Cookies Policy
The website need some cookies and similar means to function. If you permit us, we will use those means to collect data on your visits for aggregated statistics to improve our service. Find out More
Accept Reject
  • Menu
Publications

2023

THE EFFECTS OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION ON THE PERFORMANCE AND PERCEPTION OF ENTREPRENEURS

Authors
Wasim, J; Almeida, F; Chalmers, RJ;

Publication
JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract
There is a clear gap in the literature on comparing entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas and analysing distinct differences between them, impacting their survival and growth. This study aims to find the motivations and classifications of success for urban and rural entrepreneurs. A case study approach was adopted, with six cases on urban and rural Scottish enterprises. These contrasting motivations and conceptions of success have been linked to the way companies strategise. Our findings contribute to the literature by adding an understanding of the motivations of entrepreneurs in rural and urban businesses, respectively. Further, the study was conducted in Scotland, which adds a subsequent understanding of the motivations of entrepreneurs within the country specifically, which can be used in future research within the country.

2023

An Expressive Model for the Specification and Analysis of Obligations

Authors
Fernandez, M; Alves, S;

Publication

Abstract

2023

Development of Components for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles by Design for Excellence Concepts

Authors
Pereira, PNAAS; Campilho, RDSG; Pinto, AMG;

Publication
Techniques and Innovation in Engineering Research Vol. 7

Abstract

2023

Discovery Science

Authors
Bifet, A; Lorena, AC; Ribeiro, RP; Gama, J; Abreu, PH;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Abstract

2023

A Two-Stage Method for Polyp Detection in Colonoscopy Images Based on Saliency Object Extraction and Transformers

Authors
Lima, ACD; de Paiva, LF; Bráz, G Jr; de Almeida, JDS; Silva, AC; Coimbra, MT; de Paiva, AC;

Publication
IEEE ACCESS

Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for the entire digestive process. Several diseases, including colorectal cancer, can affect this pathway. Among the deadliest cancers, colorectal cancer is the second most common. It arises from benign tumors in the colon, rectum, and anus. These benign tumors, known as colorectal polyps, can be diagnosed and removed during colonoscopy. Early detection is essential to reduce the risk of cancer. However, approximately 28% of polyps are lost during this examination, mainly because of limitations in diagnostic techniques and image analysis methods. In recent years, computer-aided detection techniques for these lesions have been developed to improve detection quality during periodic examinations. We proposed an automatic method for polyp detection using colonoscopy images. This study presents a two-stage polyp detection method for colonoscopy images using transformers. In the first stage, a saliency map extraction model is supported by the extracted depth maps to identify possible polyp areas. The second stage of the method consists of detecting polyps in the extracted images resulting from the first stage, combined with the green and blue channels. Several experiments were performed using four public colonoscopy datasets. The best results obtained for the polyp detection task were satisfactory, reaching 91% Average Precision in the CVC-ClinicDB dataset, 92% Average Precision in the Kvasir-SEG dataset, and 84% Average Precision in the CVC-ColonDB dataset. This study demonstrates that polyp detection in colonoscopy images can be efficiently performed using a combination of depth maps, salient object-extracted maps, and transformers.

2023

Are the Portuguese public hospitals sustainable? A triple bottom line hybrid data envelopment analysis approach

Authors
Pederneiras, YM; Pereira, MA; Figueira, JR;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH

Abstract
The harmonious interaction between humans and the biosphere determines how sustainable existence and coexistence are. However, when social challenges appear, sustainability is heavily compromised. Health is one of the areas affected by such challenges, with the delivery of health services being ensured by health systems. Consequently, understanding how sustainable health services are, especially those that consume the majority of resources-hospitals-is indispensable for a sustainable future. For this reason, we propose using a hybrid data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to study hospital sustainability in Portugal under environmental, social, and economic perspectives, in cooperation with the Portuguese Ministry of Health. In particular, the proposed methodology incorporates the preference information of decision makers (via the construction of utility scales and the determination of Mobius coefficients) and criteria interactivity, due to the integration of the Choquet multiple criteria preference aggregation model in the DEA approach. In the end, despite approximately 30% of the sampled 29 assessed hospitals were deemed as efficient across the three perspectives in 2018, only 1 was entirely sustainable.

  • 736
  • 4536