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Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a methodology supported on technological evolution achievements, and consists of a set of processes and tools that allows the creation of a digital three-dimensional model. The model centralizes information, in an organized database, facilitating the data access and the exchange between the collaborators and enterprises along all life cycle of a building. The study is focused on the application of BIM within the framework of a structural design, identifying the benefits and limitations verified in the process and indicating strategies allowing to improve the quality of the project and construction. A structural BIM model of a study case was created; using BIM based platforms, followed by its transfer to the calculation software, where the structural analysis and design were carried out. After, using the structural BIM model complemented with the reinforcements, several applications and tasks were performed, namely, the coordination and collaboration procedures, detection of conflicts analyses, production of dynamic drawings, budget estimation and environmental impact simulation of the structural framework concerning the CO2 emission. In the structural domain, the interoperability is the main problem that must be understood and the present study contributes to clarify the recurrent limitations. The research also presents the capacity of BIM methodology of using the database of the BIM model to achieve several types of tasks that normally are associated to the structural design. The study demonstrates the significant improvement in the quality of the structural design and the wide applicability of the BIM model, when compared with the current traditional sequential and fragmented process.

Background Self-care and self-perception of the disease are of fundamental importance in the management of systemic arterial hypertension. Therefore, the objective of this study is to identify identified how “illness perception and self-care” concepts are reported in scientific evidence regarding Systemic arterial hypertension treatment. Methods A scoping review was systematically conducted following the methodological framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Manual for Evidence Synthesis (2020). A comprehensive search of a total of eight electronic databases and grey literature sources was performed. All studies addressing illness perception and/or self-perception, self-care activities and/or behaviors based on Medical subject headings (MeSH) were included. Full texts were assessed to map: (1) study characteristics: authors, publication year, country, aim, methods, sample size and intervention setting (assessment or intervention activities); (2) illness perception concepts (i.e.) and self-care behaviors (e.g. physical activity, diet, smoking cessation); (3) and authors’ professional contribution to the publication. Results Eight hundred ninety-two studies were identified, resulting in a sample of 39 after applying the inclusion criteria. Of these, there was a predominance of publications in the last 5 years, with the majority being developed in the United States and described as observational studies without any intervention and carrying out only one assessment. All participants were hypertensive, of both sexes, recruited mainly from the community. Antihypertensive medication and the individual’s perception of the disease are the concepts most evaluated in the analyzed context. In no process involving the concepts of disease perception and self-care, it was possible to observe a predominance of nurse and doctor participation. Conclusions Self-care and self-perception are presented, in the scientific literature, as essential factors in the control of chronic diseases, mainly hypertension. These topics appear mainly in assessment instruments. Such concepts show domains of great importance for rehabilitation. Future research could investigate the psychometric properties of the different tools within the same sphere.

Building information modelling (BIM) methodology has been implemented in the construction industry, reaching all sectors: multidisciplinary design development; construction planning and monitoring; and building management and maintenance. A complete BIM project aggregates several disciplines and different professionals skillsets. In order to achieve a suitable control, contributing to improve the quality of the project, a BIM manager is required. The BIM manager has the responsibility to coordinate all tasks involved in a building design, as well as the associated activities usually that are normally worked-out, complementing the project. During the development of a project, a BIM manager can access various discipline models, located in a delayering shared platform, and request responsibilities and amendments if inconsistencies are detected. The relevance of the BIM manager function is illustrated with three building cases where distinct specific projects, disciplines, and tasks were elaborated: collaboration between disciplines (architecture, structures, and construction); structural analyses and reinforcement details; quantity take-off of materials and cost estimation; construction scheduling and simulation. Although there are limitations in the software interoperability capacity, within the elaboration of a multiple stage project, BIM implementation in the construction industry has been carried out. The present study shows that the BIM manager role in projects aggregates several disciplines and experts, bringing an important improvement in the quality of the final product. A suitable BIM implementation in the construction industry needs to be supported by the most current advanced technology and in adequate BIM manager coordination.

