Estratégias de gestão em momentos de crise económica

Dissertação de Mestrado em Gestão de Empresas/MBA.[...]. O objectivo geral deste estudo foi o de procurar conhecer qual a percepção e as decisões de gestão tomadas por empresas nos Açores, no contexto económico actual. Para o efeito realizaram-se entrevistas em três empresas sediadas nos Açores, com o intuito de serem analisadas como caso de estudo à luz do tema "Estratégias de Gestão em Momentos de Crise Económica". Desta forma, pretendeu-se aferir o modo como as empresas açorianas reagem e se adaptam ao meio envolvente, num momento de crise económica. [...].[...]. The overall objective of this study was to know the perception and decisions taken by management of companies in the current economic context. The interviews were conducted in three companies based in the Azores, in order to analyze as a case study in light of the theme "Management strategies in times of Economic Crisis." Thus, we sought to assess how the Azorean companies react and adapt to the environment at a time of economic crisis. [...]

Highlighting links between Geology, index properties and mechanical behaviour at the beginning of a first course in Soil Mechanics

The paper reports the experience of the authors teaching Soil Mechanics to undergraduate students. The focus is on the first three or four weeks of the semester. The practice consists of establishing, for the main soil archetypes (sedimentary sands and clays and residual soils), a strong relationship between: i) geological conditions prevailing during soil formation and thereafter; ii) soil physical-identification parameters; iii) basic trends of mechanical soil behaviour. The purpose is to explain - through simple mental models - how to interpret the basic physical and geological characterisation of the soil, in order to anticipate the main difficulties for a given (simple) project. These difficulties may include insufficient bearing capacity, very large and delayed settlements (soft clay), large settlements under seismic loading (loose sands), etc. In light of these difficulties, some solutions (just the main idea) are discussed (soil reinforcement, acceleration of settlements, vibro compaction, deep foundations instead of shallow foundations, etc.). The experience of transmitting this perspective is that these early classes enable: i) a better apprehension of the subsequent truly mechanical chapters; ii) a proper evaluation by the students of the technical and practical relevance of the subjects; iii) a strong motivation for the study of the discipline

On the multiplicity of umbilic points

We introduce an invariant of umbilic points on surfaces in the Euclidean or Minkowski 3-space that counts the maximum number of stable umbilic points they can split up under deformations of the surfaces. We call that number the multiplicity of the umbilic point and establish its properties

Statically analyzing the energy efficiency of software product lines

Optimizing software to become (more) energy efficient is an important concern for the software industry. Although several techniques have been proposed to measure energy consumption within software engineering, little work has specifically addressed Software Product Lines (SPLs). SPLs are a widely used software development approach, where the core concept is to study the systematic development of products that can be deployed in a variable way, e.g., to include different features for different clients. The traditional approach for measuring energy consumption in SPLs is to generate and individually measure all products, which, given their large number, is impractical. We present a technique, implemented in a tool, to statically estimate the worst-case energy consumption for SPLs. The goal is to reason about energy consumption in all products of a SPL, without having to individually analyze each product. Our technique combines static analysis and worst-case prediction with energy consumption analysis, in order to analyze products in a feature-sensitive manner: a feature that is used in several products is analyzed only once, while the energy consumption is estimated once per product. This paper describes not only our previous work on worst-case prediction, for comprehensibility, but also a significant extension of such work. This extension has been realized in two different axis: firstly, we incorporated in our methodology a simulated annealing algorithm to improve our worst-case energy consumption estimation. Secondly, we evaluated our new approach in four real-world SPLs, containing a total of 99 software products. Our new results show that our technique is able to estimate the worst-case energy consumption with a mean error percentage of 17.3% and standard deviation of 11.2%.This paper acknowledges the support of the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 (Strategic partnership for higher education) project No. 2020-1-PT01-KA203-078646: SusTrainable-Promoting Sustainability as a Fundamental Driver in Software Development Training and Education

