Fatores de risco de aterosclerose nos Açores

A secção Biologia é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.[…]. Os trabalhos desenvolvidos na Universidade dos Açores sobre esta temática têm como objetivo o rastreio dos principais fatores de risco da aterosclerose nos Açores e a procura de marcadores moleculares da patologia que permitam a sua deteção precoce. Pretende-se assim conseguir um conhecimento mais profundo da aterosclerose e da situação verificada no arquipélago, que permita atuar ao nível da prevenção e da minoração dos fatores de risco da doença. Os resultados do estudo de um grupo de 352 indivíduos de ambos os géneros, naturais e residentes em várias ilhas dos Açores, aparentemente saudáveis (sem doenças cronicas, incluindo a diabetes) e com idades compreendidas entre os 20 e os 60 anos, revelaram elevadas prevalências de alguns dos fatores de risco convencionais, particularmente a hipertensão arterial (46%), o sobrepeso e obesidade (70%) e as dislipidémias (43%). […].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effectiveness of a teacher’s training workshop on Media Smart Program

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsDuring the last decades the growing concerns of the children’s relationship with media have trigged the emergence of new projects that aim to minimize their negative effects. Media Smart is one of those programs, which is focused on the thematic of advertising. Media Smart is a media literacy program that helps children to interpret the advertisements and think critically towards its content in order to prepare them to make more informed choices. This project has been implemented in Portugal since February 2008 but only last year APAN, the organizing entity of the project, decided to launch a workshop to provide training to elementary school teachers, since they are the ones implementing the Media Smart activities with their students (voluntarily and free of charge). This Work Project constitutes a very practical and professional oriented research aiming to give to APAN a report on the impact of this first Media Smart Teacher’s Workshop and main improvement recommendations for future training sessions. We also added improvement suggestions to the Media Smart materials (DVD, worksheets and teacher’s booklet) based on the feedback provided by the teachers. We used a series of exploratory research methods observations and interviews) and instruments of analysis (Process Analysis and 360 Evaluation). Results showed that the program is considered of interest among teachers and students, mainly due to its innovative methods of teaching and the curiosity about the subject of advertising. The materials were also appreciated by the teachers due to their selfexplanatory nature. However the group of trainees who participated on this workshop was very critical on the aspects that could be improved. From the information collected it was possible to recommend a review of the age appropriateness of the materials and an actualization of the real examples of advertisements displayed on DVD. Regarding the workshop it proved to be very successful to the teachers who have participated. Nevertheless in order to achieve better results, for both teachers and children, a restructuring needs to be made. Future workshops need to be more extensive, more practical, start at the beginning of the scholar year and have widely spread training sessions along the year

Catastrophic health care expenditures in Portugal between 2000-2010: Assessing impoverishment, determinants and policy implications

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsObjectives: This work assesses the extent and evolution of catastrophic health care expenditures (CHE) in Portugal in the years of 2000, 2005 and 2010, to reveal household factors predicting this outcome, and simulates changes in 2010 CHE levels’ following recent reforms in user charges and prices of pharmaceutical products. Methods: The main contribution of this paper is the calculus and analysis of statistical measures to capture CHE incidence, intensity, income distribution and impoverishment effects on households using INE Household Budget Surveys. A logistic model to determine statistical significance and economic effects of 38 variables on the incidence of CHE is also estimated. Finally, a scenario analysis is presented to analyse reforms concerning user charges and prices of pharmaceuticals. Results: Incidence and intensity of CHE decreased between 2000 and 2010, from 5,005% to 2,439% and 4,693% to 0,334%, respectively. During the period, CHE were concentrated amongst the poorer income quintiles. Statistical significance in CHE prediction for all analysed years was observed for households’ income, smoking and drinking habits, area of the house and secondary education of the household head. Scenario analysis shows that the new levels of user charges in 2012, even if mitigated by the new and enlarged economic exemptions, would increase CHE incidence of 2010 to 3,529%. On the other hand, the reduction in the price of ambulatory pharmaceuticals in 2011 and 2012 is effective in reducing CHE incidence, for price demand elasticities equal or smaller (in absolute value) than 0,4. When the two effects are combined, CHE incidence increases, meaning that reductions in the price of pharmaceuticals are not sufficient to countervail the changes in user charges, even with enlarged economic exemptions

The impact of the Basel Accords in lending activity: The case of Portugal and Germany

