Explaining local manufacturing growth in Chile : the advantages of sectoral diversity

This paper investigates whether the agglomeration of economic activity in regional clusters affects long-run manufacturing total factor productivity growth in an emerging market context. It explores a large firm-level panel dataset for Chile during a period characterized by high growth rates and rising regional income inequality (1992-2004). The findings are clear-cut. Locations with greater concentration of a particular sector did not experience faster growth in total factor productivity during this period. Rather, local sector diversity was associated with higher long-run growth in total factor productivity. However, there is no evidence that the diversity effect was driven by the local interaction with a set of suppliers and/or clients. The authors interpret this as evidence that agglomeration economies are driven by other factors, such as the sharing of access to specialized inputs not provided solely by a single sector, such as skills or financing.Labor Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Economic Growth,Political Economy,Achieving Shared Growth

Openness and technological innovations in developing countries : evidence from firm-level surveys

The authors analyze the role of international technological diffusion for firm-level technological innovations in several developing countries. Their findings show that, after controlling for firm, industry, and country characteristics, exporting and importing activities are important channels for the diffusion of technology. They also find evidence that the majority of foreign-owned firms are significantly less likely to engage in technological innovations than minority foreign-owned firms or domestic-owned firms. The authors interpret this finding as evidence that the technology transferred from multinational parents to majority-owned subsidiaries is more mature than that transferred to minority-owned subsidiaries. This finding supports the idea that equity joint ventures maximize technology transfers to local firms.Technology Industry,ICT Policy and Strategies,Education for Development (superceded),Innovation,Foreign Direct Investment

IMPETUS wearable strategy : competitive advantage in the Portuguese fashion industry

What is in the origin of the competitive advantage that IMPETUS had been crafting over the past 43 years? The Resource-Based Theory defended that a company can obtain its competitive advantage through the internal organization of its critical resources, though failed to deem the changing environment. In a complementary perspective, defining Dynamic Capabilities as the firm capability to internally and externally combine competencies to meet changing environments came to introduce the external dimension to the organization. IMPETUS, apart from being a Portuguese Group in the textile industry, is also the name of a brand specialist in male underwear. Reaching a total turnover of nearly €41,6 million and relying 95% on international markets, IMPETUS has been standing out in the Portuguese fashion industry. Innovation etched in the genetic code with a twist of diversification in its business areas seem to speak for the differentiation strategy settled during the past years. This dissertation purposes a journey into the company history. Aside from acknowledging which are the differentiation factors that this underwear specialist was capable of setting out, one must analyze its performance to identify what are the resources and capabilities that rely on, indeed, its competitive advantage. In this odyssey, one can deeper understand the elements inherent to this established wearable strategy and its dynamics in the textile changing environment.O que é que está na origem da vantagem competitiva que a IMPETUS tem vindo a desenvolver nos últimos 43 anos? A Teoria Baseada nos Recursos argumenta que é através da organização interna dos seus recursos críticos que uma empresa consegue obter vantagem competitiva, apesar de não considerar envolventes em mudança. Complementarmente, ao definir Capacidades Dinâmicas como a capacidade, interna e externa, das empresas combinarem competências para responder às mudanças na envolvente, introduziu a dimensão externa à organização. Representado não só o nome de um grupo português da indústria têxtil, IMPETUS é igualmente o nome da marca especialista em roupa interior masculina. Com um volume de negócios perto dos €41,6 milhões em cerca de 95% de mercados internacionais, a IMPETUS tem vindo a destacar-se na indústria da moda. Inovação assente no código genético com diversificação das áreas de negócio parecem definir a estratégia diferenciadora que a empresa tem vindo a construir. A presente dissertação propõe uma viagem à história da empresa. Para além de reconhecer os fatores diferenciadores que a IMPETUS foi desenvolvendo, deve considerar-se todo o seu desempenho, de modo a identificar quais são os recursos e capacidades em que assenta a vantagem competitiva. Com esta odisseia é possível compreender quais os elementos inerentes a esta, já estabelecida estratégia vestível, bem como a sua dinâmica no ambiente têxtil em mudança

Remediação de água eutrófica rica em P utilizando nanoargilas aniónicas

Eutrophication of water bodies is a common phenomenon resulting from the surplus of inorganic nutrients, usually related to anthropogenic activities, such as, agriculture, sewage discharges, mining, overconsumption, among others. Recent efforts to control and remediate eutrophication processes include the use of green nanotechnology. Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) are non toxic hydrotalcite-like anionic nanoclays that can exchange the stabilizer anion by others that can be present in the water, such as phosphates. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the efficacy of Zn-Al LDH-NO3 as a low toxic adsorbent for the remediation of P-rich water bodies (benchmarked with calcined LDH). For this purpose, three concentrations of LDHs (5, 50 and 500 mg/L) were added to P-rich solutions mimicking the maximum recommended concentration of phosphorus on drinking water (0.4 mg P/L) and wastewater (10 mg P/L), according to the Portuguese legislation (DL 236/98) and to water collected from an eutrophic artificial lake (Aveiro, Portugal), simulating a real scenario. Nitrates and phosphates were periodically measured to evaluate the nanomaterial capacity to remove phosphates’ content for a period of 7 days. The remediation efficacy was also assessed in terms of the toxicity of remediated water at the end of the remediation period through growth inhibition tests using the freshwater microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Tested materials showed a great efficacy on the removal of phosphates, in all tested media. Overall, the higher the LDH tested concentration, the higher the speed on P removal, the higher the nitrates released (below the recommended threshold for drinking water, 25 mg/L) and the higher the growth inhibition effects on the green microalgae R. subcapitata. The intercalation of phosphates was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). In conclusion, the results suggest that Zn-Al LDH-NO3 is a technological and environmentally friendly promising solution for phosphates remediation, preferably if used for very short-periods (e.g. the addition of 500 mg LDH/L into the solution of 10 mg P/L removes 99.9% of the P in just 5 minutes, releasing only 6 mg NO3/L).A eutrofização de corpos de água é um fenómeno comum resultante da disponibilidade de nutrientes inorgânicos, normalmente relacionada com atividades antropogénicas, tais como agricultura, descargas de esgoto, mineração, indústria, entre outros. Os recentes esforços para controlar e remediar o processo de eutrofização incluem a utilização da nanotecnologia. Os hidróxidos duplos lamelares (LDH) de Zn-Al são nanoargilas aniónicas não tóxicas que conseguem trocar o anião estabilizador por outros que podem estar presentes na água, como é o caso do fosfato. Deste modo, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia do Zn-Al LDH-NO3 como um adsorvente de baixa toxicidade para a remediação de massas de água ricas em P, comparativamente a um material de referência: LDH calcinado. Para tal, três concentrações de LDH (5, 50 e 500 mg/L) foram adicionados a soluções que mimetizaram a concentração de fosfato máxima recomendada em água potável (0.4 mg P/L) e água de ETAR (10 mg P/L), de acordo com a legislação Portuguesa (DL 236/98), e ainda a água recolhida de um lago artificial eutrofizado (Aveiro, Portugal), num cenário real. Os nitratos e fosfatos foram medidos periodicamente de forma a avaliar a capacidade do nanomaterial remover o conteúdo de fosfato durante um período de 7 dias. A eficácia da remediação aos 7 dias foi igualmente avaliada em termos da toxicidade da água remediada através de testes de inibição de crescimento da microalga de água doce Raphidocelis subcapitata. Os materiais testados demonstraram uma grande eficiência na remoção de fosfatos, em todos os meios testados. No geral, quanto maior a concentração de LDH, maior a velocidade de remoção de P, maior a quantidade de nitratos libertados (inferior ao limite para água potável: 25 mg NO3/L) e maior são os efeitos de inibição de crescimento na microalga R. subcapitata. A intercalação de fosfatos foi confirmada através da difração de raio-X (DRX). Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que Zn-Al LDH-NO3 é uma solução nanotecnológica ambientalmente promissora para a remediação de P, preferencialmente se utilizada durante curtos períodos de tempo (p.e. a adição de 500 mg LDH/L na solução de 10 mg P/L removeu 99.9% de P em apenas 5 minutos, libertando apenas 6 mg NO3/L).Mestrado em Eco-toxicologia e Análise de Risc

