Equity research - the Walt Disney company: the entertainment giant

The purpose of this Equity Research is to analyze The Walt Disney Company, its peers, and its industry, in order to provide a recommendation regarding the company’s value and target share price to potential investors, which is based on three different scenarios and the Discounted Cash Flows Methodology. This Individual Report contains some of the sections that were vital to achieve an accurate estimate of Disney’s intrinsic value, including the valuation of its most relevant segment, Disney Media, Entertainment and Distribution

Near-rational expectations and the Phillips Curve : an empirical application

Mestrado em Economia Monetária e FinanceiraThe purpose of this work is to present and empirically test the Akerlof, Dickens and Perry (2000) model for two euro area countries, Portugal and Germany. The main purpose is to derive estimates for the Near Rational Phillips Curve and verify if the implications of ADP do apply to the current preference of the European Central Bank for an inflation target below the annual rate of 2%. Although no quantitative assessment is made over the adequacy of this target, we give some insight on whether this strategy is optimal for overall welfare. Using annual data, we find evidence supporting the ADP conjecture that inflation is crucial for the degree of incorporation of price expectations in wage and price setting, although there is a weak link about its effect on unemployment, a finding which requires further study of the robustness of the Curve.O Objectivo deste trabalho consiste na na apresentação e avaliação empírica do modelo proposto por Akerlof, Dickens e Perry (2000) para dois países da Área do Euro, Portugal e Alemanha. Procurar-se-á deste modo obter estimativas para uma Curva de Phillips Quasi-racional e que verifiquem se os postulados ADP também são válidos em relação à preferência do Banco Central Europeu por um objectivo de inflação inferior a 2%. Conquanto não seja realizada uma análise quantitativa dos efeitos, procuram-se realizar breves reflexões sobre se a estratégia é óptima para o Bem Estar. Recorrendo ao uso de uma base de dados anuais é possível encontrar evidência de que o nível da inflação é importante na determinação do grau de incorporação das expectativas na definição de salários e preços. No entanto, verifica-se uma fraca ligação entre esta e o desemprego, o que exige um estudo mais aprofundado sobre a sua robustez

Modular modeling for large scale canal networks

Trabalho apresentado em 10th Portuguese Conference on Automatic Control, 2012, Funchal, Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualitative comparison between two open water canal models

Trabalho apresentado em 9th Portuguese Conference on Automatic Control, 2010, Coimbra, Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Soft biomaterials as a substitute for the Nucleus Pulposus

One of the largest health problems faced worldwide, when evaluated by direct (clinical) as well indirect cost (absenteeism), is the degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) that leads to back pain and, potentially disability and individual´s quality of life decreasing. The intervertebral disc is a mechanical and biological complex structure, formed by a tough outer layer of fibrocartilage called Annulus Fibrosus (AF),which surrounds a soft, elastic and gelatinous core called Nucleus Pulposus (NP). These two structures are completed by two upper and lower encasing layer called Vertebral Endplates (VEP). The degeneration of the IVD is marked by the dehydration of the Nucleus Pulposus, reducing the hydrostatic pressure inside the nucleus, resulting in a loss of capability to support compressive forces, during the active period, and to regain height during the resting period. This situation will compromise the role of shock absorber by the NP and transfers these forces to the AF. This transfer will result in cracks on the AF, deteriorating the IVD, allowing the ingrowth of vessels and nerves. This project was based on the developing a protocol to test suitable NP replacements, in hope to future assessment of discrete mechanical values and characteristics for an NP replacement. For this, Nucleus pulposus samples from goat, encapsulated Hydromed gel denominated “Raviolis” and Chitosan gels, produced via wet route using an ammonium environment, were confined compressed. Chitosan was rheologically tested and swelling capability of all the three type of materials was assessed. Results showed that the Nucleus Pulposus and “Raviolis” have similar mechanical behavior, being able to swell and “build up” hydrostatic pressure after a compression stage, while the Chitosan gel did not showed that ability. Therefore, “Raviolis” are a more suitable candidate to replace the NP than Chitosan gels. It was also observed that confined compression is the key test to perform on any possible candidate to replace the NP

Simulation Library for sustainable transport decisions in supply chains

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficient Operations at Intermodal Terminals Using a Multi-agent System

Trabalho apresentado em 12th Portuguese Conference on Automatic Control, 2016, Guimarães, Portugal, 2016info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Renewable energy systems: Industrial and home best practise case studies

The use of renewable energies and energy efficiency improvement systems is sometimes constrained by the investment needed for devices and its installation. However, governments have developed policies to reduce the initial costs to end-users. The increasing number of renewable energy systems can help in the reduction of the global dependency on fossil energy sources, and simultaneously can help to ensure that the carbon dioxide emissions quota is not exceeded, aiming a reduction of the green-house effect. In this sense, this paper presents two best practise case studies. One of them is in the industrial context and other in the residence context, concerning the use of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement strategies. The best practice case study in industrial context involves the renewable energy systems design in an automotive sector factory, making use of solar thermal panels and energy efficiency measures. The non-industrial case study covers the analysis of the energy efficiency improvement using a thermal energy recovery system from hot water used in daily baths or showers. The direct benefits (savings) and indirect (impacts) are analysed for both case studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sensor fault tolerant architecture for irrigation canals

10th Portuguese Conference on Automatic Control, 2012, Funchal, Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of adhesive strength of an earth plaster on different substrates through different methods

The adhesion capacity of an earthen mortar is one of the most important properties for plastering. This paper aims to assess the influence of two different substrates, namely adobe and hollow fired clay bricks, in the adhesive strength of an earth plastering mortar formulated in laboratory, through tensile and shear tests methods. The substrates are prepared differently, with and without prior application of a clay grout. The test samples were produced also differently, by cutting while fresh, cutting after hardening and directly sample moulding. Tests were performed in two different relative humidity environments: 65% and 95%. The results are compared, evaluating the influence of the different parameters, and with results of other plasters. The earth plaster presented a good performance regarding adhesion on both substrates studied, being advantageous the preparation of the support with a clay grout. The cutting procedure of the samples influences the test results being the fresh mortar cut less harmful. The relative humidity increment has a negative effect on the adhesion capacity but even a high percentage does not compromise the stability of the plaster. The shear test proved to be a valid instrument when specific pull-off equipment is not available.authorsversionpublishe