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Análise agroecológica de caroços de cereja liquefeitos utilizando FTIR-ATR
Get PDFA agroecologia, combina princípios ecológicos com práticas agrícolas, tem
ganho crescente relevância no desenvolvimento de práticas sustentáveis. Esta área
valoriza não apenas a produção eficiente de alimentos, mas também a utilização
responsável e inovadora dos resíduos agrícolas. Neste contexto, a análise de produtos
derivados de cultivos frutícolas, como a caroço de cereja (Prunus avium L.), mostra ser
uma área promissora para a identificação de novas estratégias de valor acrescentado.
O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar o material liquefeito de caroço de cereja
doce (Prunus avium L.) e apresentar novas estratégias de valor acrescentado para as
possíveis transformações deste produto. Utilizando a espectroscopia FTIR-ATR, foram
investigados tanto o material liquefeito quanto os resíduos sólidos resultantes destas
liquefações, além do material original de Prunus avium L. Os resultados obtidos
demonstram que o material original e o resíduo sólido liquefeito apresentam espectros
semelhantes, enquanto as principais diferenças foram observadas entre o material
original e o material liquefeito. Estas diferenças indicam potenciais caminhos para o
aproveitamento eficiente e sustentável dos resíduos, promovendo a valorização de
subprodutos agrícolas e contribuindo para um modelo de produção mais ecológico e
economicamente viável. Desta forma, este estudo insere-se na linha de pesquisas que
visam fortalecer a sustentabilidade na agricultura, através da inovação e da otimização
dos resíduos agrícolas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Predictive Model for Estimating Body Weight Based on Artificial Intelligence: An Integrated Approach to Pre-processing and Evaluation
Get PDFBody weight is much more than just a number on a scale. This value can indicate various diseases, as both excess and insufficient weight have implications for an individual’s health. Excess weight is associated with heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and respiratory disorders, among others. Meanwhile, extreme underweight is associated with problems such as nutritional deficiency, weakened immune system, osteoporosis, and hormonal imbalances. Due to these issues, there is a need to monitor and analyse body changes to adopt a diet and lifestyle balanced with individual needs. The weight control process is complicated and depends on various factors. This paper aims to develop a machine-learning model to predict future weight based on dietary records, physical exercise, and basal metabolic rate to demonstrate three days’ impact on future weight. Results of the model’s performance show that the coefficient of determination yielded a value of 0.75, which is considered good for this metric. The mean square and absolute errors demonstrate that the model could learn patterns in the data without significant overfitting.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Playfulness and communication for children with autism spectrum disorder: guidelines for a videogame
No full textAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects sensory processing and conditions the development of communication skills and social interaction. Literature shows that children with ASD are fond of technologies and videogames in particular. The predictable and constant behaviour of technological components, the visual appeal, and the challenges are often highly appreciated (Zakari et al., 2014). Besides, videogames typically allow users to play alone, which is adequate to the profile of such an audience. The use of videogames by autistic children has shown to be relevant, and studies are evidencing gains in several areas (Malinverni et al., 2017; Hedges et al., 2018; Ng & Pera, 2018; Valencia et al., 2019; Baldassarri et al., 2020). Even so, existing solutions that were specifically developed for this audience have assumedly pedagogical goals, which systematically compromises their ludic dimension (Hirsh-Pasek et al., 2015). A study is being developed to design and implement a videogame that focuses on pure playfulness and provides an advantage to players who adopt specific strategies that rely on communicating with other players. This videogame is conceived for both intervention and research. The game mechanics explores the flow theory (Csikszentmihalyi, 2011), in order to dynamically adapt the challenges to the skills shown by the players, trying not to let them reach states of anxiety (due to lack of skills) or boredom (due to lack of challenge). This reasoning is extended to motor skills, as autistic people may have difficulties. In this context, it is important to clarify that the study is limited to children with ASD without associated intellectual development disorders that compromise the viability of the very act of playing. Also instrumental to the project, different scenarios are designed so that researchers can observe and collect scientific data, aiming at better understanding the related issues. Such scenarios support the analysis of the influence of physical proximity between the players, their prior level of familiarity, and their relative communicational abilities. Also under analysis is the impact of repeating the experience, both in terms of in-game performance and regarding a possible contribution to the relationship between participants and, eventually, with third parties. The core of this paper is the presentation of the design guidelines that were created to support the videogame. The guidelines result from the contributions of experts, organised according to a Delphi technique (Green, 2014). The set of experts cover the fields of ASD, game design, special education, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, and educational research. Also included is the description of the videogame development, which resorts to agile methodologies, allowing for an incremental and iterative production, supported by recurrent tests and consistently validated according to the intended objectives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Inclusão e Levantamento de Acomodações Curriculares em Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica
No full textO presente Relatório Final de Estágio organiza-se em duas partes distintas. A primeira parte (Parte I) consiste numa descrição e reflexão crítica sobre as práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas durante a Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, no âmbito das disciplinas de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica, no 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Na segunda parte (Parte II), é apresentado o Trabalho de Investigação, no qual, o objetivo geral foi conhecer perceções e descrever as Acomodações Curriculares utilizadas por uma amostra de professores (N=21) de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica do 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. A maioria dos/as participantes eram mulheres (71.4%), tinham idades na casa dos 46 ou mais anos (90.5%), pertenciam ao grupo de recrutamento 240 (85.7%) e tinham um tempo de serviço superior a 25 anos. A investigação adotou uma abordagem quantitativa, tendo sido utilizado um questionário especificamente construído para este estudo, aplicado em formato online (Google Forms) após resposta favorável por parte da Direção-Geral da Educação. O questionário foi elaborado para recolher dados de caracterização sociodemográfica, informação sobre formação e experiência na educação inclusiva, assim como perceções e frequência de implementação de diferentes Acomodações Curriculares, no geral e de acordo com as necessidades específicas dos alunos. Em termos dos principais resultados, 66.7% dos participantes referiu não ter recebido formação inicial na área da educação inclusiva, ainda que a frequência de formação contínua tenha sido mencionada por 61.9% da amostra. A larga maioria mencionou ter experiência na implementação de medidas de apoio à aprendizagem e inclusão universais, seletivas e adicionais, bem como o recurso a Acomodações Curriculares (uma das medidas universais), o tamanho das turmas, maiores ou menores, foi apontado como um dos obstáculos ou facilitadores, respetivamente, na implementação de Acomodações Curriculares. No mapeamento/levantamento de Acomodações Curriculares de acordo com diferentes problemáticas, verificou-se uma disparidade de respostas, com uma parte da amostra a referir a falta de experiência e conhecimento (entre 7 a 13 participantes, nas diferentes situações) e outra a descrever diferentes Acomodações Curriculares, no geral, ajustadas às necessidades específicas em análise. Destaca-se a disparidade de experiências e domínio por parte dos participantes a evidenciar a necessidade de continuar a investir na formação inicial e contínua dos professores, para que sintam capazes de aplicar eficazmente as Acomodações Curriculares que se revelaram necessárias como a organização de pequenos grupos, apresentação de situações da vida real, uso de materiais concretos e ensino em pequenos grupos. A promoção de uma cultura de apoio mútuo e a partilha de boas práticas, envolvendo os docentes, poderá ser fundamental para a criação de um ambiente educativo que fomente o desenvolvimento integral de todos os alunos. Além disso, é imprescindível que as escolas e as instituições de formação de professores continuem a priorizar estas áreas, com o intuito de enfrentar os desafios da educação inclusiva e assegurar uma aprendizagem de qualidade para todos.This Final Internship Report is organized