Hotel 4.0: technologies and its relation with the Portuguese guest

Due to the development of technology, this dissertation aims to explore its impact in the hospitality industry, mainly, in Portugal. The most important technologies for the Portuguese were identified as well as how the latest technologies. It was also investigated if the technology implemented in the Portuguese hotels correspond to the Portuguese needs. For the sake of understanding the task at hand, on chapter 2 – literature review – studies about the industry and technology as well as its relation with customer satisfaction were analyzed. Furthermore, the Portuguese industry and the guests’ profile were also unveiled. A questionnaire distributed among the Portuguese population was integrated as part of the study in order to analyze the underlying Portuguese expectations and needs. The results indicated that, although the respondents are pleased with technology present in the Portuguese hotels, they would change some technology to obtain the best guest experience. The respondents expressed a strong desire to experience something new. However, there were services where the traditional methods were preferred, even though they were less convenient. The Portuguese is, usually, resistant to innovation. However, the constant innovation together with the changing expectations, technologies that were once innovative become common over time. Therefore, with this dissertation, hotels may obtain updated information regarding the technology the Portuguese really wants.Devido à evolução da tecnologia, esta dissertação visa explorar o impacto que esta tem no setor hoteleiro, principalmente, em Portugal. Foram identificadas as tecnologias mais importantes para os portugueses assim como as últimas tecnologias na indústria. Adicionalmente, foi investigado se a tecnologia presente nos hotéis portugueses corresponde às necessidades dos portugueses. Com o objetivo de entender a tarefa em questão, no capítulo 2 - revisão da literatura – estudos referentes à indústria hoteleira e tecnologia, e a relação da tecnologia com a satisfação do cliente foram analisados. Além disso, a indústria portuguesa e o perfil dos hóspedes também foram incluídos. Um questionário distribuído pela população portuguesa, com o intuito de analisar as expetativas dos portugueses, foi integrado como parte do estudo. A partir dos resultados obtidos, é possível afirmar que, embora satisfeitos com a tecnologia presente nos hotéis portugueses, os respondentes alterariam alguma tecnologia de modo a obter a melhor experiência. Um forte desejo de experimentar algo novo foi expressado. No entanto, havia serviços em que os métodos tradicionais eram os preferidos, mesmo sendo menos convenientes. Os portugueses são, geralmente, resistentes à inovação. No entanto, as tecnologias, que eram antes inovadoras, tornam-se comuns ao longo do tempo devido à contante evolução da tecnologia e das expetativas. Assim, com esta dissertação, os hotéis poderão obter informação detalhada da tecnologia que os portugueses realmente desejam

Cybersecurity: perspectives from banking & capital markets, insurance and wealth & asset management sectors

This study focus on the perspective of cybersecurity in the financial services industry namely the Banking & Capital Markets, Insurance and Wealth & Asset Management sectors. Suffering the highest costs of cybersecurity and dealing with increasing sophisticated attacks, organizations within this industry must consider cyberattacks in their strategic planning. The comparison analysis suggests that the main vulnerability appointed by the three sectors are careless employees, their lack of training as well budget constraints and minor executive support. Moreover, the Board should acknowledge itself about information security in order to establish effective preventive and reactive measures. At last, cyber insurance interest is improving within the three sectors

Alimentos funcionais com base em massas alimentícias

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências FarmacêuticasAlimentos funcionais atuam beneficamente, de forma a estabelecer o bem-estar e a reduzir o risco de patologias, produzindo efeitos nutricionais adequados. Incluem substâncias como fibras alimentares, ómegas 3, 6 e 9, compostos fenólicos, carotenoides, probióticos, prebióticos e vitaminas oxidantes. Existem no mercado vários produtos funcionais, tais como iogurtes, cremes de barrar, cereais, leites, massas, ovos, entre outros. As massas alimentícias são uma opção nutricional apropriada para a incorporação de ingredientes funcionais. Neste trabalho são referidos vários estudos relativos a massas enriquecidas, nomeadamente com Spirulina platensis, Psyllium, folhas de cenoura e óregão, levedura Saccharomyces sp., isolado proteico de soja e polidextrose com paprica, wakame e massa sem glúten com farinha de gathotan (mandioca da Indonésia). É proposta também uma massa de pizza feita de farinha de milho e farinha de chia, enriquecida com Lactobacillus rhamnosus (probiótico), indicada para doentes celíacos, os quais têm intolerância ao glúten e necessitam que as suas opções alimentares no mercado sejam aumentadas. Functional foods confer benefits, in order to establish the well-being and reduce the risk of pathologies producing adequate nutritional effects. Include substances such as fibers, omegas 3, 6 and 9, phenolics, carotenoids, probiotics, prebiotics and oxidants vitamins. There are on the market various functional products such as yoghurts, creams spreads, cereals, milk, pasta, egg, among others. The pasta are an apropriated nutricional option for the incorporation of functional ingredients. In this work several studies on pasta are concerned, particularly with Spirulina platensis, Psyllium, oregano and carrot leaf, Saccharomyces sp., isolated soy protein and polydextrose with paprika, wakame and pasta with gluten free flour gathotan (cassava from Indonesia). In this study is proposed a pizza dough made from maize flour and chia flour, enriched with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (probiotic), indicated for celiac patients, who have gluten intolerance and require increased food choises on the market