2026
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
Authors
Carvalho, ARD; Varajao, J; Amaral, A; Cardoso, MM Jr;
Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS
Abstract
Purpose-This study aims to examine how lessons learned from implementing a project management office (PMO) in a defence research, development and innovation (R&D&I) institution generate tangible benefits (efficiency, standardisation) and intangible gains (legitimacy, trust, organisational learning) in complex military environments characterised by strict hierarchies and technological uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach-An ethnographic approach was conducted over three years of participant observation at Brazil's Department of Aerospace Science and Technology. Data included field notes, documents and dialogical engagement. A logical-analytical framework was used to derive lessons from ethnographic descriptions, synthesising them into six analytical categories. Findings-The PMO functions as an institutional translator and cultural mediator, balancing regulatory discipline with adaptive responsiveness. Its effectiveness depends on adaptive governance, institutionalised knowledge management and cultural mediation rather than mere standardisation. PMOs integrate divergent rationalities, reconciling formal processes with situated practices to enable innovation governance under conditions of systemic interdependence and uncertainty. Research limitations/implications-The single-case study limits generalisability. However, the ethnographic depth provides insights for comparative research in defence and complex R&D&I contexts. The framework is applicable to similar organisational settings. Practical implications-PMO effectiveness requires adaptive governance that balances formalisation with flexibility, institutionalised knowledge management and cultural mediation that bridges military, scientific and technical rationalities.
2026
Authors
Meira, MF; Santos, LM; Sousa, BB; Garcia, JE; da Fonseca, MJS;
Publication
Tourism and Hospitality
Abstract
2026
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 (s
2026
Authors
Cruz, LF; da Silva, MM; Mamede, HS;
Publication
COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION OPEN
Abstract
This paper presents the design, deployment and evaluation of a GPT-4o-based grading and feedback pipeline for a Master's-level Information Systems Project Management course, developed following the Design Science Research Methodology. The artefact orchestrates submission collection (Google Forms), rubric-based scoring with rubric-linked qualitative feedback (OpenAI GPT-4o via a Cloud Function) and analytics storage (BigQuery), across six consecutive case-study assignments. The AI grader supplemented rather than replaced instructor grading: official grades remained the instructor's, while AI grades and feedback served as a second-opinion signal and additional formative feedback. The evaluation followed a pre-specified analysis plan combining a quantitative comparison of AI and instructor grades, a voluntary student survey and an automated assessment of feedback quality on the full corpus. Across 362 submissions from 66 students, the AI reproduced the instructor's mark within the pre-specified tolerance of 0.5 points on a five-point scale in 83% of cases, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.31 points and a small systematic bias of-0.16 points (95% CI [-0.19, -0.12]). Chance-corrected agreement, measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), was moderate at best: ICC(2,1) = 0.49 (95% CI [0.33,0.61]), spanning the poor-to-moderate range. Among the 112 survey responses (31% response rate), about 80% rated the feedback useful and 77% accurate. The pipeline operated at EUR 0.55 per student per assignment and delivered feedback within 24 h. The findings support using LLMs as scalable assistants for formative assessment, as a supplement to rather than a substitute for instructor evaluation.
2026
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.
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