Business Cycles, Core and Periphery in Monetary Unions: Comparing Europe and North America

We compare Europe with the USA and Canada as regards business cycle synchronization and core-periphery patterns. A long sample (1950-2005) makes it possible to study how these aspects have evolved over time. Results support the economic viability of EMU. Average cyclical correlations among European countries have risen significantly, reaching levels close to, or even higher than, those of North American regions. Applying fuzzy clustering to the analysis of core-periphery issues, we find Europe to actually outperform North America: the core-periphery divide is milder, and peripheral status seems generally less protracted.European Union, Canada, United States, Monetary Unions, Business Cycles, Fuzzy Clustering.

Irrigação em endodontia

Introdução e objectivos - O número de casos com reincidência de infecções póstratamento endodôntico, resultantes de uma incompleta desinfecção dos canais radiculares ainda é significativo e requer aperfeiçoamento. A complexidade do sistema de canais radiculares constitui o principal obstáculo à instrumentação e desinfecção dos mesmos em toda a sua extensão. A irrigação é um passo chave durante a instrumentação que possibilita a limpeza e desinfecção dos canais radiculares e através da qual, as bactérias, toxinas e os seus bio-produtos são eliminados. Este trabalho tem como objectivo descrever as várias técnicas de irrigação actualmente em uso na prática clínica. Materiais e métodos – Para elaboração deste trabalho de revisão foi efectuada uma pesquisa bibliográfica nos motores de busca: PubMed e Science Direct, utilizando como palavras-chave “endodontic irrigation”, “endodontic irrigants” e “sodium hypochloride”. Foram incluídos artigos desde 1915 a 2016 e a pesquisa foi realizada nos meses de Abril a Junho de 2016. Desenvolvimento - Um irrigante endodôntico deve responder a um conjunto de requisitos, entre os quais a eficácia na desinfecção total e definitiva dos canais radiculares, a eliminação da smear layer, deve ser não-antigénico, não tóxico e não carcinogénico e preservar a função do dente. O irrigante mais utilizado é o hipoclorito de sódio, mas alternativas têm sido amplamente utilizadas, tais como clorexidina, ácido etilenodiaminotetra-acético, e irrigantes combinados, tais como uma mistura de tetraciclina, um ácido e um detergente (MTAD), o Hypoclean® e o QMix®. Conlusão - Embora o NaOCl seja a solução que mais se aproxime do irrigante perfeito, a sua toxicidade representa um risco para o paciente e as suas limitações enquanto desinfectante são factores a considerar. A conjugação do NaOCl com outros irrigantes, bem como a formulação dos irrigantes compostos, tem vindo a melhorar a eficiência dos tratamentos endodônticos. No entanto, justifica-se o permanente investimento científico nesta área para que se reduza para níveis esporádicos os casos de reinfecção.Introduction and objectives - The number of reincident infections post-treatment resulting from incomplete disinfection of the root canal is still significant and requires improvement. The complexity of the root canal system represents a serious obstacle to the instrumentations and disinfection along the total extension of the canal. The irrigation is the key step during instrumentaion that allows the cleaning and disinfection of the root canal, through which bactéria, toxins, biopoducts and tissue debris are eliminated. The aim of this work is to describe the variety of irrigation techniques in endodontics currently used in the clinical practice. Materials and methods - In order to elaborate this review, a bibliografic research was made using the motors PubMed and Science Direct and “endodontic irrigation”, “endodontic irrigants” and “sodium hypochloride” were applied as keywords. This review includes scientific articles from 1915 to 2016 and the research lasted from Abril to June 2016. Development - An endodontic irrigant is cleaning solution able to disinfect totally and definetily the root canal, eliminate the smear layer without inducing an antigenic response, nor being toxic or carcinogenic and preserve the teeth function. The most widely used irrigant is sodium hypochlorite, but other compounds have also been largely used, such as chlorhexidine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and combined irrigants, such as the mixture of tetracycline, an acid and a detergent (MTAD), Hypoclean® and QMix®. Conclusion - Although NaOCl is the closest to the perfect irrigant, its toxicity remains a clear risk to the patient e its limitations as disinfectant agent can not be neglected. The combination of NaOCL with other solutions, as well as new formulations, have improved the efficiency of the endodontic treatment. Nevertheless, it is necessary to keep investing in this field so that the cases of reinfection are reduced to sporadic cases

Business Cycles, Core and Periphery in Monetary Unions: comparing Europe and North America

We compare Europe with the USA and Canada as regards business cycle synchronization and core-periphery patterns. A long sample (1950-2005) makes it possible to study how these aspects have evolved over time. Results support the economic viability of EMU. Average cyclical correlations among European countries have risen significantly, reaching levels close to, or even higher than, those of North American regions. Applying fuzzy clustering to the analysis of core-periphery issues, we find Europe to actually outperform North America: the core-periphery divide is milder, and peripheral status seems generally less protracted

E-Business Strategy, What Happened In 2000?

