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The Contribution of Generative Artificial Intelligence to Higher Education in Mozambique
Get PDFThe rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is transforming the teaching and learning process, reshaping the
traditional relationship between students and educators. Tools like ChatGPT enable real-time generation of texts, images,
videos, and responses, fostering more personalized, interactive, and accessible learning experiences. However, alongside
these benefits, significant challenges emerge—such as inaccuracies in generated content, student overreliance on AI, and a
decline in critical thinking. Many learners tend to accept AI outputs uncritically, which may compromise learning quality.
In this evolving educational landscape, educators are no longer faced with the choice of whether to use these tools, but
rather how to integrate them ethically, responsibly, and pedagogically. This study aims to explore the role of GAI in higher
education, examining its contributions to the teaching and learning process. A qualitative approach was adopted through a
structured literature review. The research included peer-reviewed articles from databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus,
SciELO, and Web of Science, as well as reports from international conferences. Findings indicate that GAI is increasingly
used in higher education for academic writing, research support, audiovisual content creation, and independent study. The study concludes that, when guided by sound pedagogical practices, GAI can enhance learning by promoting auton-
omy, personalization, and engagement
Associations Between Neurofeedback, Anthropometrics, Technical, Physical, and Tactical Performance in Young Women’s Football Players
Get PDFNeurofeedback training has emerged as a promising tool for enhancing performance by targeting specific brain activity patterns linked to motor skills, decision-making, and concentration. This study aimed to explore the associations between neurofeedback outcomes and football-specific performance metrics, including anthropometric, physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effects of a six-week neurofeedback training program on motor skills, tactical decision-making, and physical performance in young women's football players (n = 8, aged 14-18). Participants underwent 30-min sessions three times a week targeting sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) in the 12-15 Hz range within virtual football scenarios. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included anthropometric measures, neurophysiological evaluations, Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test (LSST), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIR1). Tactical decision-making was evaluated with a FUT-SAT-based instrument, and biological maturity was estimated using the Mirwald equations. Statistical analyses using Pearson's correlations revealed significant associations between neurofeedback outcomes, motor efficiency indices (MEIs), decision-making (DM), and football performance metrics. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.504 to 0.998, with p-values from 0.010 to <0.001, indicating significant associations across physical, technical, and tactical dimensions. This study highlights the beneficial impact of neurofeedback on football performance in young female athletes.This project was supported by the National Funds through the FCT Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, SPRINT—Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center, Portugal
Criação e melhoria de aplicações Web: integração de frontend e otimização de ambientes .NET
Get PDFO presente relatório descreve o estágio realizado na empresa Megatic – Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, Lda, no âmbito do Mestrado em Informática da Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. O estágio centrou-se no desenvolvimento e melhoria de aplicações web e móveis, com especial enfoque na integração de novos frontends com backends pré-existentes e na implementação de melhorias em aplicações já em produção.
Os principais objetivos deste trabalho incluíram a aquisição de competências técnicas no desenvolvimento frontend e backend, a compreensão dos processos de integração em ambientes empresariais e a aplicação de metodologias ágeis e boas práticas de engenharia de software em contextos reais.
A metodologia adotada baseou-se numa abordagem prática e iterativa, recorrendo a uma ampla variedade de ferramentas. Para o desenvolvimento de interfaces, foi utilizado o FlutterFlow (plataforma low-code baseada em Flutter), enquanto o design e a prototipagem foram realizados no Figma e no Framer. Para testes de APIs e simulações de interações com o cliente, recorreu-se ao Postman e ao Xano, este último utilizado para a criação de mockups interativos. Adicionalmente, foram exploradas ferramentas como o Mobbin, para inspiração de design, e plataformas de animação como o LottieFiles e o Motion, com vista a enriquecer as interfaces.
As atividades desenvolvidas abrangeram a integração de frontends com backends em C# e .NET, tanto para aplicações web como móveis, a implementação de melhorias de funcionalidades e design em aplicações já em produção, e a criação de landing pages para a divulgação de serviços da empresa. As conclusões obtidas destacam a importância de combinar inovação e otimização em contextos empresariais, demonstrando como a integração de novas interfaces e a melhoria contínua de aplicações existentes contribuem para a qualidade dos serviços prestados. O estágio constituiu uma experiência enriquecedora, proporcionando o desenvolvimento de competências técnicas e interpessoais fundamentais para a integração no mercado de trabalho.This report describes the internship carried out at Megatic – Information and Communication Technologies, Lda, within the scope of the Master’s Degree in Informatics at the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. The internship focused on the development and improvement of web and mobile applications, with particular emphasis on the integration of new frontends with pre-existing backends and the implementation of enhancements to applications already in production.
