Incentives for on-the-job greening : an experimental approach to test portuguese small and medium enterprises responsiveness

Mestrado Bolonha em ManagementCom a urgência da ação climática e a relevância dos empregos verdes, tendo como referência o quadro de apoios à Investigação e Desenvolvimento e o cenário nacional, esta dissertação produziu aprendizagens sobre o que poderá constituir um esquema de apoio à formação no trabalho para empregos verdes, com base nas preferências do público-alvo, as Pequenas e Médias Empresas Portuguesas. Através de um processo de investigação inovador, que combinou um Discrete Choice Experiment e perguntas qualitativas, são medidas as preferências entre uma dedução fiscal e uma subvenção, com os resultados a sugerir que a presença de uma dedução fiscal pode ser um pouco mais relevante para os empresários quando comparada com uma subvenção, num cenário em que as empresas não rentáveis seriam elegíveis para o incentivo fiscal. As empresas também valorizaram muito a presença de uma Certificação de empregos verdes e de um Selo de Excelência, mas as componentes de apoio à candidatura foram consideradas as características mais relevantes, especialmente para as empresas mais pequenas e mais experientes. Por sua vez, a burocracia da candidatura influencia fortemente a decisão de candidatura a um esquema de apoio, independentemente da dimensão da empresa ou da experiência com financiamento público de I&D. Os resultados também corroboram a relevância dos apoios não financeiros para impulsionar as PME portuguesas a cumprirem as metas ambientais, nomeadamente através da Consultoria para a criação de um ‘Plano de Empregos Verdes’, apesar de muitas empresas já estarem a fazer esforços significativos para tornar as suas operações e a sua força de trabalho mais ‘verdes’With the urgency of climate action and the relevance of green jobs, using the framework of R&D support schemes and the national scenario as a reference, this dissertation provides insights on what could make up a support scheme for ‘on-the-job greening’, based on the preferences of the target public, Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprises. Through an innovative survey that combined a Discrete Choice Experiment and qualitative questions, preferences towards a tax deduction and a grant are measured, with results suggesting the presence of a tax deduction might be slightly more relevant for subjects when compared to a grant, in a scenario in which not profitable firms were not excluded from the fiscal incentive. Firms also highly valued the presence of a green jobs Certification and of a Seal of Excellence, but the application support components were deemed the most relevant scheme features, especially for the smaller and more experienced firms. In its turn, application paperwork strongly influences the decision to apply to a support scheme, regardless of firm size or experience with R&D public funding. Results also support the relevance of non-financial aid to propel Portuguese SME to meet environmental targets, namely through Consultancy for creating a ‘Green Jobs Plan’, even though many firms are already making solid efforts towards ‘greening’ their operations and their workforce.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Metodologia de gestão dinâmica do estuário do Sado

O estuário do Sado é um sistema litoral onde existem conflitos de gestão ambiental, uma vez que por um lado, localiza-se junto da zona industrial da Península de Setúbal e por outro lado, uma grande parte da sua área está classificada como Reserva Natural. Sendo uma área de especial sensibilidade, torna-se necessário implementar modelos de gestão, que passam pela elaboração de metodologias que avaliem o estado de qualidade da zona costeira. O objectivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma metodologia conceptual de gestão do estuário do Sado, ligado a um modelo dinâmico e ecológico suportado por uma infraestrutura de informação do tipo DPSIR e com base num sistema SIG (Sistema de Informação Geográfica). Desta forma pretende-se integrar a avaliação da qualidade do ecossistema, com base em indicadores da qualidade ambiental previamente seleccionados, com informação socio-económica. Nesta metodologia as propostas de intervenção e a avaliação do seu impacte no estuário são baseadas nos dados ambientais recolhidos e nas previsões dos efeitos dessas acções. Pretende-se que a modelação dinâmica e ecológica do sistema desempenhe um papel fundamental tanto na caracterização do estuário como nas propostas de intervenção. A simulação permite a caracterização do sistema, a comparação de cenários alternativos e a quantificação do impacte de acções de intervenção. Os dados de campo e os resultados da modelação são integrados numa plataforma comum que facilite o relacionamento e o cruzamento de toda a informação. Esta metodologia permitirá assim a elaboração de uma interface de suporte à gestão/decisão do Estuário do Sado para entidades com poder de decisão sobre este ecossistema

