COVID-19: A new meaning of telework: Based on an online survey of the employee’s perceptions

The Covid-19 pandemic forced organizations to adopt telework as the only solution to maintain activity in a scenario of mandatory confinement. The pandemic has created room for research of individual and organizational options. Our study explores the level of satisfaction of teleworkers on several dimensions. Additionally, it compares two types of teleworkers, those who were already working in this regime and those who joined remote work during the pandemic. This exploratory research is based on an online survey, applied in 2021, which allowed the collection of data on 156 teleworkers. The empirical results show a very positive perception regarding individual productivity, flexibility and autonomy in scheduling work tasks, work-life balance, due to the flexibility that teleworking allows. These are considered the main advantages of teleworking that have become mandatory. On the other hand, isolation emerges as a negative aspect within the domains studied. In addition, the boundaries between work and family responsibilities have become blurred, which can cause conflict between these two roles. Regarding the organization, respondents admit that managers played a more difficult role in managing their teams remotely during the pandemic. Teleworkers consider, however, that there was reliable support, even remotely. Regarding the future, the workers who participated in the study consider the experience positive and intend to continue teleworking in a post-pandemic future, but in a hybrid mode.A pandemia de Covid-19 obrigou as organizações a adotar o teletrabalho como a única solução para manter a atividade num cenário de confinamento obrigatório. Ao nível académico abriu espaço novo para investigação ao nível individual e organizacional. O nosso estudo explora o nível satisfação dos teletrabalhadores num conjunto de dimensões do teletrabalho. Além disso, compara dois tipos de teletrabalhadores, os que já exerciam a sua atividade neste regime e os que aderiram ao trabalho remoto durante a pandemia. Esta pesquisa de natureza exploratória baseia-se num inquérito online, aplicado em 2021, que permitiu a recolha de dados sobre 156 teletrabalhadores. Os resultados empíricos mostram uma perceção muito positiva relativamente à produtividade individual, à flexibilidade e autonomia na programação das tarefas de trabalho, e ao equilíbrio trabalho-vida pessoal, devido à flexibilidade que o teletrabalho permite. Estas são consideradas as principais vantagens do teletrabalho que se tornou obrigatório. Do seu lado, o isolamento surge como um aspeto negativo, dentro dos domínios estudados. Acresce ainda que as fronteiras entre o trabalho e responsabilidades familiares se tornaram mais confusas, devido á pandemia, o que pode provocar conflito entre estes dois papéis. Relativamente à organização, os inquiridos admitem que os gestores desempenharam um papel mais difícil na gestão remota das suas equipas, durante a pandemia. No entanto os teletrabalhadores consideram, todavia, que houve acompanhamento, mesmo remotamente. Relativamente ao futuro, os trabalhadores que participaram no estudo consideram a experiência positiva e pretendem continuar em teletrabalho num futuro pós-pandémico, mas num modo híbrido

Pre-treatment of different types of lignocellulosic biomass using ionic liquids

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau Mestre em BiotecnologiaThe pre-treatment of biomass by ionic liquid (IL) is a method opening new possibilities of biomass fractionation for further valorisation of low value feedstock. This work is dedicated to study on the pre-treatment and fractionation of different types of lignocellulosic biomass into its major constituent fractions (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin), using ILs. The biomass tested was: wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, rice straw and triticale. Initially, the optimised methods were development basing on two methodologies described in the literature. This method allows the separation into high purity carbohydrate-rich (cellulose and hemicellulose) and lignin-rich fractions and permits an efficient IL recovery. The possibility of IL reuse was confirmed, demonstrating the great potential of the established method. The pre-treatment of various biomasses confirms the versatility and efficiency of the optimised methodology since not only the complete macroscopic dissolution of each biomass was achieved but also the fractionation process was successfully performed. Pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse and triticale allowed to obtained cellulose samples rich in carbohydrate up to 90 wt %. In order to verify the potential further applicability of the obtained carbohydrate-rich fractions, as well as to evaluate the pre-treatment efficiency, the cellulose-rich fraction resulting from 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][OAc]) pre-treatment was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. Results showed a very high digestibility of the cellulose-rich samples and confirmed a high glucose yield for the optimised pre-treatment methodology. The samples obtained after the pre-treatment with ILs were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). After the pre-treatment, the purity of the recovered ILs was evaluated through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The enzymatic hydrolysis results were analysed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC)

Key factors for nature value in Montados

Montados are parkland forested areas of anthropogenic origin dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber) and/or holm oak (Q. rotundifolia). They are derived from natural Mediterranean forests, where the use of woodland products (timber, charcoal and cork) is combine with cereal crops and livestock grazing in the understory (Blondel and Aronson 1999). These use resulted in a singular “savanna” like land cover pattern particularly important for the biodiversity associated with farming and forestry systems (Canteiro et al. 2011; Godinho and Rabaça 2011; Simões et al. 2012). As result of the mosaic created by this dynamic heterogeneous landscape which forms a wooded matrix with open areas, scattered woodlands and undisturbed patches of Mediterranean forest and scrublands, montados support a high biological diversity (Díaz et al. 1997, 2003; Blondel and Aronson 1999; Tellería 2001; Tellería et al. 2003; Harrop 2007). According to Tellería (2001) bird richness increases in woodlands southwards along the Iberian gradient, with montados and dehesas showing the higher scores. This pattern is related with the increase presence of edge and open area bird which appears to compensate the lost of forest birds. Due to this diversity of species, birds can have an important role in the valuation of montados as HNV. In the last decades the scientific community has given particular attention to the different roles that birds may play in montados: management options and the breeding bird communities (Camprondon and Brotons 2006; Godinho and Rabaça 2011, Leal at al. 2012; Pereira et al. 2012a; Pulido and Díaz 1992), the influence of cork extraction on birds (Godinho and Rabaça 2011; Leal et al. 2011), relevance of habitat diversity in agroforestry matrices (Leal et al. 2011; Pereira et al. 2012b)

