Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2013-07"
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- ERP Systems in the hospitality industry: value creation and critical success factorsPublication . Azevedo, Paula Serdeira; Azevedo, Carlos; Romão, MárioThe purpose of this paper is to highlight factors that may be considered critical to successful use of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems in the hospitality industry, in particular those that seem to be limiting a broader usage of these systems in this industry. The paper also contributes to the understanding of how ERP systems may create value to these industry´s businesses. This is done through a reference model, providing the framework to understand how the current vendor´s offer fits into the business needs of this industry.
- Innovation for Sustainability and NetworkingPublication . Kijkamp, Peter; Pinto, Hugo; Xavier, António; Noronha, Teresa de; Faustino, Chanda; Vaz, Eric; Madureira, Lívia; Gamito, Teresa Maria; Ferreira, Dora; Oliveira, Ivo; Portela, José; Monteiro, Pedro Valadas; Neto, Paulo; Maldonado, Mauricio; Hobeica, Adib; Gomes, Jorge F. S.; Bernardo, Sofia; Noronha, Teresa de; Gomes, Jorge F.S.Throughout human history, innovation has been the main factor in adapting humanity to its settings. On the basis of earlier practice, human creativity allows the finding of new, permanent ways to do things. their applications encourage new spaces, new necessities and new lifestyles. Innovation has been an element of human capacities from its earlier stages, but it has been recognized only recently as a clear device of social and economic change.
- A biological and real-time framework for hand gestures and head posesPublication . Saleiro, Mário; Farrajota, Miguel; Terzic, Kasim; Rodrigues, J. M. F.; du Buf, J. M. H.Human-robot interaction is an interdisciplinary research area that aims at the development of social robots. Since social robots are expected to interact with humans and understand their behavior through gestures and body movements, cognitive psychology and robot technology must be integrated. In this paper we present a biological and real-time framework for detecting and tracking hands and heads. This framework is based on keypoints extracted by means of cortical V1 end-stopped cells. Detected keypoints and the cells’ responses are used to classify the junction type. Through the combination of annotated keypoints in a hierarchical, multi-scale tree structure, moving and deformable hands can be segregated and tracked over time. By using hand templates with lines and edges at only a few scales, a hand’s gestures can be recognized. Head tracking and pose detection are also implemented, which can be integrated with detection of facial expressions in the future. Through the combinations of head poses and hand gestures a large number of commands can be given to a robot.
- Photo-detectors integrated with resonant tunneling diodesPublication . Romeira, Bruno; Pessoa, Luis M.; Salgado, Henrique M.; Ironside, C. N.; Figueiredo, Jose M. L.We report on photo-detectors consisting of an optical waveguide that incorporates a resonant tunneling diode (RTD). Operating at wavelengths around 1.55 m in the optical communications C band we achieve maximum sensitivities of around 0.29 A/W which is dependent on the bias voltage. This is due to the nature of RTD nonlinear current-voltage characteristic that has a negative differential resistance (NDR) region. The resonant tunneling diode photo-detector (RTD-PD) can be operated in either non-oscillating or oscillating regimes depending on the bias voltage quiescent point. The oscillating regime is apparent when the RTD-PD is biased in the NDR region giving rise to electrical gain and microwave self-sustained oscillations Taking advantage of the RTD's NDR distinctive characteristics, we demonstrate efficient detection of gigahertz (GHz) modulated optical carriers and optical control of a RTD GHz oscillator. RTD-PD based devices can have applications in generation and optical control of GHz low-phase noise oscillators, clock recovery systems, and fiber optic enabled radio frequency communication systems.
- Implementation of business simulation games as learning tool: an example from University of AlgarvePublication . Kikot, Tatiana; Fernandes, Silvia Brito; Magalhães, Rui; Costa, GonçaloGame-based learning environments in education are a valuable asset, as well as their potential benefits are unquestionable (Guillén-Nieto & Aleson-Carbonell, 2012). Yet, recent studies concerning academic achievement have reported contradictory or ambiguous findings. It is also interesting that empirical studies devoted to Management courses are not abundant and focus on: single unit courses (e.g., Edelheim & Ueda, 2007), units with low levels of interdisciplinarity (e.g., Pasin & Giroux, 2011), non-longitudinal studies (e.g., Sørensen, 2011) or games usability (e.g., Blažič et al., 2012). Therefore, the leading Author produced the following research query: can GBL (Cesim Global Challenge) be a useful and productive tool to support Management students for effective learning towards complex contexts while enhances engagement? A case study approach will be used (University of Algarve).
