FE - Artigos de Revistas Internacionais com Arbitragem Científica
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Item Capacitação social – comunidades em território de risco(2018-04) Santos, Isabel Abreu dos; Vasconcelos, Lia Maldonado Teles de; Pires, Iva; Faculdade de EngenhariaVivemos numa sociedade em que os cidadãos enfrentam uma multiplicidade de riscos, de diversas naturezas e níveis de complexidade, e na qual a elevada ocorrência de acidentes afeta a estrutura social das comunidades, a saúde humana e o ambiente natural e edificado. Há uma crescente consciencialização da necessidade de dar resposta a estas situações. O principal desafio da investigação é o de verificar se a prática de exercícios à escala real, envolvendo autoridades, decisores, academia e as pessoas, permite uma melhor preparação para as ações individuais e coletivas de prevenção e atuação face à ocorrência de um desastre. A metodologia aplicada baseou-se na análise de estudos de caso, com observação e participação de quatro exercícios LIVEX, simulacros realizados à escala real, entre 2012 e 2015, numa comunidade portuguesa, localizada em território de risco. Os exercícios referiram-se a um cenário de risco tecnológico (acidente industrial) e três cenários de risco natural (sismo). A análise de resultados do estudo, permitiu testar a participação das populações, a utilização de equipamentos, e as relações institucionais de resposta à emergência (nomeadamente as comunicações). Possibilitou ainda inferir que a forma mais eficiente de aprender é pela experiência, no individual ou no coletivo. As conclusões permitem afirmar que a prática de realização de exercícios LIVEX contribuem para a construção de conhecimento, geração de confiança nas instituições e profissionais, na comunicação de ciência, levando ao empoderando das pessoas para tomarem as decisões mais acertadas em face de situações limite em que a sua vida e dos seus familiares se pode encontrar em perigo. Setúbal, pela prática continuada de modelos de participação ativa em exercícios à escala real, pode vir a constituir uma comunidade de prática, um exemplo tipo a ser replicado por outras comunidades.Item Production, characterization, and immobilization of protease from the yeast Rhodotorula oryzicola(Wiley-Blackwell, 2021-10) de Oliveira, Juliana Mota; Fernandes, Pedro; Benevides, Raquel Guimarães; de Assis, Sandra Aparecida; FE - Faculty of EngineeringThe protease was produced extracellularly in submerged fermentation by the yeast Rhodotorula oryzicola using different sources of nitrogen and maximum activity (6.54 × 10−3 U/mg) was obtained in medium containing 2% casein (w/v). Purification of the protease by gel filtration chromatography resulted in a 3.07-fold increase of specific protease activity. The optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 6.51 and 63.04 °C, respectively. Incubation in the presence of some salts enhanced enzyme activity, which peaked under 0.01 M BaCl2. The enzyme retained about 90% of enzymatic activity at temperatures 50–60 °C. The commercially available enzyme carriers evaluated, silica gel, Celite 545, and chitosan effectively immobilized the protease. The enzyme immobilized in Celite 545 retained 73.53% of the initial activity after 15 reuse cycles. These results are quite promising for large-scale production and immobilization of protease from R. oryzicola, as the high operational stability of the immobilized enzyme lowers production costs in biotechnological applications that require high enzymatic activity and stability under high temperatures.Item Revisão sistemática da literatura sobre viés de género e aprendizagem máquina na segurança(Associacao Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, 2023-10) Malheiro, Luís Carlos Rodrigues; Bessa, Fernando José da Conceição; Reis, João Carlos Gonçalves Dos; Saraiva, Luís Eduardo; Faculdade de EngenhariaO presente estudo foi desenvolvido com o propósito de: analisar os desafios da utilização de dados com viés de género para a aprendizagem da máquina na segurança. A procura das limitações da aprendizagem máquina e o debate sobre o contágio por via de dados desequilibrados na fase do treino, nomeadamente na dimensão do género, foi baseado no protocolo Prisma. Depois de serem definidas as palavras-chave a procurar e os critérios de exclusão, a densificação da análise das 39 investigações selecionadas foi promovida por via da utilização do VOSviewer, do Connected papers e do Treecloud. A conjugação das técnicas e procedimentos anteriores possibilitou concluir que: (1) os vieses cognitivos podem existir na aprendizagem máquina devido ao recurso a dados desequilibrados para treino; (2) proporcionar um treino com dados equilibrados (também sobre o género) a uma rede aumenta a sua resiliência; (3) é possível introduzir algoritmos com atributos gender sensitive para mitigar vieses na aprendizagem máquina; (4) existe um gap sobre investigações científicas relativamente a vieses de género no campo da segurança.Item Microfluidic bioreactors for enzymatic synthesis in packed-bed