and which represents the basis for extending the method to future applications in e-mobility sector. The work developed along two lines of research, the convergence of which made it possible to create prototypes of battery modules based on different types of lithium-ion cells and stator windings for electric motors. On the one hand, the different welding configurations involving the production of batteries based on pouch cells and therefore the welding of aluminum and copper in dissimilar configuration were studied, while for the prismatic cells only one configuration was analyzed. On the other hand, the welding of pure copper hairpins with rectangular shape in edge joint configuration was studied for the production of stator windings. The experimental tests carried out have demonstrated the feasibility of using the LBW process for the production of electric powertrain components entirely designed and developed internally as the types of materials and welding configurations vary; the methodologies required for the characterization methods, necessary for the end-of-line tests, for the evaluation of the properties of the different joint configurations and components (battery and electric motor) were also defined with the aim of obtaining the best performance. The entire doctorate program was conducted in collaboration with Ferrari Auto S.p.A. and the direct industrial application of the issues addressed has been faced.

Study and implementation of control strategies for polymerization processes assisted by atmospheric pressure plasma jets

In recent years, polymerization processes assisted by atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) have received increasing attention in numerous industrially relevant sectors since they allow to coat complex 3D substrates without requiring expensive vacuum systems. Therefore, advancing the comprehension of these processes has become a high priority topic of research. This PhD dissertation is focused on the study and the implementation of control strategies for a polymerization process assisted by an atmospheric pressure single electrode plasma jet. In the first section, a study of the validity of the Yasuda parameter (W/FM) as controlling parameter in the polymerization process assisted by the plasma jet and an aerosolized fluorinated silane precursor is proposed. The surface characterization of coatings deposited under different W/FM values reveals the presence of two very well-known deposition domains, thus suggesting the validity of W/FM as controlling parameter. In addition, the key role of the Yasuda parameter in the process is further demonstrated since coatings deposited under the same W/FM exhibit similar properties, regardless of how W/FM is obtained. In the second section, the development of a methodology for measuring the energy of reactions in the polymerization process assisted by the plasma jet and vaporized hexamethyldisiloxane is presented. The values of energy per precursor molecule are calculated through the identification and resolution of a proper equivalent electrical circuit. To validate the methodology, these energy values are correlated to the bond energies in the precursor molecule and to the properties of deposited thin films. It is shown that the precursor fragmentation in the discharge and the coating characteristics can be successfully explained according to the obtained values of energy per molecule. Through a detailed discussion of the limits and the potentialities of both the control strategies, this dissertation provides useful insights into the control of polymerization processes assisted by APPJs.

Cheering the soul: Ibn Qāḍī Baʿlabakk’s Mufarriḥ an-Nafs. Arabic edition, english translation, study and glossaries

The Mufarriḥ an-nafs (Soul-Cheerer), attributed to Badr ad-Dīn Muẓaffar Ibn Qāḍī Baʿlabakk, who served under the Ayyubids as the Chief Medical Officer of Damascus in the mid-13th century, was written as a comprehensive guide for physicians outlining different approaches to cheering the soul. The tractate is divided into ten chapters, which explore the nature of the soul, its distinction to the body as well as their connection through sensorial perception. Ibn Qāḍī Baʿlabakk distinguishes the bodily senses – hearing, vision, smell, taste, touch – and the inner senses, which he sees as stimulated through activities such as hunting and engagement in poetry and the sciences. The seventh chapter of the Mufarriḥ an-nafs includes an extended encyclopedia on materia medica as well as dispensatory of simple and compound drugs, which is devoted to treating the soul and remains unparalleled in the history of Islamicate medicine. My doctoral dissertation offers a complete recension and translation of the Mufarriḥ an-nafs based on a stemma codicum drawn from the seventeen extant text witnesses. The dissertation contextualizes the work, its author as well as sources, and features a text commentary that seeks to enable the reader to easily place and understand the Mufarriḥ an-nafs within the tradition of Galenic medicine. The glossaries on materia medica found at the end of the dissertation are aimed at facilitating access to the pharmacological dispensatory included in the seventh chapter.

Study and development of BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.1503-Δ (BCZY) – Gd0.2Ce0.8O2-Δ (GDC) dense ceramic membranes sysyem for high temperature H2 purification

The first main conclusion drawn from this dissertation concerns the amount of Pt deposited on the asymmetric layer of membrane produced by tape casting porosity shaping method. Three different amounts were investigated (0.15, 1.5 and 4.5 mg cm-2 ). The most optimal performance, based on H2 permeation performances, was attained when 1.5 mg cm-2 of Pt was deposited on the porous layer, resulting in a 0.642 mL min-1 cm-2 permeated H2 when 80% H2 in He was employed as the feed. Pt deposition method is influenced by the concentration of the Pt precursor, which results in different morphology of the catalyst. The second development focused on further optimization on tape casting membranes concerning the solvent employed for the Pt catalyst deposition. The same concentration of Pt was employed, depositing 1.5 mg cm-2 on the porous side of the membrane, but a mixture of acetone and water was employed as solvent. This mixture allowed the suppression of effects leading to poorly dispersed particles. As a result, it was possible to achieve 0.74 mL min-1 cm-2 at 750°C with 50% H2 in He. Lastly, first-ever permeation performance measurements into an innovative ceramic membrane type for hydrogen separation was investigated. In-depth research was done on a group of hierarchically-structured BaCe0.65Zr0.20Y0.15O3-δ(BCZY) - Gd0.2Ce0.8O2-δ(GDC) membranes produced by freeze casting porosity shaping method. Membranes were investigated observing the effect of deposition solvent and the effect of porous layer thickness. Employing a mixture of Acetone and water resulted in better hydrogen permeation at temperatures (T > 650°C), reaching 0.26 mL min-1 cm-2 at 750°C with 50% H2 in He. The reduction of porous layer thickness led to a hydrogen flow of 0.33 mL min-1 cm-2 , at 750°C with 50% H2 in He.

