2024
Autores
Lopes, JM; Mota, LP; Mota, SM; Torres, JM; Moreira, RS; Soares, C; Pereira, I; Gouveia, F; Sobral, P;
Publicação
Abstract
2024
Autores
Vilarinho, H; Pereira, MA; D'Inverno, G; Nóvoa, H; Camanho, AS;
Publicação
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES
Abstract
This work delves into the crucial role of service quality in the water supply and sanitation sectur. Despite extensive research and implementation of quality management practices in this sector, a universally accepted definition of quality is still lacking, resulting in varikoza service quality assesunent procedures that are difficult to compam. To address this issue, the World Bank launched the Thility of the Future' (UoF) programme, aiming guide water service providers in their efforts to become future-focused utilities that offer reliable, safe, Inclusive, transparent, and resposesive services through best-fit practices. Building upon the Damework provided by the lof programme, this study proposes the Water Utility Service Quallity Index (WUSOI) composite Indicator that reflects the quality of service provided by water supply and sanitation utilities from a customer perspective. Based on Data Envelopment Analysis, the Benelli-of-the-Douht appenach is employed to assign weights for aggregating the indicators representing the diverse performance dimensions. The study operationalines the WUSOI to assess the quality of Purtuguese wholesale water and wastewater companies using data enflected by the national regulator of water and waste services. A Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis technique, the Deck of Cands method, is used to specify an indicator of transparency from the information made available by the regulated utilities. The results show the effectiveness of this tool for evaluating and measuring service quality at the company level. Additionally, the findings highlight areas for Improvement in the utilities' performance. By enabling companies and regulators to identify areas for improvement, the WUSOI can support the delivery of high-quality services to customers.
2024
Autores
Andres, B; Diaz-Madroñero, M; Soares, AL; Poler, R;
Publicação
IEEE ACCESS
Abstract
Industry 5.0 complements the Industry 4.0 approach by enabling the transition of industry digitization to a sustainable, human-centered and resilient paradigm. This paper delves into the exploration of enabling technologies that facilitate both Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 in the context of supporting supply chain (SC) logistics. The paper defines the principles of Logistics 5.0, which focuses on smart logistics systems for customized distribution, transportation, inventory management and warehousing by emphasizing interconnectivity, digitization, and optimization across SC operations. The traditional logistics framework requires innovative solutions grounded in emerging Industry 5.0 technologies capable of capturing and processing extensive datasets to empower decision-making based on information and knowledge. A comprehensive research has enabled to critically analyze enabling Industry 5.0 technologies by assessing their application status through real-case scenarios within SC Logistics 5.0. Furthermore, the paper identifies research gaps in the reviewed technologies by outlining promising areas for each Industry 4.0 technology. This guidance aims to direct future studies toward the practical application of technologies in supporting Logistics 5.0.
2024
Autores
da Conceiçao, EL; Alonso, AN; Oliveira, RC; Pereira, J;
Publicação
SCIENCE OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
Abstract
TADA is a unique toolkit designed to foster the use and implementation of approximate distributed agreement primitives. Developed in Java, TADA provides ready-to-use implementations of several approximate agreement algorithms, as well as the tools to enable programmers/researchers to easily implement further protocols: A template that enables new protocol implementations to be created by simply changing specific functions; and high-level abstractions for communication and concurrency control. As an example, the toolkit includes a ready-to-use implementation for clock synchronisation between distributed processes. Further use cases can include sensor input stabilisation and distributed machine learning, or other instances of distributed agreement where network synchrony cannot be assumed, byzantine fault tolerance may be required and a bounded divergence in decision values can be tolerated.
2024
Autores
Pereira, MA; Camanho, AS;
Publicação
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
Abstract
Nowadays, health systems comprise a series of resources structured to provide healthcare services to meet our health needs. However, premature deaths still occur. To quantify and understand personal healthcare conditions affecting such amenable mortality, the Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQI) was put forward, evaluating 195 countries and territories since 1990. Nevertheless, the literature acknowledges a series of limitations of this framework, such as the drawbacks of using principal component analysis to aggregate individual indicators, the absence of control for financing and environmental conditions, and the presence of a substantial degree of data uncertainty. Accordingly, we propose a methodological alternative to the computation of the HAQI using a novel fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis model to handle the aforementioned shortcomings. We also propose its extension towards the quantification of efficiency (E-HAQI) - in the sense of value for money - by incorporating financial aspects as modelling inputs. This way, we contribute with innovative modelling approaches that can also deal with the high degree of data uncertainty. Furthermore, in a second -stage analysis, the impact of key exogenous factors on healthcare access and quality is assessed via non -parametric hypothesis testing. Our results show positive and significant correlations of both the revisited HAQI and E-HAQI with the original HAQI 2016 dataset. They also reveal a better use of resources by European and Oceanian countries and territories than by Sub-Saharan African ones. Concerning contextual determinants, socio-demographic development, human development, and the type of health system were found to be statistically significant drivers of healthcare access and quality efficiency.
2024
Autores
Pêgo, JP; Miguéis, VL; Soeiro, A;
Publicação
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Abstract
The complex trajectories of higher education students are deviations from the regular path due to delays in completing a degree, dropping out, taking breaks, or changing programmes. In this study, we investigated degree changing as a cause of complex student trajectories. We characterised cohorts of students who graduated with a complex trajectory and identified the characteristics that influenced the time to graduation. To support this predictive task, we employed machine learning techniques such as neural networks, support vector machines, and random forests. In addition, we used interpretable techniques such as decision trees to derive managerial insights that could prove useful to decision-makers. We validated the proposed methodology taking the University of Porto (Portugal) as case study. The results show that the time to degree (TTD) of students with and without complex trajectories was different. Moreover, the proposed models effectively predicted TTD, outperforming two benchmark models. The random forest model proved to be the best predictor. Finally, this study shows that the factors that best predict TTD are the median TTD and the admission regime of the programme of destination of transfer students, followed by the admission average of the previous programme. By identifying students who take longer to complete their studies, targeted interventions such as counselling and tutoring can be promoted, potentially improving completion rates and educational outcomes without having to use as many resources.
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