El turismo ibérico: un estudio de la afluencia turística

La importancia del Turismo en el contexto económico europeo es, en la actualidad, un importante motor de desarrollo e impulso para muchos otros sectores de la Economía. Las alteraciones demográficas, la mejoría de los niveles de calidad de vida, la evolución de los transportes y la globalización, han sido factores determinantes en el crecimiento de la actividad turística. Caracterizada por la diversidad de atracciones y por una elevada calidad en sus servicios de turismo, la Europa es hoy el principal destino turístico del mundo. En el contexto ibérico, esta realidad no es diferente. En España y Portugal, el Turismo es hoy un sector transversal, con implicaciones en muchas otras actividades económicas. Asume pues extrema importancia la caracterización de las estructuras de afluencia turística en las diversas regiones de España y Portugal, con vista al mejoramiento y adaptación de la oferta, a un perfil de turista específico. En este estudio se ha procedido a una caracterización de la estructura de la afluencia turística en las diferentes regiones ibéricas, según la proveniencia geográfica de los turistas que mayoritariamente las visitan.he importance of the Tourism in the European economic context is, at the present time, an important development motor and pulse for many other sections of the Economy. The demographic alterations, the improvement of the levels of life quality, the evolution of transports and the globalization, have been decisive factors in the growth of the tourist activity. Characterized by the diversity of attractions anda high quality in its services of tourism, Europe is toda y the main tourist destiny of the world. In the Iberian context, this reality is not different. In Spain and Portugal, the Tourism is toda y a traverse section, with implications in many other economic activities. lt assumes it carries toan extreme importance the characterization of the structures of tourist aftluence in the severa! areas of Spain and Portugal, with view to the improvement and adaptation of the offer, toa profile of specific tourist. In this study we proceed to a characterization of the structure of the tourist aftluence in the different Iberian areas, according to the tourists' geographical provenience that mainly visits them

Tourism sector competitiveness in Portugal: applying Porter's Diamond

The tourism sector has stood out for its enormous capacity for growth on a global scale and holding a relevant role both as a tool for the competitiveness and as a driver of regional development. This profile stems not only from its multiplier effects but also the opportunities susceptible to identification within the scope of offsetting regional disparities in growth and prosperity. The objective of this research project consists of evaluating the competitiveness of the regional areas and directorates of tourism in Portugal with the methodology applied requiring the input of primary data (a sample of 446 companies), through a questionnaire aimed at companies displaying the activities characteristic of the World Tourism Organisation satellite account. Through the application of Porter’s Diamond Model, we arrived at a conceptual model through recourse to the Partial Least Square – Path Modelling technique with the objective of analysing the relationships unfolding among the determinant variables to competitiveness in the tourism sector. Despite the results returned proving clear, we also verify that encapsulating competitiveness proves no easy task given how Portugal reports regions with simultaneously very varied and very specific characteristics.O sector do turismo destaca-se pela enorme capacidade de crescimento a nível mundial, desempenhando um papel relevante tanto como ferramenta para a competitividade como enquanto motor do desenvolvimento regional. Este perfil decorre não apenas dos seus efeitos multiplicadores, mas também das oportunidades suscetíveis de identificação no âmbito da compensação das disparidades regionais no crescimento e prosperidade. O objetivo desta investigação consiste em avaliar a competitividade das áreas regionais e direções do turismo em Portugal. Utilizamos dados primários (uma amostra de 446 empresas), através de um questionário destinado a empresas que exibem as atividades características da conta satélite da Organização Mundial de Turismo. Através da aplicação do Modelo de Diamante de Porter, alcançamos um modelo conceitual através do recurso à técnica de Partial Least Square – Path Modelling com o objetivo de analisar as relações que se desdobram entre as variáveis determinantes para a competitividade no setor de turismo. Apesar de os resultados retornados serem claros, verificamos também que o encapsulamento da competitividade não se revela uma tarefa fácil, dado o fato de Portugal englobar regiões com características simultaneamente muito variadas e muito específicas

Prevalence and clinical features of adverse food reactions in Portuguese adolescents