O ano 2000 representou uma ruptura naforma como o e-business é entendido como um canal independente ou com plementar para servir o clientefinal. Até essa altura, havia um excessivo reconhecimento das suas potencialidades mas, depois do crash NASDAQ, ocurrido em meados daquele ano, quebrou as expectativas geradas. Numaprimeirafase, esta ruptura, originou uma onda de descrédito em relação ao e-business. Depois, essa ruptura inspirou diversos académicos e investigadores a desen volverem estudos acerca do realmente aconteceu e as suas causas. Neste artigo é desenvolvida uma revião bibliográfica tendo em vista a identificação das diversas perspectivas, e estabelecer um quadro comparativo. Procurando evitar os erros cometidos no passado e retirarpartido da maturidadeproporcionadapela crise, a bibliografia é restringida apublicações posteriores ao primeiro semestre de 2000

The CHEUAL Breast Cancer Model Application – Interactive Cost-Utility Analysis of Bevacizumab plus Paclitaxel in Metastatic BC to Support Decision-Making: A Portuguese clinical perspective

Breast cancer is associated with a high prevalence, incidence and mortality all over the world (of 0,83%, 0,07% and 0,028% of Portuguese female population, respectively, WHO - Globocan 2008 and HEO 2008), representing a huge burden on individuals and health systems. The CHEUAL BC model is an economic evaluation interactive tool that makes inferences about future direct costs and health outcomes, providing an Incremental Cost per QualityAdjusted Life Year (QALY) Ratio, capable of supporting clinical, hospital formulary drug inclusion and reimbursement decisionmaking, allowing the identification of breast cancer management strategies and treatments that are good value for money in a transparent and efficient way, in real time. Objective To evaluate the cost-utility of a new treatment option for metastatic breast cancer, Bevacizumab in association with Paclitaxel (still in Stage IV in Portugal), from the Portuguese clinical perspective, for better BC management

The CHEUAL Breast Cancer Model: Interactive Cost-Utility Analysis to Support Decision Making

Breast cancer is associated with substantial prevalence, incidence, morbidity and mortality. 0,08282% of Portuguese female population has BC (INE, 2005). 0,00962% new BC cases per year (European Observatory of Health, 2008). Female BCRMR was 3,1% of all female number of death (INE, 2009) . Huge burden on both individuals and health systems. Oncology represents the greater costs to the country, with a relative weight of 25,2% of total hospital costs. The major impact on expense was found to be attributable to antineoplasic and imunomodulator therapy, with a burden of 14.269.774€ per month (INFARMED, 2009). Ministry of Health leads the spending cuts, with a decrease of 7% of the expense from 2010 to 2011 (Portuguese State Budget, 2011). Multiple alternative approaches to BC treatment. Aggregate treatment costs will rise quickly even if a treatment at the individual level is perceived to be inexpensive (Karnon & Jones, 2003). Mathematical modeling makes inferences about future economics and health outcomes to provide data to aid decision-making. Decisions relating to the allocation of resources in fixed-budget healthcare systems are of extreme importance to cost-containment (ISPOR, 2007)

Which factors are related with coaches' perception of young soccer players’ competence: physical fitness, motor coordination or specific skill?

A large number of youth sports programs in sport clubs focus on results. However, the success of young practitioners depends on several factors, as generic and specific motor competence that develops with the practice. The sample was boys (N=111) with 10.5(2.48) years of age, who practiced soccer regularly, and their coaches (N=17). Boys were evaluated on physical fitness (multistage aerobic test), motor coordination (KTK) and in specific soccer skills (passing and receiving, juggling the ball, dribbling, and kicking to the goal). A bioimpedance scale were used to determine percent body fat. The coaches were asked about the future success (achieving high performance) of each of their athletes. Multiple regression was performed to identify the variables that predicted the coaches' perception of the competence of young soccer players. Results show that only physical fitness test (cardiovascular fitness) was associated with coaches’ perception of young soccer players competence. In conclusion, cardiovascular fitness was associated with the perception that coaches have of their young soccer players competence, but the specific skill levels and motor coordination were not.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise de alternativas de eficiência energética aplicadas ao Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB)

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade UnB Gama, Curso de Engenharia de Energia, 2018.A proposta deste trabalho é avaliar a eficiência do uso da energia elétrica em um Hospital brasileiro conhecido como Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB), localizado na região administrativa do Plano Piloto, em Brasília-DF. Portanto, para atingir o objetivo principal deste trabalho, a viabilidade técnica-econômica proveniente das soluções de eficiência energética propostas no sistema de iluminação, condicionamento de ar, tarifação elétrica e no sistema de aquecimento da água serão analisadas neste estudo de caso. Ademais, um sistema de aquecimento solar será dimensionado para substituir o antigo sistema de aquecimento elétrico e para reduzir as despesas com a energia elétrica do HUB.The purpose of this work is to evaluate the efficient use of the electric energy at a Brazilian Hospital called Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB), located in the administrative region of the Plano Piloto, in Brasilia-DF. Therefore, to achieve the primary objective of this work, the technical-economic feasibility coming from the proposed energy efficiency solutions in the lighting system, air conditioning, electricity tariffs and in the water heating system will be carried out in this case study. Besides, a solar heating system will be dimensioned to replace the old electric water heating system and to reduce the expenses with HUB's electrical energy

Composite materials with MWCNT processed by Selective Laser Sintering for electrostatic discharge applications

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technology that enables the production of polymeric parts for end-use applications. Despite the great potential of conventional materials, carbon-based reinforcements have been widely considered to contradict the electrically insulating nature of polymers, allowing the applicability of SLS in novel applications within electronics industry. However, the laser-sintering processing of such materials still encompasses a number of limitations including agglomeration problems, weak interparticle adhesion, low parts resolution, high processing time and costs. Therefore, this research reports the development of functional composite materials for SLS capable of being considered for the production of components that are in direct contact with electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive devices. To do so, composite materials of Polyamide 12 incorporating 0.50 wt%, 1.75 wt% and 3.00 wt% of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes were developed aiming to achieve values of surface resistance between 104 - 109 Ω, according to the delivery instructions of Bosch Car Multimedia S.A. Test specimens produced by SLS were dimensionally, mechanically, electrically, thermally and morphologically characterized. Comparing to the neat matrix, the composite materials revealed narrower SLS processing window, reduced mechanical strength, surface resistance in the ESD range and electrical conductivity until 10−6 S/cm. Fundamentals on the sintering process of these functional materials are also provided.This work was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project No. 47108, “SIFA”; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047108] and by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the PhD scholarship 2020.04520.BD