Equity valuation using accounting numbers in high and low price to performance firms

The surge of new industries in the economy has made commonplace a situation where firms are trading at prices greatly superior to their financial performance. In such conditions doubts may arise regarding the use of traditional valuation models to estimate the value of high price to performance firms. This dissertation has as its main goal to determine if there is a variation in terms of performance by traditional valuation models when applied to high and low price to performance firms. Furthermore, the representation of performance by an accounting number is also studied in order to determine if such classification results in significant differences across firms. It is found that when price to operating income before depreciation (P/OI) is used to separate firms into high and low P/OI sub-­‐samples more significant differences between sub-­‐samples arise than when price to net income (P/NI) is used. Moreover, valuation models are found to be less biased and more accurate, although explaining price worse, when applied to high P/OI firms. Finally, relevant differences are discovered regarding the use of nonfinancial information to represent firm performance by analysts and firms

eABC: scientific publications bibliografic archive

The paper intends to present eABC – Scientific Publications Bibliographic Archive of University of Aveiro’. It describes the motivation that induced its implementation, advantages for users and for all those whom the system serves. Some of the systems functionalities will be presented, along with a description on how to use them. Finally, the current status of the system - as it is being used by the University of Aveiro - will be presented, with the addition of an explanation on how this system helps in the creation of mechanisms that enable the adaptability and flexibility of systems to improve the scientific community dynamics

Efecto de los regimenes de perturbación en la regeneración de Quercus rotundifolia Lam. en el NE de Portugal

El “monte de Morais” (NE Portugal) es una de las mayores unidades continuas de serpentinas en Portugal, con un elevado interés geológico y botánico y que forma parte de la Red Natura 2000. Es el área más representativa de las rocas ultrabásicas lusitano-durienses, cubierta por diversas comunidades de especies endémicas. Su vegetación está dominada por Quercus rotundifolia Lam. siendo también importante la presencia de Quercus suber L., Juniperus oxycedrus Sibth. & Sm y Quercus faginea Lam. En los últimos años, el monte fue objeto de diferentes intervenciones consistentes en la aplicación de desbroces mecánicos (parcelas perturbadas) en determinadas áreas del monte y, otras zonas, donde no se aplicó desbroce, fueron destinadas a refugio de caza (parcelas no perturbadas). El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del desbroce mecánico sobre la sustentabilidad del encinar. Se determinó la cobertura vegetal del sotobosque, la regeneración de la encina (número plántulas/m2) y su tipología en zonas perturbadas y no perturbadas. Los resultados muestran un incremento de la cubierta herbácea en las parcelas perturbadas mientras que las no perturbadas se favoreció la presencia de arbustos. La regeneración de la encina en las parcelas perturbadas se redujo drásticamente en comparación con las no perturbada

Clustering Properties of Dynamical Dark Energy Models

We provide a generic but physically clear discussion of the clustering properties of dark energy models. We explicitly show that in quintessence-type models the dark energy fluctuations, on scales smaller than the Hubble radius, are of the order of the perturbations to the Newtonian gravitational potential, hence necessarily small on cosmological scales. Moreover, comparable fluctuations are associated with different gauge choices. We also demonstrate that the often used homogeneous approximation is unrealistic, and that the so-called dark energy mutation is a trivial artifact of an effective, single fluid description. Finally, we discuss the particular case where the dark energy fluid is coupled to dark matter.Comment: 5 page

Tuple-based morphisms for interoperability establishment of financial information models

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e ComputadoresThe current financial crisis has demonstrated that there is a need for financial accounting data in a format which can be rapidly analyzed and exchanged. The appearance of XBRL in 2000 has helped create a ‘de facto’ standard data format for the exchange of financial information. However, XBRL by itself is not capable of ensuring a common semantic for the exchange of accounting information. Additionally, the existence of different accounting standards in different countries is a hindrance to efficient analysis and evaluation of companies by international analysts or investors. Therefore, there is a need to not only use a more advanced data format, but also for tools which can facilitate the exchange of accounting data, in particular when different accounting standards are used. This dissertation presents a tuple-based semantic and structural mapping for interoperability establishment of financial information models based on the use of ontologies and a ‘Communication Mediator’. It allows the mapping of accounting concepts of different accounting standards to be stored in the ‘Communication Mediator’. The mapping stored contains an ATL code expression, which with the aid of model transformation tools, can be utilized to perform the mapping between two different accounting models

