Analysing The Efficiency Of Portuguese Pension Funds:A Stochastic Frontier Model

This paper examines technical efficiency of Portuguese pension funds management companies, using a stochastic frontier model in order to obtain estimates of economies of scale and scope. The empirical findings reveal a significant effect of efficiency measures on pension funds efficiency. Their implications for managers and policy makers are discussed

Improvement of the Molecular Sexing of Parrots in the State of Bahia

Improvement of the Molecular Sexing of Parrotsin the State of Bahia

Evaluating the Location Efficiency of Arabian and African Seaports Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

In this paper the efficiency and performance is evaluated for 22 seaports in the region of East Africa and the Middle East. The aim of our study is to compare seaports situated on the maritime trade road between the East and the West. These are considered as middledistance ports at which goods from Europe and Far East/Australia can be exchanged and transhipped to all countries in the Middle East and East Africa. All these seaports are regional coasters, and dhow trade was built on these locations, leading this part of the world to become an important trade centre. Data was collected for 6 years (2000-2005) and a non-parametric linear programming method, DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) is applied. The ultimate goal of our study is: 1) to estimate the performance levels of the ports under consideration. This will help in proposing solutions for better performance and developing future plans. 2) to select optimum transhipment locations.Middle East and East African Seaports; Data Envelopment Analysis; Seaports Efficiency; Performance measurement of Containers Ports; transshipment.

A FEM-based model to study the behaviour of corroded RC beams shear repaired by NSM CFRP rods technique

This paper presents the main features of finite element FE numerical model developed using the computer code FEMIX to predict the near-surface mounted NSM carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer CFRP rods shear repair contribution to corroded reinforced concrete RC beams. In the RC beams shear repaired with NSM technique, the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) rods are placed inside pre-cut grooves onto the concrete cover of the RC beam’s lateral faces and are bonded to the concrete with high epoxy adhesive. Experimental and 3D numerical modelling results are presented in this paper in terms of load-deflection curves, and failure modes for 4 short corroded beams: two corroded beams (A1CL3-B and A1CL3-SB) and two control beams (A1T-B and A1T-SB), the beams noted with B were let repaired in bending only with NSM CFRP rods while the ones noted with SB were repaired in both bending and shear with NSM technique. The corrosion of the tensile steel bars and its effect on the shear capacity of the RC beams was discussed. Results showed that the FE model was able to capture the main aspects of the experimental load-deflection curves of the RC beams, moreover it has presented the experimental failure modes and FE numerical modelling crack patterns and both gave similar results for non-shear repaired beams which failed in diagonal tension mode of failure and for shear-repaired beams which failed due to large flexural crack at the middle of the beams along with the concrete crushing, three dimensional crack patterns were produced for shear-repaired beams in order to investigate the splitting cracks occurred at the middle of the beams and near the support

An evaluation of orange and clear traps with pear ester to monitor codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards

Barros-Parada, W (Barros-Parada, Wilson)[ 1 ] ; Knight, AL (Knight, Alan L.)[ 2 ] ; Basoalto, E (Basoalto, Esteban)[ 3 ] ; Fuentes-Contreras, E (Fuentes-Contreras, Eduardo)[ 1 ] Univ Talca, Fac Ciencias Agr, Casilla 747, Talca, ChileStudies were conducted to evaluate the use of several trap-lure combinations to improve the monitoring of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in apple, Mains domestica Bordk. The treatments involved the use of clear, orange, and white traps baited with one or more of the following attractants: the major sex pheromone component of the codling moth, (E, E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone, PH); a primary volatile constituent of ripe pear, ethyl (E, Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester, PE); and acetic acid (AA). The studies were conducted in an orchard treated with sex pheromone dispensers in Washington State (USA) and in four untreated orchards in the Maule Region (Chile). In Washington State, the PE+AA lures caught more females than the PE+PH lure in both the clear and orange traps. The clear traps caught more female moths than the orange traps when each trap was baited with the PE+PH lure. The two lures caught similar total numbers of moths across trap colors. The clear traps baited with PE+PH caught significantly more total moths than the orange traps baited with PE+AA. In Chile, the clear traps baited with PE+AA caught more females than the orange traps baited with PE+PH over both moth flights during two field seasons. The white traps baited with PH and the orange traps baited with PE+PH caught similar total numbers of moths in three of the four flight periods. The clear trap baited with PE+AA caught significantly fewer moths than the two treatments that included a PH lure in two of the four flight periods. These data suggest that the adoption of clear delta traps with PE-I-AA lures would allow growers to better track the seasonal population dynamics of female codling moths

Paraquaternionic CR-submanifolds of paraquaternionic Kahler manifolds and semi-Riemannian submersions

In this paper we introduce paraquaternionic CR-submanifolds of almost paraquaternionic hermitian manifolds and state some basic results on their differential geometry. We also study a class of semi-Riemannian submersions from paraquaternionic CR-submanifolds of paraquaternionic Kaehler manifolds.Comment: 19 page

End concrete cover separation in RC structures strengthened in flexure with NSM FRP: Analytical design approach

Fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) composite materials applied according to the near-surface-mounted (NSM) technique are very effective for the flexural strengthening of reinforced-concrete (RC) structures. However, the flexural strengthening effectiveness of this NSM technique is sometimes compromised by end concrete cover separation (CCS) failure, which is a premature failure before occurring the conventional flexural failure modes. Due to the complexity of this failure mode, no analytical approach, with a design framework for its accurate prediction, was published despite the available experimental results on this premature failure. In the present study, a novel simplified analytical approach is developed based on a closed form solution for an almost accurate prediction of CCS failure in RC structures strengthened in flexure with NSM FRP reinforcement. After demonstrating the good predictive performance of the proposed model, it was used for executing parametric studies in order to evaluate the influence of the material properties and FRP strengthening configuration on the susceptibility of occurring the CCS failure. At the end, regarding to the FRP strengthening configuration, some design recommendations were proposed to maximize the resistance of NSM FRP strengthened structures to the susceptibility of occurring the CCS failure.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by QREN (through the Operational Program COMPETE) in the scope of the CutInov Project (n. 38780) involving the Clever Reinforcement Company and the Structural Composites Research group of ISISE-Minho University

Technical Efficiency Of Arabian And East African Container Terminals.

In this paper the efficiency and performance is evaluated the terminal container for 22 seaports in the region of East Africa and the Middle East. The aim of our study is to compare container terminals situated on the maritime trade road between the East and the West. These are considered as middle-distance ports at which goods from Europe and Far East/Australia can be exchanged and transshipped to all countries in the Middle East and East Africa

Marketing of breastmilk substitutes and early breastfeeding practices among native and migrant women

There is a large body of evidence regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their children. However, the influence of marketing of breastmilk substitutes on breastfeeding practices remains a big concern. The aim of this study is to examine the association between exposure to different breastmilk substitutes market factors and never breastfeeding or dropping exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum, comparing migrant with native women. Methods: This study is part of the project baMBINO, an ongoing research on perinatal health among migrant and native women in Portugal. Women with a live-birth and aged ≥ 18 years were recruited in 32 Portuguese public hospitals during admission for delivery. Data on breastfeeding practices and exposure to market factors were collected by telephone interviews at 1-3 months postpartum. According to their feeding practices within 1 month after delivery, women were classified into two categories: those who have never breastfed or have dropped exclusive breastfeeding, and those who have maintained exclusive breastfeeding. Five market factors were assessed: free samples, discounts, television, newspaper/magazine, and shop/ pharmacy advertisement. Logistic regression models were used to study the association between each market factor and early breastfeeding practices, adjusting for maternal age, education, parity, mode of delivery, and skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth. All analyses were stratified by women’s country of birth (native vs. migrant). Adjusted odds-ratio (aOR) and a respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were obtained. Results: Out of 539 natives and an equal number of migrant women, 43.4% and 36.7%, respectively, have either never breastfed or dropped exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum. After adjustment, natives exposed to free samples were more likely to never breastfeed or drop exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month after delivery (aOR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.06-3.42), while those exposed to shop/pharmacy advertisement were less likely to (aOR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.43-0.89). Conversely, migrants exposed to newspaper/magazine advertisement were less likely to never breastfeed or drop exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum (aOR = 0.54, 95%CI 0.31-0.95). Conclusions/Recommendations: Our results revealed differences in the effect of market factors on breastfeeding practices between native and migrant women, which might be explained by cultural factors. Future research should investigate the mechanisms underlying the direction of association between specific market factors and early breastfeeding practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Marketing of breastmilk substitutes and early breastfeeding practices among native and migrant women

There is a large body of evidence regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and their children. However, the influence of marketing of breastmilk substitutes on breastfeeding practices remains a big concern. The aim of this study is to examine the association between exposure to different breastmilk substitutes market factors and never breastfeeding or dropping exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum, comparing migrant with native women. Methods: This study is part of the project baMBINO, an ongoing research on perinatal health among migrant and native women in Portugal. Women with a live-birth and aged ≥ 18 years were recruited in 32 Portuguese public hospitals during admission for delivery. Data on breastfeeding practices and exposure to market factors were collected by telephone interviews at 1-3 months postpartum. According to their feeding practices within 1 month after delivery, women were classified into two categories: those who have never breastfed or have dropped exclusive breastfeeding, and those who have maintained exclusive breastfeeding. Five market factors were assessed: free samples, discounts, television, newspaper/magazine, and shop/ pharmacy advertisement. Logistic regression models were used to study the association between each market factor and early breastfeeding practices, adjusting for maternal age, education, parity, mode of delivery, and skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth. All analyses were stratified by women’s country of birth (native vs. migrant). Adjusted odds-ratio (aOR) and a respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were obtained. Results: Out of 539 natives and an equal number of migrant women, 43.4% and 36.7%, respectively, have either never breastfed or dropped exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum. After adjustment, natives exposed to free samples were more likely to never breastfeed or drop exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month after delivery (aOR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.06-3.42), while those exposed to shop/pharmacy advertisement were less likely to (aOR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.43-0.89). Conversely, migrants exposed to newspaper/magazine advertisement were less likely to never breastfeed or drop exclusive breastfeeding within 1 month postpartum (aOR = 0.54, 95%CI 0.31-0.95). Conclusions/Recommendations: Our results revealed differences in the effect of market factors on breastfeeding practices between native and migrant women, which might be explained by cultural factors. Future research should investigate the mechanisms underlying the direction of association between specific market factors and early breastfeeding practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio