Trends of fiscal centralization: Portuguese local government reform

The crisis of the sovereign debt forced Portuguese government to reach out for joint financial help form the IMF (International Monetary Fund), EU (European Union) and ECB (European Central Bank). In the financial agreement terms, IMF/EU/ECB stressed the need of a major redefinition of the local government organization. Nowadays, Portuguese local government is structured in 308 municipalities and 4259 parishes both with elected officials and administrative, financial and patrimonial autonomy. So, Portuguese government was asked to present a consolidation plan to reorganize local entities enhancing service delivery, improve efficiency and reduce cost. The main argument used is that excessive territorial and fiscal fragmentation undermines efficiency. This research seeks to measure the impact of territorial and fiscal fragmentation in local government spending. We begin by looking into Tiebout’s (1956) argument that an optimal level of local expenditures can be defined based on a consumer-voter preference towards public goods and taxation. Then we counterpoin with the opposite argument, used by international agencies, that, bought territorial and fiscal, centralization can produce economies of scale, reduce overlaps, control free riders and promote better accountability (Hendrick et al. 2011) The main objective of the paper is to test the competitive hypothesis that fragmentation/centralization induces higher spending in local government. To test this hypothesis we use a quantitative approach collecting primary financial data assembled from all Portuguese local government. We defined as a dependent variable, the amount of money transferred to parishes in each local government. Then, we use administrative fragmentation index in local government as indicators to measure territorial and population level of fragmentation. With the results of the paper, we hope to contribute to some clarification in the literature about fragmentation and federalist strategies to improve financial sustainability

Local governments budgeting: a portuguese analysis of central dependency

The most recently challenges in Public Management are felt in several countries, which lead to the appearance of a set of innovative initiatives in the field of the Public Administration. This concept, more or less global (kellt, 2001), of administrative reform is known as the New Public Management and appears with the goal to improve the efficiency, the effectiveness and citizen satisfaction in public services. Is mainly based in the introduction of market type mechanism and the adoption of private management tools. It promotes the competition between public and private agents in order to succeed an improvement in service quality, at the same time that it reduces production costs (Hartley, Butler e Benington, 2002, p. 388). According to NPM models presented by Ferlie, Ashburner, Fitzgerald e Pettigrew (1996) that takes into account that there isn’t a clear definition of what it’s the NPN, the agenda of administrative reform in Portugal, is base on the two first’s models. It’s settled in politic of budgetary restriction, decentralization and atomization of Public Administration. Although it’s autonomy, the local governance also is affected by theses options of Central Administration. If in the countries of Anglo-Saxon origin, the model of reform of local power, it’s based in the adoptions of specific programs of management as the Compulsory Competitive Tendering, o Best Value, in Portugal the reality is different. The administrative modernization was made mainly by changes in the administrative organization and in the transfer of power between the different levels of Portuguese Public Administration, rather than by the implementation of specific management programs of modernization. This is due to the classic/continental administrative model which still is the Portuguese administrative mainframe. Reforms nowadays are still being implemented through financial legislation as a way of Central Administration spread reforms ideology to Local Governments. The local administration stars to win relative importance after 24 of April of 1974. This level of administration is characterized by autonomy and decentralization principles. Actually, this local power is guide by a new law of local financial. It’s relevant to analyse and debate the consequence of this new law and understand it’s proposed in a NPM reform context. This paper is based on a Master project and it seeks this objectives. This constitutes a challenge to analyse in comparison with the others the degree of bigger centrality and/or autonomy that the same ones reflected

Participatory budgeting in covid-19 times: a perspective from Paraná and portuguese municipalities

