Qualidade de vida, otimismo, Coping, morbilidade psicológica e stress intrafamiliar em pacientes com cancro colo-retal em quimioterapia

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (área de especialização em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde)Este estudo analisou as diferenças na qualidade de vida, otimismo, coping, morbilidade psicológica e stress intrafamiliar em pacientes com e sem estoma, em função da duração do diagnóstico e tipo de tratamento, as relações entre as variáveis e os preditores da qualidade de vida e morbilidade psicológica. A amostra foi composta por 100 pacientes com cancro colo-retal em quimioterapia. Os participantes foram recrutados dos Hospitais de Braga e Divino Espirito Santo de Ponta Delgada. Os resultados mostraram que os pacientes ostomizados não se diferenciaram dos não ostomizados ao nível do otimismo, coping, stress intrafamiliar, morbilidade psicológica e qualidade de vida, porém tenderam a possuir mais dor. Os pacientes diagnosticados há menos de 1 ano possuem melhor qualidade de vida ao nível do funcionamento físico e mais stress intrafamiliar. Os que realizaram cirurgia/quimioterapia possuem mais stress intrafamiliar. A morbilidade psicológica mostrou ser um preditor da qualidade de vida e o otimismo, o stress intrafamiliar e a qualidade de vida mostraram ser preditores da morbilidade psicológica. Os resultados enfatizam a necessidade de intervenção particularmente nos pacientes diagnosticados há menos de um ano e os que realizaram cirurgia/quimioterapia que apresentam maior risco.This study examined the differences in quality of life, optimism, coping, psychological morbidity and intrafamiliar stress in patients with and without stoma, depending on the duration of diagnosis and type of treatment, relationships between variables and predictors of quality of life and psychological morbidity. The sample was comprised of 100 patients with colorectal cancer in chemotherapy. Participants were recruited from Braga Hospital and Divino Espirito Santo in Ponta Delgada. The results showed that ostomy patients did not differ not ostomy at the level of optimism, coping, intrafamiliar stress, psychological morbidity and quality of life, but tend to have more pain. Patients diagnosed less than 1 year have a better quality of life to the level of physical functioning and more intrafamiliar stress. Those who underwent surgery / chemotherapy have more intrafamiliar stress. The psychological morbidity was found to be a predictor of quality of life and optimism, intrafamiliar stress and quality of life were shown to be predictors of psychological morbidity. The results emphasize the need for intervention particularly in patients diagnosed less than a year and in those who underwent surgery / chemotherapy that are more at risk

Rational design of polymer-based nanosystems for an efficient targeting of the immune system

The main goal of this thesis is the development of polymer-based nanosystems for antigen delivery to the immune system. To evaluate the influence of the physicochemical characteristics of the nanosystems in their biodistribution to the lymphatic system, we have developed two chitosan nanocapsule prototypes with different particle size and the corresponding nanoemulsions, apart from other nanocapsules with different polymeric coatings. Results have shown the importance of particle size, surface charge and specific characteristics of the polymers used as coating in the draining of the nanocarriers to the lymphatic system. Moreover, we have developed chitosan:carboxymethyl-β-glucan nanoparticles, with high ability to associate the model antigen ovalbumin and an adequate storage stability profile, both in suspension and in dry powder form. Finally, in vivo studies have shown a significant accumulation of the formulation in the lymph nodes, leading to an efficient antigen presentation to T cells. Overall, our results show the potential of polymer-based systems to be modulated in terms of their composition, aiming at a more effective immune response

The attribution problem: an analysis for a focal company

In today’s digital world, companies use a multitude of online marketing channels to communicate with potential consumers. The online customer journey is also more complex than it has ever been. Consequently, firms face an attribution problem: how to allocate the credit of a conversion to the consumers’ touchpoints with the brand? Focusing on a focal company, by studying user’s characteristics, analyzing the online customer journey and exploring the results given by different attribution models, it was discovered that the customer journey for this firm was both short in terms of length and time. As the main output, the present work appoints an attribution model as the one best reflecting the customer journey and the focal firm’s advertising goals - the Position Based model. The implications of a switch in attribution model are many fold and means to improve budget allocation were suggeste

A proactive approach o XY international expansion

This work project was conducted under a Direct Research internship (DRI) that consists on an individual dissertation established on a given organization. DRI has a problem solving format to an empirical question to be addressed, «Which country has the highest potential for the next step of XY internationalization process? ». In order to achieve the project’s purpose, it was conducted a scanning process using a top-down approach over an initial list of nine countries given by XY. To do so it was developed an international scanning framework based on different domains and weights that allowed to achieve the top two countries with highest potential. After an in depth analysis over the final set, it was recommended Switzerland as the best country to make the next step of XY internationalization in Europe

