Internationalization process of Science4 you to the United Kingdom

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 EconomicsThis thesis analyzes and proposes the internationalization strategy of the Portuguese company Science4you to the United Kingdom focusing on its core business, educational scientific toys development. Science4you is a profitable and recently formed company that has already established international operations and is seeking to increase its external revenue streams by reaching other countries. The study scrutinizes the internal environmental context by examining the company history, objectives, operations functioning, industry key drivers and its competitive assessment. In view of the fact that Science4you has been considering the hypothesis of expanding its operations to the United Kingdom, this country was the main target of the study research. Nevertheless, the British toy market attractiveness was analyzed and compared to other potential candidates confirming that the United Kingdom represents a prosperous expansion opportunity. Furthermore a country macro-environmental and a British toy sector analysis were performed, allowing a detailed proposal of the implementation plan regarding the mode of entry, resources needed and the best way to explore the company capabilities in the United Kingdom, namely through the establishment of a direct exporting strategy

The virtual token-passing Ethernet implementation and experimental results

This paper presents the design and first experimental results of VTPE (Virtual Token-passing Ethernet). VTPE \nis a deterministic protocol for real-time applications based on shared Ethernet, aimed to be used either in small \nprocessing power processors or in powerful ones. It is based on implicit token rotation similar to the virtual \ntoken-passing used in the P-NET protocol. The VTPE implementation leads to reduced program code, thus \nfitting in small microcontrollers' memory and imposing low communication overhead. \

Mapping Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems in Portugal: outlook for ISO 45001:2018 adoption

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a set of activities to prevent injuries and health problems to workers and to provide safe and healthy workplaces (ISO 14001:2015). According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 2.3 million people lose their lives each year in their professional activities and more than 300 million work-related accidents occur. The impact on companies is significant and most of these accidents could have been avoided. Thus, it is necessary that they address health and safety at work in a systematic and integrated way. Given the relevance of ISO International Standards, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has created a Project Committee consisting of a team of specialists in OHS to develop ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety management systems - requirements, which was published in 2018. Among the benefits that ISO envisage will come from the implementation of ISO 45001:2018, some issues assume higher importance, such as increased productivity, reduction of costs of stoppages and losses of production, reduction of costs with insurance and lost work days, improvement of the quality of products or services, among others. This work aims to characterize the Portuguese reality, regarding the relevance given to OHS, independently of the sector of activity or size of the companies. Approximately 500 companies (certified and uncertified) were invited to participate through an online survey, with open and closed questions. After processing the data from the 94 valid responses, it was possible to conclude that 98% of these companies are aware of the benefits that OHSMS provides or could provide. Also, 75% of them comply with ISO 45001 requirements, namely concerning the establishment and monitoring of measurable annual targets for OHS, the implementation of the risk prevention program and internal audits to evaluate OHS concerns.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Factores de risco cardiovascular numa população universitária Portuguesa