into two distinct parts. The first part (Part I) consists of a description and critical reflection on the teaching practices developed during the Supervised Teaching Practice, within the scope of the Visual Education and Technological Education subjects, in the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education. In the second part (Part II), the Research Work is presented, in which the general objective was to learn about the perceptions and describe the Curricular Accommodations used by a sample of teachers (N=21) of Visual Education and Technological Education in the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education. Most of the participants were women (71.4%), aged 46 or over (90.5%), belonged to recruitment group 240 (85.7%) and had more than 25 years' service. The research adopted a quantitative approach, using a questionnaire specifically designed for this study, applied online (Google Forms) after a favorable response from the Directorate-General for Education. The questionnaire was designed to collect data on sociodemographic characterization, information on training and experience in inclusive education, as well as perceptions and frequency of implementation of different Curricular Accommodations, in general and according to the specific needs of the students. In terms of the main results, 66.7% of the participants reported not having received initial training in the area of inclusive education, although attending ongoing training was mentioned by 61.9% of the sample. The vast majority mentioned having experience in implementing universal, selective and additional learning and inclusion support measures, as well as the use of Curricular Accommodations (one of the universal measures), the size of classes, whether larger or smaller, was pointed out as one of the obstacles or facilitators, respectively, in implementing Curricular Accommodations. In the mapping/survey of Curricular Accommodations according to different problems, there was a disparity in responses, with part of the sample referring to a lack of experience and knowledge (between 7 and 13 participants, in the different situations) and another describing different Curricular Accommodations, in general, adjusted to the specific needs under analysis. The disparity in experience and mastery on the part of the participants highlights the need to continue investing in the initial and ongoing training of teachers, so that they feel able to effectively apply the Curricular Accommodations that proved necessary, such as organizing small groups, presenting real-life situations, using concrete materials and teaching in small groups. Promoting a culture of mutual support and the sharing of good practices, involving teachers, could be key to creating an educational environment that fosters the all-round development of all students. In addition, it is essential that schools and teacher training institutions continue to prioritize these areas in order to meet the challenges of inclusive education and ensure quality learning for all.
Keywords: Inclusio
A responsabilidade no terceiro setor: a perceção dos gestores e dos coloboradores de organizações sociais de Águeda
No full textAo nível da responsabilidade social organizacional, deparamo-nos que é uma área de conhecimento remoto e definições diversas, o que originou o interesse pelo estudo em causa. Ao longo deste trabalho vamos analisar diferentes visões, tanto de investigadores científicos, como de trabalhadores de quatro organizações sociais do concelho de Águeda, percebendo como observam a responsabilidade social nas instituições onde trabalham e a forma como a mesma é reconhecida e aplicada. Aliando-se a uma intensa pesquisa bibliográfica, foram endereçados links de acesso ao inquérito por questionário para as Instituições em estudo, com o intuito de obter o máximo de informação, respondendo à questão de partida e aos objetivos propostos. Com a propagação do link entre os colaboradores, conseguimos, até ao fim do mês de novembro, 67 respostas, procedendo à sua análise. Concluímos, então, que a atuação destas Organizações vão de encontro ao esperado para o que é considerado uma Organização socialmente responsável: existem práticas ligadas à fomentação da boa relação entre os trabalhadores; são levadas a cabo ações que promovem o desenvolvimento sustentável; é possível a conciliação entre a vida pessoal e a vida profissional; são programadas e concretizadas ações de formação; são tidos em conta documentos que garantem o bom funcionamento organizacional, bem como, o respeito pelos direitos humanos, entre outras boas práticas asseguradas pelos respondentes.At the level of organizational social responsibility, we realize that it is an area of remote
knowledge and diverse definitions, which gave rise to the interest in the study in question.
Throughout this work we will analyze different views, both from scientific researchers and
workers from four social organizations in the municipality of Águeda, understanding how
they observe social responsibility in the institutions where they work and the way in which
it is recognized and applied. Combined with an intense bibliographical research, access
links to the questionnaire survey were sent to the Institutions under study, with the aim of
obtaining the maximum amount of information, answering the starting question and the
proposed objectives. By spreading the link among collaborators, by the end of November,
we had received 67 responses and analyzed them. We conclude, then, that the actions of
these Organizations meet expectations for what is considered a socially responsible
Organization: there are practices linked to fostering good relationships between workers;
actions that promote sustainable development are carried out; it is possible to reconcile
personal life and professional life; training actions are planned and implemented;
Documents that guarantee good organizational functioning are taken into account, as well
as respect for human rights, among other good practices assured by respondent
Dietary Patterns among Smokers and Non-Smokers: Findings from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018
Get PDFDiet behavior and nutrition are critical for maintaining health and improving quality of life.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Poor dietary
choices, such as excessively frequenting restaurants, consuming ready-to-eat foods from grocery
stores, and ingesting ultra-processed foods (like frozen meals and pizzas), can adversely impact
health. Despite this, research comparing dietary behaviors between smokers and non-smokers is
limited. Using data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2017–2018, we
analyzed diet behavior based on smoking status. Our findings reveal that smokers had a significant
increase (90%) in the frequency of consuming frozen meals/pizzas in the past 30 days compared to
non-smokers (coefficient: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.6; p-value < 0.001). Additionally, over 70% of participants,
regardless of their smoking status, were unaware of MyPlate, a nutritional guide created by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to encourage Americans to make healthier food
choices. There is an urgent need to increase public awareness of MyPlate and promote a better
understanding of healthy dietary behaviors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Digital tools for foreign language learning in higher education in Portugal
No full textPedagogical innovation in higher education is a delicate subject that has already been the object of many studies. Today, it is clear that students must play a very active role in their own learning, in a process that is both increasingly individualised and collaborative, in line with the ever-changing demands of the labour market and society as a whole. Pedagogical innovation can be based on various active methodologies which rest upon numerous tools, among which digital tools currently hold a prominent place. However, it is undeniable that the various studies have attempted to draw firm conclusions about the advantages and disadvantages of the different methodologies. What's more, there are so many digital tools readily available to users on the internet that it is often difficult to make a reasoned choice that will guarantee real benefits in terms of learning outcomes right from the beginning of the work with students. In fact, each student has their own particular needs and reactions. This means that teachers need to be highly flexible and able to quickly adapt the teaching sequences they had prepared. They also need to be familiar with a wide range of active methodologies and digital tools to support students' work and they have to be constantly updated to keep pace with the demands of emerging technologies. The challenges are many, but they guarantee motivation for all those involved in the educational process.
This article is intended as a contribution to the discussion on the implementation of active methodologies for foreign language (FL) learning in higher education, supported by a wide range of up-to-date digital tools. The experiment presented, which is the result of projects developed at the School of Education of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (Portugal), took place during the second semester of the 23-24 academic year, as part of a FL curricular unit (English and French) of the 3-year degree course in Media Studies, with a group of 25 second-year students. The general aim of this curricular unit is to deepen the communicative skills pertaining to the career paths of these students, by mobilising the professional skills of these forthcoming media professionals. Other skills, such as the cultural and intercultural skills inherent to FL, are also worked on. The preferred methodologies are project-based learning, mobile learning, flipped learning, gamification and peer assessment, within a collaborative and constructive environment. In addition to these obvious hard skills, soft skills such as creativity, flexibility, empathy, critical thinking, interpersonal skills are all part of the learning progress. The study shows the evolution of the didactic sequence developed at the beginning of the semester, justifies the decisions taken towards the achievement of positive didactic repercussions particularly with regard to the choice of the digital tools used (for the production and dissemination of documents drawn up by the students or for gamification), systematises the reasons for the adaptation throughout the semester and outlines the difficulties encountered, as well as the advantages of these teaching choices from the point of view of the student, the teacher and the assessment procedures. It concludes with prospects for future research, in particular by considering AI as an inevitable asset within teaching- learning contexts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The role of innovation and sustainability in tourism lodgings in Douro Region, Portugal
