Abstract

Abstract
The strain and temperature sensing characteristics of a modal interferometer based on two Bragg fibers have been investigated. The special nature of this sensor is that the two Bragg fibers used present a different external cladding shape. It appears that the sensitivity to the sensing parameters are different for the two Bragg fibers, which makes it possible to fabricate several sensing configurations based on the combination of these two Bragg fibers for strain and temperature discrimination.

Abstract

Abstract
Technological advance over the last decades created an atmosphere in which the organizations are forced to look actively for new options for cost reduction, in addition to, simultaneously, seek advantages to compete more effectively in their markets. This context requires focused, swift, more flexible and more competitive organizations which must, many times, implement radical changes, in the way they conduct business, employ people and use technology. This work focuses the e-business maturity stages of Portuguese SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and large enterprises. Our goal is to identify in which e-business maturity stage they are and explore the relationship between their e-business maturity and the associated constrains to e-business evolution (previously identified in an exploratory study).

Abstract

Abstract
The two-dimensional (2D) kinematic approach is by far the most popular technique in rat gait analysis. This is a simple inexpensive procedure, which requires only one camera to record the movement. However, maximal precision and accuracy of the kinematic values are expected when the experimental protocol includes a three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis methodology: Locomotor speed is a basic kinematic parameter that is often neglected in most studies of movement disorders and neurological diseases. Because locomotor speed c:an act as confounder for the interpretation of the obtained results we also focused our attention on the relation between speed and 3D hindlimb kinematics. Our experimental set-up consisted of a motion capture system with four CMOS cameras which allowed a non-invasive estimation of the instantaneous position of color markers in a 3D measurement volume. Data were recorded while rats walked at different treadmill speeds (30 vs 60 cm/s). For the first time we reported detailed kinematic data for the sagittal, coronal and transverse plane during treadmill locomotion in rats. Despite the overall time course patterns of the curves were identical, we found significant differences between values of joint angular motion at 30 and 60 cm/s at selected points of the step cycle. The adaptation to higher treadmill walking included greater joint angular excursions. The present report highlights the importance of walking speed when evaluating rat hindlimb kinematics during gait. Hopefully, this study will be useful in experimental data assessment when multiple gait abnormalities are expected to occur in all planes. of motion.