reactors—Multi-step reactions and upscaling(Elsevier B.V., 2020-11-10) Brás, Eduardo J.S.; Domingues, Cristiana; Chu, Virginia; Fernandes, Pedro; Conde, João Pedro; HEI-LAB - Human Environment Interaction LabEnzymatic synthesis of biochemical commodities is of upmost importance as it represents a greener alternative to traditional chemical synthesis and provides easier downstream processing strategies compared to fermentation-based processes. A microfluidic system used to optimize the enzymatic production of both levodopa (L-DOPA) and dopamine in both single-step and multistep-reaction sequences with yield of approximately 30 % for L-DOPA production and 70 % for dopamine production is presented. The system for L-DOPA production was then up-scaled (780-fold increase) to a milliliter scale system by maintaining similar mass transport properties resulting in the same yield, space-time yield and biocatalyst yield as its microscale counterpart. The results obtained for yield and biocatalyst yield (351.7 mgL-DOPA mg−1Tyr h−1) were similar to what is reported in the literature for similar systems, however the space-time yield (0.806 mgL-DOPA L−1 h−1) was smaller. This work demonstrates a microfluidic bioreactor that can be used for complex optimizations that can be performed rapidly while reducing the consumption of reagents by immobilizing the catalyst on a carrier which can then be used in a packed-bed reactor, thus extending the enzyme life span.Item ParShift: a Python package to study order and differentiation in group conversations(Elsevier B.V., 2023-12-01) Carvalho, João P. Matos; Fachada, Nuno; Pita, Manuel Arturo Marques; Saraiva, Bruno David Ferreira; Matos-Carvalho, João Pedro; COPELABS - Cognitive and People-centric Computing; CICANT - Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture, and New Technologies; ECATI - School of Communication, Architecture, Arts and Information TechnologiesCollective organization in multi-party conversations emerges through the exchange of utterances between participants. While most research has focused on content-centred mechanisms that lead to emergent conversational coordination, less attention has been given to explaining conversational order based on who is addressed and who responds, especially when dealing with large conversational datasets. In this paper, we introduce a Python library, ParShift, that implements a state-of-the-art theoretical quantitative framework known as Participation Shifts. This framework enables researchers to study participant-centred order and differentiation in multi-party conversations. With ParShift, researchers can characterize conversations by quantifying the probabilities of events related to how people address each other during conversations. This library is particularly useful for studying conversation threads in social networks, parliamentary debates, team meetings, or student debates on a large scale. Keywords: Small groups Social interaction Participation shifts Interpersonal coordination Turn-taking Emergent social behaviourItem Impact of artificial intelligence research on politics of the European Union member states : The case study of Portugal(MDPI, 2020-08) Reis, João; Santo, Paula; Melão, Nuno; FE - Faculty of EngineeringCurrently, artificial intelligence (AI) is at the center of academic and public debate. However, its implications on politics remain little understood. To understand the impact of the AI phenomenon on politics of the European Union (EU), we have carried out qualitative multimethod research by performing a systematic literature review and a case study. The first method was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), in order to report the state-of-the-art in the existing literature and explore the most relevant research areas. The second method contained contributions from experts in data science and AI of the Portuguese scientific community. The results showed that solutions such as intelligent decision support systems are improving the political decision-making process and impacting the Portuguese society at local, regional, and national levels. We also found that practitioners and scientists are currently shifting their interests from environmental and biological sciences to healthcare services, which is bringing new challenges in terms of protecting patient/citizen data and growing concerns about handling of critical information. Future research may focus on comparative studies with other EU States to obtain a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the AI phenomenon.Item Improvement of aglycone content in soy isoflavones extract by free and immobilized β-Glucosidase and their effects in lipid accumulation(Springer, 2020-11-01) Angelotti, Joelise A.F.; Dias, Fernanda F.G.; Sato, Hélia H.; Fernandes, Pedro; Nakajima, Vânia M.; Macedo, Juliana; FE - Faculty of EngineeringSoybean is one of the most important commodities in the world, being applied in feed crops and food, pharmaceutical industries in different ways. Soy is rich in isoflavones that in aglycone forms have