Contributos para a compreensão do processo de empatia e do seu desenvolvimento

A presente investigação tem como objectivo estudar a empatia numa perspectiva desenvolvimental, para perceber as relações entre empatia, vinculação e regulação emocional, aferindo se esta pode ser transmitida de pais para filhos. A amostra é constituída por 609 sujeitos, 406 adultos e 203 crianças. Os instrumentos utilizados nos adultos foram o Índice de Reactividade Interpessoal, adaptado para a população portuguesa por Limpo, Alves & Castro (2010); a Escala de Vinculação do Adulto, adaptada por Canavarro, Dias & Lima (2006) e o Questionário de Regulação Emocional, adaptado por Vaz & Martins (2008). Nas crianças, utilizou-se a Escala de Avaliação de Empatia, adaptada por Veiga & Santos (2011). Concluiu-se que existem relações significativas entre empatia, vinculação e regulação emocional, embora sem mediação por parte desta última; a dimensão afectiva da empatia ganha preponderância, principalmente a preocupação empática e o desenvolvimento empático nas crianças parece estar muito dependente desta dimensão afectiva; Abstract: Contributions to the understanding of the process of empathy and its development This investigation has two purposes: study possible relationships between empathy, attachment and self-regulation and understand if empathy can be transmitted between parents and children, all considering a developmental approach. This investigation used 609 subjects, 406 adults and 203 children. In adults were administered Índice de Reactividade Interpessoal, adapted for portuguese population by Limpo, Alves & Castro (2010); Escala de Vinculação do Adulto, adapted by Canavarro, Dias & Lima (2006) and Questionário de Regulação Emocional, adapted by Vaz & Martins (2008). In children were administered Escala de Avaliação de Empatia, adapted by Veiga & Santos (2011). The results showed significant relations between empathy, attachment and selfregulation, without mediation effect by the latter; affective dimension has preponderance, especially empathic concern and empathic development in children seems to be very dependent on this affective dimension

A Stochastic Model for Managing Tasks of R&D Projects

In this paper, we propose a model for managing tasks of R&D projects. We assume that di®erent amounts of resources may be allocated to a task, leading to different costs, and di®erent average execution speeds. The advancement of the task will be stochastic, and the manager may change the allocated amount of resources according to the way the task is progressing. The revenues will depend on the time to the completion of the task, and their expected value will follow a stochastic process. We consider that a strategy for completing the task will consist on a set of rules that de¯ne the level of resources to be chosen at each moment, according to the values of several state variables. We discuss the evaluation for completing the task, and we brie°y address the problem of finding the optimal strateg

Study of new adsorbents and operation cycles for medical PSA units

Tese de doutoramento. Engenharia Química. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Reducing meat consumption and following plant-based diets: current evidence and future directions to inform integrated transitions

Background: There is increasing consensus that transitioning towards reduced meat consumption and more plant-based diets is a key feature to address important health and sustainability challenges. However, relevant evidence that may inform these transitions remains fragmented with no overarching rationale or theoretical framework, which limits the ability to design and deliver coordinated efforts to address these challenges. Scope and approach: Eleven databases were systematically searched using sets of keywords referring meat curtailment, meat substitution and plant-based diets, as well as consumer choice, appraisal or behavior (2602 articles selected for title and abstract screening; 161 full-texts assessed for eligibility; 110 articles selected for extraction and coding). Barriers and enablers were identified and integrated into an overarching framework (i.e., COM-B system), which conceptualizes behavior as being influenced by three broad components: capability, opportunity and motivation. Key findings and conclusions: This review mapped potential barriers and enablers in terms of capability, opportunity, and motivation to reduce meat consumption and follow more plant-based diets. These included lack of information for consumers and difficulty to acquire new cooking skills (barrier, capability), changes in service provision in collective meal contexts (enabler, opportunity), and positive taste expectations for plant-based meals (enabler, motivation). Evidence on variables referring to the motivation domain is clearly increasing, but there is a striking need for studies that include capability and opportunity variables as well. The results of this review are relevant to a variety of fields and audiences interested in promoting sustainable living and health improvements through dietary choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A tool to manage tasks of R&D projects

We propose a tool for managing tasks of Research and Development (R&D) projects. We define an R&D project as a network of tasks and we assume that different amounts of resources may be allocated to a task, leading to different costs and different average execution times. The advancement of a task is stochastic, and the management may reallocate resources while the task is being performed,according to its progress. The operational cash flows depend on the task completion time, and their expected values follow a stochastic process. We consider that a strategy for completing a task is a set of rules that define the level of resources to be allocated to the task at each moment. We discuss the evaluation of strategies for completing a task, and we address the problem of finding the optimal strateg

Birds as bio-indicators and as tools to evaluate restoration measures

Within the RIPIDURABLE Project*, birds were used to characterize ecosystems*, to monitor environmental changes and to assess results of restoration measures. Bird surveys were carried out at different space and time scales using standardised point count methods on 8 watercourses in Portugal and France. Several aspects of riparian breeding bird community variation were assessed: along a decreasing gradient of vegetation complexity, along and upstream-downstream gradient, with different surrounding landscapes, with time, with management status, with time and management status, before and after river rehabilitation. Birds appear to be new and reliable indicators for assessing restoration of riparian ecosystems, complementary to those traditionally used