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Diogo Santos

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Papers by Diogo Santos

Evaluating the Impact of Gamification on the Online Shop of a Game Server: A Comparison between the Portuguese and North American Contexts

Informatics

Online commerce has been growing rapidly in an increasingly digital world, and gamification, the ... more Online commerce has been growing rapidly in an increasingly digital world, and gamification, the practice of designing games in a context outside the industry itself, can be an effective strategy to stimulate consumer engagement and conversion rate. This paper describes the design process involved in introducing gamification into an online shop that is supported by two game servers of the same kind, namely one in the United States of America (US) and another in Portugal (PT). Through the various phases of the design thinking process, a gamified system was implemented to meet the needs of various types of users frequently found in the shops. The gamification elements used were intended to increase user engagement with the shops so that they would become more aware of existing products and the introduction of new products, promoting purchase through intangible challenges and rewards. The impacts on server revenues and user satisfaction (N = 138) were evaluated one month after introduc...

Análise de deformações em tubulações sujeitas a transientes hidráulicos

Brazilian Journal of Development

Em sistemas de tubulação de descarga de bombas pode ocorrer golpe de aríete devido a manobras ráp... more Em sistemas de tubulação de descarga de bombas pode ocorrer golpe de aríete devido a manobras rápidas com válvulas, queda brusca de energia, ar na tubulação, entre outros.A incidência de golpe de aríete deve ser avaliada e mitigada ainda na fase de projeto.Neste artigo, será apresentada a metodologia de cálculo para o projeto estrutural mecânico de sistemas de tubulação, onde foi realizado um estudo teórico de transitórios hidráulicos combinado com uma análise de elementos finitos, posteriormente foi realizado um teste com as mesmas variáveis do estudo teórico usando extensômetros para medir as deformações no tubo.

Effects of aqueous extracts of wildfire ashes on tadpoles of Pelophylax perezi: Influence of plant coverage

Science of The Total Environment

Foraminifera biodiversity coupled with environmental quality in Pium River estuary and Pirangi Coral Reef (RN, Brazil)

Tecnologias para a sustentabilidade

The quality assessment of coastal and estuarine zone of Pium River Estuary and Pirangi coral reef... more The quality assessment of coastal and estuarine zone of Pium River Estuary and Pirangi coral reef area (inner shelf of Rio Grande do Norte) in recent and past environments is studied by organisms capable of: synthesizing the environmental characteristics (oceanographic and geological), highlighting the environmental variations of short periods and reacting sensitively to seasonal variations and anthropogenic effects. This work relates the ecological indices of the foraminifers' indicators species and the dominance of Ammonia tepida, Bolivina striatula, Discorbis peruvianus, Elphidium articulatum, E. discoidale, Quinqueloculina lamarckiana, Q. intricata, Q. patagonica, Textularia gramen and T. earlandi to characterize ecologically different environments as means of salinity, temperature and sediment

Computer-vision-based surveillance of intelligent transportation systems

2018 13th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), 2018

Traffic management is one of the most important and crucial tasks in modern cities, due to the in... more Traffic management is one of the most important and crucial tasks in modern cities, due to the increasing number of vehicles in the under dimensioned road networks. To aid in this task multiple solutions exist that simulate the networks behaviour taking for input data from traditional counting methods such as magnetic induction loops. These devices present flaws and are expensive to implement. With the decreasing cost of video cameras and the widespread use of computer vision, their use became a viable alternative to analyse traffic. In this project we tackle the problem of automatic traffic surveillance using video cameras, developing a video analytics processor that will perform detection and classification tasks over gathered data. This processor was integrated in a solution under development that treats videos from multiple sources and provides computer vision as an on-line service. A novel approach to the vehicle classification process is presented, based on the use of a fuzzy set. To illustrate the proposed approach, the detection and classification implemented were tested with different cameras in different scenarios, showing promising results. i as Sara Paiva and Beatriz Baldaia, the residents of Lab I120, thank you for all the good moments. To my parents and my brother for always being there for me, offering sage advice and true friendship. Thank you to my girlfriend Cátia Matos, who on a daily basis helped me face the toughest problems and overcome the greatest challenges. To all my friends who showed a great degree of interest with this project, always ready to help,

Low-cost SDR based FMCW radar for UAV localization

2019 22nd International Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communications (WPMC), 2019

In this paper, we study a Software Defined Radio (SDR) based frequency-modulated continuous-wave ... more In this paper, we study a Software Defined Radio (SDR) based frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar which can be used as a low cost solution for the localization of unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s). The FMCW radar is evaluated through several simulations implemented in GNU Radio in order to verify its behaviour in the detection of stationary and moving targets as well as the effects of attenuation due to signal propagation and signal noise corruption. The software implemented on GNU Radio will be used as a basis for a future implementation using SDR platforms, namely URSP N210, BladeRF and LimeSDR, combined with high gain antennas and a high power amplifier in order to test the performance of the FMCW radar in real-life scenarios involving the detection of UAV targets.

