Sistemas dunares do litoral de Esposende

Ciência Viva - A.N.C.C.T. (Programa Operacional Ciência Tecnologia Inovação - POCTI)Ministério da Ciência e da Tecnologia - Ciência Viva - Biologia no Verão 2001

What is in? pneumoperitoneum after sexual intercourse

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The Role of Emotional Advertising in Consumer Decision-Making: How the use of subconscious stimuli in advertising and the establishment of emotional relationships with consumers help brands grow faster

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThe focus of this master's thesis study is to investigate, understand and analyse the role that emotional marketing has or could have in the consumer decision-making process. In turn, a literature review was carried out with the aim of approaching Emotional Marketing as a whole, as well as all its aspects which, in co-operation, allow it to influence consumer choices. Based on this approach, several important topics were also studied that enabled this research to be carried out, such as the importance of emotions in advertising and the role that emotional marketing plays in consumer decision-making. To complement the literature review, an analysis was also elaborated of two emotional campaigns created by MEO ("Dá Espaço à partilha/Partilha Casa") and Vodafone ("Começar de Novo"). Subsequently, to complete the study, two types of research methodology were used: quantitative and qualitative. Regarding the quantitative methodology, a questionnaire was prepared using the Qualtrics software to understand people's perceptions of Emotional Marketing, as well as a descriptive analysis of the likes, comments, views, and shares of the emotional campaigns mentioned above. On the other hand, in relation to the qualitative methodology, various projective techniques were carried out (Association and Completion technique) which were inserted into the questionnaire

Cr(III) uptake by marine algal biomass: equilibrium and kinetics

In this work, biosorption of trivalent chromium by the marine brown algae Sargassum muticum was 37 studied in a batch system. The effect of the solution pH on Cr(III) uptake by Sargassum was 38 investigated. Kinetics and equilibrium experiments were conducted at different pH values (3.0, 4.0 and 39 5.0). Equilibrium data are well described by the Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherms and 40 kinetics follows the pseudo-second-order model, at different pH values. The two mass transfer models 41 give comparable results, but they did not provide a perfect representation of the sorption data. The 42 homogeneous diffusivity, Dh, was found to be around 1.6´10-8 cm2 s-1 for 100 mg l-1 Cr(III) 43 concentration. 44 Sargassum muticum was compared with the brown algae Laminaria hyperborean and the red algae 45 Gelidium sesquipedale in terms of uptake capacity. The maximum uptake capacities for Sargassum, 46 Laminaria and Gelidium were, respectively, 56 ± 3, 70 ± 4 and 18 ± 1 mg Cr(III) g-1, at pH = 5

Tourists' satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel business: an application to the island of São Miguel, Azores

Given the recent competition in the hotel business and the constant search for satisfaction and loyalty of the guests, the objective of this study is to understand tourists’ perceptions of service quality offered at the hotels in São Miguel, and the factors contributing to their satisfaction and loyalty. Based on a reference model taken from literature on satisfaction and loyalty, na exploratory research of national and international tourists who stayed at the hotels of São Miguel was made. The data was used to simulate a model of structural equations to test the hypotheses of investigation. The results showed that the main influential variables of satisfaction were the quality of service offered and management of complaints. The factors that contributed most to the loyalty of the guests were the affective commitments, satisfaction, price, customer services and finally the image of the hotel itself. The information management became a fundamental factor in the satisfaction and loyalty of tourists

Mechanical characterization of old chestnut beams

The main objective of this work is to evaluate, by non-destructive techniques, seven old Chestnut beams. For that, after the geometric assessment and the detailed visual inspection that allowed to strength grade the beams, a series of non-destructive tests was setup. In a first step, non-destructive bending tests, under the elastic limit, were performed to quantify the modulus of elasticity in bending (MoE) of the seven beams. Then, Resistograph® and Pilodyn® tests were done to assess the superficial decay and to have aclearer idea of the voids dimensions. Then, two beams were tested in bending until failure to evaluate the bending strength. In a second step, end parts were cut from the beams, one per end of the beams, to perform Resistograph®, Pilodyn® and ultrasound tests, to quantify the density of the beams and to extract meso-specimens to be used in tension parallel to the grain test

Algorithms for improving the efficiency of CEV, CIR and JDCEV option pricing models

The non-central chi-square distribution function has extensive use in the field of Mathematical Finance. To a great extent, this is due to its involvement in the constant elasticity of variance (hereafter, CEV) option pricing model of Cox (1975), in the term structure of interest rates model of Cox et al. (1985a) (hereafter, CIR), and the jump to default extended CEV (hereafter, JDCEV) framework of Carr and Linetsky (2006). Efficient computation methods are required to rapidly price complex contracts and calibrate financial models. The processes with several parameters, like the CEV or JDCEV models that we will address are examples of where this is important, since in this case the pricing problem (for many strikes) is used inside an optimization method. With this work we intend to test recent developments concerning the efficient computation of the non-central chi-square distribution function in the context of these option pricing models. We will give particular emphasis to the recent developments presented in the work of Gil et al. (2012), Gil et al. (2013), Dias and Nunes (2014), and Gil et al. (2015). For each option pricing model, we will define reference data-sets compatible with the most common combination of values used in pricing practice, following a framework that is similar to the one presented in Larguinho et al. (2013). We will conclude by offering novel analytical solutions for the JDCEV delta hedge ratios for the recovery parts of the put.A distribuição de probabilidade chi-quadrado não-central tem sido alvo de vasta utilização no domínio da Matematica Financeira, em grande parte devido à sua utilização no modelo constant elasticity of variance (doravante, CEV) de Cox (1975), no term structure of interest rates model de Cox et al. (1985a) e no modelo jump to default extended CEV (doravante, JDCEV) de Carr and Linetsky (2006). Metodos de cálculo eficientes e rápidos são de especial relevancia na calibração de modelos para a determinação do preço de contratos financeiros complexos. Os modelos CEV, CIR e JDCEV sao exemplos de modelos com diversos parametros que, quando usados em contexto de determinação do preço de opções com vários preçoss de exercício, mostram como esta optimização e fundamental. Com este trabalho pretendemos testar os mais recentes desenvolvimentos no calculo eficiente da distribuição de probabilidade nao-central chi-quadrado, no contexto dos modelos de cálculo de preço de opções mencionados anteriormente. Daremos enfase aos recentes desenvolvimentos apresentados nos trabalhos de Gil et al. (2012), Gil et al. (2013), Dias and Nunes (2014) e de Gil et al. (2015). Para cada um dos modelos, definiremos um conjunto de parametros de referencia compativel com as combinações mais usadas na prática, seguindo uma metodologia similiar a usada em Larguinho et al. (2013). Concluímos com a derivação de novas soluções analíticas para os racios de delta hedging no modelo JDCEV

Lean, agile, resilient and green supply chain management interoperability assessment methodology

Dissertação para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial (MEGI)Supply Chain Management has become a tactic asset for the current global competition situation. Innovative strategies such as Lean, Agile, Resilient and Green emerged as a response, requiring high levels of cooperation and of great complexity. However, the strategic alignment of operations with partners in supply chains is affected by lack of interoperability. The present work provides a framework to enhance SC competitiveness and performance by assessing interoperable SCM Practices applied in automotive industry. Through a pragmatic interoperability approach, this methodology describes in detail the form of application using analytical hierarchical process (AHP) and Fuzzy sets as support decision making models, ensuring a systematic approach to the analysis of interoperability with appropriate criteria for assessment of situations that require high levels of collaboration between partners. Through a case study in a Portuguese automaker, it was possible to test the methodology and analyse which areas lack interoperability in the implementation of SCM practices

How to overcome the challenges to recruit and retain operational workers in the engineering services sector

There’s a chronicle shortage in skilled and non-skilled workers for the construction and engineering services industries. This issue leads to a major challenge for companies operating in these sector – how to overcome the challenges to recruit and retain operational workers for these industries. The main goal for this assignment was to identify strategies and solutions that might help companies to overcome this concern. In that regard, the “Pereira Problem Solving Research Methodology” was employed, in order to better understand the underlaying causes, trend and main impacts of this matter, while also being able to uncover possible solutions and its expected benefits. The results show that companies need to address both ends of the issue – Recruitment and Retention – in a proactive and effective manner, in order to be able to ensure its operational teams’ growth and stability, thus guaranteeing its business sustainability.Existe uma falta crónica de mão de obra, especializada e não especializada, nos sectores da construção civil e dos serviços de engenharia. Este problema leva a um enorme desafio para as empresas que operam estes sectores – como assegurar um recrutamento e retenção consistente de trabalhadores operacionais nestas indústrias. O principal objectivo deste trabalho foi identificar um conjunto de estratégias e soluções que possam ajudar as empresas destes sectores a ultrapassar esta dificuldade latente. Nesse sentido, foi utilizada a metodologia “Pereira Problem Solving Research Methodology”, a fim de perceber de forma efectiva as principais causas, a tendência e principais impactos deste problema, e ao mesmo tempo identificar possíveis soluções e os seus benefícios esperados. Os resultados mostram que as organizações necessitam de actuar nos dois lados desta questão – Recrutamento e Retenção – de forma proactiva e efectiva, de forma a garantirem um crescimento sustentável das equipas operacionais, assegurado desta forma a sustentabilidade geral do negócio