Crop farm development in the Brazilian "Cerrado" region: an ex-ante evaluation

Natural resource use planning In an area such as the "Cerrado" region In the Midwest of BrazilIs a challenge. Any planning framework for analysing Investment opportunities in such a region must emphasize sustainable development. This implies a shift from the traditional single agricultural expansion objective approach, to a multiple objective approach such as that described in this thesis.The main objective of this study was to develop an appropriate planning framework for quantifying the effects of new crop farm development proposals for the "Cerrado" region, from a multiple objective perspective. Its practical Implementation depends on the following: the generation of specific experimental data on rice, maize, wheat and soybean crops and reliable climate and soils data to calibrate corresponding crop models that are incorporated Into a planning framework; the development of experiences concerning environmental quality and social Impact analysis by Brazilian researchers; and training of planning framework users for the enlightenment of policy makers.The study was carried out from the point of view of systems theory, and the chosen research approach integrates a set of different modelling techniques within the developed planning framework. The application of a such planning framework for the Paracatu "Planicie" area was orientated to the final selection (among nine alternatives) of the most appropriate farming system for adoption. However, by manipulating the models which were integrated into the planning framework, and parameters and data related to prices, crop yields, farm sizes, Interest rates, credit and others, a range of policy types can be represented and their effects assessed.The results presented illustrate the potential of the planning framework developed here, as a policy analysis tool for farm development. In the conclusions, some insight Is provided Into aspects concerning the incorporation of this planning framework Into a comprehensive decision support system

Quantitative easing

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 EconomicsSince November 2008, the Federal Reserve of the United States pursued a series of large-scale asset purchases, known as Quantitative Easing. In this Work Project, I describe the context, the objectives and the implementation of the Quantitative Easing. Additionally, I discuss its expected effects. Finally, I present empirical evidence of the effects on interest rates, output and inflation. I conclude that the first round of purchases was effective on preventing deflation and depression while the second had a small impact on economy

Judo teaching models in Portugal: For the knowledge and comprehension of the sporting training process in this discipline

[EN] The aim of this study is to explore the Portuguese judo coaches’ understanding on some fundamental aspects..

Influence of the graphical layout of television news on the viewers: An eye tracking study

Television news has continuously experienced several changes, especially related to graphic overlays. The problem with watching TV news is the way viewers receive and process information broadcast by these programmes, given the variety of visual and audio stimuli with which they are confronted. This study focuses on the influence of the graphical layout on the viewers. Specifically, it examines message recall related to TV news. These goals were achieved by means of a case study using eye tracking, applied in two types of TV news broadcasts: one with graphical elements and another with a clean feed (only with the anchor). Finally, participants answered a questionnaire on the contents within the various graphical elements overlaid on the TV news viewed

Não-receita para recolher um bom livro

No branco do sul as cores dos livros: 5.º encontro sobre literatura para crianças e jovens: atas, Beja (Portugal), organização da Escola Superior de Educação. Instituto Politécnico de Beja, fevereiro 20-21, 2003

Genetic diversity and structure of the portuguese pear (Pyrus communis L.) germplasm

A rich heritage of traditional pear varieties is kept in national Portuguese collections. Out of these varieties, “Rocha” dominates national pear production. Although a noticeable phenotypic variation among clones of this variety has been reported, little is known about its genetic variability, as to date molecular studies have been performed on a single “Rocha” clone. Eleven Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 130 local cultivars, 80 of them being “Rocha” clones. The results allowed the di erentiation of 75 genotypes of which 29 are “Rocha”. Three synonyms groups and four homonymous groups of other local varieties were confirmed. A Bayesian model-based clustering approach identified two distinct clusters. Using flow cytometry, six cultivars were found to be triploids. These results show high genetic variability among “Rocha” clones. In conclusion, there is a need for di erent “Rocha” clones to be preserved to enable the correct selection of the multiplication materialinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Are Public Administration institutions willing to disclose their performance through data portals? The case of the Portuguese Directorates-General

Over the last couple of decades, public administrations have been adopting performance measurement systems with a twofold aim: internally, to obtain feedback on the extent to which they are achieving their goals and, consequently, to have indications on the changes they need to introduce; and, externally, to support their accountability mechanisms. Within a principal-agent perspective, citizens are entitled to more information disclosure regarding the way public resources are being used and how well public services are performing. Given their accessibility and taking into account open government principles, the internet is an essential channel to convey information to a wide range of stakeholders (services users and citizens in particular) thus being crucial in promoting transparency concerning performance measurement. With reference to the Portuguese context, the current chapter analyses the performance information disclosure procedures implemented by the Directorates-Generals and evaluates some features of the performance indicators used.This research was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through national funds to the Research Centre in Political Science (CICP) [grant number UID/CPO/00758/2013] and to INESC [grant number UID/MULTI/00308/2013]

A formação em contexto municipal : um contributo para uma política integrada de educação - formação

