Comparing alternative instruments to measure service quality in higher education

The purpose of this work is to examine the performance of five alternative measures of service quality in the high education sector – SERVQUAL (Service Quality), Importance-weighted SERVQUAL, SERVPERF (Service Performance), Importance-weighted SERVPERF and HedPERF (Higher Education Performance). We aim at determining which instrument has the superior measurement capability. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire containing perception items enhanced from the SERVPERF and HEdPERF scales and expectation items from the SERVQUAL scale, both modified to fit into the higher education sector. The first draft of the questionnaire was subject to a pilot testing through a focus group and an expert evaluation. Data were gathered from a 360 students’ sample of a Portuguese university in Lisbon. Scales were compared in terms of unidimensionality, reliability, validity and explained variance. Managerial conclusions were also drawn.service quality scales; higher education; reliability

Comparing Airport regulation in Europe: Is there need for a European Regulator?

This paper provides an overview of how the major airports are regulated in Europe. In order to eliminate the potential of airports to exercise market power and protect the public interest, it has become increasingly necessary to set a common regulatory framework. We intend to discuss the need of a single regulator in Europe to monitor or establish the quality of service and the charges practiced by the airports, to ensure cost-relatedness, transparency and non-discrimination. The existing regulatory approaches regarding aeronautical charges and their economic implications are also analyzed. We propose the creation of a European Observatory for this sector.airports, economic regulation, European Observatory

Inhibition by ATP of hippocampal synaptic transmission requires localized extracellular catabolism by ecto-nucleotidases into adenosine and channeling to adenosine A1 receptors

© 1998 Society for NeuroscienceATP analogs substituted in the γ-phosphorus (ATPγS, β, γ-imido-ATP, and β, γ-methylene-ATP) were used to probe the involvement of P2 receptors in the modulation of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, because their extracellular catabolism was virtually not detected in CA1 slices. ATP and γ-substituted analogs were equipotent to inhibit synaptic transmission in CA1 pyramid synapses (IC50 of 17–22 μM). The inhibitory effect of ATP and γ-phosphorus-substituted ATP analogs (30 μM) was not modified by the P2 receptor antagonist suramin (100 μM), was inhibited by 42–49% by the ecto-5’- nucleotidase inhibitor and α, β-methylene ADP (100 μM), was inhibited by 74–85% by 2 U/ml adenosine deaminase (which converts adenosine into its inactive metabolite-inosine), and was nearly prevented by the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (10 nM). Stronger support for the involvement of extracellular adenosine formation as a main requirement for the inhibitory effect of ATP and γ-substituted ATP analogs was the observation that an inhibitor of adenosine uptake, dipyridamole (20 μM), potentiated by 92–124% the inhibitory effect of ATP and γ-substituted ATP analogs (10 μM), a potentiation similar to that obtained for 10 μM adenosine (113%). Thus, the present results indicate that inhibition by extracellular ATP of hippocampal synaptic transmission requires localized extracellular catabolism by ectonucleotidases and channeling of the generated adenosine to adenosine A1 receptors.This work was supported by Junta Nacional de Investigação Cientifica e Tecnológica, Praxis XXI, Gulbenkian Foundation, and European Union (BIOMED 2 programme

Literatura infantil: imaginação e educação infantil

Trabalho de Conclusão do Curso de Especialização em Educação Infantil - 1ª Edição – Polo Joinville - SC, para a obtenção do Grau de Especialista em Educação InfantilO presente artigo é resultado de um projeto de intervenção aplicado na turma de Maternal II do Centro de Educação Infantil Estrelinha Brilhante. Teve como principal objetivo oportunizar situações que levem a criança a desenvolver capacidades de ingressar no mundo imaginário através da Literatura Infantil. Dessa forma, percebe-se que a literatura infantil apresenta um importante papel no desenvolvimento infantil, então, o acesso das crianças a livros de qualidade e a ambientes diferenciados de leitura, torna-se um processo prazeroso. A proposta da interação das crianças, dos professores e outros adultos faz parte desse processo, pois a ideia é de se expandir em toda comunidade escolar, fazendo um desafio e estimulando a parceria com as outras turmas e pessoas da comunidade. A literatura infantil se apresenta atualmente como uma importante ferramenta de aprendizado. Através do contato com diversas obras, a criança irá internalizar conceitos importantes da sociedade em que está inserida, o que facilitará sua inserção na mesma

Farmers' Demand for Information about Agribusiness

This study is focused on the habits of the Brazilian farmers that access the Internet for searching information to their economical activities. The main goal is to understand how come those agents of the agribusiness use the formal and informal (personal contact) means of communication, as well as the functions that each of those means accomplish to this public. In other words, it intends to identify the channels of communication of major importance to farmers (used more often, considered the ones of more credibility and preferred among them). That is possible by means of a questionnaire sent exclusively by e-mail, answered by Brazilian farmers. The motivation of the study is to contribute to make the communication more efficient to those who work on farms. That can produce benefits to the communication companies and to the public. The results show that the Internet is the mean of communication more often used and preferred on the process of searching information about the agribusiness among Brazilian farmers. The personal contact, not considered in the valuation about preference, appears in second position in the ranking for intensity of use. On the other hand, the radio, regional press newspapers and newsletters of class entities were the less consulted and the last ones in the ranking of preference.Agribusiness, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Educação em sexualidade no Agrupamento de Escolas de Vieira de Araújo - Vieira do Minho

