Differences in portuguese credit institutions' lending and investment behaviour in a time of slump

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the different property rights models of credit institutions (public, private, cooperative or mutual) in their credit policy and investment behaviour and in response to the current crisis and regulatory framework adjustments. Taking Portuguese credit institutions as the object, it concludes that overall banks' business models are qualitatively identical and their lending and investment behaviours are similar, except for the saver profile of cooperative banks and the deeper focus on loans to customers to the detriment of financial investments of the mutual savings banks. Moreover, the reactions to the crisis were equivalent, except for the state-owned banks, which presented the most favourable reaction, albeit not deep enough to be significant.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ownership and governance of Portuguese credit co-operatives: the legal framework

Today, financial system enterprises operate in an environment full of global opportunities and threats; and in the sequence of corporate scandals and world financial crisis, the banking activity is constrained by ethical self-restraining as well as innovative regulations enforced by domestic and global governance institutions. The dual nature of credit cooperative is reflected by their formal and institutional solutions. They need to meet both banking and cooperative regulations, especially for those dedicated to relations between the two areas; hence, they result from considering their singularity and consistency. The main aim of this paper is to provide an insight of the Portuguese legal framework of cooperative credit

Governance control mechanisms in Portuguese agricultural credit cooperatives

Over the last decade Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives (ACCs) have increasingly face survival challenges related to their difficulty in gathering equity. The main source of ACCs equity is the net benefit; thus, understanding how ACCs governance can work on correcting bad economic performance is of crucial importance to overcome this constraint. The main objective of this paper is to describe the governance control mechanisms in the ACCs. Five governance mechanisms are identified: board and chairman change (internal mechanisms), central ACC intervention by an agent or by management board replacement and merger. Empirical analysis proved that the internal governance mechanisms activity is not related to the ACC performance. Additionally: (a) ACCs with a central ACC agent and merged ACCs hold a weaker credit management and a heavy administrative costs structure and profitability problems; and (b) ACCs with a management board replacement by the central ACC hold a weaker credit management and present solvency problems

The Portuguese agricultural credit cooperatives governance model

The Portuguese Agricultural Credit Cooperatives (ACC) play a significant role in the national banking system. At the present, they face the challenge of matching the application of the traditional cooperative rules (which leads to a resulting set of vaguely defined property rights) with being successful in an ever more strong and competitive banking sector. The main objective of this paper is to understand the Portuguese ACC governance model, focusing on the strategies used to ameliorate the decision and investment problems arising from the strict application of traditional cooperative rules. Contrary to most of their pairs, Portuguese ACC choose to focus their efforts on the cooperative activity and performance rather than on the cooperative rules it selves. Although that strategy proved to be financial fruitful, it drives Portuguese ACC to a growing conflict of interests and to an identity crisi

The social performance of credit institutions

This paper analyses the social performance of the different Portuguese credit institutions, namely, their conduct in terms of financial inclusion, job creation and social responsibility. Results show “stakeholders view” banks superior performance in promoting economic and social development. Cooperative banks, in particular, mainly located on low density regions have a crucial function in the territorial and economic financial inclusion of those populations. That role was not affected by the current crisis. Moreover, banks are aware of their social responsibilities and making efforts to become more sustainable. The public bank proved to be the most socially responsible institution. Further, bigger and more internationalized banks adopted international principles regarding sustainable financing and show good environmental protection performances, contrary to the cooperative and mutual savings banks which have a better performance for social conduct.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Users self-assessment of a daily moisturizing of the skin with natural ingredientes

The cosmetic industry keeps growing, constantly pursuing to satisfy consumers' desire for beauty. Nowadays, sustainability awareness is gaining relevance in the cosmetic sector. The increasing market trend in favour of green cosmetic products, which use ingredients from natural inputs, portrays the ecological and social weight of consumer choices when using products that contribute to nature in a sustainable way. This study aims to analyze the user self-assessment effectiveness of a cream formulation for daily moisturizing of the skin, with natural ingredients, including bee products, local plant material of the region of Trás-Os-Montes, and vegetable oils. Twenty-two individuals aged between 24 and 74 years were included in the product's effectiveness study. The pre-use self-assessment shows that most of volunteers presented mixed skin type (at least three in five individuals). For dry skin individuals (one in five individuals), skin jerking and the rapid absorption of the products are the main issues. The assessment of product efficacy was measured based on a post-use questionnaire. The results obtained for nonplacebo users in the assessments are presented in Figure 1. The product exhibits positive performance for all the attributes under assessment. For products efficacy the highlight is for hydration and skin smoothness. For products attributes, ease application scores the maximum of 3.3 points. Different, wrinkles reduction and fragrance present less favourable results. When asked about the willingness to buy the product only one in four users respond negatively, mainly because of the strong fragrance of the preservative agent product. Users willing to buy/recommending the product to a friend mention the satisfactory results obtained, hydration performance and natural product as the determinant for that decision. The users willing to buy the product consider to do it at an average price of 10€ for a 50ml package.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parasitoses oportunistas no infectado pelo VIH : aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar da incidência de infecções oportunistas em indivíduos infectados pelo VIH ter diminuído substancialmente com a utilização cada vez mais generalizada de regimes quimioprofilácticos específicos e de tratamento anti-retrovírico de grande actividade, estas continuam a constituir uma causa significativa de mortalidade e morbilidade nesta população, tanto em países desenvolvidos, devido a factores de índole variada, como em países com poucos recursos económicos, onde o acesso aos anti-retrovíricos ou mesmo a agentes profilácticos específicos é muito limitado e onde, de resto, se verificam as taxas mais elevadas de infecção pelo VIH. OBJECTIVOS: Abordar as mais importantes parasitoses oportunistas (Toxoplasmose, Criptosporidiose, Microsporidiose), incluindo duas relevantes parasitoses endémicas (Leishmaniose e Doença de Chagas). Este artigo pretende providenciar uma revisão dos seus contexto epidemiológico actual, quadro clínico, diagnóstico e recomendações para profilaxia e tratamento, bem como fazer referência a métodos de diagnóstico e/ou abordagens terapêuticas mais recentes que se tenham revelado promissores. DESENVOLVIMENTO/CONCLUSÕES: Algumas parasitoses oportunistas associam-se a taxas de mortalidade elevadas por não existir qualquer agente terapêutico específico para o seu tratamento. Noutras, isso acontece porque a resposta ao tratamento específico é pior em VIH-positivos, com menor taxa de cura e maior probabilidade de recidivas. É fundamental, assim, acima de tudo, implementar programas eficazes de diagnóstico precoce da infecção pelo VIH, de modo a evitar a ocorrência de infecções oportunistas. Além disso é necessário continuar a investir no desenvolvimento de métodos sensíveis e específicos de diagnóstico tão simples, rápidos e económicos quanto possível, bem como na realização de ensaios clínicos com agentes terapêuticos (ou combinações) que se revelaram promissores. Para os países com poucos recursos, é especialmente relevante o esclarecimento da eficácia de agentes terapêuticos pouco dispendiosos e amplamente disponíveis na profilaxia e tratamento das infecções oportunistas, dada a dificuldade de acesso ao tratamento anti-retrovírico de alta actividade