Purpose:  The aim of this article is to explore the barriers imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to Participatory Budgeting (PB), considering the perspective of Brazilian and Portuguese Local Public Administration. Theoretical framework:  Recent literature points out that the barriers imposed on PB processes arising from the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic are justified by many leaders due to social distancing measures and the expansion of financial constraints. Design/methodology/approach:  An online questionnaire was applied using a Likert-type scale to assess the perception of public officials, in Paraná and Portugal, about the barriers imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to PB. Through a quantitative approach, data were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test of adherence. Findings:  The survey contributors from the Portuguese municipalities indicated that the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the conduct of PB processes. The possible restrictive consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the realization of PB in the future are not clear, according to the responses obtained in the two contexts analyzed. Research, Practical & Social implications:  Future studies may include the perspective of the participants in the process and the possible reduction in the amounts available for the execution of the PB due to the pandemic of COVID-19. Originality/value:  COVID-19 alone cannot bring citizens to the periphery of public policy decisions. Difficulties prior to the pandemic, such as the absence of an online platform contributed to limiting the participatory space.Propósito: El objetivo de este artículo es explorar las barreras impuestas por la pandemia del COVID-19 a los Presupuestos Participativos (PP), considerando la perspectiva de la Administración Pública Local brasileña y portuguesa. Metodología: Se aplicó un cuestionario en línea utilizando una escala tipo Likert para evaluar la percepción de los funcionarios públicos, en Paraná y Portugal, sobre las barreras impuestas por la pandemia de COVID-19 en la PB. Mediante un enfoque cuantitativo, los datos se presentaron y analizaron utilizando estadísticas descriptivas y la prueba de Chi-cuadrado de adhesión. Conclusiones: Los encuestados de los municipios portugueses indicaron que la crisis provocada por la pandemia de COVID-19 tuvo un impacto negativo en la realización de los procesos del PP. Las posibles consecuencias restrictivas causadas por la pandemia de COVID-19 sobre la realización de la PB en el futuro no están claras, según las respuestas obtenidas en los dos contextos analizados. Implicaciones de la Investigación: Los estudios futuros pueden incluir la perspectiva de los participantes en el proceso y la posible reducción de las cantidades disponibles para la ejecución de la PB como resultado de la pandemia de COVID-19.Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é explorar as barreiras impostas pela pandemia de COVID-19 ao Orçamento Participativo (OP), considerando a perspectiva da Administração Pública Local Brasileira e Portuguesa. Referencial teórico: A literatura recente aponta que as barreiras impostas aos processos de OP decorrentes da crise da pandemia do COVID-19 são justificadas por muitos dirigentes devido às medidas de distanciamento social e à ampliação das restrições financeiras. Desenho/metodologia/abordagem Um questionário online foi aplicado usando uma escala do tipo Likert para avaliar a percepção dos agentes públicos, no Paraná e em Portugal, sobre as barreiras impostas pela pandemia de COVID-19 ao OP. Por meio de uma abordagem quantitativa, os dados foram apresentados e analisados utilizando a estatística descritiva e o teste Qui-quadrado de aderência. Resultados: Os colaboradores da pesquisa dos municípios portugueses indicaram que a crise causada pela pandemia de COVID-19 teve um impacto negativo sobre a realização dos processos de OP. Não são claras as possíveis consequências restritivas provocadas pela pandemia de COVID-19 na realização do OP no futuro, de acordo com as respostas obtidas nos dois contextos analisados. Pesquisa, implicações práticas e sociais: Estudos futuros podem incluir a perspectiva dos participantes no processo e a possível redução dos valores disponíveis para a execução do OP em função da pandemia de COVID-19. Originalidade/valor: A COVID-19 por si só não pode levar os cidadãos à periferia das decisões de políticas públicas. Dificuldades anteriores à pandemia, como a ausência de uma plataforma online contribuíram para limitar o espaço participativo

Validation of the intellectual capital scale of nursing services

Objective:Nursing services are considered strategic in the functioning of health organizations, therefore the study of intellectualcapital (human capital, structural capital, relational capital of nursing services) in innovation as a contribution to decision policies,practice and research. The main focus is to promote critical thinking on the condition of nursing services in an innovativeperspective. This study aims to adapt and validate the psychometric properties of the Questionnaire of Intellectual Capital andInnovative Capacity (already used in business management, automobile) and apply it to the Nursing Services (QICICNS).Methods:A cross-sectional and quantitative study was carried out on a sample of 1,388 Portuguese nurses enrolled in the Nurses’Order. For the analysis of the psychometric properties of the instrument we used the factorial analysis of main components withvarimax rotation of the scale items and the calculation of the Cronbach Alpha coefficient.Results:The QICICNS analysis revealed good internal consistency (global scale = 0.95, constructs between 0.83 and 0.97) andgood quality of the items (KMO = 0.95), with four factors being extracted: human capital, relational capital, structural capital andinnovation.Conclusions:The positive indices of internal consistency and the sensitivity of this questionnaire show the validity of thereliable and robust data collection instrument in the studied context. Implications for nursing management: QICICNS, due to itsmultifaceted nature, can be a management tool in the decision making support by nursing managers. The characteristics of eachintellectual capital construct may influence the management of services and future investigations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New insights into the blue intrinsic fluorescence of oxidized PAMAM dendrimers considering their use as bionanomaterials

Like other bionanomaterials, dendrimers are usually labelled with fluorescent compounds in order to be optically detected within cells. However, this process can interfere with their biological properties, so it is crucial to find other solutions for their traceability. Here, the blue intrinsic fluorescence of amine terminated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers was enhanced using oxidative treatment with ammonium persulfate (APS). The effects of dendrimer generation (G3, G4, and G5) and pH on the spectroscopic behavior of both pristine and APS-treated PAMAM dendrimers were studied in aqueous solution. Overall, the results pointed out that there are at least two types of emitting electron-rich hetero-atomic sub-luminophores (HASLs) confined within the dendrimer scaffold that have very close maximum emission wavelengths and whose emission properties strongly depend on pH. The APS treatment significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity by leading to the protonation of the interior of the dendrimer. However, fluorescence intensity was not only dependent on the number of HASLs in the dendrimer scaffold (i.e., on dendrimer generation), but also on the rigidification suffered by the dendrimer due to the acidic environment (at low pH values, APS-treated G4 was indeed the most emissive species). Moreover, photoluminescence studies with lyophilized samples were also conducted, which confirmed the coexistence of more than one type of HASLs emitting in the dendrimer structure. The APS treatment affected these HASLs to a different extent. Time-resolved fluorescence experiments always showed higher average lifetimes of HASLs for APS-treated dendrimers than for pristine ones, in accordance with the fluorescence intensity results. On the other hand, the fraction and lifetimes of HASLs in APS-treated dendrimers were similar in solution and the lyophilized form. This behaviour was different for the pristine dendrimers that presented increased luminescence upon aggregation. Finally, the highly emissive oxidized dendrimers were shown not only to be much less cytotoxic and hemotoxic than pristine dendrimers but also to be detectable inside cells upon excitation with UV light.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preparation of plasmonic Au-TiO2 thin films on a transparent polymer substrate

In this work, plasmonic thin films composed of Au nanoparticles embedded in a TiO2 matrix were prepared in a transparent polymer substrate of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The thin films were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering, and then subjected to heat treatment up to 150 °C in order to promote the growth of the Au nanoparticles throughout the TiO2 matrix. The transmittance spectrum of the thin films was monitored in situ during the heat treatment, and the minimum time required to have a defined localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band was about 10 min. The average size of Au nanoparticles was estimated to be about 21 nm—the majority of them are sized in the range 10–40 nm, but also extend to larger sizes, with irregular shapes. The refractive index sensitivity of the films was estimated by using two test fluids (H2O and DMSO), and the average value reached in the assays was 37.3 ± 1.5 nm/RIU, resulting from an average shift of 5.4 ± 0.2 nm. The results show that it is possible to produce sensitive plasmonic Au-TiO2 thin films in transparent polymer substrates such as PDMS, the base material to develop microfluidic channels to be incorporated in LSPR sensing systems.This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the Strategic Funding, grant number UID/FIS/04650/2019; also by the project NANOSENSING, grant number POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016902 and FCT reference PTDC/FIS-NAN/1154/2014; and by the project NANO4BIO, grant number POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032299 and FCT reference PTDC/FIS-MAC/32299/2017.Joel Borges acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for his Researcher Contract from project NANO4BIO (grant number POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032299 and FCT reference PTDC/FIS-MAC/32299/2017). Diana I. Meira acknowledges FCT for her PhD Scholarship, SFRH/BD/143262/2019. Marco S. Rodrigues acknowledges FCT for his PhD Scholarship, SFRH/BD/118684/2016. Cláudia Lopes acknowledges her post-doctoral fellowship from project NANOSENSING (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016902 and FCT reference PTDC/FIS-NAN/1154/2014)

Mecanismos de participação cívica em Portugal: o caso dos teferendos locais

O presente trabalho procura dar o seu humilde contributo para a dignificação e qualificação do Poder Local em Portugal, analisando um dos mecanismos que a lei coloca ao serviço dos órgãos autárquicos e da iniciativa popular: o referendo local. Pretende-se verificar até que ponto a teoria da escolha pública e dos custos de transação políticos poderão explicar o comportamento dos políticos locais relativamente ao seu posicionamento em relação ao recurso a mecanismos de participação cívica, em concreto, aos referendos locais. O escasso recurso a estes últimos estará relacionado com critérios de racionalidade política ou de oportunismo político, para lá do mero interesse público que juram defender? Não terão os eleitos locais receio das suas consequências políticas no caso de aprovação (ou não), sobretudo se a votação for no sentido oposto ao que defendem? Poderão os resultados colocar em causa a sua reeleição? A opção por essa temática prende-se com o facto de serem escassos os estudos e obras dedicadas ao referendo local, embora abundem no que concerne à participação cívica e ao divórcio entre eleitos e eleitores. Por outro lado, pretendemos dignificar este instrumento e tentar colocá-lo na agenda política atual por lhe reconhecermos virtualidades inegáveis no aprofundamento e na qualidade da democracia local. A pergunta de investigação a que procuraremos responder de forma adequada é a seguinte: Quais os fatores que explicam ou motivam a apresentação de propostas de referendos locais em Portugal?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dry electrodes for surface electromyography based on architectured titanium thin films

Electrodes of silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) are dominant in clinical settings for surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings. These electrodes need a conductive electrolyte gel to ensure proper performance, which dries during long-term measurements inhibiting the immediate electrode’s reuse and is often linked to skin irritation episodes. To overcome these drawbacks, a new type of dry electrodes based on architectured titanium (Ti) thin films were proposed in this work. The architectured microstructures were zigzags, obtained with different sputtering incidence angles (α), which have been shown to directly influence the films’ porosity and electrical conductivity. The electrodes were prepared using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and stainless-steel (SS) substrates, and their performance was tested in male volunteers (athletes) by recording electromyography (EMG) signals, preceded by electrode-skin impedance measurements. In general, the results showed that both SS and TPU dry electrodes can be used for sEMG recordings. While SS electrodes almost match the signal quality parameters of reference electrodes of Ag/AgCl, the performance of electrodes based on TPU functionalized with a Ti thin film still requires further improvements. Noteworthy was the clear increase of the signal to noise ratios when the thin films’ microstructure evolved from normal growth towards zigzag microstructures, meaning that further tailoring of the thin film microstructure is a possible route to achieve optimized performances. Finally, the developed dry electrodes are reusable and allow for multiple EMG recordings without being replaced.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2019 and Bilateral Project FCT/DAAD 2016/2017 “Sunshine” (No. 3340). Joel Borges acknowledges FCT for his Researcher Contract from project NANO4BIO POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032299, with FCT reference PTDC/FIS-MAC/32299/2017. Marco S. Rodrigues acknowledges FCT for his PhD Scholarship, SFRH/BD/118684/2016