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Publications

2026

"The Implementation of Public Chatbots to Raise Awareness of Computer Crime"

Authors
Pimentel, L; Bernardo, MD; Rocha, T;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION

Abstract
Recent technological advancements have increased computer crime, requiring public authorities to implement structured mitigation strategies. While initiatives exist to improve digital literacy on device security, they must also address the complexities of computer crime. Using Design Science Research, this study investigated the applicability of chatbots to raise awareness of computer crime in a public administration setting. A systematic literature review highlighted the issue's relevance and identified knowledge gaps. A scoping review gathered concepts, methodologies, technologies, architectures, and tools for developing and evaluating an effective chatbot. The design and development phase included a detailed proposal for a sophisticated chatbot architecture. During the demonstration and evaluation phases, the utility of the chatbot was tested in the domain of conversational flow efficiency and usability. The study's primary results and contributions are to assess the chatbot's effectiveness in raising awareness of computer crime on public websites. Future work should focus on implementing the chatbot in the actual context of public administration, proposing a network of specialized conversational assistants, and improving public service interoperability to enhance computer crime awareness.

2026

Quantifying Latency and Jitter in Distributed Mobile Robotics Control: A Dual-Core RP2350 and Micro-ROS Ethernet Multicast Analysis

Authors
Gomes D.F.; Costa P.; Gonçalves J.; Silva R.; Gonçalves G.; Teixeira G.; Pinto V.H.;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions Icarsc

Abstract
The transition from centralized to distributed control architectures in mobile robotics introduces the challenge of "Temporal Coherence"- the requirement that physically separated actuators execute commands simultaneously. This paper presents a validation of standard Ethernet Multicast to achieve Soft Real-Time synchronization suitable for dynamic locomotion. An "Inertial Filtering Condition"is proposed, positing that if network jitter (sc) is negligible relative to the robot's mechanical time constant (tmech), the system becomes functionally deterministic. Using a Dual-Core SMP architecture on RP2350 microcontrollers, this study demonstrates that standard Layer 2 Ethernet switches serve as effective hardware synchronizers. Experimental results show a packet-arrival reliability of 99.92% for a 1 kHz control loop and a network jitter standard deviation of s ˜65 µs. Furthermore, a Virtual Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) stress test confirmed that inter-leg actuation skew is reduced to ˜ 275 µs, representing a 32x improvement over the 9 ms latency bottleneck observed in previous USB-Serial architectures. Finally, it is concluded that standard Ethernet transport provides sufficient statistical determinism for coordinated gait stability without requiring complex hard real-time protocols.

2026

Assessment of Tartrazine Diffusion Properties in Skeletal Muscle

Authors
Guerra, AR; Oliveira, LR; Rodrigues, GO; Pinheiro, MR; Carvalho, MI; Tuchín, VV; Oliveira, LM;

Publication
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS

Abstract
Evaluating diffusion properties of novel optical clearing (OC) agents is critical for advancing medical imaging. Tartrazine (TTZ), a strong absorbing dye, has shown promise in enhancing tissue transparency, yet its diffusion properties remain uncharacterized. In this work, OC treatments with TTZ-water solutions with varying osmolarities were performed, and the diffusion times (tau) that characterize the tissue dehydration and the RI matching mechanisms were estimated. From kinetic T-c measurements during treatment, tau values of water and TTZ were estimated in muscles as 60.0 s and 416.0 s, respectively. Corresponding diffusion coefficients (D) were derived from sample thickness data measured during treatments where the unique fluxes of TTZ and water occur. The respective D values were then calculated as 1.9 x 10(-6) cm(2)/s for water and 3.6 x 10(-7) cm(2)/s for TTZ. These findings provide key insights into TTZ diffusion in skeletal muscle and support its potential as an effective OC agent.

2026

International Kidney Paired Donation Programs: Evolution and Practices of 4 Large Collaborations

Authors
Klimentova, X; Domínguez-Gil, B; Viana, A; Manlove, D; Andersson, T; Ashkenazi, T; Berlakovich, G; Böhmig, GA; Burton, J; Coll, E; Dittmer, I; Fiaschetti, P; Fronek, J; Hughes, PD; da Silva, MI; Mor, E; Viklicky, O; Weinreich, ID; Ferrari, P;

Publication
TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract
Kidney paired donation (KPD) programs are organized in various countries to facilitate the donation of kidneys from willing but incompatible donors by matching them with pairs in similar situations. These programs often struggle with an accumulation of difficult-to-match recipients and small pools of incompatible pairs. To address this, several international collaborations have emerged to expand the pool sizes and increase the number of transplants by exchanging donors' kidneys across countries. We identified 4 established international KPD programs, each supported by protocols and agreements signed by the participating parties. Each program is presented separately, detailing its historical establishment, operational aspects, and statistics on pool characteristics and performance. Following this, we provide a comparative analysis of key aspects across the 4 programs. Each program has its unique context and specificities. Even though 3 of 4 collaborations started just before the COVID-19 pandemic, they have collectively facilitated >450 transplants. This underscores the importance of further developing these collaborations to share practices and experiences, and to facilitate more transplants, particularly for difficult-to-match recipients. Three of the 4 presented collaborations are either fully operated or led by European countries. This highlights the crucial role of ongoing international cooperation in the development of KPDs, in particular in Europe. By further promoting collaboration among countries, we can facilitate pan-European exchanges and improve access to live kidney transplants for patients in need.

2026

VIRIATO: Visual-Action Reinforcement Integrator for Actor-Critic with Temporal Observations

Authors
Campanhã, J; Neves, F; Malheiro, B; Pinto, A;

Publication
IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robot Systems and Competitions, ICARSC

Abstract
The Visual-Action Reinforcement Integrator for Actor-Critic with Temporal Observations (VIRIATO) is a compact multi-input feature-extractor architecture designed to enable robust visual navigation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) conducting close-range inspection of photovoltaic arrays. The target task of low-altitude flight over dynamic, visually variable surfaces without privileged information is inherently partially observable. VIRIATO augments stacked image observations with a short history of recent past actions, producing a richer latent state for the Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) agent. Training is performed with domain randomization to expose the policy to diverse lighting, backgrounds and panel layouts. In simulation, VIRIATO yields faster learning and improved sample efficiency compared to a standard image-only Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) feature extractor, achieving lower position and yaw errors and substantially better robustness under image perturbations while retaining high task completion rates. The architecture is intentionally simple and general: it improves temporal awareness without adding complex recurrence, and it could be adapted to other perception-driven robotic tasks. These results demonstrate that integrating historical action data with visual encoding, together with domain randomization, is an effective way to achieve reliable autonomous vision-based navigation. © 2026 IEEE.

2026

Digitalisation, Remote Work, and Perceived Job Security and Quality in Post-COVID-19 Portugal

Authors
Lucas, C; Morais, J; Pereira, A; Paulo, J; Almeida, F; Santos, J;

Publication
ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES

Abstract
This study investigates how pandemic-induced digitalisation, understood as the transition to remote work combined with the enforced use of digital tools and the reconfiguration of tasks and digital skills at the job level, has affected job security and job quality in Portugal. In 2022, a nationwide survey was administered to employees in companies registered in the country, yielding 2001 valid responses through a stratified random sampling strategy that ensured representation across different firm sizes. Structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the relationships between digitalisation (independent construct) and perceived job quality and job security (dependent constructs), while controlling for demographic, organisational, and work-regime characteristics. Digitalisation had a significant positive effect on perceived job quality but no systematic effect on perceived job security. The results also revealed more positive perceptions of job security among women, employees in smaller firms, and those working on-site, whereas directors and workers in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area reported greater negative effects. These findings underscore the importance of contextual factors in shaping how workers experience digitalisation and provide evidence to inform public policies aimed at promoting job security and job quality in a post-COVID-19 labour market.

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