To characterize the distribution of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among university students, through calculating the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, overweight, and sedentarism, as well as nutrient intake. Cross-sectional study in a random stratified sample of 378 students from Aveiro University in the 2005/2006 academic year. Lifestyle questionnaires were completed on dietary habits and physical activity. The following were assessed: anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lipids, glycemia and homocysteine. Homocysteine was measured in 32 (25.2%) males and 95 (74.8%) females. A high prevalence of sedentarism was found (0.55, 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.60). The prevalence of overweight was 12.2% (0.122, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.16) and of obesity 3.2% (0.032, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.06). Hypercholesterolemia was found in 17.7% (0.177, 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.2) of the students and hypertension in 13.7% of males and 3.5% of females (p<0.001). High levels of homocysteine were found in 15.6% of males. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among health sciences students was higher than in technical and natural sciences (20.2% vs. 13.7%). Human and social sciences was the area with the highest prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (38.1%). The high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs in higher education highlights the need for nutritional and health promotion programs, emphasizing the harmful effects of sedentary behavior. Longitudinal study of this cohort will enable analysis of the impact of such behavior in early life on subsequent development of health problems.Objectivo: Caracterizar a distribuição dos factores de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares em estudantes universitários, através do cálculo da prevalência de hipercolesterolemia, hiperhomocisteinemia, hiperglicemia, hipertensão, ingestão de nutrientes, excesso de peso e sedentarismo. População e métodos: Estudo transversal com base numa amostra aleatória constituída por 378 alunos a frequentar a Universidade de Aveiro no ano 2005/2006. Obteve-se informação sobre actividade física e hábitos alimentares. Foram também obtidas medidas antropométricas, de pressão sanguínea e amostras de sangue para a medição de lípidos, glicose e homocisteína. A homocisteína foi medida em 32 rapazes (25,2%) e 95 raparigas (74,8%). Resultados: O factor de risco de maior prevalência é o sedentarismo (0,55, IC95%, 0,50-0,60). A prevalência de excesso de peso é de 12,2% (0,122, IC95%, 0,09-0,16) e de obesidade é de 3,2% (0,032, IC95%, 0,02-0,06). Em 17,7% (0,177, IC95%, 0,14-0,22) das amostras de sangue, observou- -se hipercolesterolemia. Há mais hipertensão nos homens do que nas mulheres (13,7% vs 3,5%, p<0,001). A hiperhomocisteinemia foi detectada em 15,6% dos homens. A prevalência da hipercolesterolemia nos alunos de Ciências da Saúde é mais alta do que nos de Ciências Técnicas e Naturais (20,2% vs 13,7%). A área científica que apresenta uma prevalência mais elevada de alunos em risco é a de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (38,1%). Discussão e conclusões: Alerta-se para a necessidade da vigilância dos consumos alimentares, através de programas educativos que incluam a prática do desporto. O estudo de seguimento desta coorte, já planeado, fornecerá informação sobre a influência da vida académica na saúde dos indivíduos

Two cases of late-onset Argininosuccinic aciduria with normal results at newborn screening

Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by Argininosuccinate Lyase (ASL) deficiency, and it is the second most frequent urea cycle disorder, with an estimated frequency of 1:70 000. The human ASL gene is located on chromosome 7q11.21 and comprises 16 exons encoding a 464 amino acids long monomer. The enzyme is functional in a homotetrameric structure and is mainly expressed in the liver, although it can be found in several other tissues. The clinical presentation of ASA is very heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic to severe hyperammonemic neonatal-onset cases. Complex clinical phenotypes, with neurological deficits and hepatic complications adding to hyperammonemic episodes, are often observed. Biochemically, ASA is usually characterized by elevation of both citrulline and argininosuccinic acid in plasma and urine, but also at this level heterogeneity is observed, adding to a poor correlation found between residual enzymatic activity and the severity of the clinical phenotype. Newborn Screening (NBS) for ASA is widely established although some paradoxal results can be obtained due to the clinical and biochemical ASA heterogeneity: asymptomatic cases can be detected and, on the contrary, late-onset forms with important clinical manifestations observed since the first months of live can be missed due to normal biochemical results. ASA was included in the Portuguese NBS Program in 2005, based on elevated argininosuccinic acid blood levels. During these ten years of NBS two cases were identified and two other were missed. The missed cases were two brothers with a late-onset clinical form, which presented completely normal results at NBS. They are homozygous for R12Q mutation, which is a mutation reported to be associated with a mild clinical form of the disease and frequently found in late-onset ASA cases. Based on this finding it is important to keep in mind that a late-onset form of ASA should be considered for a child with clinical signs fitting this disease, even if NBS had a normal result

Flow dynamics of vitreous humour during saccadic eye movements

In this work, we reveal the flow dynamics of Vitreous Humour (VH) gel and liquid phases during saccadic movements of the eye, considering the biofluids viscoelastic character as well as realistic eye chamber geometry and taking into account the saccade profile. We quantify the differences in the flow dynamics of VH gel and liquid phases using viscoelastic rheological models that are able to model the VH shear rheology, considering different amplitudes of saccadic movements (10 ∘, 20 ∘, 30 ∘ and 40 ∘). For this purpose, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) open source software OpenFOAM® was used. The results portray a distinct flow behaviour for the VH gel and liquid phases, with inertial effects being more significant for the VH liquid phase. Moreover, the Wall Shear Stress (WSS) values produced by the VH gel phase are more than twice of those generated by the VH liquid phase. Results also show that for different amplitudes of eye movement both the velocity magnitude in the vitreous cavity and the shear stresses on the cavity walls rise with increasing saccadic movement displacement

A reforma da caneta: reflexões curriculares acerca do ensino médio profissional no Brasil atual

O que aqui denominamos a reforma da caneta é o resultado do poder discricionário das autoridades que se revezam na esfera pública e o exercem com a força dos cargos que ocupam cujas ações unilaterais são eivadas de alienação dos sujeitos reais da cena educacional. Insere-se neste contexto a reforma do ensino médio profissional no Brasil atual, produzida por Medida Provisória, ao tornar facultativa a oferta de disciplinas constituídas de fundamentos teóricos e práticos relevantes para a formação humana, além de permitir a atuação de leigos, o notório saber, no lugar do profissional do magistério, formado na e para a docência representa um retrocesso sem precedentes em nossa infante democracia, a atual política educacional brasileira atesta o seu total desprezo à carreira docente e afirma uma política de empobrecimento curricular na formação da juventude e da classe trabalhadora que logram cursar o ensino médio por ela proposto. Assumir o seu papel neste contexto formativo ainda é um grande desafio para a universidade brasileira. O ensino médio que queremos não pode derivar de tal reforma que caminha na contramão da desejada educação pública democrática e de qualidade. É preciso reabrir o debate, valorizar o acúmulo da ciência brasileira a respeito da matéria e, sobretudo, ouvir as vozes silenciadas no cenário educativo, seus reais protagonistas

Materialismo Histórico e Dialético em pesquisas do campo curricular: o ensino de História no curso de Pedagogia

This article results from academic research that investigated the curricular area of history teaching in private higher education institutions in the course of degree in pedagogy. Taking as premise the idea that analyze the proposed object from the thesis-that the teaching of History should be relevant in the curricula of teacher training-directs these writings to the reflective analysis under the methodological-theoretical lens of historical materialism dialectic - MHD. Assumes a posture of conceiving him as doctrine, recognized their limits, but admits that it's still the trend that better approaches the anxieties caused by the critical theory of curriculum. The aim of the text is to present epistemological and methodological elements-through critical review of literature-which guarantee a refined use of Marx's method, with the due proportions, applied to the field of curriculum, especially in the wake of critical theories. The theoretical object proposed here is only to illustrate how the theoretical categories of Marxian and Marxist dialectic, as contradiction, totality and social practice can be applied to studies of this nature.o presente artigo resulta de pesquisa acadêmica que investigou o espaço curricular do ensino de História em Instituições de Educação Superior privadas no curso de licenciatura em Pedagogia. Tomando como premissa a ideia de que analisar o objeto proposto a partir da tese - de que o ensino de História deva ser relevante nos currículos de formação do pedagogo - direciona esses escritos para a análise reflexiva sob a lente teórico-metodológica do materialismo histórico dialético - MHD. Não se assume uma postura de concebê-lo como doutrina, reconhece-se seus limites, mas admite-se que ainda é a tendência que melhor se aproxima dos anseios provocados pela própria teoria crítica de currículo. O objetivo do texto é apresentar elementos epistemológicos e metodológicos - por meio de revisão crítica de literatura - que garantam uma refinada utilização do método de Marx, com as devidas proporções, aplicado ao campo do currículo, sobretudo na esteira das teorias críticas. O objeto teórico aqui proposto é apenas para ilustrar de que forma as categorias teóricas da dialética marxiana e marxistas, como contradição, totalidade e prática social podem ser aplicadas em estudos dessa natureza.

Federalismo e Políticas sociais no Brasil: impasses da descentralização pós-1988

Este artigo objetiva analisar os impactos da descentralização pós-1988 em distintas áreas de políticas públicas no federalismo brasileiro. Constata-se que a descentralização (político/ administrativa/orçamentária), sobretudo em áreas como saúde, educação e transferência de renda, tem alterado as relações intergovernamentais e tem relevância política e acadêmica. No âmbito da institucionalização dos sistemas únicos e da unifi cação dos programas de transferência de renda, por exemplo, a União tende a se relacionar diretamente com as esferas municipais, reduzindo a participação da esfera estadual. Essa é uma mudança importante, uma vez que na institucionalidade clássica federativa os estados membros da federação vêm tornando-se coadjuvantes na produção das principais políticas sociais. Os diversos exemplos tratados pelo texto concluem que não se pode compreender o federalismo atual brasileiro numa única direção, mas que, a par disso, a tendente relação direta entre União e municípios produz impactos diversos no sistema político e nas políticas públicas