Chemistry 2.0: Building and Disseminating Chemistry Through Studentsgenerated Web 2.0 Content

This paper analyses a project to enhance and develop Chemistry communication skills. A design-bas... more This paper analyses a project to enhance and develop Chemistry communication skills. A design-based research focused on 32 pre-university students, organized in three rounds, that developed resources using digital tools for different audience targets. Contrarily to initial assumptions, the subjects did not show signs of “chemophobia” or digital expertise. Random groups, cadavres exquis and group discussions helped to identify and to build more relevant, grounded and complex social contexts. When subjects have positive feelings about Chemistry and are not aware of the possible negative meanings of the Chemistry lexicon in society, it is necessary to stimulate a cognitive reframe and attitudinal awareness so that they can communicate Chemistry. Implications include the acknowledgment of the relevance of summer school projects that address socioscientific issues to bridge conceptual knowledge and contextual significance.

Fazenda do ABC: Uma Proposta de Objeto de Aprendizagem Voltado ao Auxílio da Alfabetização

A alfabetizacao e uma fase importante na formacao educacional, sendo, para uma crianca, a base pa... more A alfabetizacao e uma fase importante na formacao educacional, sendo, para uma crianca, a base para o entendimento do mundo ao seu redor. Alem disso, com o aumento da inclusao digital, a utilizacao de jogos eletronicos para o aprendizado, vem se mostrando um metodo eficaz, sendo capaz de gerar maior interesse e melhores resultados por parte dos estudantes. Tomando essa afirmacao como base e tendo em vista a importância do processo da alfabetizacao, esse artigo busca trazer uma proposta de Objeto de Aprendizagem (OA) relacionando os temas computacao e alfabetizacao.

Fatores Críticos De Competitividade Na Cadeia Produtiva Do Café No Brasil e O Mercado De

Este trabalho trata dos fatores criticos de competitividade na cadeia produtiva do cafe no Brasil... more Este trabalho trata dos fatores criticos de competitividade na cadeia produtiva do cafe no Brasil que levam as empresas a importarem capsulas de cafe para o atendimento da demanda interna por esse produto. A pesquisa que lhe deu suporte utilizou alem da literatura especializada e de relatorios produzidos por associacoes do setor e por orgaos governamentais, entrevistas semiestruturadas com cinco gestores de diferentes empresas que atuam no mercado brasileiro de cafe. Para o tratamento dos dados foi aplicada a tecnica de analise de conteudo. Dentre os principais fatores criticos de competitividade identificados pela pesquisa destacam-se: a regulacao governamental sobre a importacao de cafe verde, opondo aspectos da politica comercial e da politica industrial concebidas pelo governo, os elevados custos e excessiva burocracia para a obtencao de financiamento para o investimento em modernizacao do parque industrial, a elevada carga tributaria sobre a producao no Brasil e os problemas de ineficiencia na infraestrutura e logistica no pais. O estudo realizado mostra que o Brasil apesar de ser o maior produtor mundial de cafe e ter o segundo mercado consumidor, ocupa posicao periferica nas cadeias globais de valor do cafe em funcao de fatores estruturais do setor e, especialmente, da falta de estrategias inteligentes e coordenacao para transformacao de vantagens comparativas em vantagens competitivas para o cafe brasileiro.

Data Center Environment Monitoring System

Proceedings of the 2019 4th International Conference on Cloud Computing and Internet of Things, 2019

The Internet of things (IoT) is applied to many cases in the smart cities topic. We apply an IoT-... more The Internet of things (IoT) is applied to many cases in the smart cities topic. We apply an IoT-developed platform using LoRa communication to a Data Center to understand temperature behavior within a concentration of servers and the working behavior of these server machines. We describe our work as an IoT platform to measure temperature, humidity, and energy consumption in these data centers. In the end, the gradient temperature was found in the rack, and the increasing temperature is correlated with energy consumption and the backup routines in the night. Our developed approach can be used to understand CPU usage and related temperature and the energy consumption CCS Concepts • Computer systems organization → Real-time systems • Information systems → Data centers

Unilateral Intrastriatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Lesion in Mice: A Closer Look into Non-Motor Phenotype and Glial Response

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss o... more Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion is still one of the most widely used techniques for modeling Parkinson’s disease (PD) in rodents. Despite commonly used in rats, it can be challenging to reproduce a similar lesion in mice. Moreover, there is a lack of characterization of the extent of behavioral deficits and of the neuronal loss/neurotransmitter system in unilateral lesion mouse models. In this study, we present an extensive behavioral and histological characterization of a unilateral intrastriatal 6-OHDA mouse model. Our results indicate significant alterations in balance and fine motor coordination, voluntary locomotion, and in the asymmetry’s degree of forelimb use in 6-OHDA lesioned animals, accompanied by a decrease in self-care and motivational behavior, common features of depressive-like symptomatology. These re...

The Governed and Their Governments

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2020

The relationship between citizens and the state is omnipresent: even the most totalitarian regime... more The relationship between citizens and the state is omnipresent: even the most totalitarian regimes present some interaction between society and ruler. Digital communications have added new instruments through which all, especially the least represented, can make their voices heard. This chapter provides theoretical bases for analyzing how citizens and government interact in the digital age. Dictatorships rely on performance and resort to violence to obtain support. Democratic leaders rely on principle, performance, or elections. Legitimacy by policy efficiency can support despotic governments. Digital communications arise as new channels for governments to promote their views to the people, convincing them of their policies' value; monitor the population's activities in support or against the government; and block information contrary to governmental interests. The people too can use digital interfaces to obtain information, share approval or discontent, and organize protest...

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty in the Digital Communications Age

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2020

On Liberty by J. S. Mill is on democracy, limitations to political power, as well as the shaping ... more On Liberty by J. S. Mill is on democracy, limitations to political power, as well as the shaping of modern democratic systems. This chapter aims to review a classic of political science in light of the current developments in the digital age and thus extract new light on the impact the new digital communication technologies have on the relationship between the state and the citizens around the world. The widespread use of social media and digital communications will have and is having deep and unavoidable impacts on the relationship between the state and citizens. However, such impacts raise both hopes of a better future for democracies and dictatorships as well as concerns of privacy, freedom of speech and thought, consistency of public policy, quality of governmental services, and even the legitimacy and lifetime of regimes. The theoretical tools of classical political science may, however, aid us in better understanding such processes and steering change for the best.

Novel Ternary Polymer BlendMembranesDopedwith SO4/PO4-TiO2for Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Proceedings of the 5th World Congress on Mechanical, Chemical, and Material Engineering, 2019

Telehealth monitoring of a hypertensive elderly patient with the new VITASENIOR-MT system: a case study

Blood Pressure Monitoring, 2020

Telehealth technologies providing remote monitoring of health parameters are a promising approach... more Telehealth technologies providing remote monitoring of health parameters are a promising approach for the management of arterial hypertension (AH) in the elderly. The VITASENIOR-MT platform was developed as a telehealth solution designed to contribute to improve the health condition and quality of life, promoting safe and independent living of the old adult. It is an 'internet-of-things'-based solution relying on the interaction of the old adult with a TV-set to record biometric parameters and to receive warning and recommendations related to health and environmental sensor recordings. We present a pilot study with a male hypertensive patient, aged 81 years old, under anti-hypertensive treatment, with epilepsy, arthritis and paroxistic atrial fibrillation as major comorbidities. The VITASENIOR-MT was installed at the patient's assisteddwelling house and a remote follow-up was implemented during 2 months, monitoring daily blood pressure and heart rate, as well as weight and indoor environmental parameters.

Simple preparation of 58S bioactive glass/polycaprolactone composite scaffolds by freeze-drying under ambient conditions

Materials Letters, 2019

Composite scaffolds were successfully obtained using sol-gel derived 58S bioactive glass particle... more Composite scaffolds were successfully obtained using sol-gel derived 58S bioactive glass particles and poly(e-caprolactone) pellets. Camphene was used as the freezing vehicle. No sintering step was used, which represents a great advantage in terms of energy and time-saving. The prepared scaffolds showed a mechanical behavior similar to elastomeric cellular solids and Young's modulus of 46.7 ± 9.4 MPa, which may allow their use in load-bearing applications. Cytotoxicity tests revealed that the composites promoted the growth of human osteosarcoma cells. The formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the samples was also observed after soaking them in a simulated body fluid solution.

A GEOBIA Approach for Multitemporal Land-Cover and Land-Use Change Analysis in a Tropical Watershed in the Southeastern Amazon

Remote Sensing, 2018

The southeastern Amazon region has been intensively occupied by human settlements over the past t... more The southeastern Amazon region has been intensively occupied by human settlements over the past three decades. To evaluate the effects of human settlements on land-cover and land-use (LCLU) changes over time in the study site, we evaluated multitemporal Landsat images from the years 1984, 1994, 2004, 2013 and Sentinel to the year 2017. Then, we defined the LCLU classes, and a detailed “from-to” change detection approach based on a geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) was employed to determine the trajectories of the LCLU changes. Three land-cover (forest, montane savanna and water bodies) and three land-use types (pasturelands, mining and urban areas) were mapped. The overall accuracies and kappa values of the classification were higher than 0.91 for each of the classified images. Throughout the change detection period, ~47% (19,320 km2) of the forest was preserved mainly within protected areas, while almost 42% (17,398 km2) of the area was converted from forests to pastu...

Pharmacological Modulation of Right Ventricular Endocardial-Epicardial Gradients in Brugada Syndrome

Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, 2018

Background We explored the hypothesis that increased cholinergic tone exerts its proarrhythmic ef... more Background We explored the hypothesis that increased cholinergic tone exerts its proarrhythmic effects in Brugada syndrome (BrS) through increasing dispersion of transmural repolarization in patients with spontaneous and drug-induced BrS. Methods BrS and supraventricular tachycardia patients were studied after deploying an Ensite Array in the right ventricular outflow tract and a Cardima catheter in the great cardiac vein to record endo and epicardial signals, respectively. S-S restitution curves from the right ventricular apex were conducted at baseline and after edrophonium challenge to promote increased cholinergic tone. The local unipolar electrograms were then analyzed to study transmural conduction and repolarization dynamics. Results The study included 8 BrS patients (5 men:3 women; mean age, 56 years) and 8 controls patients with supraventricular tachycardia (5 men:3 women; mean age, 48 years). Electrophysiological studies in controls demonstrated shorter endocardial than ep...

Towards the integration of electric buses in conventional bus fleets

2016 IEEE 19th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), 2016

Private individual transportation is becoming cumbersome and expensive, as urban traffic turns mo... more Private individual transportation is becoming cumbersome and expensive, as urban traffic turns more chaotic, fuel prices increase and the effects of pollutant emissions become evident. Public buses are an attractive approach to reducing the cars in use, as they mostly depend on preexistent infrastructure. Making these buses electric would mean even less tailpipe emissions and cheaper consumption costs, when compared to conventional vehicle fleets. However, fully electric bus fleets can prove disadvantageous. We can tackle this with a more conservative approach - using mixed bus fleets, comprised by both electric and conventional buses. This work intends on studying how to obtain a good balance of the different vehicle typologies in the fleet. To fulfill these goals, real data of a bus network in Porto, Portugal, is studied and an evolutionary algorithm devises mixed fleet arrangements, with a brief sensitivity analysis giving us an overview of how to improve our results. As a means of decision support, this work contributes not only with an approach to configure optimized mixed bus fleets, but also with general considerations for managing public transit with electric vehicle fleets.

Domestic wastewater treatment using Pt,Ni-RE (rare earth) electrodes

AIMS Energy, 2016

Electrochemical technologies can be used for the treatment of domestic wastewaters, by eliminatin... more Electrochemical technologies can be used for the treatment of domestic wastewaters, by eliminating their organic pollutants. They have advantages over conventional methods, such as environmental compatibility, versatility, energy efficiency, safety and cost. The organic compounds degradation process is based on the production of OH radicals, formed during water electrolysis, which oxidize the organic molecules to CO 2. At the same time, hydrogen (H 2) is produced through reduction of the water in the effluent, which can be later used in a fuel cell. Present study seeks to find effective electrocatalysts to produce H 2 by electrolysis, using domestic wastewaters as the hydrogen source, with or without the addition of supporting electrolyte. Herein KOH is used as the supporting electrolyte, as the extra hydroxide can be used to degrade the organic matter. Nine different electrode materials are evaluated as cathodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a domestic wastewater. The tested materials include platinum (Pt) and platinum-rare earth (Pt-RE) binary alloys, and nickel (Ni) and Ni-RE alloys, with the REs being cerium (Ce), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), and holmium (Ho). Linear scan voltammetry measurements are conducted at temperatures ranging from 25 to 85 ºC. Several kinetic parameters are calculated, such as the Tafel slopes, charge transfer coefficients and exchange current densities. The data obtained at the different electrode materials is compared and it is clear that Pt-RE alloys show superior activity for the HER. It is also noticeable that the wastewater effluent containing the supporting electrolyte leads to significantly better HER performances.