exhibited significant anti-obesity and anti-lipogenic effects. Obesity is a global problem as several diseases have been related to this worldwide epidemic. The aim of this work was to verify the effect of free and immobilized β-glucosidase, testing Lentikats, and sol–gel as carriers. Moreover, we wanted to examine if the different types of hydrolysis would generate extracts with distinct biological activity concerning lipid accumulation, PPAR-α regulation, and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations using in vitro assays. Our results show that all formulations of β-glucosidase could hydrolyze soy isoflavones. Thus, after 24 h of incubation, daidzein content increased 2.6-, 10.8-, and 12.2-fold; and genistein content increased 11.7, 11.4, and 11.4 times with the use of free enzyme, Lentikats®, and sol–gel immobilized enzyme, respectively. Moreover, both methodologies for enzyme immobilization led to promising forms of biocatalysts for application in the production of soy extracts rich in isoflavones aglycones, which are expected to bring about health benefits. A mild lipogenic effect was observed for some concentrations of extracts, as well as a slight inhibition in PPAR-α expression, although no significant differences were noticeable in the cytokines TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6 as compared with the control.Item Enlarged PLIN5-uncoated lipid droplets in inner regions of skeletal muscle type II fibers associate with type 2 diabetes(Elsevier GmbH, 2022-04) Fachada, Vasco; Rahkila, Paavo; Fachada, Nuno; Turpeinen, Tuomas; Kujala, Urho M.; Kainulainen, Heikki; COPELABS - Cognitive and People-centric ComputingSkeletal muscle physiology remains of paramount importance in understanding insulin resistance. Due to its high lipid turnover rates, regulation of intramyocellular lipid droplets (LDs) is a key factor. Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is one of the most critical agents in such regulation, being often referred as a protector against lipotoxicity and consequent skeletal muscle insulin resistance. We examined area fraction, size, subcellular localization and PLIN5 association of LDs in two fiber types of type 2 diabetic (T2D), obese (OB) and healthy (HC) individuals by means of fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. We found that T2D type II fibers have a significant sub-population of large and internalized LDs, uncoated by PLIN5. Based on this novel result, additional hypotheses for the pathophysiology of skeletal muscle insulin resistance are formulated, together with future research directions.Item Defence industries and open innovation : ways to increase military capabilities of the Portuguese ground forces(Routledge, 2022) Reis, João; Melão, Nuno; Costa, Joana; Pernica, Bohuslav; RCM2+ - Research Centre in Asset Management and System EngineeringThe European Defence Industry is undergoing profound changes. Industrial activity is now operating on a quintuple helix innovation model with the deep involvement of universities and governments in innovation. In addition, military innovations are being transferred to civil society, with increasing attention paid to the environment. In the first stage, we report on the state-of-the-art of existing research using PRISMA protocol. The PRISMA technique is widely accepted by the academic community for its ability to discover concepts, ideas, and debates about the defence industry. In the second stage, we present a case study involving the Portuguese Defence Industry, for which multiple data collection sources were used to ensure triangulation and corroboration. The results show that, in the light of the quintuple helix innovation model, it was possible to bring applications from theoretical discussion to real life. Moreover, within the scope of the triple helix, it was possible to develop, produce and test military products, allowing to improve the military capacity of ground forces. In the future, ecological concerns will likely increase, so we suggest a greater focus on this area of research. KEYWORDS : Defence industry; open innovation; ground military forces; quintuple helixItem Comparing Freshman and doctoral engineering students in design : mapping with a descriptive framework(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2017-11-02) Carmona Marques, P.; FE - Faculty of EngineeringThis paper reports the results of a study of engineering students’ approaches to an open-ended design problem. To carry out this, sketches and interviews were collected from 9 freshmen (first year) and 10 doctoral engineering students, when they designed solutions for orange squeezers. Sketches and interviews were analysed and mapped with a descriptive ‘ideation framework’ (IF) of the design process, to document and compare their design creativity (Carmona Marques, P., A. Silva, E. Henriques, and C. Magee. 2014. “A Descriptive Framework of the Design Process from a Dual Cognitive Engineering Perspective.” International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation 2 (3): 142–164). The results show that the designers worked in a manner largely consistent with the IF for generalisation and specialisation loops. Also, doctoral students produced more alternative solutions during the ideation process. In addition, compared to freshman, doctoral used the generalisation loop of the IF, working at higher levels of abstraction. The iterative nature of design is highlighted during this study–a potential contribution to decrease the gap between both groups in engineering education.Item Analyzing the attractiveness of Businesses to receive Investments for a creative and innovative transition to a circular economy: the case of the textile and fashion industry(MDPI, 2023-04-13) Silva, Wesley Douglas Oliveira; Fontana, Marcele Elisa; Almeida, Bianca; Marques, Pedro Carmona; Vidal, Raphaela; FE - Faculty of EngineeringExcessive and often compulsive consumption has given the textile–fashion industry the reputation of being one of the industries causing the most pollution in today’s world. For this reason, there is a necessity for a transition from a linear to a circular approach in the textile–fashion industry. However, this is not an easy task, especially when considering the investments that must be made to put a circular economy structure into practice. In this sense, the transition to a circular economy in the textile–fashion industry presents a unique opportunity for businesses to attract investments to support this transition by leveraging creativity and innovation to reduce waste, minimize resource consumption, and increase the longevity of products and materials. Therefore, this study sets out to develop a multicriteria decision support model to measure the attractiveness of businesses to receive investments that aim at aiding the transition to the circular economy. The model uses the “play card” from Simos’ procedure and the Normalize software that provide a comprehensive, consistent, and transparent approach to decision making, which can help investors to evaluate the attractiveness of investment opportunities and identify businesses that have the potential for long-term success in the circular economy. Hence, catalyzing and obstructing factors of the circular economy discussed in the literature were selected to underpin the analysis model and to draw up robust investment recommendations to the investors. In addition to the scientific contributions of the model, indications are also provided to the private sector, public policy makers, and society on how sustainability can be driven by the circular economy.Item Unity Snappable Meshes(Elsevier B.V., 2022-08-01) Fachada, Nuno; Silva, Rafael Castro e; Andrade, Diogo de; Códices, Nélio; FE - Faculty of EngineeringThe Snappable Meshes algorithm procedurally generates 3D maps for computer games by iteratively selecting and linking pre-built map pieces via designer-specified connectors. In this paper we present an implementation of this algorithm in the Unity game engine, describing its architecture and discussing core implementational solutions. A number of examples illustrate the potential of the algorithm and the capabilities of the software. We assess the application’s impact on past and ongoing research, and how it can be improved to support future research questions. Keywords: Procedural content generation (PCG) ; Computer games ; Layout ; Designer-centric methods ;3D maps ; Unity game engineItem TextCL: a Python package for NLP preprocessing tasks(Elsevier B.V., 2022-07-01) Petukhova, Alina; Fachada, Nuno; FE - Faculty of EngineeringPreprocessing text data sets for use in Natural Language Processing tasks is usually a time-consuming and expensive effort. Text data, normally obtained from sources such as, but not limited to, web scraping, scanned documents or PDF files, is typically unstructured and prone to artifacts and other types of noise. The goal of the TextCL package is to simplify this process by providing multiple methods suited for text data preprocessing. It includes functionality for splitting texts into sentences, filtering sentences by language, perplexity filtering, and removing duplicate sentences. Another functionality offered by the TextCL package is the outlier detection module, which allows to identify and filter out texts that are different from the main topic distribution of the data set. This method allows selecting one of several unsupervised outlier detection algorithms, such as TONMF (block coordinate descent framework), RPCA (robust principal component analysis), or SVD (singular value decomposition) and apply it to the text data. Keywords: Natural language processing ; Text filtering ; Outlier detectionItem Retail system scenario modeling using fuzzy cognitive maps(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2022) Petukhova, Alina; Fachada, Nuno; FE - Faculty of EngineeringA retail business is a network of similar-format grocery stores with a sole proprietor and a well-established logistical infrastructure. The retail business is a stable market, with low growth, limited customer revenues, and intense