The choice of tax shields’ discount rate on firm valuation: Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa - Sociedade Gestora de Hospitais, S.A. case study

JEL Classification System: G24, G30, G31, G32, I10.This dissertation suggests that the tax savings, in firm valuation, are discounted at a rate computed through a model presented in the literature review1, which is different from the rates usually used for this purpose either by the top text books from, for example, Neves (2002), Ross, Westerfield and Jaffe (2005), Berk and DeMarzo (2011), and Brealey, Myers and Allen (2007) or the investment banks. In this model the necessity to fix a priori important parameters such as the interest rate, the debt level or the leverage ratio, and, consequently, the tax shields’ discount rate is challenged, assumptions that are required by Modigliani & Miller (1963), Harris & Pringle (1985), Miles & Ezzell (1980), among others. In this model all these parameters are endogenized. The only assumptions necessary are the risk free rate and the unlevered cost of capital, whereas the capital structure of the company is computed iteratively by the model. A graphic representation of the case study was built from which were drawn theoretical and practical inferences that can be generally used in any case. Moreover, an assessment on the pertinence of the model that determines the tax shields’ discount rate was made, as well as on how the model reconciles with the state of the art. Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa – Sociedade Gestora de Hospitais, S.A. (CVP-SGH,S.A.), a publicly unlisted company, became an interesting valuation case study when, in 2012, the cooperation agreement between CVP-SGH, S.A. and Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (ARSLVT) was suspended after the recommendation of the Portuguese Audit Court of non-renewal of such agreement. In this scenario, CVP-SGH,S.A.’s EBIT drops abruptly to levels that no longer cover totally the interest expenses, which, as we will see, jeopardizes the adoption of the standard WACC valuation methodEsta dissertação propõe que as poupanças fiscais, na avaliação de empresas, sejam atualizadas a uma taxa calculada de acordo com um modelo apresentado para o efeito na revisão da literatura2, que é diferente das taxas usadas para este fim quer nos livros de texto de, por exemplo, Neves (2002), Ross, Westerfield e Jaffe (2005), Berk e DeMarzo (2011) e Brealey, Myers e Allen (2007), quer pela banca de investimento. Neste modelo a necessidade de fixar a priori parâmetros tão importantes como a taxa de juro, o nível da dívida ou o rácio de endividamento e, consequentemente, a taxa de atualização das poupanças fiscais é desafiada, pressupostos requeridos por Modigliani & Miller (1963), Harris & Pringle (1985), Miles & Ezzell (1980), entre outros. Neste modelo todos estes parâmetros são endogeneizados É apenas necessário, como pressuposto, a taxa livre de risco e o custo do capital não alavancado, não sendo necessário a estrutura de capital da empresa, uma vez que esta é determinada iterativamente pelo modelo. É feita uma representação gráfica do estudo de caso, a partir da qual são retiradas ilações teórico-práticas aplicáveis genericamente a qualquer outro caso e feito um juízo sobre a pertinência da utilização do modelo de determinação da taxa de atualização especifica para as poupanças fiscais e a forma como ele se concilia com o estado da arte. A Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa - Sociedade Gestora de Hospitais, SA (CVP-SGH, SA), uma empresa não cotada em bolsa, tornou-se um caso de estudo interessante quando, em 2012, o acordo de cooperação entre a CVP-SGH, S.A. e Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (ARSLVT) foi suspenso devido a uma recomendação do Tribunal de Contas Português de não renovação de tal contrato. Neste cenário, o EBIT da CVP-SGH, S.A. cai abruptamente para níveis que não cobrem totalmente os encargos financeiros, o que põe em risco a adoção do standard WACC como método de avaliação

Profitability and risk of European banks : a comparison between fixed and floating rates

The share of floating-rate loans and fixed-rate loans varies across countries and over time. This is a study about how the movements in monetary policy interest rates defined by the European Central Bank and the changes in the yield curve of the countries influence the share of floating-rate loans. Moreover, there is also an attempt to study the impact of this type of interest rate selection with the main components of profitability in banks. Using a ten-country panel and econometric models, I find that the monetary policy instruments do influence the choice of loans with variable rates. However, the effects of this choice on banks’ profitability is less significant, suggesting that it depends on other components. These conclusions contribute to the literature related with monetary policy and banks’ interest rate risk management

The get big fast as a business model in e-commerce : a case study of Zalando

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the properties of the internet that help e-commerce companies to growth so much and so fast, along with the analysis of the Get Big Fast strategy. Such strategy exploits online business activities based on first mover advantage, allowing incumbents to preempt competition by gaining market share as fast as possible and generate positive feedbacks. This qualitative research is a case-study of Zalando, an online fashion retailer. Though initially specialized in footwear, the firm quickly broadened its product portfolio, expanded into new markets and acquired millions of clients, becoming the Europe’s market leader. Hence, this study investigates to what extent Zalando has followed the Get Big Fast principles, based on data provenient from five interviews and multiple secondary sources. The findings indicate that certain properties of the internet stimulate the scalability of business operations, such as: 1) Mediating Technology 2) Information Density 3) Universal Standards 4) Distribution Channel 5) Infinite Virtual Capacity and 6) Global Reach. Moreover, it was found that Zalando has actually pursued the Get Big Fast strategy by being an early mover in the market, applying three out of four common tactics to gain market share (capacity expansion, heavy advertising and formation of strategic alliances), following product and market development strategies and generating four positive feedbacks (economies of scale, learning effects, network effects and accumulation of complementary assets). Nevertheless, some limitations exist, including an extensive scope of research, limited amount of interviews conducted via Skype and a generalization problem.O propósito desta tese é indentificar as propriedades da Internet que ajudam as empresas de comércio electrónico a crescer tanto e tão rápido, juntamente com a análise da estratégia Get Big Fast. Esta estratégia explora a actividade económica online baseada em first mover advantage, permindo aos incumbentes antecipar os seus rivais através da rápida conquista de quota de mercado e da produção de feedbacks positivos. Este estudo qualitativo é um caso de estudo sobre a Zalando, uma loja virtual de moda. Apesar de ser inicialmente especializada em calçado, a empresa alargou rapidamente o seu portofolio de produtos, expandiu-se para novos mercados e adquiriu milhões de clientes, tornando-se no líder de mercado Europeu. Portanto, esta tese investiga em que medida a Zalando segiu os princípios Get Big Fast, de acordo com informação recolhida em cinco entrevistas e múltiplas fontes secundárias. Os resultados indicam que certas propriedades da Internet estimulam a expansibilidade do comércio online, tais como: 1) Tecnologia Mediadora 2) Densidade de Informação 3) Normas Universais 4) Canal de Distribuição 5) Capacidade Virtual Infinita 6) Alcance Global. Além disso, verificou-se que a Zalando seguiu efectivamente uma estratégia Get Big Fast por ser pioneira no mercado, aplicar três de quatro tácticas comuns destinadas à conquista de quota de mercado (expansão de capacidade, forte investimento publicitário e formação de alianças estratégicas), seguir estratégias de desenvolvimento de produtos e mercados e gerar quatro feedbacks positivos (economias de escala, efeitos de aprendizagem, efeitos de rede e acumulação de activos complementares). Contudo, existem algumas limitações, tais como o extenso âmbito de investigação, o número limitado de entrevistas realizadas por Skype e um problema de generelização

Indoor location-based analytics systems: Portuguese market compettive assessment and entry procing strategy of BIPs' technology in Sonae Sierra Shopping malls stores

This project attempts to provide an in-depth competitive assessment of the Portuguese indoor location-based analytics market, and to elaborate an entry-pricing strategy for Business Intelligence Positioning System (BIPS) implementation in Portuguese shopping centre stores. The role of industry forces and company’s organizational resources platform to sustain company’s competitive advantage was explored. A customer value-based pricing approach was adopted to assess BIPS value to retailers and maximize Sonae Sierra profitability. The exploratory quantitative research found that there is a market opportunity to explore every store area types with tailored proposals, and to set higher-than-tested membership fees to allow a rapid ROI, concluding there are propitious conditions for Sierra to succeed in BIPS store’s business model in Portugal.NSBE - UN

Barriers to innovation in SMEs: An international comparison

The Portuguese business frame is mainly compounded of small‐sized companies, namely small and medium enterprises, which represent 99.99% of all Portuguese firms. This reality is common to other countries and makes it relevant to study their behavior and attitudes towards competitiveness and sustainability. The present study proposes to inquire about the issue of barriers to innovation in the following circumstances: what are the barriers faced by domestic companies, how do they deal with and overcome them, and finally what is the importance of each barrier. The research identifies the main barriers in the companies surveyed which revealed as of extreme importance the current economic climate and showed the similarities between the barriers revealed in Portugal and barriers to innovation on other countries where similar studies occurred.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Innovation: a strategy that leads to competitiveness in SMEs

This study took place in Portugal and focuses on the importance of the innovative attitude towards the sustainability of companies. The aim is to define how Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) must to be followed by companies to attain competitiveness, which will allow them to remain and survive in the market. Once confirmed this belief it becomes interesting to acknowledge why innovation does not occur and what kind of barriers to innovation face the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) studied. Additionally is analysed the existence of similarities in the barriers observed in Portugal with studies carried out in other countries