Efeito de saliência para psicologia e Freud e transferência positiva para os itens precedentes

O efeito de saliência ou von Restorff refere-se à facilidade de evocação de um item isolado numa série de itens similares. Duas experiências foram realizadas para investigar este efeito usando uma lista de psicólogos famosos de familiaridade intermédia num total de 15 itens. Na primeira experiência efectuada com 60 universitários de psicologia verificou-se um efeito equivalente significativo usando como itens salientes a categoria e o item mais notável: Psicologia e Freud. A segunda experiência, realizada com 54 universitários, investigou os efeitos de transferência positiva ou negativa da evocação superior dos dois itens salientes, juntos ou interpolados, sobre os itens adjacentes. Reproduziu-se o efeito de saliência e verificou-se um efeito de transferência positiva para os itens precedentes, quando os itens salientes são seguidos. O estudo inclui ainda uma listagem do grau de familiaridade dos nomes de psicólogos notáveis efectuada a 116 estudantes de psicologia que serviu para seleccionar os materiais das experiências realizadas

The Redner - Ben-Avraham - Kahng cluster system

We consider a coagulation model first introduced by Redner, Ben-Avraham and Krapivsky in [Redner, Ben-Avraham, Kahng: Kinetics of 'cluster eating', J. Phys. A: Math. Gen., 20 (1987), 1231-1238], the main feature of which is that the reaction between a j-cluster and a k-cluster results in the creation of a |j-k|-cluster, and not, as in Smoluchowski's model, of a (j+k)-cluster. In this paper we prove existence and uniqueness of solutions under reasonably general conditions on the coagulation coefficients, and we also establish differenciability properties and continuous dependence of solutions. Some interesting invariance properties are also proved. Finally, we study the long-time behaviour of solutions, and also present a preliminary analysis of their scaling behaviour.Comment: 24 pages. 2 figures. Dedicated to Carlos Rocha and Luis Magalhaes on the occasion of their sixtieth birthday

On the convergence to critical scaling profiles in submonolayer deposition models

In this work we study the rate of convergence to similarity profiles in a mean field model for the deposition of a submonolayer of atoms in a crystal facet, when there is a critical minimal size $n\geq 2$ for the stability of the formed clusters. The work complements recently published related results by the same authors in which the rate of convergence was studied outside of a critical direction $x=\tau$ in the cluster size $x$ vs. time $\tau$ plane. In this paper we consider a different similarity variable, $\xi := (x-\tau)/\sqrt{\tau}$, corresponding to an inner expansion of that critical direction, and prove the convergence of solutions to a similarity profile $\Phi_{2,n}(\xi)$ when $x, \tau\to +\infty$ with $\xi$ fixed, as well as the rate at which the limit is approached.Comment: Dedicated to the memory of Jack Car

Rates of convergence to scaling profiles in a submonolayer deposition model and the preservation of memory of the initial condition

We establish rates of convergence of solutions to scaling (or similarity) profiles in a coagulation type system modelling submonolayer deposition. We prove that, although all memory of the initial condition is lost in the similarity limit, information about the large cluster tail of the initial condition is preserved in the rate of approach to the similarity profile. The proof relies in a change of variables that allows for the decoupling of the original infinite system of ordinary differential equations into a closed two-dimensional nonlinear system for the monomer--bulk dynamics and a lower triangular infinite dimensional linear one for the cluster dynamics. The detailed knowledge of the long time monomer concentration, which was obtained earlier by Costin et al. in (O. Costin, M. Grinfeld, K.P. O'Neill and H. Park, Long-time behaviour of point islands under fixed rate deposition, Commun. Inf. Syst. 13, (2), (2013), pp.183-200) using asymptotic methods and is rederived here by center manifold arguments, is then used for the asymptotic evaluation of an integral representation formula for the concentration of $j$-clusters. The use of higher order expressions, both for the Stirling expansion and for the monomer evolution at large times allow us to obtain, not only the similarity limit, but also the rate at which it is approached.Comment: Revised according to referee's suggestions; to be published in SIAM J. Math. Ana

The Redner - Ben-Avraham - Kahng coagulation system with constant coefficients: the finite dimensional case

We study the behaviour as $t\to\infty$ of solutions $(c_j(t))$ to the Redner--Ben-Avraham--Kahng coagulation system with positive and compactly supported initial data, rigorously proving and slightly extending results originally established in [4] by means of formal arguments.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Sustainable urban mobility in European cities

To conceive the performance of the sustainability level in relation to transport infrastructure and systems, the economic, social and environmental composite indicators (CIs) were created. Each one was composed by 3 sub-indicators. To do that, data of 16 European cities were analyzed for the year 2015. With the creation of these indicators it is possible to discern which characteristics stand out in terms of sustainability in the transport system. The whole sample play a key role in these procedures, once the analysis of each dimensions in each city depends of the sample dimension. The perception of the forces and weaknesses at the transport level was performed through the CIs, and the cluster analysis. Additionally, the Pearson’s correlations were performed to compare some city’s specifications with the created indicators. The main findings prove that, cities that are small and denser show better results in terms of sustainability. Furthermore, richer cities tend to have a better performance in sustainability. This way, it is intended to better understand the flaws and to create more specific and efficient policies for the improvement of urban mobility.Para conceber o desempenho do nível de sustentabilidade em relação às infraestruturas e sistemas de transporte, foram criados indicadores compostos (ICs), a saber: económico, social e ambiental. Cada um deles foi composto por três sub-indicadores. Para fazer isso, dados de 16 cidades europeias foram analisadas relativamente ao ano de 2015. Com a criação desses indicadores, é possível discernir quais as características se destacam em termos de sustentabilidade no sistema de transporte. Toda a amostra desempenha um papel fundamental neste procedimento, uma vez que a análise de cada dimensão em cada cidade depende da dimensão da amostra. A perceção das forças e fraquezas no nível de transporte foi realizada por meio dos ICs e da análise de cluster. Além disso, a correlação de Pearson foi realizada para comparar algumas especificações das cidades com os indicadores criados. Os principais resultados provam que cidades pequenas e mais densas apresentam melhores resultados em termos de sustentabilidade. Também, cidades mais ricas tendem a ter um melhor desempenho em sustentabilidade. Desta forma, pretende-se compreender melhor as falhas e criar políticas mais específicas e eficientes para o melhoramento da mobilidade urbana

New trends in convenience stores

In the last few decades, several innovations appeared that completely transformed the concept of convenience all around the world. In Portugal, a country where convenience stores and gas stations exist side by side, the propagation of electric cars can quickly change what convenience means for the Portuguese customers – it is expected that these places become unnecessary if they do not adapt to new trends. Several questions arise: How can one engage customers that will now spend around 10/15 minutes waiting for their cars to charge? How can these stores become true entertainment centres instead of being just “places to buy gas”? How can managers prevent that these stores become “obsoletes”? And how can new trends (such as hybrid stores, “retailtainment” and interactive screens) impact Portuguese customers and their decision on where to shop? To try and answer even more questions, this project was developed in a joint effort between the author, Marketing Future Cast Lab and Galp. With the main purpose of studying the influence of future trends on Portuguese convenience stores, an extensive literature review and benchmark analysis phase was started. The most relevant trends were then used as a basis to create new concepts and innovative ideas while posterior testing (both quantitative and qualitative) validated/excluded them. By combining the knowledge obtained from the literature review, the feedback from the stakeholders of the project and the insights from the chosen methodologies, it was possible to conclude that there exists a serious possibility of a breakthrough in this sector through a new, perception-changing positioning on what is a convenience store. The focus should be, namely, on New Assortments (e.g. food and vending machines), Store-in-Store concepts (e.g. fresh food stations), Partnerships with recognized brands and investment on Digital/Technology. In the final remarks, managers are advised to acknowledge the vital need of accepting and implementing these trends, never losing focus with the fact that the only constant is change.Nas últimas décadas, surgiram diversas inovações que revolucionaram o conceito de conveniência por todo o mundo. Em Portugal, um país onde lojas de conveniência e postos de abastecimento surgem lado a lado, a disseminação de carros elétricos pode rapidamente alterar o que é a conveniência para os portugueses – é expectável que estes locais se tornem desnecessários caso não se adaptem a novas tendências e formas de consumo. Surgem diversas questões: Como entusiasmar pessoas que passam, agora, 10/15 minutos à espera que o seu carro carregue? Como podem estas lojas tornar-se centros de entretenimento e experiências ao invés de serem apenas locais para a compra de gasolina? Como prevenir que se tornem obsoletas? E como podem novas tendências (tais como lojas híbridas, retailtainment e ecrãs interativos) impactar os consumidores portugueses e as suas decisões de escolha de locais de compra? De forma a responder a estas e mais perguntas, este projeto foi desenvolvido entre o autor, o Marketing Future Cast Lab e a Galp. Com um principal foco no estudo da influência das novas tendências nas lojas de conveniência portuguesas, uma profunda revisão literária e análise de benchmark foi efetuada. As tendências mais relevantes foram, então, utilizadas como base para a criação de conceitos e ideias inovadoras que foram posteriormente testadas (quantitativamente e qualitativamente) e consequentemente validadas ou excluídas. Ao juntar o conhecimento obtido pela revisão literária com o feedback recebido pelos stakeholders do projeto e com os insights gerados pelas metodologias escolhidas, foi possível concluir que existe uma forte possibilidade de alteração do paradigma deste sector através de um reposicionamento assente na mudança da perceção dos clientes acerca do objetivo das lojas de conveniência. O foco deve estar, também, na gestão de sortido (como comida e máquinas de venda automática), no conceito loja dentro de loja (estações de comida), em parcerias com marcas conhecidas e no investimento na vertente digital e tecnológica da marca. Nas conclusões finais, sugere-se à Galp que reconheça a necessidade de aceitar e implementar estas novas tendências, nunca perdendo a noção de que a única constante é a mudança

Internationalization strategy of Quinta dos Termos to China

The underlying project was carried out with the purpose of conducting an internationalization strategy of Quinta dos Termos to China. Thus, this project focuses on exploiting the competitive advantages resources of the firm, followed by China ranking analysis and then selecting the most suitable city, in this case Hong Kong. Furthermore, an implementation strategy is suggested with the most optimal mode of entry and several of activities for a successful internationalization to Hong Kong wine market