The Lusiad, or Portugals historical poem by Luís Vaz de Camões and edited by Michael W. Charney

Luís Vaz de Camões (c. 1524-1580), the famous Lisbon poet, composed Os Lusiades in 1572 to glorify the expedition and exploits of Vasco da Gama in the Indian Ocean. It is a lengthy and epic poem, consisting of ten cantos, the portion relating to mainland Southeast Asia limited to a portion of the last of these. Only this portion is reproduced below. The chief utility of this information for the historian is that it helps us to understand how much, by 1572, Portuguese at home knew about the region. Some information is of special interest, such as the reference to the Gwe. The following translation was made in 1655 by Richard Fanshaw and printed in London for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-yard. According to the translator’s preface, Fanshaw completed the translation on 1 May 1655 at Tankersley Park. The following text is derived from the British Library original (shelfmark g.11385). Other English translations include Vise Strangford’s version of 1804 (n.p.: Carpenter, BL shelfmark B28.a.31), Edward Quillinan’s version, with notes by John Adamson, of 1853 (n.p.: Edward Moxon, BL shelfmark x15/3449), William Julius Mickie’s 1877 edition (London: George Bell & Sons, BL shelfmark W53/4181), and others in the twentieth century. As the first English translation, the one most late seveneteenth and eighteenth century English travelers would have read, warrants special attention. Edited for the SOAS Bulletin of Burma Research by Michael W. Charney

Real Options using Markov Chains: an application to Production Capacity Decisions

In this work we address investment decisions using real options. A standard numerical approach for valuing real options is dynamic programming. The basic idea is to establish a discrete-valued lattice of possible future values of the underlying stochastic variable (demand in our case). For most approaches in the literature, the stochastic variable is assumed normally distributed and then approximated by a binomial distribution, resulting in a binomial lattice. In this work, we investigate the use of a sparse Markov chain to model such variable. The Markov approach is expected to perform better since it does not assume any type of distribution for the demand variation, the probability of a variation on the demand value is dependent on the current demand value and thus, no longer constant, and it generalizes the binomial lattice since the latter can be modelled as a Markov chain. We developed a stochastic dynamic programming model that has been implemented both on binomial and Markov models. A numerical example of a production capacity choice problem has been solved and the results obtained show that the investment decisions are different and, as expected the Markov chain approach leads to a better investment policy.Flexible Capacity Investments, Real Options, Markov Chains, Dynamic Programming

Study of a new interlocking stabilised compressed earth masonry block

Earth has been a traditional construction material to build houses in Africa. One of the most common earthen masonry techniques is the use of sun dried or kiln fired adobe bricks with mud mortar. Although this technique is cheap and allows the self construction, the bricks vary largely in shape, strength and durability. This has lead historically to weak houses which suffer considerable damage during floods and seismic events. Furthermore, the use of firewood kilns to burn bricks has caused extensive deforestation in several countries of Africa. A solution which has been proposed in the second half of the last century is the use of stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs). These blocks are manufactured by compacting stabilised earth in a manual or hydraulic press. The resulting blocks present higher values of strength and durability, as well as uniform shapes. Since earth is available almost in every location of the world, the CEBs can be produced in-situ. The fact that this blocks are unburned and that the transport can be omitted makes them a cheap material with very low embodied energy. Their use is a cost effective opportunity for locals to have better houses while reducing deforestation. In this context one developed an ongoing study for the manufacture of CEBs according to different materials available in Malawi. It is envisaged that the constructive solution with theproposed CEBs will enable improvements in durability, in thermal and acoustic comfort and in seismic behaviour of buildings in Malawi, where earth is an abundant material and labour isunskilled. This paper presents some results of the experimental campaign which has been carried out. Forthis purpose, soils from Malawi were characterized and tested without stabilization, as well aswith cement and/or lime addition

Auto chamado dos Enfatriões

Versión dixitalizada da edición publicada no 2008, na Coruña, pola Biblioteca-Arquivo Teatral Francisco Pillado Mayor, na súa Serie Verde, v. 5

ICT for governance in combating corruption: the case of public e-procurement in Portugal

Literature has highlighted the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) in building new models of public governance that promote fairness and accountability, which are key requirements in the fight against corruption. In this context, it is worth mentioning the sector of public procurement, since it is one of the most sensitive concerning any corruption risk. There have been a number of investments by governments towards the implementation of public e-procurement. Portugal is referenced by the European Commission as a good example in this regard. The question that arises is whether this would have an impact on the degree of trust between the citizens and governance, i.e. regarding perception of corruption. This paper explores the theme "ICT governance and transparency in the fight against corruption - the case of public e-procurement in Portugal.” Thus, the aim is to discuss the abovementioned issue with a view in developing future investigations.This work is funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674 and PEst-OE/CJP/UI0758/2013-14

Corrosion effects on pullout behavior of hooked steel fibers in self-compacting concrete

Fiber reinforced concrete structures are subjected to chloride and carbonation penetration that could initiate corrosion of steel fibers, with eventual pernicious consequences in terms of structural and durability performance. Cracks in concrete are known to hasten initiation of steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. The investigation of the impact of cracks on the corrosion initiation and the associated interfacial damage between concrete and steel fibers is important for understanding the mechanical behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete. In the present work, with the aim of studying the corrosion action on the mechanical behavior of cracked Steel Fiber Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete (SFRSCC), an experimental program was performed to characterize the corrosion of hooked-end steel fibers and to assess the fiber pullout behavior in cracked concrete, previously subject to the action of corrosion by exposure to aggressive chloride environment.The study reported in this paper is part of the research project QREN number 5387, LEGOUSE - Development of cost competitive pre-fabricated modular buildings, involving the Companies Mota-Engil, CiviTest, the ISISE/University of Minho and PIEP. The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided by Maccaferri and Radmix for supplying the fibers, Sika for the superplasticizer, Secil for the cement and Omya Comital for the limestone filler. The first author acknowledges the research grant under this project

Influência da corrosão no comportamento ao arrancamento de fibras de aço no betão auto-compactável

Quando adicionadas ao betão, a possibilidade de corrosão das fibras de aço , devido à penetração de cloretos e ação da carbonatação, é um parâmetro de durabilidade no betão auto-compactável reforçado com fibras de aço (BACRFA) que requer especial atenção. No BACRFA fendilhado, a corrosão tende a ocorrer nas fibras de aço que atravessam as fissuras, o que pode afetar o seu comportamento à flexão. Deste modo, o estudo do comportamento interfacial fibra/matriz é importante para a compreensão dos efeitos da corrosão das fibras de aço no comportamento mecânico e na durabilidade das estruturas de BACRFA. Com o intuito de avaliar estes efeitos, no presente trabalho desenvolveu-se um ensaio experimental de arrancamento de fibras de aço em BAC fendilhado, sujeitas previamente à ação da corrosão por exposição a um ambiente agressivo de cloretos, sendo a corrosão avaliada por intermédio de técnicas eletroquímicas. Os ensaios eletroquímicos realizados revelaram que a probabilidade de corrosão das fibras de aço num ambiente com cloretos é superior a 90%. No mesmo ambiente, a susceptibilidade para a corros ão das fibras de aço que atravessam uma pseudo-fissura, aumenta com a abertura de fissura provocando um aumento da resistência ao arranque da fibra em BAC fissuradoQREN, número 23024, denominado INOTEC, que envolve a empresa CiviTest e o ISISE/Universidade do Minho. O primeiro autor agradece a bolsa de investigação concedida pelo referido projeto. À Maccaferri e Radmix pelo fornecimento das fibras de aço, à Sika pelo superplastificante, à Secil pelo cimento e à Omya Comital pelo Fíler calcári

The adjusted effect of maternal body mass index, energy and macronutrient intakes during pregnancy, and gestational weight gain on body composition of full-term neonates

Objective - To evaluate the effect of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), energy and macronutrient intakes during pregnancy, and gestational weight gain (GWG) on the body composition of full-term appropriate-for-gestational age neonates. Study Design - This is a cross-sectional study of a systematically recruited convenience sample of mother-infant pairs. Food intake during pregnancy was assessed by food frequency questionnaire and its nutritional value by the Food Processor Plus (ESHA Research Inc, Salem, OR). Neonatal body composition was assessed both by anthropometry and air displacement plethysmography. Explanatory models for neonatal body composition were tested by multiple linear regression analysis. Results - A total of 100 mother-infant pairs were included. Prepregnancy overweight was positively associated with offspring weight, weight/length, BMI, and fat-free mass in the whole sample; in males, it was also positively associated with midarm circumference, ponderal index, and fat mass. Higher energy intake from carbohydrate was positively associated with midarm circumference and weight/length in the whole sample. Higher GWG was positively associated with weight, length, and midarm circumference in females. Conclusion - Positive adjusted associations were found between both prepregnancy BMI and energy intake from carbohydrate and offspring body size in the whole sample. Positive adjusted associations were also found between prepregnancy overweight and adiposity in males, and between GWG and body size in females

Apresentação do dossiê "O mar no imaginário religioso: cultos, espaços e representações

UID/HIS/00749/2019publishersversionpublishe