PCR - based diagnosis to evaluate the performance of malaria reference centers

Although the Giemsa-stained thick blood smear (GTS) remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria, molecular methods are more sensitive and specific to detect parasites and can be used at reference centers to evaluate the performance of microscopy. The description of the Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale ssrRNA gene sequences allowed the development of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that had been used to differentiate the four species. The objective of this study was to determine Plasmodium species through PCR in 190 positive smears from patients in order to verify the quality of diagnosis at SUCEN's Malaria Laboratory. Considering only the 131 positive results in both techniques, GTS detected 4.6% of mixed and 3.1% of P. malariae infections whereas PCR identified 19.1% and 13.8%, respectively.

Performance Model for MRC Receivers with Adaptive Modulation and Coding in Rayleigh Fading Correlated Channels with Imperfect CSIT

RTUWO Advances in Wireless and Optical Communications 2015 (RTUWO 2015). 5-6 Nov Riga, Latvia.

A competing values framework approach on growth and performance in micro firms

This study aims to analyze and compare four micro-firms' organizational culture, evaluated through the Competing Values Framework (Quinn & Rohbaugh, 1983). Data was collected in 2011 and 2013 in firms selling the same type of software and providing the same kind of services, focusing on the years between 2008-2011. Findings point to somewhat different results of micro-firms, when comparing to other samples in the literature. Suggestions for future research are given.

Influence of entrepreneurial orientation in export performance

This study aims at investigating the influence that entrepreneurial orientation has on export performance of Portuguese footwear small and mediumenterprises (SMEs). Therefore, a quantitative methodological approach was used, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese companies exporting footwear. The research results suggest that entrepreneurial orientation enhances export performance in the analysed SMEs, particularly innovation and proactiveness, through the amount of funds invested, human resources dedicated to this activity, number of new products or services introduced in the market and frequent change in product lines or services and materialization of a long-term perspective, which is accompanied by innovative activities or new businesses. Therefore, the findings sustain the necessity to invest in entrepreneurial orientation as a strategic determinant, which contributes to the growth of small firms in foreignmarkets. Finally, the main limitation of this study is related to the sample size, since it was difficult to find companies willing to collaborate with this kind of research.

Chaotic Phenomena and Performance Optimization in the Trajectory Control of Redundant Manipulators

Redundant manipulators have some advantages when compared with classical arms because they allow the trajectory optimization, both on the free space and on the presence of abstacles, and the resolution of singularities. For this type of manipulators, several kinetic algorithms adopt generalized inverse matrices. In this line of thought, the generalized inverse control scheme is tested through several experiments that reveal the difficulties that often arise. Motivated by theseproblems this paper presents a new method that ptimizes the manipulability through a least squre polynomialapproximation to determine the joints positions. Moreover, the article studies influence on the dynamics, when controlling redundant and hyper-redundant manipulators. The experiment confirm the superior performance of the proposed algorithm for redundant and hyper-redundant manipulators, revealing several fundamental properties of the chaotic phenomena, and gives a deeper insight towards the future development of superior trajectory control algorithms.

Performance Issues in Biped Walking Robots

This paper presents the dynamic analysis of robotic biped systems. The main goal is to gain insight into the phenomena of walking and to evaluate its performance. In this study, we propose three methods to quantitatively measure the dynamic efficiency of walking: energy analysis, perturbation analysis and lowpass frequency analysis. In order to accomplish this goal, the prescribed motion of the biped is completely characterised in terms of a set of locomotion variables, namely: step lenght, hip height, hip ripple, hip offset, foot clearance and link lenghts. based on these variables and their influence, the performance measures aer discussed and the results compared with those observed in nature.

Avaliação da Performance Cirúrgica: Como Fazer?

Assessment of surgical performance is a must for every surgical practice nowadays and can be done by using scientific methods imported mostly from the Quality control tools that have been in use for long in industry. Surgical performance comprises several dimensions including clinical activity (mortality and morbidity as end points), academic activities, research and, more and more, efficiency. Stable long time results (efficacy), reducing error (safety) and meeting patient expectations (patient satisfaction) are among other performance components. This paper focus on the precise definitions of mortality and morbidity related to surgical activities and on the tools to evaluate patient complexity and assess pre operative risk. Some graphic representations are suggested to compare performance profiles of surgeons and to define individual performance profiles. Strong emphasis is put on pre operative risk assessment and its crucial role to interpret divergent surgical results. Where risk assessment is not possible or is unavailable, observed / expected ratios (O/E) for a given endpoint , be it mortality, length of stay or morbidity, must be established and routinely used to refer results and to identify performance outliers. Morbidity is being pointed out as a most valuable performance indicator in surgery because it is sensitive and comprises efficiency, safety and quality, at large.

A importância da análise económico-financeira na performance empresarial: relatório de estágio na empresa Prime Century, Lda

Com o acentuar da crise financeira (que se traduziu numa situação de recessão económica a nível mundial com efeitos consideráveis na economia portuguesa), cada empresa tem ainda mais em atenção a sua performance, como maximizar o seu valor, e talvez ainda mais importante nos dias que correm, como minimizar o risco de falência. Para tal, os gestores têm de ter em consideração todos os aspetos relevantes e que possam interferir com o sucesso do seu negócio. Nesse sentido, devem ter em seu poder o mais alargado leque de informação possível, para tomarem as decisões corretas tanto a curto como a médio longo prazo. A informação disponibilizada pela análise económico-financeira torna-se então um importante instrumento para a tomada de decisão embora não poderá ser apenas o único instrumento utilizado pelos decisores. Com o presente relatório de estágio pretende-se aferir da importância da análise económico-financeira na performance das empresas, tendo em consideração o estágio realizado na empresa Prime Century, Lda. Para além da já referida análise económico-financeira, iremos abordar, na sequência do trabalho desenvolvido durante o estágio, a criação de planos de negócios e a avaliação de empresas.