Satellite IoT: a Study and Performance Analysis of GEO and LEO Systems

The study is divided into two main part: one focused on the GEO Satellite IoT and the other on the LEO Satellite IoT. Concerning the GEO Satellite IoT, the activity has been developed in the context of EUMETSAT Data Collection Service (DCS) by investigating the performance at the receiver within challenging scenarios. DCS are provided by several GEO Satellite operators, giving almost total coverage around the world. In this study firstly an overview of the DCS end-to-end architecture is given followed by a detailed description of both the tools used for the simulations: the DCP-TST (message generator and transmitter) and the DCP-RX (receiver). After generating several test messages, the performances have been evaluated with the addition of impairments (CW and sweeping interferences) and considerations in terms of BER and Good Messages are produced. Furthermore, a study on the PLL System is also conducted together with evaluations on the effectiveness of tuning the PLL Bw on the overall performance. Concerning the LEO Satellite IoT, the activity was carried out in the framework of the ASI Bidirectional IoT Satellite Service (BISS) Project. The elaborate covers a survey about the possible services that the project can accomplish and a technical analysis on the uplink MA. In particular, the LR-FHSS is proved to be a valid alternative for the uplink through an extensive analysis on its Network capacity and through the study of an analytic model for Success Probability with its Matlab implementation.

PLUME preliminary study and first Van der Meer scan data analysis

Il rilevatore Probe for LUminosity MEasurement (PLUME) è un luminometro per l’esperimento LHCb al CERN. Fornirà misurazioni istantanee della luminosità per LHCb durante la Run 3 a LHC. L’obiettivo di questa tesi è di valutare, con dati simulati, le prestazioni attese di PLUME, come l’occupanza dei PMT che compongono il rivelatore, e riportare l’analisi dei primi dati ottenuti da PLUME durante uno scan di Van der Meer. In particolare, sono state ottenuti tre misure del valore della sezione d’urto, necessarie per tarare il rivelatore, ovvero σ1Da = (1.14 ± 0.11) mb, σ1Db = (1.13 ± 0.10) mb, σ2D = (1.20 ± 0.02) mb, dove i pedici 1D e 2D corrispondono a uno scan di Van der Meer unidimensionale e bidimensionale. Tutti i risultati sono in accordo tra loro.

Perfil, avaliação e metas de produção intelectual dos programas de pós-graduação em Psicologia

Este trabalho apresenta e discute diferentes aspectos da realidade da Pós-Graduação brasileira, relevantes para a discussão de sua produção intelectual. Também são descritas e discutidas as estratégias adotadas para a avaliação dessa produção.

O ensino de matemática em duas escolas profissionalizantes: Brasil e Portugal, no período de 1942 a 1978

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análisis de una iniciativa estudiantil de investigación surgida en Criptogamia, una asignatura optativa de segundo ciclo de Biología = Analysis of a students’ research initiative originating in Cryptogamy, an elective course in the last two years of the Biology degree

Presentamos una experiencia exitosa de aprendizaje que partió de Criptogamia (asignatura optativa de segundo ciclo de Biología), que dio lugar a un proyecto de investigación gestionado por los propios alumnos. La iniciativa se consolidó estableciendo una Asociación de Estudiantes centrada en investigación y divulgación. En poco tiempo, los participantes han presentado comunicaciones científicas, y organizado actividades dirigidas a diversos públicos, dentro y fuera de la comunidad universitaria. Actualmente se plantea una colaboración multidisciplinar con otros organismos de investigación y la extensión de su ámbito de estudio. Abordamos su incidencia en el aprendizaje en varios aspectos: científico (técnicas específicas, rigor, búsqueda de información e interpretación de resultados), comunicativo (estructuración y presentación de la información obtenida, para diversos públicos), y organizativo, incluyendo el trabajo en equipo. Aunque de carácter espontáneo, esta experiencia muestra rasgos evaluables en cuanto a sus posibilidades para otras asignaturas. Analizamos las características y planteamiento de esta optativa, el perfil de sus alumnos, y el contexto universitario que la acoge. Detectamos como factores principales los aspectos participativos de la asignatura, la cohesión del grupo, el carácter voluntario de la implicación, los beneficios percibidos por los estudiantes, y la disponibilidad de recursos humanos (supervisión) y materiales (equipamiento y subvenciones).

El perfil formativo del gestor cultural en España

En la actualidad la base de conocimientos de todo gestor cultural, al igual que el resto de ofertas de grado y postgrado en las universidades de los países acogidas al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) se encuentra en profunda transformación: conceptos como la formación a lo largo de la vida, los distintos ciclos universitarios y el sistema de competencias se presentan a una oferta formativa ya de por sí, históricamente heterogénea. Dada tanta diversidad, nuestro proyecto se va a centrar en: evolución del concepto de cultura en España en los últimos 30 años, contextualizar históricamente la evolución de la profesión de gestor cultural en España, analizar los agentes culturales principales que actúan en nuestro país, examinar los principales cambios que supone el proceso de Bolonia en las universidades españolas (itinerarios curriculares, competencias, etc.)