- Contributos operários para a educação popular em Portugal. O caso da Fábrica de Conservas S. Francisco, da empresa Júdice Fialho, em PortimãoPublication . Raimundo, Helder FaustinoEste artigo debruça-se sobre o período histórico do pós revolução de abril de 1974, a abril de 1976, usando como quadro concetual a noção de educação popular e como contexto empírico a fábrica de conservas “S. Francisco” da empresa Júdice Fialho, localizada na cidade de Portimão. Pretende abrir algumas ideias para perceber de que forma o operariado se organizou em comissões de base, para lutar em defesa de melhores condições de vida e de trabalho. Pretende, ainda, compreender os mecanismos usados para desenvolver um processo educativo de aprendizagem autónoma e emancipatória relativa ao trabalho e à vida social.
- Alternative sources of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in marine microalgaePublication . Martins, Dulce Alves; Custodio, Luisa; Barreira, Luísa; Pereira, Hugo; Ben-Hamadou, Radhouan; Varela, João; Abu-Salah, Khalid M.The main source of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in human nutrition is currently seafood, especially oily fish. Nonetheless, due to cultural or individual preferences, convenience, geographic location, or awareness of risks associated to fatty fish consumption, the intake of fatty fish is far from supplying the recommended dietary levels. The end result observed in most western countries is not only a low supply of n-3 LC-PUFA, but also an unbalance towards the intake of n-6 fatty acids, resulting mostly from the consumption of vegetable oils. Awareness of the benefits of LC-PUFA in human health has led to the use of fish oils as food supplements. However, there is a need to explore alternatives sources of LC-PUFA, especially those of microbial origin. Microalgae species with potential to accumulate lipids in high amounts and to present elevated levels of n-3 LC-PUFA are known in marine phytoplankton. This review focuses on sources of n-3 LC-PUFA, namely eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, in marine microalgae, as alternatives to fish oils. Based on current literature, examples of marketed products and potentially new species for commercial exploitation are presented.
- How small-sided and conditioned games enhance acquisition of movement and decision-making skillsPublication . Davids, Keith; Araujo, Duarte; Correia, Vanda; Vilar, LuisThis article summarizes research from an ecological dynamics program of work on team sports exemplifying how small-sided and conditioned games (SSCG) can enhance skill acquisition and decision-making processes during training. The data highlighted show how constraints of different SSCG can facilitate emergence of continuous interpersonal coordination tendencies during practice to benefit team game players.
- A caminho da farmácia: a camada de ozono e a proteção solarPublication . Rio, Carolina; Wang, WenliI . A camada de ozono II . Proteção solar III . Utilização de Software de Modelação molecular
- O ciclo mundial de exportações de turismoPublication . Gouveia, Pedro; Guerreiro, Raúl Filipe C.; Rodrigues, Paulo M. M.Tendo como motivação a afirmação do turismo como uma das principais atividades à escala global, o presente estudo analisa e compara os ciclos de desvio em relação à tendência de longo prazo das exportações de turismo de todas as regiões do mundo tendo o ciclo da União Europeia a 27 países como referência. Neste contexto, a abordagem seguida permite analisar e determinar a sincronização entre ciclos das exportações de turismo das diversas regiões de interesse. Paralelamente, são identificados desfasamentos temporais da concordância dos ciclos que podem desempenhar um papel relevante ao nível da previsão, constituindo um importante instrumento de apoio ao processo de tomada de decisão por parte de entidades públicas e privadas pertencentes ou fortemente associadas ao setor do turismo. Em termos metodológicos, o artigo tem por base o trabalho inicialmente desenvolvido na literatura por Gouveia e Rodrigues (2005), o qual aborda o ciclo da procura turística segundo o método proposto para o contexto do estudo do ciclo económico, por Harding e Pagan (2001) e obtém evidência de um elevado grau de sincronização entre o ciclo do turismo e o ciclo económico. Este artigo procura ser inovador na abordagem à relação entre ciclos das exportações de turismo bem como na identificação das componentes tendência e ciclo por via da aplicação de métodos de estados de espaço e do filtro de Kalman (Kalman,1960, Kalman and Bucy, 1961).