Evaluating the Impact of Gamification on the Online Shop of a Game Server: A Comparison between the Portuguese and North American Contexts

Informatics

Online commerce has been growing rapidly in an increasingly digital world, and gamification, the ... more Online commerce has been growing rapidly in an increasingly digital world, and gamification, the practice of designing games in a context outside the industry itself, can be an effective strategy to stimulate consumer engagement and conversion rate. This paper describes the design process involved in introducing gamification into an online shop that is supported by two game servers of the same kind, namely one in the United States of America (US) and another in Portugal (PT). Through the various phases of the design thinking process, a gamified system was implemented to meet the needs of various types of users frequently found in the shops. The gamification elements used were intended to increase user engagement with the shops so that they would become more aware of existing products and the introduction of new products, promoting purchase through intangible challenges and rewards. The impacts on server revenues and user satisfaction (N = 138) were evaluated one month after introduc...

Análise de deformações em tubulações sujeitas a transientes hidráulicos

Brazilian Journal of Development

Em sistemas de tubulação de descarga de bombas pode ocorrer golpe de aríete devido a manobras ráp... more Em sistemas de tubulação de descarga de bombas pode ocorrer golpe de aríete devido a manobras rápidas com válvulas, queda brusca de energia, ar na tubulação, entre outros.A incidência de golpe de aríete deve ser avaliada e mitigada ainda na fase de projeto.Neste artigo, será apresentada a metodologia de cálculo para o projeto estrutural mecânico de sistemas de tubulação, onde foi realizado um estudo teórico de transitórios hidráulicos combinado com uma análise de elementos finitos, posteriormente foi realizado um teste com as mesmas variáveis do estudo teórico usando extensômetros para medir as deformações no tubo.

Effects of aqueous extracts of wildfire ashes on tadpoles of Pelophylax perezi: Influence of plant coverage

Science of The Total Environment

Foraminifera biodiversity coupled with environmental quality in Pium River estuary and Pirangi Coral Reef (RN, Brazil)

Tecnologias para a sustentabilidade

The quality assessment of coastal and estuarine zone of Pium River Estuary and Pirangi coral reef... more The quality assessment of coastal and estuarine zone of Pium River Estuary and Pirangi coral reef area (inner shelf of Rio Grande do Norte) in recent and past environments is studied by organisms capable of: synthesizing the environmental characteristics (oceanographic and geological), highlighting the environmental variations of short periods and reacting sensitively to seasonal variations and anthropogenic effects. This work relates the ecological indices of the foraminifers' indicators species and the dominance of Ammonia tepida, Bolivina striatula, Discorbis peruvianus, Elphidium articulatum, E. discoidale, Quinqueloculina lamarckiana, Q. intricata, Q. patagonica, Textularia gramen and T. earlandi to characterize ecologically different environments as means of salinity, temperature and sediment

Computer-vision-based surveillance of intelligent transportation systems

2018 13th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), 2018

Traffic management is one of the most important and crucial tasks in modern cities, due to the in... more Traffic management is one of the most important and crucial tasks in modern cities, due to the increasing number of vehicles in the under dimensioned road networks. To aid in this task multiple solutions exist that simulate the networks behaviour taking for input data from traditional counting methods such as magnetic induction loops. These devices present flaws and are expensive to implement. With the decreasing cost of video cameras and the widespread use of computer vision, their use became a viable alternative to analyse traffic. In this project we tackle the problem of automatic traffic surveillance using video cameras, developing a video analytics processor that will perform detection and classification tasks over gathered data. This processor was integrated in a solution under development that treats videos from multiple sources and provides computer vision as an on-line service. A novel approach to the vehicle classification process is presented, based on the use of a fuzzy set. To illustrate the proposed approach, the detection and classification implemented were tested with different cameras in different scenarios, showing promising results. i as Sara Paiva and Beatriz Baldaia, the residents of Lab I120, thank you for all the good moments. To my parents and my brother for always being there for me, offering sage advice and true friendship. Thank you to my girlfriend Cátia Matos, who on a daily basis helped me face the toughest problems and overcome the greatest challenges. To all my friends who showed a great degree of interest with this project, always ready to help,

Low-cost SDR based FMCW radar for UAV localization

2019 22nd International Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communications (WPMC), 2019

In this paper, we study a Software Defined Radio (SDR) based frequency-modulated continuous-wave ... more In this paper, we study a Software Defined Radio (SDR) based frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar which can be used as a low cost solution for the localization of unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s). The FMCW radar is evaluated through several simulations implemented in GNU Radio in order to verify its behaviour in the detection of stationary and moving targets as well as the effects of attenuation due to signal propagation and signal noise corruption. The software implemented on GNU Radio will be used as a basis for a future implementation using SDR platforms, namely URSP N210, BladeRF and LimeSDR, combined with high gain antennas and a high power amplifier in order to test the performance of the FMCW radar in real-life scenarios involving the detection of UAV targets.

Chemistry 2.0: Building and Disseminating Chemistry Through Studentsgenerated Web 2.0 Content

This paper analyses a project to enhance and develop Chemistry communication skills. A design-bas... more This paper analyses a project to enhance and develop Chemistry communication skills. A design-based research focused on 32 pre-university students, organized in three rounds, that developed resources using digital tools for different audience targets. Contrarily to initial assumptions, the subjects did not show signs of “chemophobia” or digital expertise. Random groups, cadavres exquis and group discussions helped to identify and to build more relevant, grounded and complex social contexts. When subjects have positive feelings about Chemistry and are not aware of the possible negative meanings of the Chemistry lexicon in society, it is necessary to stimulate a cognitive reframe and attitudinal awareness so that they can communicate Chemistry. Implications include the acknowledgment of the relevance of summer school projects that address socioscientific issues to bridge conceptual knowledge and contextual significance.

Fazenda do ABC: Uma Proposta de Objeto de Aprendizagem Voltado ao Auxílio da Alfabetização

A alfabetizacao e uma fase importante na formacao educacional, sendo, para uma crianca, a base pa... more A alfabetizacao e uma fase importante na formacao educacional, sendo, para uma crianca, a base para o entendimento do mundo ao seu redor. Alem disso, com o aumento da inclusao digital, a utilizacao de jogos eletronicos para o aprendizado, vem se mostrando um metodo eficaz, sendo capaz de gerar maior interesse e melhores resultados por parte dos estudantes. Tomando essa afirmacao como base e tendo em vista a importância do processo da alfabetizacao, esse artigo busca trazer uma proposta de Objeto de Aprendizagem (OA) relacionando os temas computacao e alfabetizacao.

Fatores Críticos De Competitividade Na Cadeia Produtiva Do Café No Brasil e O Mercado De

Este trabalho trata dos fatores criticos de competitividade na cadeia produtiva do cafe no Brasil... more Este trabalho trata dos fatores criticos de competitividade na cadeia produtiva do cafe no Brasil que levam as empresas a importarem capsulas de cafe para o atendimento da demanda interna por esse produto. A pesquisa que lhe deu suporte utilizou alem da literatura especializada e de relatorios produzidos por associacoes do setor e por orgaos governamentais, entrevistas semiestruturadas com cinco gestores de diferentes empresas que atuam no mercado brasileiro de cafe. Para o tratamento dos dados foi aplicada a tecnica de analise de conteudo. Dentre os principais fatores criticos de competitividade identificados pela pesquisa destacam-se: a regulacao governamental sobre a importacao de cafe verde, opondo aspectos da politica comercial e da politica industrial concebidas pelo governo, os elevados custos e excessiva burocracia para a obtencao de financiamento para o investimento em modernizacao do parque industrial, a elevada carga tributaria sobre a producao no Brasil e os problemas de ineficiencia na infraestrutura e logistica no pais. O estudo realizado mostra que o Brasil apesar de ser o maior produtor mundial de cafe e ter o segundo mercado consumidor, ocupa posicao periferica nas cadeias globais de valor do cafe em funcao de fatores estruturais do setor e, especialmente, da falta de estrategias inteligentes e coordenacao para transformacao de vantagens comparativas em vantagens competitivas para o cafe brasileiro.

Data Center Environment Monitoring System

Proceedings of the 2019 4th International Conference on Cloud Computing and Internet of Things, 2019

The Internet of things (IoT) is applied to many cases in the smart cities topic. We apply an IoT-... more The Internet of things (IoT) is applied to many cases in the smart cities topic. We apply an IoT-developed platform using LoRa communication to a Data Center to understand temperature behavior within a concentration of servers and the working behavior of these server machines. We describe our work as an IoT platform to measure temperature, humidity, and energy consumption in these data centers. In the end, the gradient temperature was found in the rack, and the increasing temperature is correlated with energy consumption and the backup routines in the night. Our developed approach can be used to understand CPU usage and related temperature and the energy consumption CCS Concepts • Computer systems organization → Real-time systems • Information systems → Data centers

Unilateral Intrastriatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Lesion in Mice: A Closer Look into Non-Motor Phenotype and Glial Response

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss o... more Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion is still one of the most widely used techniques for modeling Parkinson’s disease (PD) in rodents. Despite commonly used in rats, it can be challenging to reproduce a similar lesion in mice. Moreover, there is a lack of characterization of the extent of behavioral deficits and of the neuronal loss/neurotransmitter system in unilateral lesion mouse models. In this study, we present an extensive behavioral and histological characterization of a unilateral intrastriatal 6-OHDA mouse model. Our results indicate significant alterations in balance and fine motor coordination, voluntary locomotion, and in the asymmetry’s degree of forelimb use in 6-OHDA lesioned animals, accompanied by a decrease in self-care and motivational behavior, common features of depressive-like symptomatology. These re...

The Governed and Their Governments

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2020

The relationship between citizens and the state is omnipresent: even the most totalitarian regime... more The relationship between citizens and the state is omnipresent: even the most totalitarian regimes present some interaction between society and ruler. Digital communications have added new instruments through which all, especially the least represented, can make their voices heard. This chapter provides theoretical bases for analyzing how citizens and government interact in the digital age. Dictatorships rely on performance and resort to violence to obtain support. Democratic leaders rely on principle, performance, or elections. Legitimacy by policy efficiency can support despotic governments. Digital communications arise as new channels for governments to promote their views to the people, convincing them of their policies' value; monitor the population's activities in support or against the government; and block information contrary to governmental interests. The people too can use digital interfaces to obtain information, share approval or discontent, and organize protest...

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty in the Digital Communications Age

Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2020

On Liberty by J. S. Mill is on democracy, limitations to political power, as well as the shaping ... more On Liberty by J. S. Mill is on democracy, limitations to political power, as well as the shaping of modern democratic systems. This chapter aims to review a classic of political science in light of the current developments in the digital age and thus extract new light on the impact the new digital communication technologies have on the relationship between the state and the citizens around the world. The widespread use of social media and digital communications will have and is having deep and unavoidable impacts on the relationship between the state and citizens. However, such impacts raise both hopes of a better future for democracies and dictatorships as well as concerns of privacy, freedom of speech and thought, consistency of public policy, quality of governmental services, and even the legitimacy and lifetime of regimes. The theoretical tools of classical political science may, however, aid us in better understanding such processes and steering change for the best.

Novel Ternary Polymer BlendMembranesDopedwith SO4/PO4-TiO2for Low Temperature Fuel Cells

Proceedings of the 5th World Congress on Mechanical, Chemical, and Material Engineering, 2019

Telehealth monitoring of a hypertensive elderly patient with the new VITASENIOR-MT system: a case study

Blood Pressure Monitoring, 2020

Telehealth technologies providing remote monitoring of health parameters are a promising approach... more Telehealth technologies providing remote monitoring of health parameters are a promising approach for the management of arterial hypertension (AH) in the elderly. The VITASENIOR-MT platform was developed as a telehealth solution designed to contribute to improve the health condition and quality of life, promoting safe and independent living of the old adult. It is an 'internet-of-things'-based solution relying on the interaction of the old adult with a TV-set to record biometric parameters and to receive warning and recommendations related to health and environmental sensor recordings. We present a pilot study with a male hypertensive patient, aged 81 years old, under anti-hypertensive treatment, with epilepsy, arthritis and paroxistic atrial fibrillation as major comorbidities. The VITASENIOR-MT was installed at the patient's assisteddwelling house and a remote follow-up was implemented during 2 months, monitoring daily blood pressure and heart rate, as well as weight and indoor environmental parameters.

Simple preparation of 58S bioactive glass/polycaprolactone composite scaffolds by freeze-drying under ambient conditions

Materials Letters, 2019

Composite scaffolds were successfully obtained using sol-gel derived 58S bioactive glass particle... more Composite scaffolds were successfully obtained using sol-gel derived 58S bioactive glass particles and poly(e-caprolactone) pellets. Camphene was used as the freezing vehicle. No sintering step was used, which represents a great advantage in terms of energy and time-saving. The prepared scaffolds showed a mechanical behavior similar to elastomeric cellular solids and Young's modulus of 46.7 ± 9.4 MPa, which may allow their use in load-bearing applications. Cytotoxicity tests revealed that the composites promoted the growth of human osteosarcoma cells. The formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on the surface of the samples was also observed after soaking them in a simulated body fluid solution.

A GEOBIA Approach for Multitemporal Land-Cover and Land-Use Change Analysis in a Tropical Watershed in the Southeastern Amazon

Remote Sensing, 2018

The southeastern Amazon region has been intensively occupied by human settlements over the past t... more The southeastern Amazon region has been intensively occupied by human settlements over the past three decades. To evaluate the effects of human settlements on land-cover and land-use (LCLU) changes over time in the study site, we evaluated multitemporal Landsat images from the years 1984, 1994, 2004, 2013 and Sentinel to the year 2017. Then, we defined the LCLU classes, and a detailed “from-to” change detection approach based on a geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) was employed to determine the trajectories of the LCLU changes. Three land-cover (forest, montane savanna and water bodies) and three land-use types (pasturelands, mining and urban areas) were mapped. The overall accuracies and kappa values of the classification were higher than 0.91 for each of the classified images. Throughout the change detection period, ~47% (19,320 km2) of the forest was preserved mainly within protected areas, while almost 42% (17,398 km2) of the area was converted from forests to pastu...

Pharmacological Modulation of Right Ventricular Endocardial-Epicardial Gradients in Brugada Syndrome

Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, 2018

Background We explored the hypothesis that increased cholinergic tone exerts its proarrhythmic ef... more Background We explored the hypothesis that increased cholinergic tone exerts its proarrhythmic effects in Brugada syndrome (BrS) through increasing dispersion of transmural repolarization in patients with spontaneous and drug-induced BrS. Methods BrS and supraventricular tachycardia patients were studied after deploying an Ensite Array in the right ventricular outflow tract and a Cardima catheter in the great cardiac vein to record endo and epicardial signals, respectively. S-S restitution curves from the right ventricular apex were conducted at baseline and after edrophonium challenge to promote increased cholinergic tone. The local unipolar electrograms were then analyzed to study transmural conduction and repolarization dynamics. Results The study included 8 BrS patients (5 men:3 women; mean age, 56 years) and 8 controls patients with supraventricular tachycardia (5 men:3 women; mean age, 48 years). Electrophysiological studies in controls demonstrated shorter endocardial than ep...

Towards the integration of electric buses in conventional bus fleets

2016 IEEE 19th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), 2016

Private individual transportation is becoming cumbersome and expensive, as urban traffic turns mo... more Private individual transportation is becoming cumbersome and expensive, as urban traffic turns more chaotic, fuel prices increase and the effects of pollutant emissions become evident. Public buses are an attractive approach to reducing the cars in use, as they mostly depend on preexistent infrastructure. Making these buses electric would mean even less tailpipe emissions and cheaper consumption costs, when compared to conventional vehicle fleets. However, fully electric bus fleets can prove disadvantageous. We can tackle this with a more conservative approach - using mixed bus fleets, comprised by both electric and conventional buses. This work intends on studying how to obtain a good balance of the different vehicle typologies in the fleet. To fulfill these goals, real data of a bus network in Porto, Portugal, is studied and an evolutionary algorithm devises mixed fleet arrangements, with a brief sensitivity analysis giving us an overview of how to improve our results. As a means of decision support, this work contributes not only with an approach to configure optimized mixed bus fleets, but also with general considerations for managing public transit with electric vehicle fleets.

Domestic wastewater treatment using Pt,Ni-RE (rare earth) electrodes

AIMS Energy, 2016

Electrochemical technologies can be used for the treatment of domestic wastewaters, by eliminatin... more Electrochemical technologies can be used for the treatment of domestic wastewaters, by eliminating their organic pollutants. They have advantages over conventional methods, such as environmental compatibility, versatility, energy efficiency, safety and cost. The organic compounds degradation process is based on the production of OH radicals, formed during water electrolysis, which oxidize the organic molecules to CO 2. At the same time, hydrogen (H 2) is produced through reduction of the water in the effluent, which can be later used in a fuel cell. Present study seeks to find effective electrocatalysts to produce H 2 by electrolysis, using domestic wastewaters as the hydrogen source, with or without the addition of supporting electrolyte. Herein KOH is used as the supporting electrolyte, as the extra hydroxide can be used to degrade the organic matter. Nine different electrode materials are evaluated as cathodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a domestic wastewater. The tested materials include platinum (Pt) and platinum-rare earth (Pt-RE) binary alloys, and nickel (Ni) and Ni-RE alloys, with the REs being cerium (Ce), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), and holmium (Ho). Linear scan voltammetry measurements are conducted at temperatures ranging from 25 to 85 ºC. Several kinetic parameters are calculated, such as the Tafel slopes, charge transfer coefficients and exchange current densities. The data obtained at the different electrode materials is compared and it is clear that Pt-RE alloys show superior activity for the HER. It is also noticeable that the wastewater effluent containing the supporting electrolyte leads to significantly better HER performances.