Motivations and attitudes of men towards male gamete donation: donate to whom and why?

O alargamento da Procriação Medicamente Assistida (PMA) a todas as mulheres e o levantamento do anonimato da doação enfatizou a escassez de dadores, em Portugal. Foram exploradas motivações para doar, atitudes face ao anonimato e atitudes face a doar para grupos específicos por parte de homens aptos a doar gâmetas, entre os 18 e 40 anos (N = 282). Explorou-se ainda a relação entre estas motivações e atitudes e as caraterísticas psicológicas e sociodemográficas dos participantes, incluindo a sua orientação sexual. Os participantes reportaram razões altruístas para doar, mostraram atitudes positivas face ao anonimato e maior preferência a doar a mulher inférteis. Porém, no caso de homens heterossexuais, menos educados e mais novos, a motivação para doar para estava mais relacionada com a certificação acerca da própria fertilidade; os últimos tenderam, ainda, a defender que os pais que recorrem a PMA devem divulgar, à criança, as suas origens. Relativamente às variáveis psicológicas, a Conscienciosidade mostrou-se positivamente associada a "saber se sou fértil ou não". A preocupação empática evidenciou uma associação positiva com "ajudar alguém a ter um filho" e com atitudes positivas face à doação, independentemente da orientação sexual, fertilidade ou estado civil dos recetores. Valores de conservação mostraram-se positivamente associados a "compensação financeira" e "saber se sou fértil ou não". Uma maior adesão a valores religiosos mostrou-se negativamente associada a "ajudar alguém a ter um filho" e a atitudes positivas face à doação para todas as pessoas. As campanhas de recrutamento de dadores devem considerar as motivações, as atitudes e as características de potenciais dadores; a parentalidade deve ser vista como um direito universal, e a doação deve ser incentivada, independentemente do estatuto de fertilidade dos recetores; informações claras sobre o anonimato da doação poderão também ser fornecidas

Definition and application of an external employer branding strategy framework: Associação Académica de Coimbra – O.A.F.

Today, companies are fighting for the best talent in the market, recognizing their workforce as a competitive advantage. However, talent is scarce and organizations need to find ways to attract, develop and retain their employees. Employer Branding is the concept behind this idea and is the key strategy for companies to succeed in this “war of talent”. This project aims to define an Employer Branding strategy, focused on the external dimension, applied to Associação Académica de Coimbra – Organismo Autónomo de Futebol, which is struggling financially. It emerges from the current situation of the organization and from some internal changes already in progress, and it focus not only on specific recommendations but mainly on the development of a full strategic framework to adopt. To solve this challenge, an internal analysis was carried out through meetings, discussion sessions, surveys, interviews, and job experience, complemented with the outside perspective of professionals and with literature, both on Employer Branding and Strategic Planning. The results are summarized in two main points: (1) the construction of a strategic framework; and (2) on its application to the club’s reality. It allowed to define the fundamentals of Académica and set the long-term vision and goals it wants to achieve with this strategy. Thereafter, they were translated in specific initiatives and in measurement indicators, being fully detailed on their concept, timeline, logistics, investment required and expected return. This strategy for Académica was set in full alignment with its needs and reality, covering simple and pragmatic initiatives, guaranteeing its feasibility.Atualmente, as empresas lutam pelo melhor talento no mercado, reconhecendo nos colaboradores uma possível vantagem competitiva. No entanto, o talento é escasso e as organizações precisam de encontrar formas de atrair, desenvolver e reter os seus colaboradores. O Employer Branding é o conceito por trás desta ideia e é a estratégia certa para as organizações que pretendem ter sucesso nesta "guerra de talento". Este projeto visa definir uma estratégia de Employer Branding externo, aplicada à Associação Académica de Coimbra - Organismo Autónomo de Futebol, que se encontra em dificuldades financeiras. O projeto surge da situação atual da organização e de mudanças internas já a decorrer, tendo o seu foco não só em recomendações específicas, mas também no desenvolvimento de uma estratégia a implementar. Para solucionar este desafio, foi efetuada uma análise interna através de reuniões, questionários, entrevistas e experiência profissional, complementada com literatura e uma perspetiva externa de profissionais, tanto sobre Employer Branding como sobre Planeamento Estratégico. Os resultados podem ser resumidos em dois pontos principais: (1) a construção de um plano estratégico; e (2) a sua aplicação à realidade da Académica. Este processo permitiu definir os pilares do clube e estabelecer a visão e objetivos a longo prazo a alcançar com esta estratégia. Foram posteriormente traduzidos em ações específicas e em indicadores de avaliação, sendo detalhados no seu conceito, tempo, logística, investimento e retorno esperado. Esta estratégia foi estabelecida em total alinhamento com as necessidades e realidade do clube, abrangendo iniciativas simples e pragmáticas, que garantam a sua viabilidade