PCMAT, an adaptive learning platform

This paper is about PCMAT, an adaptive learning platform for Mathematics in Basic Education schools. Based on a constructivist approach, PCMAT aims at verifying how techniques from adaptive hypermedia systems can improve e-learning based systems. To achieve this goal, PCMAT includes a Pedagogical Model that contains a set of adaptation rules that influence the student-platform interaction. PCMAT was subject to a preliminary testing with students aged between 12 and 14 years old on the subject of direct proportionality. The results from this preliminary test are quite promising as they seem to demonstrate the validity of our proposal.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (COMPETE

Anaphylaxis in Pregnancy: a Rare Cause of Neonatal Mortality

Anaphylaxis is a rare condition in pregnancy. Drugs are the aetiological agents most often implicated. Maternal anaphylaxis can lead to significant fetal morbidity and even mortality if uterine perfusion and maternal oxygenation are compromised. Significant risk of neonatal neurological damage or death can occur even when the maternal clinical outcome is favourable. The authors present the case of a newborn, born at gestational age of 29 weeks, who died at 11 days of life with hypoxic-ischaemic cerebral injuries as a consequence of maternal anaphylaxis following the administration of amoxicillin in the community setting.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Content adaptation for an adaptive hypermedia system

The aim of this paper is presenting the recommendation module of the Mathematics Collaborative Learning Platform (PCMAT). PCMAT is an Adaptive Educational Hypermedia System (AEHS), with a constructivist approach, which presents contents and activities adapted to the characteristics and learning style of students of mathematics in basic schools. The recommendation module is responsible for choosing different learning resources for the platform, based on the user's characteristics and performance. Since the main purpose of an adaptive system is to provide the user with content and interface adaptation, the recommendation module is integral to PCMAT’s adaptation model

Movimentos europeus no século XVII:Nápoles, Inglaterra, Portugal e Catalunha

Nesta reflexão propomos, usando a sociologia histórica, entrar numa área de estudo, no mínimo, controversa ou problemática – o estudo das revoluções. Esta temática, assustadora devido à sua densidade, espelha as sociedades passada, presente e futura. Através de diretrizes simples e adequadas, centramos esta dissertação em quatro casos revolucionários aparentemente independentes entre si: Portugal, Espanha, Reino de Nápoles e Inglaterra. As reivindicações e alterações pós-revolucionárias destas rebeliões contextualizarão o assunto abordado, enquanto a duração dos efeitos – se são medidas a curto ou longo prazo – ajudarão a definir a sua eficácia. Nos quatro casos verificaremos que diversos fatores se alinham e repetem: as revoltas dos grupos inferiores; a ineficácia dos aparelhos definidos pelos governos vigentes; a tentativa de rutura do Estado por líderes reacionários. Iremos, também, refletir sobre toda a trajetória revolucionária, destacando diversas dimensões causais - democracia, guerra, centralidade política, posição popular, entre outras - e, através delas, ponderar a relação de concorrência entre os Estados e a tomada de medidas, por parte do governo, que afetarão todos os envolventes. Propomos, então, uma observação capaz de englobar a sociologia histórica, em todas as suas variantes, e de expandir a análise causal estrutural e não-estrutural, apontando a relevância do agente social, das mentalidades, da cultura, da religião, dos simbolismos.In this reflection we propose, using historical sociology, to enter a field of study that is, at least, controversial or problematic - the study of revolutions. This theme, frightening because of its density, mirrors past, present and future societies. Through simple and proper guidelines, we focus this dissertation on four revolutionary cases apparently independent of each other: Portugal, Spain, Kingdom of Naples and England. The post-revolutionary alterations and claims will provide the context for the object in study, while the duration of its effects – whether short-term or long-term measures – will help define its effectiveness. In these four cases we will find that several different factors align and repeat themselves: the revolts of the lower groups; the ineffectiveness of the apparatus defined by the existing governments; the attempt to break the state by reactionary leaders. We will also reflect on the whole revolutionary trajectory, highlighting various causal dimensions - democracy, war, political centrality, popular position, among others - and through them to ponder the relationship of competition between states and action by government, which will affect all involved. We propose, therefore, an observation capable of encompassing historical sociology, in all its variants, and of expanding structural and nonstructural causal analysis, pointing out the relevance of the social agent, mentalities, culture, religion, and symbolism