The main objectives of this work included acquiring technical skills in frontend and backend development, understanding integration processes in business environments, and applying agile methodologies and software engineering best practices in real-world contexts. The adopted methodology was based on a practical and iterative approach, making use of a wide range of tools. For interface development, FlutterFlow (a low-code platform based on Flutter) was employed, while Figma and Framer were used for design and prototyping. For API testing and client interaction simulations, Postman and Xano were used, with the latter supporting the creation of interactive mockups. Additionally, tools such as Mobbin were explored for design inspiration, and animation platforms like
LottieFiles and Motion were used to enhance the visual and interactive quality of the interfaces.
The activities carried out included integrating frontends with backends in C# and .NET for both web and mobile applications, improving functionality and design in existing systems, and creating responsive landing pages to support the company’s service promotion.
The conclusions highlight the importance of combining innovation and optimization in business contexts, demonstrating how the integration of new interfaces and the continuous improvement of existing applications contribute to the quality of the services provided. This internship proved to be an enriching experience, fostering the development of technical and interpersonal skills essential for integration into the job market
Nutritional profile, phytonutrient composition and biocidal properties of Portulaca oleracea L. regarding the ammonium to total nitrogen ratios in hydroponics
Get PDFThe contribution of the ammonium: total nitrogen ratio (Nr0.01-0.15) in the nutrient solution on chemical profile and bioactive characteristics of Portulaca oleracea, investigated. Increased Nr levels resulted in increased proteins, total fats, carbohydrates and oxalic acid in leaves and stems, but decreased yield. The only detected tocopherol isoforms were alpha- and beta-tocopherol, with the former to reveal increased values at Nr0.10. The most abundant sugars found were fructose, glucose, sucrose, and trehalose, while total sugars were positively affected by the increased Nr in stems. The higher Nr ratio had a favourable effect on the fatty acid profile, while Oleracein A was the main phenolic component detected in higher levels at Nr0.05 (leaves) and Nr0.10 (stems). The increased Nr levels increased antimicrobial activity, while antioxidant activity was varied in different Nr levels. The Nr ratio for P. oleracea may stimulate health-promoting components, while reducing antinutrients content, hence improving overall product quality.Financial support has been provided by PRIMA (grant Number Prima2019–11, PRIMA/0009/2019, P2P/PRIMA/1218/0006, 01DH20006, Prima2019–12, STDF Valuefarm, 18–3–2021, TUBITAK119N494, 301 / October 18th, 2020, PCI2020–112091) a programme supported by the European Union with co-funding by the Funding Agencies RIF – Cyprus. This work was also financially supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020); and national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program contract for L. Barros (DOI: 10.54499/CEECINST/00107/2021/CP2793/CT0002) and M.I. Dias (DOI: 10.54499/CEECINST/00016/2018/CP1505/CT0004); as also for the doctoral scholarship of B.H.P (2023.02731.BD)
The Use of Public Sector Financial and Non-financial Information by Politicians: a Bibliometric Analysis
Get PDFThis paper carries out a bibliometric study supported by a structured literature review, to analyse academic research that has been done on the use of public sector financial and non-financial informahon by polihcians, in the period between 2005 and 2022. Research on this topic is relahvely recent; in parhcular, there are opportunihes to increase quanhtahve empirical research on the use of accounhng/financial informahon by polihcians, including comparahve-internahonal studies, involving several countries and polihcians at central level
Aplicação da metodologia BIM na modelagem de projetos de rede de abastecimento de água em um edifício habitacional
No full textA crescente complexidade dos projetos de edificações, aliada à necessidade de maior eficiência no uso de recursos hídricos e à demanda por qualidade e sustentabilidade, tem impulsionado a adoção de novas ferramentas e metodologias no setor da construção civil. Entre essas inovações, a Modelação de Informação na Construção (Building Information Modeling – BIM) destaca-se como uma abordagem capaz de integrar, em um ambiente digital, diferentes disciplinas envolvidas no processo projectual, oferecendo maior precisão, interoperabilidade e suporte à tomada de decisões. No contexto das instalações prediais hidráulicas, em especial das redes de abastecimento de água, o BIM proporciona vantagens significativas ao permitir a criação de modelos tridimensionais inteligentes, que associam geometrias às informações técnicas e operacionais dos sistemas. Essa integração possibilita a análise mais detalhada do traçado das tubulações, o dimensionamento correto de diâmetros, a identificação de interferências com outras