Finding a school technological partner: a multicriteria method for school information system producer selection

The choice of an information systems is a critical factor of success in an organization's performance, since, by involving multiple decision-makers, with often conflicting objectives, several alternatives with aggressive marketing, makes it particularly complex by the scope of a consensus. The main objective of this work is to make the analysis and selection of a information system to support the school management, pedagogical and administrative components, using a multicriteria decision aid system – MMASSITI – Multicriteria Method- ology to Support the Selection of Information Systems/Information Technologies – integrates a multicriteria model that seeks to provide a systematic approach in the process of choice of Information Systems, able to produce sustained recommendations concerning the decision scope. Its application to a case study has identi- fied the relevant factors in the selection process of school educational and management information system and get a solution that allows the decision maker’ to compare the quality of the various alternatives.

CMOS indoor light energy harvesting system for wireless sensing applications

This book discusses in detail the CMOS implementation of energy harvesting. The authors describe an integrated, indoor light energy harvesting system, based on a controller circuit that dynamically and automatically adjusts its operation to meet the actual light circumstances of the environment where the system is placed. The system is intended to power a sensor node, enabling an autonomous wireless sensor network (WSN). Although designed to cope with indoor light levels, the system is also able to work with higher levels, making it an all-round light energy harvesting system. The discussion includes experimental data obtained from an integrated manufactured prototype, which in conjunction with a photovoltaic (PV) cell, serves as a proof of concept of the desired energy harvesting system. © 2016 Springer International Publishing. All rights are reserved.

System-on-chip field-programmable gate array design for onboard real-time hyperspectral unmixing

Hyperspectral instruments have been incorporated in satellite missions, providing large amounts of data of high spectral resolution of the Earth surface. This data can be used in remote sensing applications that often require a real-time or near-real-time response. To avoid delays between hyperspectral image acquisition and its interpretation, the last usually done on a ground station, onboard systems have emerged to process data, reducing the volume of information to transfer from the satellite to the ground station. For this purpose, compact reconfigurable hardware modules, such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), are widely used. This paper proposes an FPGA-based architecture for hyperspectral unmixing. This method based on the vertex component analysis (VCA) and it works without a dimensionality reduction preprocessing step. The architecture has been designed for a low-cost Xilinx Zynq board with a Zynq-7020 system-on-chip FPGA-based on the Artix-7 FPGA programmable logic and tested using real hyperspectral data. Experimental results indicate that the proposed implementation can achieve real-time processing, while maintaining the methods accuracy, which indicate the potential of the proposed platform to implement high-performance, low-cost embedded systems, opening perspectives for onboard hyperspectral image processing.

Embedded system for individual recognition based on ECG biometrics

Biometric recognition is emerging has an alternative solution for applications where the privacy of the information is crucial. This paper presents an embedded biometric recognition system based on the Electrocardiographic signals (ECG) for individual identification and authentication. The proposed system implements a real-time state-of-the-art recognition algorithm, which extracts information from the frequency domain. The system is based on a ARM Cortex 4. Preliminary results show that embedded platforms are a promising path for the implementation of ECG-based applications in real-world scenario.

Biometric recognition system using low bandwidth ECG signals

Biometric recognition has recently emerged as part of applications where the privacy of the information is crucial, as in the health care field. This paper presents a biometric recognition system based on the Electrocardiographic signal (ECG). The proposed system is based on a state-of-the-art recognition method which extracts information from the frequency domain. In this paper we propose a new method to increase the spectral resolution of low bandwidth ECG signals due to the limited bandwidth of the acquisition sensor. Preliminary results show that the proposed scheme reveals a higher identification rate and lower equal error rate when compared to previous approaches.

Production optimization of rotavirus-like particles: a system biology approach

Dissertation presented to obtain a Ph.D. degree in Engineering and Technology Sciences, Systems Biology at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Group decision making for selection of an information system in a business context

The main objective of this work is to report on the development of a multi-criteria methodology to support the assessment and selection of an Information System (IS) framework in a business context. The objective is to select a technological partner that provides the engine to be the basis for the development of a customized application for shrinkage reduction on the supply chains management. Furthermore, the proposed methodology di ers from most of the ones previously proposed in the sense that 1) it provides the decision makers with a set of pre-defined criteria along with their description and suggestions on how to measure them and 2)it uses a continuous scale with two reference levels and thus no normalization of the valuations is required. The methodology here proposed is has been designed to be easy to understand and use, without a specific support of a decision making analyst.

Development of a system to monitor surfer’s balance and plantar pressure and surfboard’s movement

O uso da tecnologia tem crescido nas últimas décadas nas mais diversas áreas, seja na indústria ou no dia-a-dia, e é cada vez mais evidente os benefícios que traz. No desporto não é diferente. Cada dia surgem novos desenvolvimentos objetivando a melhoria do desempenho dos praticantes de atividades físicas, possibilitando atingir resultados nunca antes pensados. Além disto, a utilização da tecnologia no desporto permite a obtenção de dados biomecânicos que podem ser utilizados tanto no treinamento quando na melhoria da qualidade de vida dos atletas auxiliando na prevenção de lesões, por exemplo. Deste modo, o presente projeto se aplica na área do desporto, nomeadamente, na modalidade do surfe, onde a ausência de trabalhos científicos ainda é elevada, aliando a tecnologia eletrônica ao desporto para quantificar informações até então desconhecidas. Três fatores básicos de desempenho foram levantados, sendo eles: equilíbrio, posicionamento dos pés e movimentação da prancha de surfe. Estes fatores levaram ao desenvolvimento de um sistema capaz de medi-los dinamicamente através da medição das forças plantares e da rotação da prancha de surfe. Além da medição dos fatores, o sistema é capaz de armazenar os dados adquiridos localmente através de um cartão de memória, para posterior análise; e também enviá-los através de uma comunicação sem fio, permitindo a visualização do centro de pressões plantares; dos ângulos de rotação da prancha de surfe; e da ativação dos sensores; em tempo real. O dispositivo consiste em um sistema eletrônico embarcado composto por um microcontrolador ATMEGA1280; um circuito de aquisição e condicionamento de sinal analógico; uma central inercial; um módulo de comunicação sem fio RN131; e um conjunto de sensores de força Flexiforce. O firmware embarcado foi desenvolvido em linguagem C. O software Matlab foi utilizado para receção de dados e visualização em tempo real. Os testes realizados demostraram que o funcionamento do sistema atende aos requisitos propostos, fornecendo informação acerca do equilíbrio, através do centro de pressões; do posicionamento dos pés, através da distribuição das pressões plantares; e do movimento da prancha nos eixos pitch e roll, através da central inercial. O erro médio de medição de força verificado foi de -0.0012 ± 0.0064 N, enquanto a mínima distância alcançada na transmissão sem fios foi de 100 m. A potência medida do sistema foi de 330 mW.

Accommodation management system using mobile devices

Os dispositivos móveis são pessoais, intransmissíveis e cada vez mais utilizados, tornando-se assim numa boa ferramenta para a realização de um conjunto de serviços na indústria hoteleira. Entre esses serviços que necessitam da identificação pessoal, encontram-se a possibilidade do cliente reservar um quarto ou utilizar o serviço de quartos. Atualmente é muito utilizado, nos locais de alojamento, um smart card que possibilite ao cliente ter acesso a alguns dos serviços disponíveis. O objetivo deste documento é apresentar uma alternativa ao sistema de cartões, utilizando para o efeito, dispositivos móveis. De modo a garantir a segurança e uma utilização semelhante ao sistema de cartões existentes foi utilizada a tecnologia NFC (Near Field Communication) que, ao permitir o modo de emulação de cartão, facilita a transação do sistema de smart card existente, para o da utilização de dispositivos móveis na realização das mesmas funções. Mais concretamente, será abordada a utilização de smartphones para o processo de abertura de portas. Para que exista uma melhor compreensão e para que haja um conhecimento das suas capacidades e limites foram estudados casos de uso da tecnologia NFC. Este documento apresenta ainda os processos de desenvolvimento de uma aplicação nativa para o sistema operativo Android, cujo objetivo é proporcionar ao cliente de um local de alojamento um novo modo de acesso ao quarto, utilizando a tecnologia NFC. Para além desta funcionalidade a aplicação permite ainda ao utilizador fazer reservas, fazer o check-in, fazer o check-out entre outras. Posteriormente serão apresentadas as conclusões e possíveis trabalhos futuros.

