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Publications

2021

Capacid@de Digital: Tamega e Sousa Volunteer Network for Digital Training

Authors
Carvalho, M; Oliveira, O; Freitas, R; Pereira, C; Duarte, N;

Publication
PROCEEDINGS OF 2021 16TH IBERIAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES (CISTI'2021)

Abstract
We are living in a digital age, which is characterized by an accelerated technological transformation. In this context, digital inequalities, which are often caused by the population's lack of technological knowledge, are increasingly accentuated and consequently, there is a growing need for training and digital inclusion of the population. This paper presents the initiative Capacid@de Digital: Tamega e Sousa Volunteer Network for Digital Training, proposed by School of Management and Technology of the Polytechnic of Porto. This initiative aims to digitally train the active and non-active population of Tamega and Sousa region, providing them digital skills that allow the execution of digital tasks necessary for the daily life of any citizen. In addition, the methodology used as basis for structuring this project is described.

2021

Carsharing: A review of academic literature and business practices toward an integrated decision-support framework

Authors
Golalikhani, M; Oliveira, BB; Carravilla, MA; Oliveira, JF; Antunes, AP;

Publication
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART E-LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION REVIEW

Abstract
Designing a viable carsharing system in a competitive environment is challenging and often dependent on a myriad of decisions. This paper establishes and presents an integrated conceptual decision-support framework for carsharing systems, encompassing critical decisions that should be made by carsharing organizations and users. To identify the main decisions in a carsharing system, and the inputs and interactions among them, it is crucial to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the literature as well as the business practices and context. To this aim, a holistic and in-depth literature review is conducted to structure distinct streams of literature and their main findings. Then, we describe some of the key decisions and business practices that are often oversimplified in the literature. Finally, we propose a conceptual decision-support framework that systematizes the interactions between the usually isolated problems in the academic literature and business practices, integrating the perspectives of carsharing organizations and of their users. From the proposed framework, we identify relevant research gaps and ways to bridge them in the future, toward more realistic and applicable research.

2021

Immersive Virtual Reality for Foreign Language Education: A PRISMA Systematic Review

Authors
Peixoto, B; Pinto, R; Melo, M; Cabral, L; Bessa, M;

Publication
IEEE ACCESS

Abstract
Immersion is a proven method of learning a foreign language and using Virtual Reality to achieve that immersion has high potential educational benefits. However, there are no recent systematic reviews that combine both foreign language education and immersive Virtual Reality. This systematic review aims to identify features, educational methods, technologies, and gaps of immersive virtual reality for foreign and second language education. PRISMA method was followed to carry out the systematic review. From the analysis of the results, two main conclusions were drawn. Firstly, the relation between immersive Virtual Reality and foreign language learning is quite positive, particularly when compared with conventional pedagogical practices. Not only that, the connection between immersive Virtual Reality and the user's motivation and satisfaction is also quite positive. Lastly, limitations such as the low sample of studies and gaps in the literature are addressed, and directions for future work and the area's progress are pointed out.

2021

Antimicrobial Activity of Myrtus communis L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oils against Listeria monocytogenes in Cheese

Authors
Saraiva, C; Silva, AC; Garcia Diez, J; Cenci Goga, B; Grispoldi, L; Silva, AF; Almeida, JM;

Publication
FOODS

Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes has been referred to as a concern microorganism in cheese making due to its ability to survive and grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as refrigeration temperatures, low pH and high salt concentration at the end of the production process. Since cheese may be a potential hazard for consumers, especially high-risk consumers (e.g., pregnant, young children, the elderly, people with medical conditions), efforts of the dairy industry have been aimed at investigating new conservation techniques based on natural additives to meet consumers' demands on less processed foods without compromising the food safety. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) essential oils (EO) against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 679 spiked in sheep cheese before ripening. After the cheesemaking process, the samples were stored at 8 degrees C for 2 h, 1 d, 3 d, 14 d and 28 d. The composition of EO was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Constituents such as 1,8-cineole, limonene, methyl-eugenol, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, alpha-terpinolene and beta-pinene were present in both EO, accounting for 44.61% and 39.76% from the total of chemical compounds identified for myrtle and rosemary EO, respectively. According to the chemical classification, both EO were mainly composed of monoterpenes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against L. monocytogenes was obtained at 31.25 mu L/mL to myrtle EO and at 0.40 mu L/mL to rosemary EO. Then, cheeses were inoculated with L. monocytogenes (Ca. 6 log CFU/mL) and EO was added at MIC value. The addition of rosemary and myrtle EO displayed lower counts of L. monocytogenes (p < 0.01) (about 1-2 log CFU/g) during the ripening period compared to control samples. Ripening only influences (p < 0.001) the growth of L. monocytogenes in control samples. Since rosemary and myrtle EO do not exert any negative impact on the growth of native microflora (p > 0.05), their use as natural antimicrobial additives in cheese demonstrated a potential for dairy processors to assure safety against L. monocytogenes.

2021

Mooshak's Diet Update: Introducing YAPExIL Format to Mooshak (Short Paper)

Authors
Paiva, JC; Queirós, R; Leal, JP;

Publication
10th Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies, SLATE 2021, July 1-2, 2021, Vila do Conde/Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal.

Abstract
Practice is pivotal in learning programming. As many other automated assessment tools for programming assignments, Mooshak has been adopted by numerous educational practitioners to support them in delivering timely and accurate feedback to students during exercise solving. These tools specialize in the delivery and assessment of blank-sheet coding questions. However, the different phases of a student's learning path may demand distinct types of exercises (e.g., bug fix and block sorting) to foster new competencies such as debugging programs and understanding unknown source code or, otherwise, to break the routine and keep engagement. Recently, a format for describing programming exercises - YAPExIL -, supporting different types of activities, has been introduced. Unfortunately, no automated assessment tool yet supports this novel format. This paper describes a JavaScript library to transform YAPExIL packages into Mooshak problem packages (i.e., MEF format), keeping support for all exercise types. Moreover, its integration in an exercise authoring tool is described.

2021

Competitive dynamics of strategic groups in the Portuguese banking industry

Authors
Rosario, AT; Moreira, AC; Macedo, P;

Publication
CUADERNOS DE GESTION

Abstract
tThe objective of this paper is to analyse the retail banking behaviour in Portugal (2008-2010, 2011-2013 and 2014-2016), by taking into account the financial and economic assistance programme (FEAP) - monitored by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - that Portugal went through and that started in 2011. With competitive dynamics it is possible to understand the evolution of competitive strategies of the institutions of a strategic group within a given time horizon. Data were collected after consultation of reports and accounts of Banks from Banco de Portugal database. The results were analysed and discussed in light of the theory of strategic groups and their competitive dynamics allows us to conclude that: Banks implemented different competitive strategies; Strategic groups have dissimilar resources; and Strategic groups display different strategies. The 2008-2010 period can be considered as a 'deregulated' period, the 2011-2013 as a period of 'imposed regulation', and the 2014-2016 as a period of 'strategic consolidation' with strategic changes that have prompted strategic groupings of the various institutions as consequence of a low mobility barrier strategy.

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