disciplinas (como por exemplo, estrutura e elétrica), além de facilitar a simulação do desempenho do sistema em diferentes quantitativos automáticos de materiais, estimativas de custos e planos de manutenção preventiva, ampliando a confiabilidade do projeto ao longo de todo o ciclo de vida da edificação. A utilização da metodologia BIM no desenvolvimento de redes de abastecimento de água também contribui para a padronização de processos, a redução de retrabalhos e a diminuição de erros de execução, aspectos essenciais para obras em geral. Dessa forma, a aplicação do BIM no projeto hidráulico não apenas moderniza a prática projectual, mas também estabelece um novo paradigma de gestão integrada, no qual a informação centralizada e compartilhada se traduz em maior eficiência, sustentabilidade e segurança operacional. Este estudo evidencia, portanto, a importância da adoção do BIM na conceção de redes prediais de abastecimento de água, ressaltando seu potencial de transformar a forma como projetistas, construtores e gestores interagem e gerenciam as informações em empreendimentos.The growing complexity of building projects, combined with the need for greater efficiency in the use of water resources and the demand for quality and sustainability, has driven the adoption of new tools and methodologies in the civil construction sector. Among these innovations, Building Information Modelling (BIM) stands out as an approach capable of integrating, in a digital environment, different disciplines involved in the design process, offering greater accuracy, interoperability and support for decision-making. In the context of hydraulic building installations, especially water supply networks, BIM provides significant advantages by allowing the creation of intelligent three-dimensional models, which associate geometries with the technical and operational information of the systems. This integration enables a more detailed analysis of the piping layout, the correct sizing of diameters, the identification of interferences with other disciplines (such as structure and electrical), in addition to facilitating the simulation of the system's performance in different automatic quantities of materials, cost estimates and preventive maintenance plans, increasing the reliability of the project throughout the building's life cycle. The use of the BIM methodology in the development of water supply networks also contributes to the standardization of processes, the reduction of rework and the reduction of execution errors, essential aspects for works in general. In this way, the application of BIM in hydraulic design not only modernizes the design practice, but also establishes a new paradigm of integrated management, in which centralized and shared information translates into greater efficiency, sustainability, and operational safety. This study shows, therefore, the importance of adopting BIM in the design of building water supply networks, highlighting its potential to transform the way designers, builders and managers interact and manage information in projects
Dry purification of ethanolic biodiesel through adsorption using almond shells based materials
No full textMestrado de dupla diplomação com a Universidade Tecnológica Federal do ParanáThe growing demand for renewable energy sources has driven the development of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, among which biodiesel stands out. Biodiesel can
be produced from various types of oils, including waste cooking oil (WCO), contributing to the sustainability of the process. An important step in its production process is
purification, which is usually carried out through wet washing. Although effective, this method generates large volumes of effluent. Thus, the use of adsorbent materials emerges
as a more sustainable alternative for removing impurities such as glycerol.
Biodiesel was produced through a transesterification reaction using WCO with an oil:alcohol molar ratio of 1:7.5 and 0.5 wt% catalyst, resulting in a biodiesel with an ester
yield of 83.5%. Three adsorbents were prepared from almond shell waste: the first was carbonized at 500°C for 1 hour, the second chemically activated using zinc chloride and the third
chemically activated with phosphoric acid. After preliminary adsorption experiments, the adsorbent activated with phosphoric acid was selected for full characterization and further
adsorption studies.
Kinetic adsorption studies were carried out in batch mode at three different temperatures (25, 35, and 45°C), revealing that equilibrium was reached in approximately 2 hours, with
a removal percentage of 73.4% at 25°C. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were fitted to the experimental data. Equilibrium studies were performed at the
optimal temperature identified in the kinetics (25°C), and the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models were adjusted to the experimental data, with the Sips model the one that best
describe the adsorption behavior of the system. The highest glycerol removal was achieved using 10 wt% of the adsorbent, reaching a maximum of 81.1% removal and a
minimum glycerol content of 0.041 wt%, which is still above the limit established by the EN14214:2012 standard.