A participação de pessoas com deficiência na atividade física: Uma perspetiva de seus familiares

A importância da atividade física (AF) na vida de pessoas com deficiência é, hoje em dia, muito reconhecida, nomeadamente pelos vários benefícios que proporciona (Martin, 2013). Porém, apesar do seu valor, os níveis de participação na prática de AF, em pessoas com deficiência, são baixos. São, por isso, poucas as pessoas com deficiência que têm acesso a uma AF específica e adaptada às suas reais necessidades. Face à necessidade de melhorar este aspeto, importa conhecer a perspetiva dos familiares sobre esta temática, uma vez que estes possuem um papel fundamental na vida das pessoas com deficiência, quer ao nível das tomadas de decisão, quer no modo como influenciam a sua participação na AF. O grupo de estudo foi constituído por 30 pais e avós de pessoas com deficiência. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, posteriormente transcritas, através de uma transcrição híbrida, entre indexical e unfocused (Gibson e Brown, 2009). Emergiram três temas de uma abordagem indutiva (Bryman, 2008): expectativas iniciais sobre a participação de pessoas com deficiência na prática de AF; realidade sobre a participação de pessoas com deficiência na prática de AF; e da realidade às expectativas futuras sobre a participação de pessoas com deficiência na prática de AF. Conclui-se que os pais e avós conhecem vários benefícios decorrentes da prática de AF, nomeadamente ao nível social, psicológico e fisiológico. Esse conhecimento influencia, positivamente, pais e avós a colocar os seus filhos e netos nessa mesma prática. Os pais e avós identificaram igualmente as barreiras que impedem a participação dos filhos e netos em determinadas atividades, nomeadamente ao nível de barreiras pessoais, sociais, ambientais e organizacionais. Estas barreiras são muitas vezes impeditivas da prática de AF ou de maior frequência dessa prática. Por fim, pais e avós consideram fundamental que as organizações da área sejam detentores de profissionais especializados, um custo acessível, um ambiente inclusivo, devendo existir uma oferta capaz de cobrir as várias zonas geográficas.Nowadays, the importance of physical activity in the life of people with disability is recognized by the many benefits that it conveys (Martin, 2013). Even though this recognition exists, the level of participation of people with disability in physical activity is low. There are only a few with access to a program of physical activity, specified and adapted to their necessities. Given the need to change, it is important to know the perspective of the family in this matter, as they have a major role either in the process of decision or in influencing the participation of people with disability in physical activity. The study group was 30 parents and grandparents of people with disability. Semi structured interviews were conductd and later transcribed through a hybrid form, between indexical and unfocused approaches (Gibson & Brown, 2009). Three themes emerged from an inductive thematic analysis (Bryman, 2008): Initial expectations on the participation of people with disability in physical activity; the reality of the participation of people with disability in physical activity; and from reality to the future expectations of the participation of people with disability on physical activity. It was concluded that: parents and grandparents know many benefits of physical activity, in social, psychological and physiological levels; knowledge influences positevely the parents and grandmothers, including their children and grandchildren, with respect to their participation in physical activity; parents and grandmothers also identified the barriers that hinder the participation of their children and grandchildren, namely personal, social, environmental and organizational obstacles. These barriers are many times preventive of their participation in physical activity or in more regular basis. As such, parents and grandmothers consider that sports organizations and clubs of the area should have specialized professionals, a price that is affordable, inclusive environment and the existence of a sufficient number of organizations in many different geographical areas, as encouraging factors to practice a physical activity