Central nervous system virion detection in acute measles: histopathological, ultrastructural and pathogenetic aspects

Histopathological and ultrastructural studies of 23 patients who died with clinical diagnosis of measles were carried out. In 12 cases viral nucleocapsids were searched by electron microscopy and detected in 100% of the cases in the lungs and in 50% of the cases in the central nervous system. They were mostly intranuclear. Histopathological changes associated to neurological alterations and the detection of virion are discussed in relation to acute and delayed clinical manifestations.

Anemia de células falciformes na idade pediátrica : contribuição para o estudo das suas principais complicações e indicadores de prognóstico

RESMO: Introdução: A anemia de células falciformes doença hereditária, com repercussão multi-orgânica, tem grande variabilidade na sua expressão clínica. Daí o interesse do estudo de indicadores de prognóstico. A investigação realizada foi precedida de um resumo histórico incidindo sobre a compreensão de aspectos fundamentais da doença ao longo dos tempos. Na primeira parte do estudo e após revisão bibliográfica, foram referidos dados da fisiopatologia como base para os estudos que integram a presente dissertação. Abordou-se o estado da arte relativamente às complicações, aos indicadores de prognóstico e à terapêutica utilizada. Objectivos: Constituíram objectivos deste estudo realizado numa amostra populacional representativa: identificar as lesões a nível dos sistemas cardio-respiratório e nervoso central, avaliando-se as respectivas repercussões; avaliar a presença de indicadores de prognóstico entre as variáveis seleccionadas; estudar a eficácia e toxicidade da HU nos doentes com as formas graves da ACF. Para a prossecução destes objectivos foram delineados para além do estudo global três estudos específicos: Estudo 1- repercussão no sistema cardio-respiratório; Estudo 2- repercussão no sistema nervoso central; Estudo 3- terapêutica com hidroxiureia. Doentes e métodos: Procedeu-se a um estudo prospectivo e multi-institucional durante um período de três anos tendo-se seleccionado para a amostra, e de acordo com critérios pré-definidos, 30 doentes com ACF na fase estável da doença, com idades compreendidas entre os sete e os 18 anos, todos de origem africana à excepção de um caucasiano. O diagnóstico baseou-se em técnicas de electroforese e estudo molecular que definiu o genotipo da doença e a presença da delecção da -talassémia assim como os haplotipos da amostra populacional. Foram utilizadas diferentes metodologias para avaliar a existência de lesão pulmonar e cerebral. Através do estudo estatístico foram seleccionadas diversas variáveis como hipotéticos indicadores de prognóstico. Estudo 1. Para determinar a existência de lesão a nível pulmonar usaram-se duas metodologias diferentes, a avaliação da função pulmonar com estudo da saturação da Hb em O2 no sangue arterial e a tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução. Estudou-se também a possível disfunção cardíaca como repercussão da lesão pulmonar, através do ecocardiograma, e os indicadores de prognóstico com significado estatístico para a lesão encontrada. Estudo 2. O desenho deste estudo foi sobreponível ao anterior, mas com metodologia adequada para o SNC. Procedeu-se ao estudo das lesões cerebrais por meio de exames imagiológicos, (RMN-CE e DTC) e de testes psicológicos. Correlacionaram-se as três metodologias utilizadas e a importância de cada uma para a decisão de atitudes terapêuticas preventivas. Estudo 3. Consistiu num estudo aberto prospectivo não controlado com nove crianças e adolescentes com formas graves de ACF, com o objectivo de avaliar a eficácia da terapêutica com hidroxiureia, durante um período de 24 meses. Todos os doentes completaram no mínimo 15 meses de terapêutica, com uma dose final média de 194 mg/K/dia. Resultados globais: Durante o período anterior à investigação caracterizou-se a amostra populacional estudada quanto ao fenotipo genético, clínico e hematológico de acordo com os critérios utilizados por outros investigadores. Verificou-se: predomínio do haplotipo Bantu na forma homozigótica em 53% dos doentes; número total de EVO ≥3/ano em 87,5% dos doentes; crises de sequestração em 18,75%; dactilites no primeiro ano de vida em 31,2%; quadro de sépsis grave apenas num doente; crises de hiper-hemólise em 50%; e STA em 59,38% dos doentes. Quanto ao fenotipo hematológico evidenciaram-se como factores de risco reticulocitose (13,1x103/l) e hiperbilirrubinémia (2,5 mg/dl) e como factores de bom prognóstico a presença de delecção de um gene da -talassémia em 46,9% dos doentes e valor médio de Hb 8,1 g/dl. Resultados dos estudos parcelares: Estudo 1. Deste estudo infere-se que a DPR ligeira foi diagnosticada em 70% dos doentes, uma vez que as alterações da difusão não foram estatisticamente significativas, o estudo dos gases no sangue não evidenciaram resultados anormais e a TCAR evidenciou alterações em 43,3% dos doentes. Apenas num doente se verificou doença pulmonar obstrutiva relacionada com maior número da STA.O estudo da disfunção cardíaca encontrada em 86,7% dos doentes não reflecte a repercussão da DPR a nível cardíaco, podendo estar associada às alterações fisiopatológicas da própria anemia crónica. Encontraram-se indicadores de prognóstico hematológicos e clínicos. Entre os primeiros, valores de Hb ≥8,5 g/dl e de HbF ≥13% foram considerados indicadores de bom prognóstico para a lesão pulmonar. Em relação aos parâmetros clínicos, as STA não foram consideradas indicadoras de prognóstico para a DPR ao contrário do que se verificou com o número de EVO. Pela análise dos parâmetros genéticos e socio-económicos provou-se a ausência de relação estatisticamente significativa com lesão pulmonar. Estudo 2. Pela RMN-CE foram diagnosticados ES em 33,3% com uma localização preferencial na substância branca profunda em 26,6% dos doentes. Relativamente aos parâmetros hematológicos seleccionados, o valor médio da HbF 8,6% constituíu um indicador de bom prognóstico para o aparecimento de ES, enquanto o valor médio de leucócitos 12.39x103/μl foi considerado um indicador de mau prognóstico. No estudo do DTC apenas um doente apresentou aumento da velocidade do fluxo cerebral na ACM igual a 196 cm/segundos, associado a vasculopatia grave. Os testes psicológicos alterados em 80% dos doentes mostraram ser o método mais sensível para detectar alterações do neurodesenvolvimento, mas sem correlação com os ES em 10% dos doentes. Realça-se a baixa percentagem de DTC patológicos encontrados neste estudo em relação ao número elevado de ES e de testes psicológicos alterados, não se verificando concordância entre os três exames. Dos indicadores de prognóstico estudados a -talassémia foi considerada um factor de protecção para o coeficiente de inteligência da escala de Wechsler. Em relação a parâmetros clínicos estudados os doentes com maior número de EVO, tem em média valores inferiores nos testes psicológicos. Estudo 3. Neste estudo verificou-se que o valor médio da HbF aumentou significativamente de 7,0±4% para 13,7±5,3% (p=0,028) ao fim de 15 meses de terapêutica com hidroxiureia. Clinicamente todos os doentes responderam significativamente com uma redução de 80% no número de EVO, 69% no número de internamentos, 76% no número de dias de hospitalização e 67% no número de transfusões. Deste modo comprovou-se não só a eficácia desta terapêutica neste grupo pediátrico como também a falta de efeitos secundários significativos. Considera-se a necessidade de estudos mais prolongados e em grande séries, para com segurança se usar a HU antes que a lesão orgânica se estabeleça, portanto logo nos primeiros anos de vida. Conclusão: Na amostra populacional estudada foram evidenciadas lesões pulmonares e cerebrais na grande maioria dos doentes que condicionaram a sua qualidade de vida. Foram identificados indicadores de prognóstico que poderão eventualmente ditar medidas terapêuticas precoces com o objectivo de diminuir a morbilidade e a mortalidade neste grupo etário. Demonstrou-se que a terapêutica com a HU foi eficaz e bem tolerada----------ABSTRACT: Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA), a hereditary disease characterized by pain and lifetime multi-organic lesion, is a challenge for all that work with carriers of this disease. The clinical expression variability of SCA is a constant reality and a problem to be solved in the current world of investigation, for which the knowledge of prognostic indicators responsible for the different aspects of clinical evolution diversity wiil be an added value. The study is preceded by a historical summary of the most important factors in the evolution of SCA, which are in themselves, an incentive for future research. In the first part of the study, after an extensive bibliographical revision, physiopathology data is referred to in general and specifically regarding the target organs, that constituted the base for the studies presented in the dissertation. The state of the art for the complications to be studied, the choice of prognostic indicators and the therapeutics application, were approached for the renewed interest in the theme. Aims: In regard to the investigation, the objective was to study the lesions in the most affected organs of a chosen pediatric group, to investigate prognostic indicators for lung and cerebral lesions and to evaluate the protective effect of hydroxyurea in children with severe outcomes. Patients and methods: A prospective and multi-institutional study was carried out during a three-year period, February 1998 to March 2001, with children and adolescents followed up at a Immunohematology Outpatient Clinic of Dona Estefânia's Hospital, Lisbon. Based in predefined criteria, 30 children with SCA were selected in a stable phase of the disease, aged from seven to 18 years old, all of whom were of African origin with exception of one who was Caucasian. The diagnosis was based on electrophoresis techniques and molecular study that allowed to define the genotype, the presence of deletional alpha-thalassemia as well as haplotypes in the population. Different methodologies were used to evaluate the existence of lung and cerebral lesion. Statistical study of the different variables selected the prognostic indicators. In Study 1, to determine the existence of lung lesion two different methodologies were used: pulmonar function study with arterial blood gases determination; and high resolution computerized tomography. Heart dysfunction as a repercussion of lung lesion was also studied through echocardiography, and prognostic indicators were statistically significant for lesions found. The design of Study 2 was similar to Study 1, but with the appropriate methodology for CNS. After neurological examination, which was normal in all patients (control group), cerebral lesions were studied with imagiologic exams (MRN-CE and TCD) and psychological tests. These three methodologies were correlated