Integration of numerical models in geographic databases: the case of Sado estuary management

Geographic information systems (GIS) are now widely applied in coastal resource management. Their ability to organise and interface information from a large range of public and private data sources, and their ability to combine this information, using management criteria, to develop a comprehensive picture of the system explains the success of GIS in this area. The use of numerical models as a tool to improve coastal management is also widespread. Less usual is a GIS-based management to ol implementing a comprehensive management model and integrating a numerical modelling system into itself. In this paper such a methodology is proposed. A GIS-based management tool based on the DPSIR model is presented. An overview of the MOHID numerical modelling system is given and the method of integrating this model in the management tool is described. This system is applied to the Sado Estuary (Portugal). Some preliminary results of the integration are presented, demonstrating the capabilities of the management system

Desenvolvimento de Atividade Lúdica para o Auxílio do Ensino e Divulgação Científica da Paleontologia.

Herein is described the development of a ludical activity in Paleontology with the purpose to apply the concepts of the geological time and the processes that occurred along the history of the Earth. This activity,that was teste in the event “Bio na Rua” of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, consisted on the use ofdidactic panels concerning paleontological themes, geological time chart, fossil and ichnofossil concepts, the development of a board game showing the Earth history and origami workshops

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with cryptorchidism in live births in Brazil: a 20-year analysis

Background: Cryptorchidism is a congenital disorder that causes an irregularity in the permanent or temporary descent of one or both testicles. In Brazil, there are no comprehensive studies describing the association of demographic, social, and clinical characteristics in relation to cryptorchidism.Objectives: This study aims to verify possible associations of clinical and sociodemographic characteristics in patients with cryptorchidism.Design and Methods: An analytical, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out based on secondary data of 5,168 live births with cryptorchidism recorded in the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), Brazil from 1999 to 2018. The socio-demographic factors analyzed were the geographic region, age, education and marital status of the mothers. The clinical factors analyzed were the duration and type of pregnancy. The place of birth was also analyzed as a secondary outcome.Results: This research analyzed all live births during the study period, in Brazil. The chance of cryptorchidism in the neonate is more common in women who become pregnant later (≥30 years of age) and with a higher level of education (≥8 years). The risk of cryptorchidism in relation to the federation units is higher in Paraíba, Pernambuco, Sergipe, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina. Regarding the clinical characteristics, the shorter pregnancies, which characterize premature births, are a risk for the appearance of cryptorchidism in the country.Conclusion: Thus, in this study, we found that sociodemographic and clinical factors have specific characteristics that predict cryptorchidism in newborns in Brazil

a case study

An integration of sediment physical, chemical, biological, and toxicity data is necessary for a meaningful interpretation of the complex sediment conditions in the marine environment. Assessment of benthic community is a vital component for that interpretation, yet their evaluation is complex and requires a large expenditure of time and funds. Thus, there is a need for new tools that are less expensive and more understandable for managers. This paper presents a benthic biotope index to predict from physical and chemical variables the occurrence of macrobenthic habitats, applied to Sado Estuary, as a case of study

Investigations of the prevalence and virulence of Candida albicans in periodontal and endodontic lesions in diabetic and normoglycemic patients

Pulpal and periodontal tissues have similar microbiota that allows cross-contamination between the pulp and periodontal tissues. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of isolated Candida albicans from periodontal endodontic lesions in diabetic and normoglycemic patients, and the fungi's virulence in different atmospheric conditions. Material and Methods A case-control study was conducted on 15 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (G1) and 15 non-diabetics (G2) with periodontal endodontic lesions. Samples of root canals and periodontal pockets were plated on CHROMagar for later identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and virulence test. Results C. albicans was identified in 79.2% and 20.8% of the 60 samples collected from diabetic and normoglycemic patients, respectively. Of the 30 samples collected from periodontal pockets, 13 showed a positive culture for C. albicans, with 77% belonging to G1 and 23% to G2. Of the 11 positive samples from root canals, 82% were from G1 and 18% from G2. Production of proteinase presented a precipitation zone P