competition. On the system level, the retail industry is a dynamic system that is challenging to represent due to uncertainty, nonlinearity, and imprecision. Due to the heterogeneous character of retail systems, direct scenario modeling is arduous. In this article, we propose a framework for retail system scenario planning that allows managers to analyze the effect of different quantitative and qualitative factors using fuzzy cognitive maps. Previously published fuzzy retail models were extended by adding external factors and combining expert knowledge with domain research results. We determined the most suitable composition of fuzzy operators for the retail system, highlighted the system’s most influential concepts, and how the system responds to changes in external factors. The proposed framework aims to support senior management in conducting flexible long-term planning of a company’s strategic development, and reach its desired business goals. Keywords: retail; complex systems; fuzzy cognitive maps; scenario planningItem Inulinase from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa : immobilization and application in the production of fructooligosaccharides(The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology, 2021-07) de Araujo Ribeiro, Geise Camila; Fernandes, Pedro; Silva, Dayse Alessandra Almeida; Brandão, Hugo Neves; de Assis, Sandra Aparecida; FE - Faculty of EngineeringThe crude extract containing inulinase from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa was obtained by submerged fermentation. Inulinase was immobilized on chicken eggshell by physical adsorption and covalent crosslinking, using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking reagent, and Celite by adsorption. Fructooligosaccharides production was performed using immobilized inulinase (5%, w/v) and inulin substrate solution under experimental conditions evaluated through Doehlert experimental design. The production of inulinase was optimized for concentrations of D-glucose and yeast extract at 12.5 and 0.5 g/L, respectively, resulting in an optimal activity of 0.62 U. The optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 8.0 and 75 °C, respectively, leading to an optimal activity of 3.54 U. The highest immobilization efficiency (46.27%) was obtained upon immobilization on Celite. Immobilization by adsorption to eggshell allowed for specific activity of 4.15 U/g, and adsorption to Celite resulted in specific activity of 3.70 U/g. The highest titer in fructooligosaccharides was obtained with an initial inulin concentration of 250 g/L (25%, w/v), and a reaction time of 16 h. Hence, immobilized inulinase proved to be a promising catalyst for fructooligosaccharides production since the formulation is performed through a simple, low-cost, and large-scale applicable methodology.Item Computational programming as a tool in the teaching of electromagnetism in engineering courses : Improving the notion of field(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2019) Nogueira, João; Alves, Ricardo Gaio; Marques, Pedro Carmona; FE - Faculty of Engineering; CeiED - Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and DevelopmentIn this study we have attempted, firstly, to describe programming protocols developed for the teaching of an Electromagnetism course in the university degrees of Electrical Engineering and Energy Engineering, and secondly, to evaluate students’ satisfaction with the simulation practices through MATLAB®programming. The main objective of the protocols is to allow students to model and visualize the electric field and magnetic field (both static) and understand the approximation that is made when considering certain distributions of electric charges and electric currents. To evaluate the usefulness of this computational methodology, eighteen students from the two engineering degrees answered a questionnaire with seven questions related to the Electromagnetism course and to the benefits of using computer programming. Their answers are measured by a Likert scale. From the analysis of the results, we can conclude, in a general way, that the use of this methodology has positive effects in the learning of Electromagnetism in these two degrees.Item Integrating Product-Service Systems with New Business Models Definition for Manufacturing Industries(IGI Global Publishing, 2014) Marques, Pedro C.; Cunha, Pedro F.; FE - Faculty of Engineering; RCM2+ - Research Centre in Asset Management and System EngineeringNowadays, manufacturing companies are pressured to be competitive and innovative. Particularly this concerns the delivery of value to their customers. The assessment of the overall value chain, designed and implemented for a specific product and/or service, should be sustained by new business models (NBM), thus contributing to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Integrated product-services are assuming importance, allowing manufacturing companies to achieve longer and stable relationships with their customers. This requires, among other, organizational changes and novel methodologies for product-service development. In fact, an effective integration allows product-service innovation, which being exploited, contributes significantly to businesses' competitiveness and sustainability. In this paper, a "roadmap" for NBM definition and implementation is presented, along with a new methodology for Product-Service Systems (PSS) development. Two case studies are used to test both the roadmap and the PSS methodology. As such, this work is expected to contribute to a clear understanding of NBM and their integration in a methodology for PSS.Item Mycobacterium vaccae adaptation to disinfectants and hand sanitisers, and evaluation of cross-tolerance with antimicrobials(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2020-09) de Carvalho, Carla C.C.R.; Teixeira, Raquel; Fernandes, Pedro; FE - Faculty of EngineeringMycobacterium vaccae is being considered as an adjuvant to antituberculosis therapy, tested for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and as an anti-depressive agent. This bacterium is ubiquitous in the environment and the widespread use of disinfectants and sanitisers may lead to its adaptation to these compounds. In the present study, M. vaccae cells adapted to these compounds mainly by making adjustments in their lipid composition and net surface charge. The modifications in the lipid composition led to changes in membrane permeability which resulted in increased tolerance towards levofloxacin, thioridazine, and omeprazole.Item A rapid review on the use of free and open source technologies and software applied to precision agriculture practices(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-03-24) Santos, Rogério P. dos; Fachada, Nuno; Beko, Marko; Leithardt, Valderi; FE - Faculty of Engineering; COPELABS - Cognitive and People-centric ComputingTechnology plays a crucial role in the management of natural resources in agricultural production. Free and open-source software and sensor technology solutions have the potential to promote more sustainable agricultural production. The goal of this rapid review is to find exclusively free and open-source software for precision agriculture, available in different electronic databases, with emphasis on their characteristics and application formats, aiming at promoting sustainable agricultural production. A thorough search of the Google Scholar, GitHub, and GitLab electronic databases was performed for this purpose. Studies reporting and/or repositories containing up-to-date software were considered for this review. The various software packages were evaluated based on their characteristics and application formats. The search identified a total of 21 free and open-source software packages designed specifically for precision agriculture. Most of the identified software was shown to be extensible and customizable, while taking into account factors such as transparency, speed, and security, although some limitations were observed in terms of repository management and source control. This rapid review suggests that free and open-source software and sensor technology solutions play an important role in the management of natural resources in sustainable agricultural production, and highlights the main technological approaches towards this goal. Finally, while this review performs a preliminary assessment of existing free and open source solutions, additional research is needed to evaluate their effectiveness and usability in different scenarios, as well as their relevance in terms of environmental and economic impact on agricultural production.Item A descriptive framework of the design process from a dual cognitive-engineering perspective(Taylor and Francis, 2014) Marques, Pedro D.B.Carmona; Silva, Arlindo José P.F.; Henriques, Elsa M.P.; Magee, Christopher L.; FE - Faculty of EngineeringThis article proposes a new descriptive framework, which we label as the “ideation framework” (IF), of the design process from a dual cognitive-engineering perspective, partly based on existing frameworks from both fields and previous work by the author. The framework is for the ideation or front-end phase of the product development process, representing the interface between cognitive psychology and engineering design. Three domains – inspiration, decomposition, and integration – and three spaces – problem-space, idea-space, and concept-space – are the elements of the framework. The iterative flow of the engineering design process passes through the three domains in a semi-controlled way, through a sequence of specialization and generalization process loops in and between the spaces. An empirical descriptive examination of the ideation process is performed using designers with limited design experience. The designers were faced with a design problem that they had to solve in a limited period of time. Their designs were analyzed, and a post-exercise interview was done to uncover each of the participants’ design process. The empirical work indicates these designers worked in a manner largely consistent with the IF.