An architecture for ambient intelligent environments

This paper presents the proposal of an architecture for developing systems that interact with Ambient Intelligence (AmI) environments. This architecture has been proposed as a consequence of a methodology for the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in AmI environments (ISyRAmI - Intelligent Systems Research for Ambient Intelligence). The ISyRAmI architecture considers several modules. The first is related with the acquisition of data, information and even knowledge. This data/information knowledge deals with our AmI environment and can be acquired in different ways (from raw sensors, from the web, from experts). The second module is related with the storage, conversion, and handling of the data/information knowledge. It is understood that incorrectness, incompleteness, and uncertainty are present in the data/information/knowledge. The third module is related with the intelligent operation on the data/information/knowledge of our AmI environment. Here we include knowledge discovery systems, expert systems, planning, multi-agent systems, simulation, optimization, etc. The last module is related with the actuation in the AmI environment, by means of automation, robots, intelligent agents and users.

Automatização da E.T.A.R. e Plano de Manutenção para a Adega Cooperativa de Mangualde

Visto que o tratamento das águas residuais é um tema muito importante para a saúde pública, é necessário criar vários processos para o tratamento de efluentes. Após a finalização de todos os processos, o efluente tratado terá de cumprir requisitos de qualidade químicos e biológicos para a sua descarga no meio ambiente. A utilização de equipamentos e técnicas, caraterizados por elevados níveis de precisão (como a tecnologia), é muito importante, pois é possível tornar o sistema mais autónomo, monitorizar processos e controlá-los de forma eficiente e acessível para o utilizador. Assim, neste tipo de sistemas terá que ser utilizado um elemento central de controlo e vários elementos auxiliares, nomeadamente vários tipos de sensores. Também terá que se usar uma interface que permita ao utilizador comunicar com o sistema de controlo, de forma a poder manipular e ajustar determinados parâmetros que influenciam os processos de tratamento. Neste sentido, a presente dissertação apresenta um estudo/projeto, na Adega Cooperativa de Mangualde, onde se pretende automatizar, controlar e monitorizar a Estação de Tratamento de Águas Residuais (ETAR) da mesma. Como, cada vez mais, os lucros das empresas dependem do bom funcionamento, não só dos trabalhadores mas também dos seus equipamentos, é necessário que estes estejam em ótimas condições de trabalho, de forma a evitar avarias e paragens na produção, o que vem trazer, por consequência, prejuízos para as empresas. Assim, realizar-se-á, também, um plano de manutenção para garantir o bom desempenho dos equipamentos desta unidade fabril.

On the development of textual competence in primary education

The aim of this article is to present the results of an action research project, which has been put into practice in Primary Education. This project was intended to develop students’ textual competence, considering both comprehension and textual production. Our starting hypothesis was that teaching the schematisation of text types, focusing on linguistic devices that underlie text production, would promote the development of textual competence, leading to the production of more coherent and cohesive texts. In order to test this hypothesis we implemented the project in three phases. First, before the intervention, we collected texts produced by the students. Secondly, we implemented a didactic program designed to develop students’ textual competence. Lastly, after the intervention, we collected students’ texts once again. Data was analyzed according to categories that confer cohesion and coherence to different types of texts. Narrative, descriptive, and explanatory texts were assessed in terms of 1) building an autonomous text; 2) hierarchisation of information, and 3) textual organisation. Overall, results indicate that students developed their text conceptualisations, their understanding of the different structures of texts, and produced better writing. Indeed, their written work shows a marked progression from the beginning of the intervention program to the end of the program.

Faunística e conservação das aranhas (ordem Araneae) nas Ilhas Desertas (Madeira)

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, 31 de Janeiro de 2013, Universidade dos Açores.

As expressões artísticas no Pré-Escolar e 1º ciclo do Ensino Básico e o desenvolvimento da autonomia e da cooperação

Mestrado, Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, 20 de Junho de 2013, Universidade dos Açores (Relatório de Estágio).

Corporate brand identity management – proposal of a new framework

The term “corporate brand” has been widely used in literature since the eighties. According to Balmer (1998) this concept tends to be used as an alternative to the concept of corporate identity. The author argues that the use of branding principles to discuss corporate identity has tended to align the area more closely with marketing. However, the literature on brand management (Aaker, 1991; Kapferer, 1991 and de Chernatony and McDonald, 1992), gives little attention to the corporate brand” (p. 985). Based on the concepts of corporate brand, brand identity and B2B relationship, the authors are interested in eliminating this gap in literature by designing a framework of corporate brand identity management. The aim of this investigation is to investigate the impact of B2B relationships in corporate brand identity management. The methodology used is quantitative analysis of surveys and scale development. The originality of this paper is to investigate the influence of the relationship between brands in corporate brand identity. This investigation is very important to help the decisions of the corporate brand managers and academics. According to literature, namely on corporate brands (Balmer 2002b, Hatch and Schultz, 2001, 2003) and on brand identity (Kapferer, 1991, 2008, Aaker, 1996, de Chernatony, 1999) the authors developed a corporate brand identity management framework considering relationships between brands a context variable with definite impact on identity management as stated by Hakansson and Snehota (1989, 1995). These authors consider that organisations´ identity management is pursued under a relational perspective with impact on identity management. Most researchers on identity and corporate brand emphasise the importance of external influences (Kennedy, 1977; King, 1991; de Chernatony, 1999; Balmer and Gray, 2000; Balmer, 2002a). Those influences concern legislation, concurrence, political issues... and stakeholders’ perceptions and reputations (due to the holistic approach demanded by corporate brands). In this context the authors claim the importance of another influence: B2B relationships. This decision is inspired in sociological studies (Mannheim, 1950; and Tajfel and Turner, 1979) regarding individual identity. These authors claim that individuals form their personality by interacting in the social field. The authors argue that corporate brand identity also develops itself under a relational approach. The relationships selected to pursue this investigation are the ones that are developed by Portuguese universities and investigation centres that cooperate by developing investigation. Those centres are administrative and financially autonomous

Educação para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (EDS) no âmbito do Currículo Regional da Educação Básica da Região Autónoma dos Açores (CREB)

Mestrado, Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, 26 de Junho de 2013, Universidade dos Açores (Relatório de Estágio).

Optimização dos parâmetros de um robô hexápode através de algoritmos genéticos

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores

Autonomy of long-stay psychiatric inpatients

OBJECTIVE: To assess personal autonomy of long-stay psychiatric inpatients, to identify those patients who could be discharged and to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic variables, social functioning, and physical disabilities on their autonomy was also assessed. METHODS: A total of 584 long-stay individuals of a psychiatric hospital (96% of the hospital population) in Southern Brazil was assessed between July and August 2002. The following instruments, adapted to the Brazilian reality, were used: independent living skills survey, social behavioral schedule, and questionnaire for assessing physical disability. RESULTS: Patients showed severe impairment of their personal autonomy, especially concerning money management, work-related skills and leisure, food preparation, and use of transportation. Autonomy deterioration was associated with length of stay (OR=1.02), greater physical disability (OR=1.54; p=0.01), and male gender (OR=3.11; p<0.001). The risk estimate of autonomy deterioration was 23 times greater among those individuals with severe impairment of social functioning (95% CI: 10.67-49.24). CONCLUSIONS: In-patients studied showed serious impairment of autonomy. While planning these patients' discharge their deficits should be taken into consideration. Assessment of patients' ability to function and to be autonomous helps in identifying their needs for care and to evaluate their actual possibilities of social reinsertion.

Processus interactionnel d’appropriation de la syntaxe et de variantes énonciatives diversifiées, indispensable pour l’accès à l’écrit

A investigação tem posto em evidência a correlação entre desenvolvimento linguístico e aprendizagem da leitura e da escrita. Procuramos, em primeiro lugar, explicar, do ponto de vista da linguística, as relações entre oral e escrita focalizando a linguagem da criança desde as primeiras produções à produção autónoma de variantes sintacticamente diversificadas. De seguida, abordamos a questão da passagem do oral à escrita dando especial atenção ao impacto sobre o funcionamento cognitivo do trabalho de ditado ao adulto. Finalmente, propomos pistas de reflexão sobre modalidades de interacção necessárias à entrada no modo escrito e ao seu percurso de aprendizagem dando conta de resultados de investigação acção e formação com a abordagem «Coup de pouce Langage».

Pedagogia diferenciada no 1º ciclo do Ensino Básico

Mestrado (PES II), Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, 3 de Julho de 2014, Universidade dos Açores.

A acessibilidade e utilização dos serviços de saúde na ilha de São Miguel

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências Económicas e Empresariais

A sustentabilidade das finanças públicas das regiões autónomas portuguesas

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências Económicas e Empresariais

Sustentabilidade das finanças locais

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências Económicas e Empresariais

Supervisão, comando e controlo para sistemas robóticos

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Área de Especialização em Sistemas Autónomos