Get PDFA inovação e a sustentabilidade representam ferramentas importantes para
aumentar a vantagem competitiva dos alojamentos turísticos e satisfazer as necessidades dos
turistas. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as práticas utilizadas pelos alojamentos turísticos em
termos de inovação e sustentabilidade na Região do Douro, em Portugal. Este trabalho teve por
base um inquérito direto a 43 alojamentos turísticos nesta região. Os dados foram tratados com
base em estatísticas exploratórias simples. Os resultados revelam que 63% dos alojamentos
turísticos encontram motivos para inovar, mas 28% nunca aplicaram nenhuma inovação no
mesmo. Em termos de sustentabilidade a grande maioria (86%) refere integrar algumas ações
relacionadas com a sustentabilidade, embora 61% não tenha um plano de sustentabilidade e
mais de 77% não tenha qualquer certificação de sustentabilidade. Em suma, o resultado deste
estudo revela que a inovação e a sustentabilidade são temas que os alojamentos turísticos têm
em consideração quando se pensa a estratégia do negócio, mas não são o foco. Este estudo
apresenta algumas limitações relacionadas com constrangimentos de tempo e dimensão da
amostra. Concretamente, o constrangimento temporal não nos permitiu ter uma maior taxa de
resposta e impossibilitou a realização adicional de um estudo mais qualitativo seguido da
triangulação dos resultados.This work is funded by National Funds through the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Refª UIDB/00681/2020. Furthermore we would like to thank the CERNAS Research Centre and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu for their support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Strategic Management of Cultural Projects—CIM DOURO Training
No full textConsidering the implementation of new forms of strategic management in organizations and the development of competencies, training in the area of cultural heritage has become a priority in the CIM (Inter-municipal Communities). The SMART methodologies and Start Up tools allow creating a commitment to the organization in a holistic vision, which is essential for local development. The 19 municipalities of the Douro region, part of the territorial structure of Intermunicipalities Community (CIMDOURO) have invested in the training of their employees with the aim of equipping them for the new technological realities in the strategic management of cultural projects. This training is based on simplification of processes and improvement of procedures, using digital platforms. The e-learning training took place from January to June 2023. Through online training, our goal is to identify the needs of organizations, particularly municipalities, and their territorial identities, developing strategies for managing cultural projects and creating their own action plans. Currently, employees of various municipalities have the task of developing action plans to study or explore new locations or create networks based on the cultural heritage of these places, promoting sustainability and diversity. This study aims to identify what strategic management of cultural projects is and the need for various territories to use different types of action plans to improve their performance. The case study is limited to the training of employees in the 19 municipalities of the Douro region. The case study was limited to the training of employees in the 19 municipalities of the Douro region. To achieve this objective, a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 16 employees was directly involved, representing various municipalities working in the field of heritage and culture.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Mediterranean Food Pattern Adherence in a Female-Dominated Sample of Health and Social Sciences University Students: Analysis from a Perspective of Sustainability
No full textBackground/Objectives: The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate adherence to the Mediter-
ranean Food Pattern (MFP) in a self-selected sample of university students, addressing a perspective
of food sustainability. In addition, it seeks to relate adherence to MFP with sociodemographic charac-
teristics and nutritional status. Methods: This is a cross-sectional pilot study whose data collection
was carried out by an online questionnaire between January and April 2023. Results: Two hundred
and forty-eight students participated—most of them were female (78.2%), had a median of 22 ( 20; 30 )
years, resided in the central region of Portugal (42.3%), and were pursuing a degree (73.4%) in a
public higher education institution (66.5%). The prevalence of overweight (overweight and obesity)
found was 33.1%. Females predominantly used olive oil as their main source of fat (95.9%, p = 0.009)
and had a higher consumption of sugary drinks (81.4%, p = 0.004) compared to males, who reported
usage rates of 85.2% and 63.0%, The median score of the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener was
7 points, presented with an interquartile range (Q1: 6, Q3: 8), indicating moderate adherence. The
analysis showed no differences between the sexes (p = 0.087). There was also a negative correlation
between adherence to the MFP and the body mass index (p = 0.007; r = −0.171). In addition, adher-
ence to the MFP was associated with the area of study and the course attended, with students in
health-related fields showing higher adherence. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity
for targeted interventions aimed at promoting adherence to the MFP among university students,
which could contribute to improved health outcomes and enhanced environmental sustainability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio