Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-07-05"
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- A new method to predict genotoxic effects based on serum molecular profilePublication . Araújo, Rúben; Ramalhete, Luís; Paz, Hélder; Ladeira, Carina; Calado, CecíliaIt is critical to develop new methods to assess genotoxic effects in human biomonitoring since the conventional methods are usually laborious, time-consuming, and expensive. It is aimed to evaluate if the analysis of a drop of serum by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, allow to assess genotoxic effects in occupational exposure to cytostatic drugs in hospital professionals, as obtained by the lymphocyte cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. It was considered peripheral blood from hospital professionals exposed to cytostatic drugs (n = 22) and from a non-exposed group (n = 36). It was observed that workers occupationally exposed presented a higher number of micronuclei (p < 0.05) in lymphocytes, in relation to the non-exposed group. The serum Fourier Transform Infrared spectra from exposed workers presented diverse different peaks (p < 0.01) in relation to the non-exposed group. The hierarchical cluster analysis of serum spectra separated serum samples of the exposed group from the non-exposed group with 61% sensitivity and 88% specificity. A support vector machine model of serum spectra enables to predict exposure with high accuracy (0.91), precision (0.89), sensitivity (0.86), F1 score (0.87) and AUC (0.96). Therefore, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic analysis of a drop of serum enabled to predict in a rapid and simple mode the genotoxic effects of cytostatic drugs. The method presents therefore potential for high-dimension screening of exposure of genotoxic substances, due to its simplicity and rapid setup mode.
- Machine learning for the dynamic positioning of UAVs for extended connectivityPublication . Oliveira, Francisco; Luís, Miguel; Sargento, SusanaUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) networks are an emerging technology, useful not only for the military, but also for public and civil purposes. Their versatility provides advantages in situations where an existing network cannot support all requirements of its users, either because of an exceptionally big number of users, or because of the failure of one or more ground base stations. Networks of UAVs can reinforce these cellular networks where needed, redirecting the traffic to available ground stations. Using machine learning algorithms to predict overloaded traffic areas, we propose a UAV positioning algorithm responsible for determining suitable positions for the UAVs, with the objective of a more balanced redistribution of traffic, to avoid saturated base stations and decrease the number of users without a connection. The tests performed with real data of user connections through base stations show that, in less restrictive network conditions, the algorithm to dynamically place the UAVs performs significantly better than in more restrictive conditions, reducing significantly the number of users without a connection. We also conclude that the accuracy of the prediction is a very important factor, not only in the reduction of users without a connection, but also on the number of UAVs deployed.
- Lóbi em Portugal: os fatores na origem da falta de regulamentação da atividadePublication . Borges, Maria Beatriz Silvestre; Nunes, Tatiana Filipa GomesHá alguns anos que se tem vindo a observar uma tentativa de regulamentar a atividade de Lóbi em Portugal mas, os anos vão passando e ainda não se chegou a um consenso político sobre o assunto. A quantidade e a qualidade das reportagens e notícias sobre Lóbi tem vindo a aumentar, as conferências sobre a atividade com peritos nacionais e internacionais são cada vez mais frequentes e já existiu um Anteprojeto desenvolvido pela Comissão Eventual para o Reforço da Transparência no Exercício de Funções Públicas da Assembleia da República, que acabou por ser vetado pelo Presidente da República. Contudo, a regulamentação desta atividade continua sem ter luz verde do Parlamento e as campanhas de Lóbi realizadas em Portugal são, cada vez mais, do conhecimento público. Desta forma, é importante que esta atividade esteja devidamente regulamentada e os lobistas devidamente creditados como tal, para que se possa contribuir não só para uma redução da Corrupção e Tráfico de Influências, mas também para uma Democracia mais transparente. Desta forma, ao longo deste estudo pretende-se analisar a realidade nacional para, juntamente com a realização de entrevistas, validar algumas ideias sobre a situação do Lóbi em Portugal e chegar a um conjunto de fatores que estão na origem da falta de regulamentação do Lóbi em Portugal.