Mechanical behaviour analysis of polyester polymer mortars modified with recycled GFRP waste materials

In this study the effect of incorporation of recycled glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) waste materials, obtained by means of milling processes, on mechanical behaviour of polyester polymer mortars was assessed. For this purpose, different contents of recycled GFRP waste powder and fibres, with distinct size gradings, were incorporated into polyester based mortars as sand aggregates and filler replacements. Flexural and compressive loading capacities were evaluated and found better than unmodified polymer mortars. GFRP modified polyester based mortars also show a less brittle behaviour, with retention of some loading capacity after peak load. Obtained results highlight the high potential of recycled GFRP waste materials as efficient and sustainable reinforcement and admixture for polymer concrete and mortars composites, constituting an emergent waste management solution.

Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Mediator Training in Applied Behaviour Analysis

Interventions using applied behaviour analysis (ABA) are widely used with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals who work with this population are important to target for ABA education. This study evaluated the efficacy of a self-directed program in increasing parent and student ABA knowledge and skills, self-efficacy, and new skill development in children with ASD. Study 1 was a pilot study of the newly developed evaluation materials. Study 2 tested the self-instructional package with three parents of children with ASD, three university students, and eight children diagnosed with ASD. Parents and students were given the Simple Steps ABA training package to use independently and were measured using a multiple baseline across participants and/or skills design. After training, ABA knowledge scores and self-efficacy showed variable improvement as did children’s appropriate behaviours. These results suggest that more research is needed to determine the efficacy of a self-instructional ABA package.

An Introduction to Behaviour Analysis

Behaviour Analysis is a distinct philospophy of science. Individuals new to the approach often find difficulty in understanding the basic principles involved. This presentation, aimed at Final Year undergraduates, is designed to provide an introduction to the principles of operant conditioning (e.g., reinforcement, punishment, and extinction), making clear that these words describe functional, rather than structural, relations.

Using hybrid latent class model for city-HUBs´users behaviour analysis

Data from an attitudinal survey and stated preference ranking experiment conducted in two urban European interchanges (i.e. City-HUBs) in Madrid (Spain) and Thessaloniki (Greece) show that the importance that City-HUBs users attach to the intermodal infrastructure varies strongly as a function of their perceptions of time spent in the interchange (i.e.intermodal transfer and waiting time). A principal components analysis allocates respondents (i.e. city-HUB users) to two classes with substantially different perceptions of time saving when they make a transfer and of time using during their waiting time.

Hierarchical Task Network Planning with Common-Sense Reasoning for Multiple-People Behaviour Analysis

Safety on public transport is a major concern for the relevant authorities. We
address this issue by proposing an automated surveillance platform which combines data from video, infrared and pressure sensors. Data homogenisation and integration is achieved by a distributed architecture based on communication middleware that resolves interconnection issues, thereby enabling data modelling. A common-sense knowledge base models and encodes knowledge about public-transport platforms and the actions and activities of passengers. Trajectory data from passengers is modelled as a time-series of human activities. Common-sense knowledge and rules are then applied to detect inconsistencies or errors in the data interpretation. Lastly, the rationality that characterises human behaviour is also captured here through a bottom-up Hierarchical Task Network planner that, along with common-sense, corrects misinterpretations to explain passenger behaviour. The system is validated using a simulated bus saloon scenario as a case-study. Eighteen video sequences were recorded with up to six passengers. Four metrics were used to evaluate performance. The system, with an accuracy greater than 90% for each of the four metrics, was found to outperform a rule-base system and a system containing planning alone.

Human Behaviour Recognition based on Trajectory Analysis using Neural Networks

Automated human behaviour analysis has been, and still remains, a challenging problem. It has been dealt from different points of views: from primitive actions to human interaction recognition. This paper is focused on trajectory analysis which allows a simple high level understanding of complex human behaviour. It is proposed a novel representation method of trajectory data, called Activity Description Vector (ADV) based on the number of occurrences of a person is in a specific point of the scenario and the local movements that perform in it. The ADV is calculated for each cell of the scenario in which it is spatially sampled obtaining a cue for different clustering methods. The ADV representation has been tested as the input of several classic classifiers and compared to other approaches using CAVIAR dataset sequences obtaining great accuracy in the recognition of the behaviour of people in a Shopping Centre.

“PhenoWorld”: a new multidimensional strategy for studying behaviour in rodents

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Saúde

An exploration of interdisciplinary practice through an examination of specific disciplinary interpretations of stereotypic behaviour

As identified in the literature, a lack of understanding of the functional properties and triggers of stereotypic behaviour exists. When looking at this behaviour from an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) framework, limitations are evident around identifying specific sensory modalities and functional properties of such behaviour. Antecedents particularly are difficult to identify and interpret. Therefore an interdisciplinary approach to assessment using two types of professional services commonly received by individuals with autism was proposed. However before this approach could be investigated the current interpretations of Stereo typic behaviour by each professional must be examined along with perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration. The purpose of this study was to use an in-depth qualitative analysis to reveal the interpretations of stereotypy and collaboration from the perspectives of two particular professionals. The results of the study demonstrated that occupational therapists and behaviour analysts likely have different interpretations of the same behaviour,that consultation is the common model used to interact with other disciplines, and that professionals may have mixed feelings toward interdisciplinary practices as an approach to stereotypic behaviour. Strengths and limitations of the study were highlighted along with specific directions for future research.