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação (área de especialização em Formação,Trabalho e Recursos Humanos)O mundo globalizado imprime aceleradas mudanças às realidades sociais e económicas, movidas pela permanente adaptação aos desafios que uma economia aberta e mundializada desencadeia. Nesse sentido, evidenciam-se as assimetrias que caracterizam a Europa e o mundo e, por isso, também a Administração Local enfrenta novos desafios face à desconcentração e descentralização das atribuições e competências em várias áreas operacionais, assumindo um papel estratégico nas respostas de proximidade à prossecução do interesse público. Nesse sentido, os Municípios são actores privilegiados para essa actuação, porquanto dispõem de recursos humanos altamente qualificados para a prossecução das suas atribuições e para o desenvolvimento de um trabalho interdisciplinar de planeamento, gestão e controlo, subsidiário de uma qualquer estratégia política integrada de intervenção no território que administra. Importa, assim, o reconhecimento e a atribuição do valor e atenção que lhes é devida, pois configuram-se como factor-chave de resposta de proximidade à complexidade dos novos desafios, onde o conhecimento é convocado e, consequentemente, o sucesso alcança impactes de desenvolvimento certamente mais sustentados. Este relatório de estágio (que também constitui um trabalho de investigação), sustentado em várias perspectivas teóricas que tocam as várias dimensões que se entrelaçam numa qualquer política integrada de educação/formação, visa obter inferências sobre as percepções dos actores dos vários níveis hierárquicos do Município, nomeadamente sobre as profundas alterações nos processos de trabalho provocadas pela evolução das novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação e normativos legais, quer sobre o lugar e o papel que a educação/formação tem no seio da organização, nomeadamente como instrumento estratégico de gestão de recursos humanos, sob uma pressão normativa para a racionalização dos efectivos e sem prejuízo da eficiência e eficácia dos serviços prestados. Os resultados deste estudo revelaram, por um lado, percepções de práticas formativas de dominação reiterada, de mera reciclagem, actualização, adaptação e aperfeiçoamento numa lógica de especialização para a realização de trabalho prescrito, evidenciando também a exclusão dos menos qualificados. Por outro lado, sustenta a reivindicação à adopção de uma política integrada de educação/formação que convoque, para o efeito, a efectivação da estruturação do serviço interno de formação segundo uma lógica de ruptura com o tradicional “Modelo Sistémico Geral da Actividade de Formação”, que potencie a livre escolha de percursos formativos com suporte na motivação e a credibilidade dos trabalhadores.A global world leads to quick changes concerning social and economic realities, caused by permanent adjustment to challenges brought by an open and global economy. Therefore one can notice the differences that characterize Europe and the world and for that reason Local Administration also faces new challenges in view of the devolution and decentralization of power and abilities concerning many operational areas, taking on a strategical role in close response to the pursuit of public interest. Therefore municipalities play an important role in that context since they have high quality human resources to deal with power and to develop an interdisciplinary work of planning, managing and control, supporting any strategical integrated politics of field intervention. Appreciation and attention are important because they are the key points concerning a close response to the complexity of new challenges in which knowledge is needed and consequently the success matches with a well-balanced development. This report (which is also a research paper) is based on several perspectives related to the different dimensions that get mixed in any integrated politics of Education/Training, and aims to get conclusions about the perceptions of the actors of different hierarchical ranks of the municipality, mainly those related to the deep changes in the work processes caused by the evolution of new information and communication technologies and legal rules, concerning the place and role that Education/Training has in the heart of an organization, mainly as strategical instrument of managing human resources, under rule pressure to rationalize staff without damaging the efficiency and the efficacy of the services provided. On the one hand, the results of this study have shown perceptions of repeated training, mere recycling, updating, adjustment and improvement having in mind the specialization to perform assigned tasks, bringing forward the exclusion of the less qualified. On the other hand, they support the demand for choosing an integrated politics of education/training which calls for real constitution of internal training service and puts an end to the traditional “Global Systemic Training Model”, leading to the free choice of training pathways based on the workers’ motivation and credibility

Implementação de uma comunidade de energia renovável

A produção de energia elétrica e a forma como a mesma é obtida tem desde muito demonstrado um verdadeiro paradigma. Por um lado, a necessidade de ter este bem essencial da forma mais barata possível, que muitas vezes leva a que essa produção se baseie numa indústria dimensionada em grandes infraestruturas e muito poluentes, por outro lado, a necessidade de impactar o menos possível o meio ambiente com a sua obtenção e com uma produção mais flexível e descentralizada. Com a evolução tecnológica e com a constatação da necessidade de descarbonizar essa produção, assistimos a um novo paradigma na produção de eletricidade. Em Portugal, o Decreto-Lei n.º 162/2019, veio dinamizar a criação de comunidades de energia renovável (CER), nomeadamente através da produção fotovoltaica (PV). Neste projeto de mestrado irá analisar-se a implementação de uma CER na cidade de Torres Vedras. Esta CER terá como principais promotores a Câmara Municipal de Torres Vedras e a uma empresa EPCISTA/instaladora de painéis PV. Pretende-se avaliar o impacto da CER na comunidade de Torres Vedras, bem como a sua viabilidade futura. Um dos contributos deste projeto é permitir o benchmarking para outras comunidades que pretendam instalar-se noutras localidades, e contribuir para a sustentabilidade ambiental. Os resultados deste projeto permitem-nos concluir que uma CER em Torres Vedras pode traduzirse numa redução real na fatura da eletricidade dos seus participantes. Essa redução pode ultrapassar 15% da energia consumida proveniente da CER.The production of electricity and the way it is obtained has long demonstrated a true paradigm, on one hand the need to have this essential good in the cheapest possible way, that often leads to this production being based on industries with large infrastructures and very pollutants, on the other hand the need to impact the environment as little as possible with a more flexible and decentralized production. With technological evolution and with the realization of the need to decarbonize this production, a new paradigm is created in the production of electricity. In Portugal, the Decree-Law No. 162/2019, stimulates the creation of a renewable energy communities (REC), namely in photovoltaic production (PV). This master’s project will analyze the implementation of a REC in Torres Vedras and will have as main promoters the Municipal Chamber of Torres Vedras and an EPC/ installation company. It is intended to assess the impact of REC on the Torres Vedras community, as well as its future viability. One of the contributions of this project is to allow benchmarking for other communities wishing to settle elsewhere and contribute to environmental sustainability. The project results allow us to conclude that a REC in Torres Vedras can translate into a real reduction in the electricity bill of its participants. This reduction can exceed 15% of the energy consumed from the REC