Continuous adsorption experiments were performed in a fixed-bed column, with adsorption–desorption cycles operated at flow rates below 1 mL/min. The highest adsorption capacity (41.64 mg/g) was observed at a flow rate of 0.68 mL/min. The adsorption/desorption cycles indicated the regeneration potential of the adsorbent.
Finally, the effect of other contaminants in biodiesel on glycerol adsorption was evaluated using a glycerol solution in ethyl acetate. The results showed a reduction in adsorption
capacity (31.55 mg/mL), possibly due to the faster adsorption process, which hindered the complete use of the column bed. When comparing batch and continuous modes, the
continuous process generally showed higher adsorption capacities, reinforcing its potential for industrial applications.A crescente demanda por fontes de energia renováveis tem impulsionado o desenvolvimento de alternativas sustentáveis aos combustíveis fósseis, entre as quais se
destaca o biodiesel. O biodiesel pode ser obtido a partir de diferentes tipos de óleos, incluindo o óleo alimentar usado (OAU), contrinuindo para a sustentabilidade do
processo. Uma etapa importante do seu processo de produção é a purificação, usualmente realizada através da lavagem com água, que, embora eficaz, gera grandes volumes de
efluentes. Assim, a utilização de materiais adsorventes surge como uma alternativa mais sustentável para a remoção de impurezas, como o glicerol.
O biodiesel foi produzido através de uma reação de transesterificação utilizando OAU, com uma razão molar óleo:álcool de 1:7,5 e 0,5% de catalisador, resultando em um
biodiesel com um rendimento de ésteres de 83,5%. Foram preparados três adsorventes a partir de resíduos de casca de amêndoa, o primeiro
carbonizado a 500°C por 1 h, o segundo quimicamente ativado com cloreto de zinco e o terceiro quimicamente ativado com ácido fosfórico. Após os experimentos preliminares de adsorção, foi selecionado o carvão ativado com ácido fosfórico para realizar a caracterização e os estudos posteriores de adsorção.
Foram realizados estudos cinéticos de adsorção em batelada a três temperaturas (25, 35 e 45°C), observando-se que o equilíbrio foi atingido em cerca de 2 horas com uma capacidade de remoção de 73,4% a 25°C. Os modelos de pseudo-primeira ordem e pseudo-segunda ordem foram ajustados aos dados experimentais. Estudos de equilíbrio
foram conduzidos na temperatura ótima identificada (25°C) e os modelos de Langmuir, Freundlich e Sips foram ajustados aos dados experimentais, sendo o modelo de Sips o
que melhor descreveu o comportamento da adsorção do sistema. A maior remoção de glicerol foi obtida utilizando 10% (m/m) de adsorvente, alcançando uma remoção
máxima de 81,1% e um teor mínimo de glicerol de 0,041% (m/m), valor ainda acima do limite estabelecido pela norma EN14214:2012.
Adicionalmente, realizou-se ensaios de adsorção contínua em coluna de leito fixo, com ciclos de adsorção e dessorção operando a vazões inferiores a 1 mL/min. A maior
capacidade de adsorção (41,64 mg/g) foi observada a uma vazão de 0,68 mL/min. Os testes de adsorção/dessorção indicaram a viabilidade de regeneração do adsorvente.
Por fim, avaliou-se o impacto da presença de outros contaminantes no biodiesel na adsorção do glicerol, utilizando uma solução de glicerol com acetato de etila. Os resultados indicaram redução na capacidade de adsorção (31,55 mg/mL), atribuída, possivelmente, à maior velocidade do processo de adsorção, desfavorecendo o uso completo do leito. Ao comparar os modos batelada e contínuo, observou-se que, na maioria dos casos, o processo contínuo apresentou maiores capacidades de adsorção,
reforçando seu potencial para aplicações industriais
Exploring time-space behavior in wine tourism: A case study of the Bairrada Wine Route in Portugal
Get PDFWine routes support tourism by merging wine, culture, and regional experiences to boost local economies and preserve terroir. This study investigates the Bairrada Wine Route in Portugal, focusing on visitor behavior via GPS tracking and surveys. The research offers an innovative look at how digital platforms and mapped itineraries impact tourists' time space movements, enhancing understanding of wine routes’ role in sustainable regional development and destination management by steering visitor flows and amplifying
under-visited locations
A eficácia das estratégias de marketing digital nas pequenas e médias empresas do norte de Portugal
Get PDFO presente estudo analisou a eficácia das estratégias de marketing digital nas pequenas e médias empresas (PME) do Norte de Portugal, centrando-se na sua influência sobre a visibilidade, o retorno sobre o investimento (ROI) e a atualização das práticas digitais. O objetivo consiste em compreender de que forma os fatores, tais como o tempo de utilização das estratégias, o tipo de gestão (interna ou externa) e o tamanho da empresa, influenciam a perceção da eficácia do marketing digital.