and the importance of each one in the decision of the therapeutic profilactic attitudes. Study 3 consisted of a controlled prospective open study in children with severe forms of SCA, with the aim of the evaluating therapeutic effectiveness of hydroxyurea, during a period of 24 months. Results: In the global overall study preceding the Studies 1,2 and 3, there were a prevalence of haplotype Bantu (53%) and other risk factors, namely the number of VOC (87,5%), sequestration crisis (18,75%), dactilytis in first year of life(31,2%), hyperhemolysis crisis (50%) and ATC in more than half of the patients (59,38%). This group of bad prognostic indicators, associated with the population of the lower class according to the Graffar scale, demonstrates the importance of primary health care services, information provided to the children and their relatives, as well as the interest in prophylactic therapeutics, specific screening and prenatal diagnosis. Study 1. It was evident from this study that slight RPD was diagnosed in 70% of the patients, because alterations of the diffusion had no statistical significance and arterial blood gases determinations were normal. Only one patient had restrictive lung disease related with numerous ACS. However ACS was not considered a prognostic indicator for RPD, contrary to the number of EVO. HRTC revealed discreet fibrotic lines that could be related with slight RPD, but the lack of correlation of these two exams (33%) supports the value of lung function tests for precocious diagnosis of RPD. Heart dysfunction was found in 86,7% of patients, does not reflect the repercussion of RPD, but with the physiopathology of chronic anemia. Hematologic and clinical prognostic indicators were found. Good prognostic indicators for the non-evolution of RPD with average Hb values of ≥ 8,5 g/dl and average HbF values of ≥13%, respectively. The genetic and social-economic factors had no statistical significance; nevertheless, they were more prevalent among Bantu haplotype (53,3%) in patients with RPD. Study 2. RMN-CE detected SI in 33,3% of the patients, with preferential location in deep white substance in 26,6% and in front lobe in 20%. This distribution can be related to structural aspects of the brain and with the high sensibility of this organ to hypoxia. From the hematological parameters selected, average HbF value 8,6% and average leucocyte count 12.39x103/μl were prognostic indicators with different meaning to SI. The increase in the total bilirubin related to hyperhemolysis clinically explains the genesis of SI In the TCD study, only one patient had increased cerebral flow speed >196 cm/sec in CMA, which corresponded to serious vasculopathy in AngioMR. This patient never present previously neurological symptoms and had several hyperhemolysis crisis and VOC as risk factors. Low percentage of pathological TCD in this study, in relation to the high number of SI and altered tests, although without correlation among the three exams, is probably attributed to factors related to the methodology, aspects of cerebral physiopathology or perhaps a sign of good prognostic if the duration of study had not been so short. TCD should be used as a screening method in the age groups with higher risk of AVC and should never be considered separately in prophylactic therapeutics indication. Psychological tests were the most sensitive method to detect neurodevelopment impairment; in 80% of patients the neuropsychologics tests were altered, but without correlation with SI (10%). Since SI can become evident during the first two years of life and develop with time, the first psychological tests should be carried out between 3 and 5 years of age to timely be referred to special education and stimulation programs. Prognostic indicators to psychological tests were also found: alpha-thalassemia was found to be a protection factor of the IQ, just as other hematologic factors (hematocrit, MGCV and erythrocytes count). In relation to clinical parameters, although without statistical significance, patients with larger number of VOC had average lower scores versus the average in tests, except in TP. Results from different studies were conclusive as to the type of lesion found and the importance of prognostic indicators. Study 3. All the patients completed a minimum of 15 months therapeutic treatment with the final average daily dose of 19±4 mg/kg/day. The average value of the fetal hemoglobin increased significantly from 7,0±3,9% to 13,7±5,3% (p=0.028). The HbF average values increased from 6% to 15% after 15 months of therapeutic treatment. Clinically there was a reduction of 80% in the number of VOE , 69% in the number of hospitalization, 76% in the number of days of hospitalization and 67% in the number of transfusions. Once again the effectiveness of this treatment in this pediatric group, as well as the lack of any significant secondary effects, was evident. The study confirms the need for further detailed research in order to safely effect the appropriate treatment prior to the development of organic lesions, which ideally should be in the first year of life. Conclusions: These results allow us to clarify the importance of either pulmonary lesions or either nervous central system impairment among patients, children and adolescents, with sickle cell anemia. These lesions were demonstrated in most of the patients studied compromising their quality of life and the mortality. The treatment with HU is proved to be effective and having low toxicity.