Prediction system for municipal waste containers

Dissertação de mestrado em Informatics EngineeringRecycling stands as one of the most effective contemporary practices for pollution prevention. Through the process of recycling, a reduction in our reliance on finite natural resources is achieved, concurrently leading to energy conservation, decreased carbon dioxide emissions, and economic savings. In the context of the European Union, it is noteworthy that Portugal currently registers one of the lowest recycling rates. Consequently, it becomes imperative for the nation to commit towards accomplish the European objective of recycling all single use packaging materials. A significant strategy to boost these recycling rates involves the widespread deployment of small, medium or large capacity waste containers, typically ranging from 120 liters to 360 liters, across municipalities. However, the efficient management of these containers necessitates a consistent and meticulous approach by waste collection entities. Presently, the methodology employed in this regard is antiquated, characterized by waste collection teams manually inspecting each container within their designated areas to check their fill status. This labor-intensive process poses inherent inefficiencies and challenges. The primary objective of this master’s project involves the development of a system capable of detecting and classifying urban waste containers. This goal holds promising applications in the domain of waste management, potentially facilitating the generation of daily collection routes in the future. Images for this study were sourced from individual contributors, from Street View feature in Google Maps and a project known as Tidy City, which gathers various items, including containers, from a designated municipality. Subsequently, a model was constructed with the ability to discern and categorize a specific container based on the type of waste it accommodates, the configuration of the container (e.g., 4 wheels, 2 wheels), and the condition of its lid (open, closed, or full). Additionally, the model demonstrates proficiency in identifying and classifying waste materials in close proximity to the container.A reciclagem é uma das práticas contemporâneas mais eficazes para a prevenção da poluição. Através do processo de reciclagem, consegue-se uma redução da nossa dependência de re cursos naturais finitos, conduzindo simultaneamente à conservação de energia, à diminuição das emissões de dióxido de carbono e a poupanças económicas. No contexto da União Europeia, é de salientar que Portugal regista atualmente uma das mais baixas taxas de reciclagem. Consequentemente, torna-se imperativo que o país se empenhe em cumprir o objetivo europeu de reciclar todos os materiais de embalagem de utilização única. Uma estratégia significativa para aumentar estas taxas de reciclagem envolve a implantação gener alizada de contentores de resíduos de pequena, média ou grande capacidade, normalmente entre 120 litros e 360 litros, em todos os municípios. No entanto, a gestão eficiente destes con tentores exige uma abordagem consistente e meticulosa por parte das entidades de recolha de resíduos. Atualmente, a metodologia utilizada nesta matéria é antiquada, caracterizada por equipas de recolha de resíduos que inspecionam manualmente cada contentor dentro das suas áreas designadas para verificar o seu estado de enchimento. Este processo de trabalho intensivo apresenta ineficiências e desafios inerentes. O objetivo principal deste projeto de mestrado é o desenvolvimento de um sistema capaz de detetar e classificar contentores de lixo urbano. Este objetivo tem aplicações promissoras no domínio da gestão de resíduos, facilitando potencialmente a criação de rotas de recolha diárias no futuro. As imagens para este estudo foram obtidas de colaboradores individuais, através da funcionalidade de Street View do Google Maps e de um projeto conhecido como Tidy City, que recolhe vários objetos, incluindo contentores de resíduos sólido urbanos, de um município designado. Posteriormente, foi construído um modelo com a capacidade de distinguir e categorizar um contentor específico com base no tipo de resíduos que acomoda, na configuração do contentor (por exemplo, 4 rodas, 2 rodas), e no estado da sua tampa (aberta, fechada ou cheia). Para além disso, o modelo demonstra proficiência na identificação e classificação de materiais residuais nas proximidades do contentor