Estudo dos Princípios da Eficiência Energética de um Edifício

O trabalho aqui desenvolvido tem como objetivos descrever o empreendimento acompanhado durante o estágio, relatar as tarefas realizadas no contexto do estágio e por fim desenvolver um tema adequado ao ramo de Mestrado. Primeiro é apresentado o empreendimento acompanhado durante o estágio. O empreendimento acompanhado foi do Hotel Golden Tulip em Águeda, constituído por um edifício principal e um edifício anexo destinado a spa. São referidas as soluções construtivas, os equipamentos e os serviços que irá proporcionar aos seus utilizadores. Seguidamente são relatadas as tarefas realizadas no contexto do estágio, relacionadas com o acompanhamento da construção do hotel. Estas tarefas foram diversas, desde a direção até à coordenação de segurança em obra. Por último é desenvolvido o tema “Estudo e avaliação de princípios de sustentabilidade de um edifício”, que é aplicado ao edifício principal do hotel. Este tema procura estudar e avaliar soluções aplicadas no edifício, desde soluções construtivas a equipamentos, de forma a propor melhorias ao seu desempenho e a retirada das respetivas conclusões.

Impact of Supplier Management Strategies on the Organizational Performance of ISO 9001 Certified Organizations

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss the impact of Supplier orientation and the resulting Supply Chain Management (SCM) approach, on the organizational performance of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems certified organizations. Methodology/Approach: Following a literature review, a full structural conceptual model was proposed. An online survey was administered to managers of Portuguese organizations with certified ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems. Descriptive Statistics and Structural Model Equations were used to validate the proposed conceptual model. Findings: There are positive relationships between Organization Strategy and Supplier Orientation, between Supplier Orientation and Stakeholders Satisfaction, and between Stakeholders Satisfaction and Organizational Performance Orientation, supporting ISO 9001:2015. These findings provide insights that supplier orientation, mediated by stakeholder satisfaction, is an essential tool for organizational competitive sustainable advantage. Research Limitation/implication: The analysis was based on managers of ISO 9001 certified organizations perceptions, so additional studies with actual data and longitudinal studies should be useful for further validation. Originality/Value of paper: The importance of the overall organizational ecosystem is highlighted with potential impact on the more than 1 Million ISO 9001 organizations certified worldwide and in their suppliers.

Developing an aquaponics system to learn sustainability and social compromise skills

The goal of this project, one of the proposals of the EPS@ISEP Spring 2014, was to develop an Aquaponics System. Over recent years Aquaponics systems have received increased attention since they contribute to reduce the strain on resources within 1st and 3rd world countries. Aquaponics is the combination of Hydroponics and Aquaculture, mimicking a natural environment in order to successfully apply and enhance the understanding of natural cycles within an indoor process. Using this knowledge of natural cycles, it was possible to create a system with capabilities similar to that of a natural environment with the support of electronics, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. The multinational team involved in the development of this system was composed of five students from five countries and fields of study. This paper describes their solution, including the overall design, the technology involved and the benefits it can bring to the current market. The team was able to design and render the Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings of the prototype, assemble all components, successfully test the electronics and comply with the budget. Furthermore, the designed solution was supported by a product sustainability study and included a specific marketing plan. Last but not least, the students enrolled in this project obtained new multidisciplinary knowledge and increased their team work and cross-cultural communication skills.

Learning sustainability by developing a solar dryer for microalgae retrieval

The development of nations depends on energy consumption, which is generally based on fossil fuels. This dependency produces irreversible and dramatic effects on the environment, e.g. large greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn cause global warming and climate changes, responsible for the rise of the sea level, floods, and other extreme weather events. Transportation is one of the main uses of energy, and its excessive fossil fuel dependency is driving the search for alternative and sustainable sources of energy such as microalgae, from which biodiesel, among other useful compounds, can be obtained. The process includes harvesting and drying, two energy consuming steps, which are, therefore, expensive and unsustainable. The goal of this EPS@ISEP Spring 2013 project was to develop a solar microalgae dryer for the microalgae laboratory of ISEP. A multinational team of five students from distinct fields of study was responsible for designing and building the solar microalgae dryer prototype. The prototype includes a control system to ensure that the microalgae are not destroyed during the drying process. The solar microalgae dryer works as a distiller, extracting the excess water from the microalgae suspension. This paper details the design steps, the building technologies, the ethical and sustainable concerns and compares the prototype with existing solutions. The proposed sustainable microalgae drying process is competitive as far as energy usage is concerned. Finally, the project contributed to increase the deontological ethics, social compromise skills and sustainable development awareness of the students.

Forest management: different criteria – equal sustainability

From the forest management perspective, many definitions have been proposed for the concept of forest sustainability. Despite this apparent diversity, most of them converge on the same aspects. In this work we developed a comparative approach of two distinct forest management methodologies used in Europe, more precisely in Slovenia and in Portugal. Although in each case study differences in vegetation, climate and pedological characteristics are evident, we were able to show some peculiar aspects of both the Slovenian and the Portuguese examples. This study also dealt with the evolution of the term sustainability in the last decades and how it played an important role for forest management options.