Battery management system for electric racing cars

With the introduction of the electrics cars into the market new technologies regarding the battery are being developed and new problems to be solved, one of them the battery management system because each type of cell requires a specific way of handling. This research is done using the active research method to find out the actual problem on this subject and features a BMS should have, understand how they work and how to develop them applied to the purpose on this work. Once the features the BMS should have are clarified, it’s possible to develop a BMS for an electric racing car. The decisions are made taking into consideration the nature of the vehicle being developed. After the project done it’s clear to see that what was developed was not only the BMS itself but all the other factors around it, such as CAN communication, safety control, diagnostics and so on.

Multilayer Perceptron Neural Networks Training Through Charged System Search and its Application for Non-Technical Losses Detection

The non-technical loss is not a problem with trivial solution or regional character and its minimization represents the guarantee of investments in product quality and maintenance of power systems, introduced by a competitive environment after the period of privatization in the national scene. In this paper, we show how to improve the training phase of a neural network-based classifier using a recently proposed meta-heuristic technique called Charged System Search, which is based on the interactions between electrically charged particles. The experiments were carried out in the context of non-technical loss in power distribution systems in a dataset obtained from a Brazilian electrical power company, and have demonstrated the robustness of the proposed technique against with several others natureinspired optimization techniques for training neural networks. Thus, it is possible to improve some applications on Smart Grids.

Multiagent System Architecture for Short-term Operation of Integrated Microgrids

The forthcoming smart grids are comprised of integrated microgrids operating in grid-connected and isolated mode with local generation, storage and demand response (DR) programs. The proposed model is based on three successive complementary steps for power transaction in the market environment. The first step is characterized as a microgrid’s internal market; the second concerns negotiations between distinct interconnected microgrids; and finally, the third refers to the actual electricity market. The proposed approach is modeled and tested using a MAS framework directed to the study of the smart grids environment, including the simulation of electricity markets. This is achieved through the integration of the proposed approach with the MASGriP (Multi-Agent Smart Grid Platform) system.

Low cost inertial-based localization system for a service robot

Dissertation presented at Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the New University of Lisbon to attain the Master degree in Electrical and Computer Science Engineering