Recreational shore angling in the south and southwest coast of mainland Portugal

All fishing-related activities impact exploited ecosystems, which is underestimated by fisheries statistics that rely only on commercial fisheries information. Collection of recreational fishing data is mandatory under the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF, EC 199/2008), and will provide reliable, enabling the integration of catch estimates from commercial and recreational fisheries for stock assessments. Nevertheless, and despite the obligation of data collection on recreational fisheries, there is still the lack of up-to-date scientific information to support management. This studied aimed to characterize shore-based marine recreational fishing (MRF) in the south and southwest coast of Portugal (from Setúbal to V.R.S. António), promoting a systematic collection of data to ensure a solid scientific basis to implement adequate measures adjusted to the reality. Data collection was undertaken trough roving creel surveys using face-to-face questionnaires (in a digital Android system). The methodology implied a comprehensive sampling strategy in which the coastline was divided into 5 km sections considering the two Territorial Units for Statistical Purposes (NUTS II) in the study. A total of 403 shore angers were approached, resulting in 349 valid questionnaires (response rate of 87%). The studied population is constituted mainly by male individuals, of a wide range of age distribution, more common between 41 and 70 years old, with a high experience in the recreational activity. Sportfishing is not very popular among the surveyed anglers. The generically low educational level and the low monthly incomes are common for both regions of study, being most of the angler’s resident in the nearby region where the interview was developed and were fishing either alone or with their families/friends in equal proportion. The activity has his fishing effort peak during the Spring and Summer months, despite most of the surveyed anglers referred fishing during the entire year. The great majority of the anglers referred to know and to be reasonably satisfied with the current legislation and management measures. Nevertheless, a steady decay in the abundance of marine resources has been noticed and pollution and commercial fishing were pointed out as the main causes. A total of 856 individuals were caught, from 33 different species, with a total weight of 274.76 kg. The most important targeted species were the white seabream (Diplodus sargus) both in number and weight (N=365; W=86.07 kg), followed by the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) with 97 individuals caught that weighed72.93 kg and the spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) with 106 individuals caught weighing 22.37 kg. The Sparidae family (Diplodus spp.) importance must be emphasized corresponding to 65.62% of the total catch. An annual harvest of 1992.48 tons of fish was estimated for shore-based marine recreational anglers of the Alentejo and the Algarve during 2018. The sargo breams (Diplodus spp.) are the most relevant catch species/group of species with 463.81tons, followed by the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with an estimated annual total catch of 116.40 tons, and the spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) with 82.88 tons of fish. The economic revenue of the shore-based activity in the regions of Alentejo and Algarve, only regarding the direct expenses, was estimated to be 1.67 million euros. To ensure adequate management of the aquatic resources, it is crucial that studies like this continue being carried on a periodical basis, providing information that can serve as a baseline to support the current management measures

Thermodynamics of Denaturation Transition of DNA Duplex Oligomers in the Context of Nearest Neighbor Models: A Short Review

AbstractIn this article, it is shown how additive physical properties of DNA double strand polymers can be expanded in terms of 8 irreducible parameters. This provides self-consistency relations among the corresponding 10 duplex dimer contributions. To allow for oligomer analysis, initiation parameters must be added, and, this adds extra degrees of freedom to the fore mentioned parameters. This modelling permits that nucleation free energies could be calculated as a function of the mean global composition of the chain

10-year portuguese football strategic plan: sustainable growth

Analysis of main pillars in the 10-year strategic plan for Portuguese football in partnership with FPF and Deloitte. Fan engagement and how to improve their experience. Women’s football current development and how to incentivize the youth to practice. How to increase the numbers of participants, as most athletes drop the sport during university years. Which broadcasting rights model, decentralized and centralized, should be implemented in Portugal. However ,the choice remains arguable. International exposure and developing countries as an opportunity to increase viewership. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the strategy being created by FPF and Deloitte and makes recommendations

Floating total knee: periprosthetic fracture of the distal femur combined with tibial plateau fracture in primary total knee arthroplasty

We are currently witnessing an increasing number of complications associated with arthroplasty, both due to its greater prevalence, whether primary or revision, and to the population's longer average life expectancy. Periprosthetic fractures associated with a floating knee, in the context of total knee arthroplasty, are rare and their treatment is challenging. We present a case of ipsilateral periprosthetic fracture of the distal femur combined with fracture of the tibial plate in total knee arthroplasty. The 80-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department after falling from her own height at home. She reported diffuse pain in her right knee and associated functional incapacity. The limb was stabilized and immobilized in a posterior long leg splint. Initial X-rays showed an ipsilateral periprosthetic fracture of the distal femur and medial tibial plate. The patient's only previous surgery was a total right knee arthroplasty performed in 2020. She underwent surgical treatment with osteosynthesis of the distal femur with a locked anatomical plate and arthroplasty revision of the tibial component. Periprosthetic fractures associated with knee arthroplasty typically involve the distal femur. Fractures involving the tibia are rare and usually occur in the medial tibial plate, in the presence of detachment of the tibial component. There is little published literature on this type of fracture in elderly patients. Periprosthetic fractures in total knee arthroplasty require individualized and planned treatment according to the personality of each fracture and the existence or not of prosthetic detachment

3-D Hybrid Localization with RSS/AoA in Wireless Sensor Networks: Centralized Approach

This dissertation addresses one of the most important issues present in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), which is the sensor’s localization problem in non-cooperative and cooperative 3-D WSNs, for both cases of known and unknown source transmit power PT . The localization of sensor nodes in a network is essential data. There exists a large number of applications for WSNs and the fact that sensors are robust, low cost and do not require maintenance, makes these types of networks an optimal asset to study or manage harsh and remote environments. The main objective of these networks is to collect different types of data such as temperature, humidity, or any other data type, depending on the intended application. The knowledge of the sensors’ locations is a key feature for many applications; knowing where the data originates from, allows to take particular type of actions that are suitable for each case. To face this localization problem a hybrid system fusing distance and angle measurements is employed. The measurements are assumed to be collected through received signal strength indicator and from antennas, extracting the received signal strength (RSS) and angle of arrival (AoA) information. For non-cooperativeWSN, it resorts to these measurements models and, following the least squares (LS) criteria, a non-convex estimator is developed. Next, it is shown that by following the square range (SR) approach, the estimator can be transformed into a general trust region subproblem (GTRS) framework. For cooperative WSN it resorts also to the measurement models mentioned above and it is shown that the estimator can be converted into a convex problem using semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation techniques.It is also shown that the proposed estimators have a straightforward generalization from the known PT case to the unknown PT case. This generalization is done by making use of the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator to compute the value of the PT . The results obtained from simulations demonstrate a good estimation accuracy, thus validating the exceptional performance of the considered approaches for this hybrid localization system

International Meeting 40 years of the 1980 Azores Earthquake, 6th - 7th October 2020 - Conference Report

The main goal of the International Meeting “40 Years of the 1980 Azores Earthquake” was promoting a reflection of the earthquake of January 1st, 1980, and the advances since them on topics like seismology, seismic hazard, and risk, building rehabilitation and public policies. Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the organizing committee decided that the meeting should be online and re- arrange the strategy, reduce the scientific program, and canceled the social one. The scientific program had five sessions, with six keynotes, 16 presentations, round table beyond the opening ceremony. All the sessions were live-streamed and available at https://azores4080meeting.wordpress.com as well as the proceedings and program. Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade dos Açores and Universidade de Évora handled the organization of the conference