No Agrupamento de Escolas Vieira de Araújo, a educação em sexualidade incorpora um projeto no qual são trabalhadas outras temáticas de educação para a saúde. A promoção da saúde integra‐se no projeto educativo do Agrupamento. Atualmente, o Projeto de Educação para a Saúde é dinamizado através de uma grande diversidade de estratégias e tem sido avaliado com base em diversos instrumentos, nomeadamente: instrumentos específicos do PRESSE; nível de empenho/participação dos alunos e alunas nas atividades e respetivo número de docentes envolvidos nas atividades; análise de pontos fortes e pontos a melhorar face ao cumprimento das grandes metas do Projeto Educativo, através da elaboração de um relatório anual de atividades. A implementação do Projeto de Educação para a Saúde, como mostraremos neste trabalho, apresenta, como principal limitação, a elevada extensão dos programas curriculares e respetiva dificuldade na gestão de tempo disponível para trabalhar os conteúdos da educação para a saúde. Registam‐se, contudo, aspetos muito positivos, nomeadamente o empenho e interesse dos alunos e alunas e a elevada envolvência dos professores e professoras.In the Network of Schools of Vieira de Araújo, sexuality education incorporates a project in which other health education themes are worked on. Health promotion is part of the educational project of the Network of Schools. Currently, the Health Education Project is revitalized through a great diversity of strategies and has been evaluated based on several instruments, namely: specific PRESSE instruments; level of commitment / participation of the students in the activities and respective number of teachers involved in the activities; analysis of strengths and points to improve against the fulfilment of the major goals of the Educational Project, through the elaboration of an annual activity report. The implementation of the Health Education Project, as we will show in this paper, presents, as main limitation, the high extension of the curricular programs and their difficulty in managing the available time to work the contents of health education. However, there are very positive aspects, namely the commitment and interest of students and the high involvement of teachers.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT), PortugalFinanciado por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) e cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) no âmbito do CIEC (Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança da Universidade do Minho) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeitos da hidroterapia no equilíbrio em idosos: uma revisão bibliográfica narrativa

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em FisioterapiaContexto: O Envelhecimento Biológico é um processo dinâmico e progressivo que conduz o organismo a alterações morfológicas, funcionais e biomecânicas. Objectivos: Avaliar o efeito de diferentes programas de Hidroterapia no equilíbrio dos idosos. Método: Recorreu-se ao uso da base de dados B-On e PubMed para encontrar artigos científicos que fossem úteis no esclarecimento deste estudo. De tal forma, foram estabelecidos os seguintes critérios de inclusão: estudos experimentais controlados randomizados que estivessem de acordo com a temática abordada e/ou comparassem com o meio terrestre; publicações feitas a partir de 2005; amostra com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos e intervenção executadas por fisioterapeutas. Resultados: Efectuou-se uma análise e discussão de 6 artigos experimentais com propósito de cumprir o objectivo deste estudo. Conclusão: Pôde-se concluir-se que um programa global de Hidroterapia que inclua exercícios de alongamento, de fortalecimento, de resistência e de equilíbrio apresentou resultados significativos na melhora do equilíbrio, embora sem diferenças significativas entre o meio terrestre. Contudo, torna-se numa alternativa viável para indivíduos com falta de confiança, com elevado risco de quedas e com sintomatologia álgica com consequente limitação articular. Background: Biological Aging is a dynamic and progressive process that leads to morphological, functional and biochemical changes in our body. Objectives: Evaluate the effect of different Hydrotherapy programs for balance in elderly. Methods: Resorted to the use of database B-On and PubMed to find scientific articles that was useful to clarify this study. As such, it was established the following inclusion criteria: randomized controlled experimental studies that were in line with the thematic discussed and/or comparing with the land environment; publications made since 2005; over 60 years of age and intervention performed by physiotherapists. Results: Performed an analysis and discussion of six experimental studies with propose of achieving the objective of this study. Conclusions: It could be concluded that a global Hydrotherapy program that includes stretching exercises, endurance, strength and balance provided significant improvements in balance, but no significant differences between land environment. However, becomes a viable alternative for individuals with lack of confidence, with a high risk of falls and pain symptoms with consequent joint limitation

Inhalable fucoidan microparticles combining two antitubercular drugs with potential application in pulmonary tuberculosis therapy

The pulmonary delivery of antitubercular drugs is a promising approach to treat lung tuberculosis. This strategy not only allows targeting the infected organ instantly, it can also reduce the systemic adverse effects of the antibiotics. In light of that, this work aimed at producing fucoidan-based inhalable microparticles that are able to associate a combination of two first-line antitubercular drugs in a single formulation. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide composed of chemical units that have been reported to be specifically recognised by alveolar macrophages (the hosts of Mycobacterium). Inhalable fucoidan microparticles were successfully produced, effectively associating isoniazid (97%) and rifabutin (95%) simultaneously. Furthermore, the produced microparticles presented adequate aerodynamic properties for pulmonary delivery with potential to reach the respiratory zone, with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) between 3.6-3.9 mu m. The formulation evidenced no cytotoxic effects on lung epithelial cells (A549), although mild toxicity was observed on macrophage-differentiated THP-1 cells at the highest tested concentration (1 mg/mL). Fucoidan microparticles also exhibited a propensity to be captured by macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, as well as an ability to activate the target cells. Furthermore, drug-loaded microparticles effectively inhibited mycobacterial growth in vitro. Thus, the produced fucoidan microparticles are considered to hold potential as pulmonary delivery systems for the treatment of tuberculosis.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [PTDC/DTP-FTO/0094/2012, UID/Multi/04326/2013, UID/BIM/04773/2013]; CAPES-Brazil [BEX 1168/13-4

Patterns in the city: a mathematics project

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