Mestrado em Contabilidade e Análise FinanceiraThe impact of the Basel Accords implementation in lending availability is approached in this dissertation. Based in Naceur and Kandil (2013) models, the Portuguese and the German banking sectors are assessed, having in mind the main question: did the Basel Accords implementation reduced lending availability? Our findings show that lending was reduced after implementation of the Basel Accords but also due to macroeconomic conditions. However, some limitations in this study are found in the end of the analysis.O impacto da implementação dos Acordos de Basileia no acesso ao crédito é o tema abordado nesta dissertação. Com base nos modelos de Naceur e Kandil (2013), o sector bancário português e alemão são analisados, tendo em conta a questão fundamental: o acesso ao crédito foi reduzido devido a implementação dos Acordos de Basileia? Os resultados mostram que o crédito diminui depois da implementação dos Acordos de Basileia mas também devido às condições macroeconómicas. No entanto, são encontradas algumas limitações no estudo, no fim a análise.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bottom Reinforcement in Braced Excavations: Coupled Analysis and New Method for Basal-Heave Stability Study

Soil-cement bottom reinforcement is commonly used in braced excavations in soft soils, so that ground displacements can be reduced and excavation safety against bottom failure increase. However, there is a lack of studies in the literature regarding such reinforced excavations in which the stability against bottom heave is analysed through mechanical-hydraulic coupled modelling. In the paper, in order to contribute to overcome such deficiency, a braced excavation in soft soil, incorporating a jet-grout base slab, is analysed. A finite element code, which incorporates the above-mentioned features, is used and a new method for basal stability analysis - which utilizes the numerical results obtained by the finite element code - is proposed and applied. Two cases of the same problem, with and without soil-cement bottom slab, are compared

Pursuing Alternative Strategies for Healthier Medical Contraception in Dogs

Although extensively used in the control of the reproductive cycles in either the domestic or feral dogs as well as in wild carnivores, medical progestin-based contraception still raises concerns to the veterinary practitioner and owners on its safety and efficiency. These concerns endorsed, in last decades, the research in the development of new alternatives for effective, reversible, and safe contraceptive methods for carnivores, mainly pursuing a larger-scale control of canine reproduction and the development of products with few side effects. Nowadays, the medical contraceptives often intend to master, in a reversible way, the reproductive cycle in genetically valuable dogs, which presumes that they would be active for short periods of time and ought to safeguard the animal fertility. However, hormonal contraceptives are also used worldwide to control the reproductive activity in either domestic or feral cats, for long-term treatments, because of a pretended short-term economic interest. Progestogens are the most frequently used hormonal contraceptive in carnivores. They are rather easy to obtain across the globe and relatively cheap; they have diverse drug presentations, allowing their use independently of the veterinary assistance, and are effective in preventing pregnancy. Still a significant number of undesirable health side effects are attributed to progestins when employed with some chronicity, when applied in older animals or even when misused. In the past two decades, several new approaches to managing dog reproduction were proposed to avoid progestins. However, their efficiency and cost are still to be proven as a viable alternative around the world. This chapter aims to review the medical methods available as alternative to the progestins in canine contraception, addressing particularly the future perspectives, opportunities, and limitations linked to currently available substitutes, based on our practice. This information can be of utmost interest to students, clinicians or colonies\u27 technicians

Economic evaluation of Suboxone® for substitution treatment of opioid drug dependence in Portugal

Background: According to a recent Portuguese study the prevalence of lifetime consumption of heroin in the global population (age range: 15-74 years) is 0.5%. Methadone is the standard pharmacological treatment, while buprenorphine has been available since 1999 as an alternative treatment. Nevertheless, no comparative economic evaluation of the costeffectiveness of these therapies has been made available. Aim: This study estimates the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a fixed dose combination of buprenorphine-naloxone (B/N) versus methadone as substitution treatments for opioid drug dependence from the Portuguese social perspective. Material and Methods: The comparator for B/N was methadone treatment, which is the most common pharmacological therapy and current clinical practice in Portugal. Health gains were measured using the number of heroin-free days per year (indicator of effectiveness) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with each treatment. Estimated costs included acquisition, preparation and transport of medication; costs of dispensing and supervision of administration; costs arising from the periodic monitoring of patients and the nonmedical direct costs of crime associated with drug addiction. Results: The B/N combination is associated with an incremental cost-utility ratio of €5,914 per QALY gained. The B/N combination is dominant when the analysis includes costs of crime associated with drug addiction. Conclusions: The results suggest that this combination is cost-effective and has the potential to generate health gains in the target population at a low cost.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evidence from hospitality loyalty programs

Rita, P., Tiago, M. T. B., & Caetano, J. (2023). The theory-practice research gains from big data: Evidence from hospitality loyalty programs. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2022-0646 --- This work was supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), under the project – UIDB/04152/2020 - Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC)/NOVA IMS, research grants UIDB/04521/2020 of the Advance/CSG, ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management; and UIDB/00685/2020 of the Centre of Applied Economics Studies of the Atlantic, School of Business and Economics of the University of the Azores.Purpose The hospitality industry values segmentation and loyalty programs (LPs), but there is limited research on new methods for segmenting loyalty program members, so managers often rely on conventional techniques. This study aims to use big data-driven segmentation methods to cluster customers and provide a new solution for customer segmentation in hotel LPs. Design/methodology/approach Using the k-means algorithm, this study examined 498,655 profiles of guests enrolled in a multinational hotel chain’s loyalty program. The objective was to cluster guests according to their consumption behavior and monetary value and compare data-driven segments based on brand preferences, demographic data and monetary value with loyalty program tiers. Findings This study shows that current tier-based LPs lack features to improve customer segmentation, and some high-tier members generate less revenue than low-tier members. Therefore, more attention should be given to truly valuable customers. Practical implications Hotels can segment LP members to develop targeted campaigns and uncover new insights. This will help to transform LPs to make them more valuable and profitable and use differentiated rewards and strategies. Originality/value As not all guests or hotel brands benefit equally from LPs, additional segmentation is required to suit varying guest behaviors. Hotel managers can use data mining techniques to develop more efficient and valuable LPs with personalized strategies and rewards.authorsversionepub_ahead_of_prin

New records of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera) from urban gardens on Terceira Island with new data on recently introduced species to the Azores

The urban Duque da Terceira Garden, in the main town of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira, Azores), was investigated to describe the species composition of moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Moths were sampled with two methods: SLAM traps (between April and September 2017) and light trapping (two sessions in the summer of 2017). A total of 42 taxa were sampled with the addition of 19 new records for Duque da Terceira Garden, five of which were also new records for Terceira Island. The five species recorded as new for Terceira were subjected to an exhaustive taxonomic analysis. In addition, we revised the colonization status of some species. Our results show that urban gardens may help the establishment of exotic species and that it is necessary to monitor and control how these species established in urban environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brincadeiras sem teto: a importância do brincar no espaço exterior – análise e reflexão sobre as práticas na educação pré-escolar

O presente Relatório de Estágio foi desenvolvido no âmbito da componente Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, sendo composto por duas partes. A primeira parte refere-se às práticas realizadas ao longo da PES, apresentando uma reflexão e análise do trabalho desenvolvido, em ambos os contextos. A segunda parte é constituída pelo trabalho de investigação com o principal objetivo de compreender como estão organizados os espaços exteriores dos contextos, interpretar as conceções e o sentido pedagógico que é atribuído a esses espaços, através da análise de estudos realizados no âmbito da formação inicial de professores. Metodologicamente, este projeto inscreve-se no paradigma interpretativo orientado por uma investigação qualitativa, e tem como objeto de estudo investigar sobre o espaço exterior como potenciador de aprendizagem. Privilegiou-se como técnica de recolha de dados, a análise documental que permitiu compreender a prática pedagógica realizada com foco na utilização do espaço exterior. Este estudo permitiu compreender que apesar de o espaço exterior ser valorizado, é um espaço ainda pouco dinamizado e organizado pelos educadores e pouco utilizado pelas crianças. Sendo o educador de infância gestor do currículo e responsável pela organização dos espaços e materiais do contexto educativo, o espaço exterior surge como dimensão importante enquanto potencializador de desenvolvimento e aprendizagem, da mesma forma que o espaço sala.This Report was developed within the scope of the Supervised Teaching Practice (PES) component of the Master's Degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education and consists of two parts. The first part refers to the practices carried out throughout the PES, presenting a reflection and analysis of the work developed, in both contexts. The second part consists of the research work that has the main point to understand how outer spaces are organized in the contexts, to interpret the conceptions and the pedagogical sense that is attributed to these spaces. Methodologically, this project subscribes to the interpretive paradigm guided by a qualitative investigation and has the aim to investigate the outdoor has a learning enhancer. In this process, it was fundamental to make choices regarding procedures for collecting information. Were preferred as data collection techniques, which allowed to understand the pedagogical practice. This study allowed us to understand that although the outer space is valued, it is a space still little invigorated and organized by educators and little used by children. Being the childhood educator the manager of the curriculum and responsible for the organization of outer spaces and educative context materials, he should value the outer space as a learning enhancer in the same way that he values the inner space