A investigação adotou uma metodologia quantitativa e descritiva, fundamentada na aplicação de um questionário online a uma população de 103 PME, das quais 64 constituíram a amostra válida para análise. Os dados foram tratados e analisados com recurso ao Jamovi e ao Microsoft Excel, ferramentas amplamente utilizadas em estudos exploratórios e de análise estatística. A análise foi conduzida em dois níveis: uma análise descritiva, que envolveu o cálculo de frequências, médias e desvios-padrão, e uma análise inferencial para testar as três hipóteses de investigação delimitadas.
Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram perceções globalmente positivas quanto ao impacto do marketing digital, sobretudo no aumento da visibilidade e da competitividade das PME. Contudo, apenas a hipótese HI3 foi validada, confirmando que as empresas de maior dimensão apresentam uma perceção mais elevada de atualização nas tendências digitais. As hipóteses HI1 e HI2 não apresentaram significância estatística, embora tenham revelado tendências favoráveis associadas à experiência e à gestão interna.
Conclui-se que o marketing digital constitui uma ferramenta estratégica essencial para o crescimento e sustentabilidade das PME, cuja eficácia depende da análise contínua de indicadores de desempenho, da formação em competências digitais e do uso de ferramentas analíticas que sustentem decisões baseadas em fundamentos comprovados.The present study analysed the effectiveness of digital marketing strategies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Portugal, focusing on their influence on visibility, return on investment (ROI), and the updating of digital practices. The objective is to understand how factors such as the duration of strategy implementation, the type of management (internal or external), and company size influence the perception of digital marketing effectiveness. The research adopted a quantitative and descriptive methodology, based on the use of an online questionnaire administered to a population of 103 SMEs, of which 64 constituted the valid sample for analysis. The data were processed and analyzed using Jamovi and Microsoft Excel, tools widely used in exploratory and statistical analysis studies. The analysis was conducted at two levels: a descriptive analysis, which involved calculating frequencies, means, and standard deviations, and an inferential analysis to test the three defined research hypotheses. The results showed overall positive perceptions regarding the impact of digital marketing, especially in increasing the visibility and competitiveness of SMEs. However, only hypothesis HI3 was validated, confirming that larger companies have a higher perception of being up to date with digital trends. Hypotheses HI1 and HI2 did not show statistical significance, although they did reveal favorable trends associated with experience and internal management. It is concluded that digital marketing constitutes an essential strategic tool for the growth and sustainability of SMEs, the effectiveness of which depends on continuous analysis of performance indicators, training in digital skills, and the use of analytical tools that support decisions based on proven fundamentals
Optimization of Machining Parameters for the Fixed Pocket Cycle
Get PDFIn a competitive industrial setting, optimizing machining processes is important for enhancing surface quality and productivity. This study focuses on optimizing pocket milling parameters for 5083 H111 aluminum alloy using three toolpath strategies: Zig-Zag, Parallel Spiral, and One-Way. To achieve these goals, the Taguchi method, Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), ANOVA, and visual amplification were employed to evaluate the influence of cutting speed (Vc), feed per tooth (fz), and axial depth of cut (ap) on surface roughness and production rate. For the Zig-Zag and Parallel Spiral tool paths, cutting speed was the most important factor affecting surface roughness. For the One-Way strategy, axial penetration was the most important factor. The Parallel Spiral toolpath, under the Vc of 150 m/min, the fz of 0.025 mm/tooth, and the ap of 1.0 mm (A3-B3-C1) configuration, achieved the best balance between surface finish and production rate. Visual analysis also showed significative differences in how rough the wall was along perpendicular and parallel tool paths, which made it clear that finishing passes are needed in some cases. This research shows that using both statistical methods and visual amplification together makes process optimization more organized and effective, which leads to better machining performance.This research received no external funding