Participation habits, physical complaints and injuriesin a sample of Portuguese female artistic roller skaters

Educators and health professionals need to gainknowledge of the special needs of artistic roller skatersif they seek effective training and preventing physicalcomplaints or injuries. In the absence of epidemiologicalstudies on artistic roller skaters, it is useful to characterizethe participants, their participation habits, and theoccurrence of physical complaints or injuries. A web-based survey was designed to collect epidemiologicalinformation on female artistic roller skaters. The self-report questionnaire included information about theparticipant, her participation habits, injury history, andphysical complaints in the past 12 months. A total of 143female artistic roller skaters were included in the study.Sixty-seven [46.9%] of the participants had 175 physicalcomplaints in the past 12 months, for an average of2.61 complaints per skater. The physical complaints mainlyaffected the lower limbs (53.1%), followed by the trunk(24.0%) and upper limbs (22.9%). The most affected siteswere the knee (16.6%), back (10.9%) and wrist (10.3%). Ourresults suggest that physical complaints are common inartistic roller skating. It becomes crucial to study the etiologyof physical complaints and/or injuries. Preventing physicalcomplaints and injuries is crucial for athletes’ well-being.Our study results may draw attention and help coaches andeducators implement adequate preventive measures

Consumers behavior and perceptions regarding natural cosmetic products

In the last decades, the increasing concerns related with sustainability and the emergence of ethical concerns related to the production and consumption of cosmetics, as well as, the verification of the adverse effects of chemical additives present in cosmetics for human health and the environment, have driven the growth of green cosmetics. Natural substances, derived from plants, animals or other organisms are increasingly popular as ingredients in cosmetics for being considered by consumers as safety alternatives to synthetic cosmetics. This work aims to analyze the habits and perceptions of consumers regarding natural cosmetics products. A cross-sectional study was carried out based on a sample of 222 individuals’ ages between 18 and 74 years old. Respondents were mainly female (75%), young urban adults, employed, with higher education. Most of the respondents use cosmetics daily, and considers them important (48%) or essential (34%), particularly the hygiene and skin care products. The median amount of monthly spend on cosmetic products are of 20 €. Super and hypermarkets (34.5%), and pharmacies and parapharmacies (31%) are the most relevant places for buying cosmetic products although the internet (8%) and catalogues sales (7%) are also significant. The importance of internet is also present has source of information about the products (40%), seconded by beauty professionals (27%). The great majority of the respondents uses natural cosmetic products, although not often organic ones. Despite the respondents’ considerable familiarity with natural cosmetic products, results display some misconceptions about these products still present in consumers’ minds.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of gamma-irradiated aromatic herbs: Chemometric study of samples submitted to extended storage periods

The preserving capacity of gamma radiation (10 kGy) on the chemical, nutritional and antioxidant components of Aloysia citrodora Paláu, Melissa officinalis L., Melittis melissophyllum L. and Mentha piperita L., stored for 12 and 18 months, was evaluated. Despite the maintenance of the main characteristics during the first 12 months of storage, the additional 6 months induced several significant changes in individual compounds. In general, the analyzed species reacted dissimilarly throughout time, but it was possible to verify that the fatty acids, tocopherols and antioxidant capacity presented the most significant changes after 18 months of storage, inclusively in samples submitted to gamma radiation. In fact, the applied treatment (10 kGy) did not seem to be effective to prevent the decrease of free sugars, organic acids and tocopherols, especially considering the 18 months period. On the other hand, the evolution in color parameters indicated a greener color (yet slightly more yellow) among irradiated samples. Likewise, gamma radiation had a positive effect on oleic acid, β-carotene bleaching inhibition (in infusions), DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power (in methanolic extracts). Nevertheless, it might be generally concluded that gamma radiation is less suitable than electron-beam to maintain the characteristics of dried herbs during extended storage periods.The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal (Project PRODER/FEADER/EU, AROMAP), for financial support of the work and E. Pereira grant. Authors also thank Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (UID/ AGR/00690/2013), REQUIMTE (UID/QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/ 0145/FEDER/007265), C2TN (RECI/AAG-TEC/0400/2012 and UID/ Multi/04349/2013 projects), J.C.M. Barreira (BPD/72802/2010) and L. Barros (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015) grants. The authors are also grateful to “MaisErvas - Aromáticas e Medicinais” for providing the plant material.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio