Opening the Convergence Black Box: Measurement Problems and Demographic Aspects

Brazil, regional convergence, regional growth, birth cohorts, micro data

How costumers’ way of life influence the value co-creation

Purpose: This article is a contribution to the understanding of how value arises in wellestablished markets, and under which circumstances actors integrate resources from different service ecosystems to generate value. To understand this phenomenon, it is fundamental to consider which practices are performed by customers to co-create value and how they do so. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a qualitative approach, the study provides fresh empirical insight into well-established market processes of value creation. After a literature review an ethnographic approach was chosen in order to understand how co-creation processes occur in the empirical setting of an international restaurant chain. Several observations, conversations and semi-structured interviews were undertaken concerning the analysis of the topic under study. Findings: The results show that even in a well-established market, a provider must consider individual customers’ distinct needs, present in their daily practices, to be able to assist them in the value creation process. It is argued that the practice styles are the building blocks for prevailing ways of life that actors assume, according to the context in which they are, to integrate resources. Practical implications: The study includes implications for service providers of a wellfounded market for facilitating value co-creation along with customers and fulfils the need to better understand this phenomenon. Originality/Value: Recent studies call for empirical evidence on co-creation processes in mature markets, accordingly, this study brings an additional understanding on how actors, depending on the context, adopt different ways of life that require unique resources, which activate to achieve what they want, in order to establish room for co-creation.peer-reviewe

How would tourists use Green Spaces? Case Studies in Lisbon

EntretextosThis report provides in a relative condensed format the results of small-scale study undertaken in Lisbon during the Meeting of the CyberParks Project (www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/tud/Actions/TU1306). CyberParks is a COST Action coordinated by the Universidade Lusófona at the CeiED - Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development. The Project aims at creating a research platform on the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the production of public open spaces, and their relevance to sustainable urban development. The impacts of this relationship are being explored from social, ecological, urban design and technological perspectives. Based on the supposition that the participants of the Meeting are tourists visiting Lisbon, a survey was carried out on the topic how people actually use and how they would use public spaces. This survey is also the first approach to the case study areas chosen in Lisbon: Parque Quinta das Conchas and Jardim da Estrela. Both green spaces will be subject of further studies in the forthcoming years. This study employed (1) a questionnaire for measuring the user’s experience and preferences, and (2) two different tracking devices that utilise GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), in our case the GPS for satellite positioning technologies. It also presents the results of a study on the relevance of wi-fi in Lisbon’s public spaces. Even considering that the surveys in Lisbon’s green spaces are a first exercise within the work programme of CyberParks they show important outcomes. On the one hand, regarding the technologies used and their potential for research and on the other hand the findings about Lisbon’s green spaces. It should be noted that the conducted surveys and the gathered data are statistically not representative, but can be characterised as an empirical case and as a showcase, as how tourists tend to use a green space. The results shows that surveys benefit from multiple research methods and from combining insights.Este relatório apresenta, em formato condensado, os resultados de um estudo de pequena escala realizado em Lisboa durante o Seminário do Projeto CyberParks. CyberParks é uma Ação COST coordenada pela Universidade Lusófona/CeiED - Centro de Estudos Interdisciplinares em Educação e Desenvolvimento. O projeto visa a criação de uma plataforma de debate sobre a relação entre as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) e a produção de espaços públicos, e da sua relevância para o desenvolvimento urbano sustentável. Os impactos dessa relação estão a ser explorados a partir de perspetivas sociais, ecológicas, tecnológicas e de desenho urbano. Na sua etapa exploratória, este estudo assenta na suposição de que os participantes do Seminário são turistas de visita a Lisboa. A partir dos dados recolhidos pelos investigadores envolvidos na ação COST, foi realizada uma análise à forma como diferentes indivíduos usam, e como poderão usar, diferentes espaços públicos verdes. Este estudo apresenta, portanto, a primeira abordagem às áreas de estudos selecionadas em Lisboa. São elas o Parque Quinta das Conchas e o Jardim da Estrela. Ambos os espaços verdes serão objeto de novos estudos nos próximos anos. Neste primeiro estudo exploratório foram empregues: (1) um questionário, para aferir a experiência de um potencial utilizador e as suas preferências, e (2) dois dispositivos diferentes de rastreamento que utilizam tecnologia GNSS (Sistemas de Navegação Global por Satélite) e, no nosso caso, o GPS para as tecnologias de posicionamento por satélite. Ele também apresenta os resultados de um estudo realizado sobre a relevância do wi-fi em espaços públicos na cidade de Lisboa. Mesmo considerando que os estudos realizados nos espaços verdes representam um primeiro exercício no âmbito do programa de trabalho do CyberParks em Lisboa, são aqui revelados resultados importantes. Por um lado, o recurso às tecnologias utilizadas e seu potencial para a investigação e, por outro lado, os resultados sobre a vivência dos espaços verdes. Deve-se notar que os dados recolhidos não são estatisticamente representativos, mas evidenciam um caso empírico de como turistas tendem a usar um espaço verde urbano. A combinação do questionário com novos métodos digitais resultou num grande ganho de conhecimento, recobrindo as áreas de estudo sob a perspetiva de um turista, para além de maiores informações sobre as potencialidades e limites da tecnologia digital como ferramenta de investigação. Os resultados mostram que a investigação no campo social pode se beneficiar da combinação de vários métodos e técnicas

Limits of permutation sequences

A permutation sequence is said to be convergent if the density of occurrences of every fixed permutation in the elements of the sequence converges. We prove that such a convergent sequence has a natural limit object, namely a Lebesgue measurable function $Z:[0,1]^2 \to [0,1]$ with the additional properties that, for every fixed $x \in [0,1]$, the restriction $Z(x,\cdot)$ is a cumulative distribution function and, for every $y \in [0,1]$, the restriction $Z(\cdot,y)$ satisfies a "mass" condition. This limit process is well-behaved: every function in the class of limit objects is a limit of some permutation sequence, and two of these functions are limits of the same sequence if and only if they are equal almost everywhere. An ingredient in the proofs is a new model of random permutations, which generalizes previous models and might be interesting for its own sake.Comment: accepted for publication in the Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series B. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1106.166

BREVE ANÁLISE DO ENSINO SUPERIOR : PERSPECTIVAS E TENDÊNCIAS ATUAIS.

As universidades ao longo do tempo têm sofrido mudanças significativas em sua forma de gestão e administração do conhecimento, especialmente após a adoção do modelo econômico neoliberal e a chamada crise da pós-modernidade. Esse modelo atual tem norteado as políticas públicas e suas diversas formas de gestão universitária para um caminho atual , ao mesmo tempo incerto. Com o objetivo principal de verificar esse(s) novo(s) caminho(s), o presente artigo utilizou-se da metodologia de revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema em questão e foram verificados autores como: LAMARRA (2009), LINDO (1998), RAMA (2009) , entre outros que têm observado esses (des)locamentos na atualidade e contribuído significamente para o entendimento dessas novas tendências, entre elas a do “voluntarialismo ideológico” , necessário a construção da sociedade na atualidade

Terapêutica do sarcoma de Kaposi : uma revisão da literatura

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina área científica de Infecciologia, apresentado á Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraIntrodução: O Sarcoma de Kaposi (SK) é uma neoplasia de origem vascular, de localização cutânea, mucosa ou visceral. Com o diagnóstico dos primeiros casos de SIDA (síndrome de imunodeficiência adquirida), foi identificado como uma das suas manifestações mais frequentes. Na década de 90, o advento de anti-retrovíricos eficazes diminuiu a sua incidência nos países desenvolvidos. Objectivos: Identificar e caracterizar as diversas variantes de SK; esclarecer a sua etiologia e patogénese; identificar os modos de transmissão do vírus VHH-8 (vírus herpes humano tipo 8); sistematizar os dados epidemiológicos relativos à sua prevalência geográfica e em grupos populacionais particulares; analisar as diferentes alternativas terapêuticas já encontradas e a sua aplicação em casos particulares; indicar algumas terapêuticas inovadoras actualmente em investigação. Desenvolvimento: Existem 4 tipos de SK: clássico; endémico; relacionado com a SIDA e associada a imunossupressão. Todas partilham o mesmo agente etiológico - o VHH-8, pertencente à subfamília gama dos vírus herpes. Provoca uma proliferação de células fusiformes de origem endotelial, originando lesões cutâneas, mucosas ou viscerais de diferente extensão e gravidade. Os doentes com SK associado a VIH devem efectuar terapêutica anti-retrovírica. No caso de persistência das lesões ou impossibilidade de controlo da virémia VIH, são vários os agentes disponíveis. Na presença de lesões superficiais localizadas, pode recorrer-se a radioterapia, crioterapia, injecção intra-lesional ou excisão cirúrgica. Perante doença disseminada, rapidamente progressiva ou atingindo órgãos internos, torna-se necessária terapêutica sistémica com interferão , antraciclinas liposomais ou paclitaxel. Conclusão: A incidência do SK em doentes com SIDA tem vindo a diminuir fundamentalmente devido à introdução da terapêutica anti-retrovírica combinada (TARVc). No entanto, o risco de desenvolvimento de SK permanece substancialmente elevado nos indivíduos infectados por VIH, podendo surgir em qualquer etapa da infecção. A resposta ao tratamento é variável, dependendo da gravidade das lesões e do perfil imunitário do doente. O SK permanece, no entanto, uma doença incurável. O esclarecimento dos mecanismos patogénicos subjacentes ao SK permitirá o desenvolvimento de novas modalidades terapêuticas.Introduction: Kapois’s sarcoma (KS) is a neoplasm of vascular origin involving skin, mucous membranes and internal organs. In the initial period of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic, it was identified as one of its prominent clinical features. Its incidence has decreased dramatically in the mid 90s, after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Objectives: To distinguish and describe the various types of KS; to elucidate its origin and pathogenesis; to identify the various modes of HHV-8 (human herpesvirus 8) transmission; to present epidemiological data concerning its geographic prevalence and among specific populational groups; to compare the different treatments employed and their use in specific indications; to point out several innovative therapeutic approaches under investigation. Development: There are four types of KS: classic; endemic; AIDS-related; and immunosuppression-associated. HHV-8 belongs to the subfamily of gamma herpesvirus and is implied in all forms of KS. It promotes a proliferation of spindle cells of endothelial origin, causing cutaneous, mucous or visceral lesions with a wide range of presentation. Patients with AIDS-related KS often respond well to HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) alone. If lesions persist or in case of uncontrolled HIV viremia, there are several other options. Localized, skin lesions can be treated by radiotherapy, criotherapy, intra-lesional injection or surgical excision. Widespred disease or with internal organ involvement can be treated with interferon , liposomal anthracyclines or paclitaxel. Conclusion: The risk of AIDS-related KS has declined since the introduction of HAART in the mid-1990s. However, it remains highly prevalent in HIV-infected patients and can arise at any stage of the disease. Response to treatment is variable according to lesion extension and patient immunity status. SK remains an incurable disease. The knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms involved in KS will allow the discovery of new therapeutic approache

Advanced Control for Energy Management of Grid-Connected Hybrid Power Systems in the Sugar Cane Industry

This work presents a process supervision and advanced control structure, based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) coupled with disturbance estimation techniques and a finite-state machine decision system, responsible for setting energy productions set-points. This control scheme is applied to energy generation optimization in a sugar cane power plant, with non-dispatchable renewable sources, such as photovoltaic and wind power generation, as well as dispatchable sources, as biomass. The energy plant is bound to produce steam in different pressures, cold water and, imperiously, has to produce and maintain an amount of electric power throughout each month, defined by contract rules with a local distribution network operator (DNO). The proposed predictive control structure uses feedforward compensation of estimated future disturbances, obtained by the Double Exponential Smoothing (DES) method. The control algorithm has the task of performing the management of which energy system to use, maximize the use of the renewable energy sources, manage the use of energy storage units and optimize energy generation due to contract rules, while aiming to maximize economic profits. Through simulation, the proposed system is compared to a MPC structure, with standard techniques, and shows improved behavior.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CNPq401126/2014-5Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CNPq303702/2011-7Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad DPI2016-78338-

Fast estimation of aggregates in unstructured networks

Aggregation of data values plays an important role on distributed computations, in particular over peer-to-peer and sensor networks, as it can provide a summary of some global system property and direct the actions of self-adaptive distributed algorithms. Examples include using estimates of the network size to dimension distributed hash tables or estimates of the average system load to direct loadbalancing. Distributed aggregation using non-idempotent functions, like sums, is not trivial as it is not easy to prevent a given value from being accounted for multiple times; this is especially the case if no centralized algorithms or global identifiers can be used.This paper introduces Extrema Propagation, a probabilistic technique for distributed estimation of the sum of positive real numbers. The technique relies on the exchange of duplicate insensitive messages and can be applied in flood and/or epidemic settings, where multi-path routing occurs; it is tolerant of message loss; it is fast, as the number of message exchange steps equals the diameter; and it is fully distributed, with no single point of failure and the result produced at every node