An Introduction to Verbal Behaviour

Skinner's approach to verbal behaviour (language) is central to behaviour analysis, as a philosophy of science, and, increasingly in application, including interventions for autism and challenging behaviour. This PowerPoint show provides an advanced undergraduate level introduction to the basic concepts of Skinner's functional approach to understanding verbal behaviour.

Approach to challenging behaviour: a family affair

Over the past 30 years, research in the area of applied behaviour. analysis has led to a rich knowledge and understanding of the variables that influence human behaviour. This understanding and knowledge has given rise to a range of assessment and intervention techniques that have been applied to individuals with challenging behaviour. Interventions have produced changes in the severity and frequency of behaviours such as self-injury, aggression, and property destruction, card have also led to the acquisition of desired behaviours. While behaviour change has been achieved, families have expressed a desire for positive behaviour support approaches that adopt a family,focus. Research and development of support frameworks that emphasise the interrelatedness of family members, and the child with a disability as part of his or her family, have gained prominence in the family systems literature. The present paper reviews some of the behaviourally based research in this area. Through the use of a case illustration, the authors discuss the links between behavioural support and family-centred support systems for children with developmental disabilities. Theoretical and practical implications are considered and areas for future research are highlighted.

Applied behavior analysis: What do teachers of students with autism spectrum disorder know?

With rising numbers of school-aged children with autism educated in mainstream classroomsand applied behavior analysis (ABA) considered the basis of best practice, teachers’ knowledgein this field has become a key concern for inclusion. Self-reported knowledge of ABA of specialneeds teachers (n=165) was measured and compared to their actual knowledge of ABAdemonstrated in accurate responses to a multiple-choice test. Findings reported here show thatteachers’ self-perceived knowledge exceeded actual knowledge and that actual knowledge ofABA was not

Abordagem da segurança, higiene e saúde na organização e gestão escolar

A escola é o centro de convergência que justifica e fundamenta os recursos alocados ao sistema educativo. Durante o normal funcionamento das escolas, as condições de segurança, salubridade dos edifícios e equipamentos devem ser previstas e mantidas para garantir a salvaguarda da saúde e bem-estar dos seus ocupantes. A responsabilidade sobre estas questões encontra-se transferida para os Órgãos de Gestão dos estabelecimentos educativos. Neste âmbito efectuou-se um estudo que objectivou caracterizar a organização e a gestão escolar, no contexto da segurança, higiene e saúde; conhecer a forma da organização e da gestão da emergência nos estabelecimentos de ensino e o grau de satisfação dos gestores escolares relativamente aspectos relacionados com a Segurança, Higiene e Saúde. Neste sentido, foi aplicado um inquérito por questionário on-line, dirigido aos directores dos agrupamentos de escolas e escolas únicas da Região Norte de Portugal. Na generalidade os resultados obtidos demonstraram que ao nível da organização e gestão da emergência é evidenciada alguma preocupação, constatando-se no entanto, que nem todas as escolas possuam delegado de segurança, algumas não possuem plano de segurança, apenas metade evidenciou a existência de projectos educativos em áreas relacionadas com a temática e não existe ainda uma participação efectiva no seio escolar por parte da comunidade. Os gestores escolares, relativamente ao grau de satisfação, referiram as condições das infra-estruturas e estado de conservação dos estabelecimentos escolares, como factores de maior descontentamento. Percepcionou-se que a gestão escolar é centrada nos problemas do quotidiano, não existindo uma planificação ou um programa legitimado de segurança, higiene e saúde a longo prazo. A análise à actuação do gestor escolar face à segurança e higiene, não pode efectuar-se alheia e separadamente do actual regime de autonomia, administração e gestão dos estabelecimentos públicos da educação pré-escolar e dos ensinos básico e secundário, porque o desempenho dos diferentes actores no processo educativo é por si condicionada. Cabe ao gestor escolar, na figura do Director(a) consagrar a segurança, higiene e saúde integradas na dinâmica escolar, promovendo um ambiente escolar mais saudável e seguro.

Modelação e dimensionamento de estruturas

O presente relatório refere-se ao trabalho desenvolvido durante o período de estágio curricular enquadrado no ciclo de estudos do Mestrado em Engenharia Civil do ISEP, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto. O estágio desenvolveu-se ao longo de seis meses, desde Fevereiro até Julho de 2015, na empresa FASE S.A., em ambiente de gabinete, para a obtenção do grau de mestre em Engenharia Civil. Durante o período de estágio foram desenvolvidos projetos de estabilidade de estruturas metálicas e de betão armado, desde a fase de conceção, pré-dimensionamento, modelação numérica e análise de resultados, dimensionamento final, até à produção das peças desenhas e escritas constituintes de um projeto de estruturas. Foi possível analisar e dimensionar estruturas através de programas de cálculo automático e ferramentas de cálculo que serão referidas no presente relatório. Neste relatório será descrita pormenorizadamente a elaboração de um projeto em betão armado em todas as suas vertentes. Apresentam-se também as metodologias de cálculo empregues. No culminar, enunciam-se algumas conclusões de carácter geral decorrentes do trabalho desenvolvido.