Background & aims: The objective of the present study was to determine, for the first time, the prevalence and clinical features of food allergy in Portuguese adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in various secondary schools in central Portugal. Randomly selected adolescents replied to a validated food allergy questionnaire. Those who reported an adverse food reaction were seen at participating hospitals, where clinical history was taken, skin prick (SPT) and prick-prick skin (SPPT) tests were performed, and food allergen-specific IgE levels (sIgE) were determined. An open oral challenge was performed in selected cases. Cases of positive clinical history of immediate (up to 2 h after ingestion) reaction in association with positive food sIgE levels and/or SPT were classified as IgE-associated probable food allergy and as confirmed IgE-mediated food allergy if food challenges were positive. Cases of positive clinical history of delayed (more than 2 h after ingestion) and negative food sIgE levels independently of positive SPT or SPPT results, were classified as non-IgE associated probable food allergy. Results: The prevalence of probable food allergy in Portuguese adolescents was 1.41% (95% CI: 0.90–2.03%), with fresh fruits, shellfish, nuts, and peanut as the most frequently implicated foods. IgE-mediated probable food allergy occurred in 1.23% (95% CI: 0.67–1.72%) of cases, with fresh fruits, shellfish, and nuts mainly involved. Cutaneous symptoms were most frequently reported. Conclusions: The prevalence of probable food allergies in Portuguese adolescents is low, is mostly related to fresh fruits, shellfish, nuts, and peanut, and most frequently involves cutaneous symptoms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plasmatic Oxidative and Metabonomic Profile of Patients with Different Degrees of Biliary Acute Pancreatitis Severity

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory process of the pancreas with variable involvement of the pancreatic and peripancreatic tissues and remote organ systems. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress (OS), and plasma metabolome of patients with different degrees of biliary AP severity to improve its prognosis. Twenty-nine patients with biliary AP and 11 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We analyzed several inflammatory biomarkers, multifactorial scores, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants defenses, and the plasma metabolome of biliary AP and healthy controls. Hepcidin (1.00), CRP (0.94), and SIRI (0.87) were the most accurate serological biomarkers of AP severity. OS played a pivotal role in the initial phase of AP, with significant changes in ROS and antioxidant defenses relating to AP severity. Phenylalanine (p < 0.05), threonine (p < 0.05), and lipids (p < 0.01) showed significant changes in AP severity. The role of hepcidin and SIRI were confirmed as new prognostic biomarkers of biliary AP. OS appears to have a role in the onset and progression of the AP process. Overall, this study identified several metabolites that may predict the onset and progression of biliary AP severity, constituting the first metabonomic study in the field of biliary AP

Leishmania infantum Virulence Factor A2 Protein: Linear B-Cell Epitope Mapping and Identification of Three Main Linear B-Cell Epitopes in Vaccinated and Naturally Infected Dogs

In Brazil, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is caused by Leishmania infantum, presenting a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Dogs are the main parasite reservoir in urban areas and canine cases precede human infection. Currently, A2 protein based Leish-Tec® vaccine is the only vaccine commercially available against CVL in Brazil. Considering that the main screening and confirmatory tests of canine infection are serological, it is possible that the antibody response elicited after vaccination interfere with diagnosis, leading to the inability to distinguish between vaccinated and infected animals. In order to identify the specific B-cell response induced after vaccination, A2 protein sequence was screened for main linear B-cell epitopes using in silico prediction (Bepipred) and immunological confirmation by ELISA. Three amino acid sequences were described as potential B-cell epitopes (SV11-SAEPHKAAVDV, PP16-PQSVGPLSVGPQSVGP, and VQ34-VGPLSVGPQSVGPLSVGPLSVGPQAVGPLSVGPQ). Specific IgG ELISAs were performed in sera of 12 immunized dogs living in non-endemic areas, followed for up to 1 year after immunization. The results were compared with those obtained in a group of 10 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic CVL dogs. All predicted epitopes were confirmed as linear B-cell epitopes broadly recognized by sera from studied dogs. Total IgG ELISAs demonstrated distinct patterns of response between peptides in the immunized and CVL groups. VQ34 peptide was recognized by the majority of sera from vaccinated and symptomatic dogs, and increases after vaccination. PP16 induced low levels of specific IgG that increased 1 year after immunization. Interestingly, a low frequency of reactivity was found against SV11 in naturally infected dogs (symptomatic and asymptomatic), while 83.3% of vaccinated dogs presented positive responses 1 year after immunization. The two animals in the vaccinated group that did not respond to SV11 1 year after immunization presented positive serology both 30 days and 6 months after immunization. In summary, we identified three main linear B-cell epitopes in A2 based vaccine. Moreover, the humoral response against SV11 presented marked differences between infected and Leish-Tec vaccinated dogs, and should be further investigated, in large trials, to confirm its potential as a serological marker able to distinguish between infected and vaccinated dogs

Evaluación del cambio en pacientes oncológicos: un enfoque estadístico

[ES]El objetivo del presente trabajo está centrado en las técnicas estadísticas aplicadas al análisis de datos de Calidad de Vida. En particular se pretende entender cómo percibe el paciente oncológico su calidad de vida y cómo evoluciona esta percepción a lo largo de todo el complejo proceso de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enfermedad. Con este propósito, hemos desarrollado un estudio con una muestra de pacientes oncológicos pertenecientes a cinco hospitales portugueses. El proceso de recogida de estos datos ha sido extenso y arduo en lo que respecta a la obtención de los permisos necesarios y a los muchos días pasados en el hospital, sin embargo, extremadamente gratificante y compensador por el contacto con cada paciente. La lucha de estos pacientes contra la enfermedad, su fuerza, su empeño, sus ganas de vivir, su sonrisa, han sido también nuestra fuerza y aliento para seguir.[EN]The aim of this work focuses on applied statistical techniques to data analysis of quality of life. In particular it seeks to understand how cancer patients perceive their quality of life and how this perception evolves throughout the complex process of diagnosis and treatment of disease. For this purpose, we developed a study with a sample of cancer patients from five hospitals Portuguese. The process of collecting this data has been long and hard with regard to obtaining the necessary permits and the many days spent in the hospital, however, extremely rewarding and compensating contact with each patient. The struggle of these patients against the disease, their strength, their commitment, their desire to live, smile, have also been our strength and encouragement to continue

Subamostragem em séries temporais

Tese submetida à Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Dezembro 2001, para obtenção do grau de MestreNeste trabalho considera-se a subamostragem em séries temporais a qual permite aproximar a distribuição amostral de uma estatística e as suas características. Esta técnica proporciona a construção intervalos de confiança assimptóticos para um parâmetro associado à distribuição de probabilidade de uma série temporal ⦃X1,…,Xn⦄, mostrando-se válida sob condições mais gerais que os métodos de reamostragem. A metodologia de subamostragem é aplicada a séries temporais geradas por modelos autoregressivos, com o objectivo de construir intervalos de confiança para o parâmetro autoregressivo. Faz-se um estudo com o objectivo de inferir sobre a relação entre o parâmetro autoregressivo e a dimensão das subamostras a utilizar na aplicação da subamostragem. Verifica-se que os intervalos de confiança obtidos por subamostragem apresentam uma cobertura comparável á dos intervalos de confiança clássicos. Conclui-se que subamostras de pequena dimensão conduzem a melhores resultados na construção de intervalos de confiança para o parâmetro autoregressivo. Num segundo estudo cujo objectivo é caracterizar a distribuição dos estimadores de máxima verosimilhança calculados nas subamostras, constata-se que estes apresentam uma distribuição aproximadamente normal

El turismo ibérico: un estudio de la afluencia turística

La importancia del Turismo en el contexto económico europeo es, en la actualidad, un importante motor de desarrollo e impulso para muchos otros sectores de la Economía. Las alteraciones demográficas, la mejoría de los niveles de calidad de vida, la evolución de los transportes y la globalización, han sido factores determinantes en el crecimiento de la actividad turística. Caracterizada por la diversidad de atracciones y por una elevada calidad en sus servicios de turismo, la Europa es hoy el principal destino turístico del mundo. En el contexto ibérico, esta realidad no es diferente. En España y Portugal, el Turismo es hoy un sector transversal, con implicaciones en muchas otras actividades económicas. Asume pues extrema importancia la caracterización de las estructuras de afluencia turística en las diversas regiones de España y Portugal, con vista al mejoramiento y adaptación de la oferta, a un perfil de turista específico. En este estudio se ha procedido a una caracterización de la estructura de la afluencia turística en las diferentes regiones ibéricas, según la proveniencia geográfica de los turistas que mayoritariamente las visitan.he importance of the Tourism in the European economic context is, at the present time, an important development motor and pulse for many other sections of the Economy. The demographic alterations, the improvement of the levels of life quality, the evolution of transports and the globalization, have been decisive factors in the growth of the tourist activity. Characterized by the diversity of attractions anda high quality in its services of tourism, Europe is toda y the main tourist destiny of the world. In the Iberian context, this reality is not different. In Spain and Portugal, the Tourism is toda y a traverse section, with implications in many other economic activities. lt assumes it carries toan extreme importance the characterization of the structures of tourist aftluence in the severa! areas of Spain and Portugal, with view to the improvement and adaptation of the offer, toa profile of specific tourist. In this study we proceed to a characterization of the structure of the tourist aftluence in the different Iberian areas, according to the tourists' geographical provenience that mainly visits them