Current evidence suggests the emergence of a novel syndrome (long COVID syndrome) due to sequels and persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Respiratory muscle training improves respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, diaphragm thickness, and dyspnea, especially in patients with decreased respiratory muscle strength. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a protocol for home-based inspiratory muscle training to improve respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life of patients post-COVID-19. This randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial will be conducted at the Instituto de Medicina Tropical of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil). Sample size will be determined using maximal inspiratory pressure after a pilot study with five patients per group (total of 10 patients). Patients included in the study will be evaluated in three moments: pre-training (initial), post-training (three weeks), and retention (24 weeks). The sample will be randomized in two groups: active (IMT using 30% of IMT and load increase of 10% of initial IMT every week. Patients will perform 30 repetitions, twice a day (morning and afternoon), for seven consecutive days, and six weeks) and SHAM (IMT without load). The following measurements will be assessed: anthropometry, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary volume and capacity, dyspnea, perception of effort and lower limb fatigue, handgrip strength, functional capacity, anxiety, depression, and functional status. After initial evaluation, all patients will receive a POWERbreathe® (POWERbreathe®, HaB Ltd, Southam, UK) device to perform the training. Normality will be verified using Shapiro-Wilk or Kolmogorov-Smirnov, according to the number of patients included. Variables presenting nonparametric distribution will be compared using Wilcoxon (intragroup analysis) and Mann-Whitney test (intergroup analysis), whereas repeated measures two-way ANOVA will be performed in case of parametric distribution. Dunn's post hoc test will be used to identify significant differences in the two-way ANOVA test. Respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients. Pulmonary function, dyspnea, exercise tolerance, handgrip strength, anxiety, depression, and functional status. Trial register number NCT05077241.

Background Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) reduces respiratory load and demands on peripheral muscles. Methods This study aims to evaluate the acute effects of bi-level NIV on peripheral muscle function during isokinetic exercise and aerobic performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. This is a pilot crossover study performed with a non-probabilistic sample of 14 moderate to very severe COPD patients. Procedures carried out in two days. Dyspnea, quality of life, lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity (6-min walk test—6MWT), and isokinetic assessment of the quadriceps were assessed. Blood samples (lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase concentration) were also collected. Right after, NIV was performed for 30 min (bi-level or placebo, according to randomization) followed by new blood sample collection, 6MWT, and isokinetic dynamometer tests. Before and after evaluations, the subjective perception of dyspnea and fatigue in the lower limbs was quantified. After a wash-out period of seven days, participants returned, and all assessments were performed again. Results NIV showed improvements in perceived exertion and dyspnea after isokinetic exercise ( p  < 0.02 and p  < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions NIV improves the perception of dyspnea and fatigue during the isokinetic exercise.

Neural Networks, increasingly used in Artificial Intelligence, are computational devices inspired by existing bio logical neural systems, seeking to be capable of learning how to perform tasks and recognize complex patterns. Internally, Neural Network programs are made up of several small structures called neurons (by analogy with Biology) which are responsible for handling input values in order to determine what the output values should be. The fact that these programs are organized hierarchically makes it plausible applying compositional patterns, often associated with functional programming, in order to obtain more refined neuronal networks, and whose understanding would be easier.This dissertation intends to focus more on the possibility of using the high compositionality presented in functional languages, namely Haskell, in order to make Neural Network programming better structured and elegant, facilitating not only the creation but also the understanding of what goes on inside these systems, which are sometimes seen as black boxes, due to the great lack of knowledge about how they work.

The Long Endurance Electric Unmanned Air Vehicle (LEEUAV) is a project of a green, low-cost, small footprint electric solar UAV which was designed for civilian surveillance applications, such as coast, forest, or border patrol. Therefore, long endurance is desired, which is accomplished by a lightweight airframe design and an electric propulsion system assisted with solar cell arrays. The LEEUAV has an approximated mass of 5 kg, 4.5 m of wingspan and an 8-hour flight endurance. To ease the construction, its wing, in addition to its aerodynamic function, must accommodate the solar cells on its upper surface. Since the solar cells have a finite thickness, they create an offset, with a forward facing step at the beginning of the solar cell array and a backward facing step at its end. These two steps affect the aerodynamic performance of the wing mainly because the forward facing step forces the transition of the flow from laminar to turbulent.The aim of this thesis is to study the influence of these steps in the aerodynamic coefficients of the LEEUAV’s airfoil, having as variables the offset’s position, length, and thickness. To do this, a numerical analysis was performed initially using XFOIL, an interactive program for the analysis of subsonic airfoils, and then ANSYS Fluent, a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software.First, in XFOIL, a total of 444 combinations of offsets were tested, in order to understand the range of positions that could be more appropriate for placing the solar cells. After this initial study, another analysis was performed to better understand their most appropriate positions, considering their precise thickness and length. Afterwards, a small amount of combinations was chosen to perform a CFD analysis that served to validate and refine the results obtained from XFOIL. Since there was no experimental data regarding the LEEUAV’s airfoil, several turbulence models were initially tested to see which best resembled the XFOIL’s solution. Subsequently, an analysis of the selected combinations was performed and the best position for placing the solar cells, based on the performed analysis, is between 21% and 23% of the airfoil’s chord.

O combate à massiva libertação de Gases de Efeito de Estufa (GEE) resultantes da atividade humana é um dos principais focos da atualidade. Por esta razão, a evolução tecnológica passou a ter como objetivo principal a redução do consumo de energia de origem fóssil, através da melhoria da eficiência energética e a substituição de consumos de energia de origem fóssil por fontes de energia renováveis.Devido à intermitência das fontes de energia renovável, é imprescindível utilizar algum tipo de armazenamento de energia para garantir o abastecimento contínuo. Uma das tecnologias mais promissoras é a conceção de sistemas de armazenamento de energia térmica mais eficientes e com elevada densidade de armazenamento. Deste modo, Fernandes et al[1] estudou a integração de um módulo de adsorção num sistema de Águas Quentes Sanitárias (AQS), designado por AdsorTherm,para aumentar a eficiência e a densidade de armazenamento de energia térmica. Foi construído um protótipo do AdsorThermno âmbito do projeto AdsorTech [2], surgindo a necessidade de desenvolver um software para permitir o controlo e a monitorização deste módulo, de forma a poder ser testado.Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se, com recurso ao ambiente de programação LabVIEW, o softwarede aquisição e controlo, concebido com funcionalidades para ler e guardar dados de temperatura, pressão e caudal, e controlar a posição de três válvulas do sistema.O programa não foi testado em condições reais, uma vez que não houve possibilidade de ter acesso ao protótipo do módulo de adsorção, mas realizaram-se testes separados para cada objetivo do programa. Foram realizados testes individuais de medição de temperatura, pressão e caudal em ambiente laboratorial. A testagem ao controlo do programa foi realizada num simulador do AdsorTherm,criado num scriptem Python, onde se garantiu o envio de sinais digitais correspondentes à posição de cada válvula. Foi também testado o método de armazenar dados para análise posterior. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o sistema desenvolvido é adequado e pode ser empregue no protótipo do módulo de adsorção.

A implementação da valência da psicomotricidade na equipa de pedopsiquiatria do Hospital Vila Franca de Xira surge no âmbito do estágio curricular com vista à obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Reabilitação Psicomotora – Faculdade de Motricidade Humana. Este documento contempla um capítulo referente ao enquadramento da prática profissional, com revisão teórica da literatura e da caracterização institucional; um segundo capítulo referente à realização da prática profissional, caracterizando as etapas de observação e intervenção terapêutica, explicitando as fases inerentes, os casos individuais e os grupos terapêuticos. O período de estágio correspondeu a 9 meses. Foram encaminhados 5 casos individuais (6-10 anos) e foi assumida a co-terapia no grupo de problemas externalizantes do comportamento (8-10 anos), no grupo psicodrama para pré-adolescentes e no grupo expressivo-corporal para adolescentes. No decorrer das sessões, verificaram-se melhorias na autorregulação comportamental, capacidade simbólica, tolerância à frustração e sentimento de pertença em grupo. Os resultados obtidos na avaliação final ao Caso em Estudo demonstraram melhorias na autoconfiança e locus de controlo, redução do stress social, depressão e ansiedade. Por fim, apresento a minha análise global aos resultados, a reflexão pessoal acerca da experiência de estágio e as conclusões que fundamentam o potencial terapêutico e profissional do psicomotricista.

Triple play is a service that combines three types of services: voice, data and multimedia over a single communication channel for a price that is less than the total price of the individual services. However there is no standard for provisioning the Triple play services, rather they are provisioned individually, since the requirements are quite different for each service. The digital revolution helped to create and deliver a high quality media solutions. One of the most demanding services is the Video on Demand (VoD). This implicates a dedicated streaming channel for each user in order to provide normal media player commands (as pause, fast forward).Most of the multimedia companies that develops personalized products does not always fulfil the users needs and are far from being cheap solutions. The goal of the project was to create a reliable and scalable triple play solution that works via Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), fully capable of dealing with the existing state of the art multimedia technologies only resorting to open-source tools.This project was design to be a transparent web environment using only web technologies to maximize the potential of the services. HyperText Markup Language (HTML),Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript were the used technologies for the development of the applications. Both a administration and user interfaces were developed to fully manage all video contents and properly view it in a rich and appealing application, providing the proof of concept.The developed prototype was tested in a WLAN with up to four clients and the Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) was measured for several combinations of active services. In the end it is possible to acknowledge that the developed prototype was capable of dealing with all the problems of WLAN technologies and successfully delivery all the proposed services with high QoE.