Abnormal Returns in Privatization Public Offerings: The case of Portuguese firms

This paper provides evidence on abnormal returns of Portuguese privatization public offerings for the period from 1989 to 2001. This study explores the abnormal performance of a comprehensive sample of Portuguese privatization transactions and investigates the determinants of the observed price behavior. We find some evidence of the underpricing phenomenon for privatized offerings but initial returns are low and barely significant. The results show further that privatization IPOs underperform private sector IPOs. In the long run, we observe negative abnormal returns. While in early event months, privatization public offerings yield more negative returns than private sector offerings, this effect is reversed in longer horizon periods. Initial underpricing is thus partially reversed and investors seem to require higher returns in partial privatizations.

Visible Light Communication in Vehicular Communication Applications

This paper addresses the issues related to the Visible Light Communication (VLC) usage in vehicular communication applications. We propose a Visible Light Communication system based on Vehicle-to-Vehicle, Vehicleto-Infrastructure and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle communications able to safely manage vehicles crossing through an intersection. By using the streetlamps, street lights and traffic signaling to broadcast information, the connected vehicles interact with one another and with the infrastructure. Using joint transmission, mobile optical receivers collect data, calculate their location for positioning and, concomitantly, read the transmitted data from each transmitter. As receivers and decoders, optical sensors with light filtering properties, are used. Bidirectional communication between the infrastructure and the vehicles is tested. To command the passage of vehicles safely queue/request/response mechanisms and temporal/space relative pose concepts are used. The results show that the innovative solutions for congested intersections are related to the introduction of split intersections. The results indicate that the V-VLC system increases safety by directly monitoring critical points such as queue formation and dissipation, relative speed thresholds, as well as inter-vehicle spacing.publishersversionpublishe

A abordagem da literatura na formação do Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa - PNAIC

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências da Educação. Pedagogia.O trabalho apresenta o que é e como se organiza o Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa – PNAIC, focando no que esse programa propõe para a literatura no ciclo de alfabetização, ou seja, até o terceiro ano do ensino fundamental. Trata de uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo que tem como objetivos: descrever como a literatura é abordada nos oito cadernos (Ano 1) de formação do Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa; apresentar o que é o PNAIC; refletir sobre a história da literatura e a importância do letramento literário; verificar como vem sendo contemplada a literatura nos oito cadernos (Ano 1) de formação do PNAIC. Ao longo de toda a pesquisa foi observado que esse programa, embora não tenha como objetivo principal as discussões sobre a literatura, considera-a como pano de fundo para todo o processo de alfabetizar letrando, além disso, traz a leitura deleite como proposta para os professores em todas as formações programadas, mostrando assim e reafirmando a importância dessa modalidade nos processos de letramento literário

Question order and context effects on multi-items scales questions

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de InformaçãoThis study examines question order effects, in particular context effect, on multiple-item scales questions and the impact that these effects can have in validity and reliability of measurement. For this purpose, it was performed a survey research with two versions of ECSI questionnaire, in which the position of the indicators of two constructs was changed. In the two groups of items studied, only one of them presented differences when they are grouped or separated in the questionnaire. Although even in this group of questions the effect is diminished, the results suggest that context effects are not necessarily negative for marketing research, since grouping related questions together can result in a higher correlation between them and, consequently, lead to a decrease of variation and an increase of reliability. However, the emergence of context effect seems to be closely related with question content and the level of similarity between the items. Future research should examine the generalization of these results across other service industries and with other question content

Goddess or countertop dancer: mythological female figures in Margaret Atwood's Morning in the burned house

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Inglês: Estudos Linguísticos e Literários, Florianópolis, 2014.Personagens mitológicas são referências recorrentes na escrita de Margaret Atwood e aparecem, frequentemente, de maneira revisitada, questionando o cânone, a própria mitologia clássica e atuando como metáforas complexas da sociedade atual. Este estudo analisa a recorrência de três dessas figuras mitológicas sob o prisma da crítica literária feminista numa seleção de poemas de Margaret Atwood intitulado Morning in the Burned House (1995). A análise busca verificar se e como elas podem ser entendidas como uma paródia auto-reflexiva sobre a condição paradoxical da mulher na sociedade ocidental contemporânea.2014-08-06T17:57:44

VLC Based Guidance System to Be Used by Mobile Users Inside Large Buildings

The main goal of this paper is a Visible Light Communication (VLC) based guidance system to be used by mobile users inside large buildings. This system is composed of several transmitters (ceiling luminaries), which transmit map information and path guidance messages. Mobile devices, with VLC support, decode the information. A mesh cellular hybrid structure is proposed. The luminaires, via VLC, deliver their geographic position and specific information to the users, making them available for whatever use they request. The communication protocol, coding/decoding techniques, and error control are examined. Bidirectional communication is implemented and the best route to navigate through venue calculated. We propose several guidance services and multi-person cooperative localization. By analyzing the results, it became clear that the system not only provides self-location, but also the capability to determine the direction of travel and to interact with information received in order to optimize the route towards a static or dynamic destination.publishersversionpublishe

Abnormal Returns in Privatization Public Offerings: The Case of Portuguese Firms

This paper provides evidence on abnormal returns of Portuguese privatization public offerings for the period from 1989 to 2001. Previous empirical studies report the existence of underpricing for privatized firms in the short-run and positive abnormal returns in the long run. This study explores the abnormal performance of a comprehensive sample of Portuguese privatization transactions and investigates the determinants of the observed price behavior. Our results are not supportive of the underpricing phenomenon except if we exclude the very extreme observations. The results show further that privatization IPOs underperform private sector IPOs. In the long run, we observe negative abnormal returns. While in early event months, privatization public offerings yield more negative returns than private sector offerings, this effect is reversed in longer horizon periods. Initial underpricing is thus reversed and investors seem to require higher returns in partial privatizations

Long-term efficacy of psychotherapy in major depression: protocol of a network meta-analysis

Depression is currently considered the epidemic of the century. In recent decades, research has established that psychotherapy is globally effective for the treatment of depression; however, it remains open which psychotherapeutic treatment is most effective and, particularly, if its efficacy is maintained over the long term. Given the difficulty in performing randomized and controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that simultaneously compare several psychotherapeutic models, meta-analyses aim to provide answers by synthesizing the evidence generated through direct comparisons of treatments .info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe aim of this dissertation was to investigate potential mechanisms whereby nicotine (NIC) is neuroprotective to the dopamine (DA), serotonin (5- HT), and memory systems. As early as 1939, clinical studies have indicated that tremors, or Parkinson's disease (PD), are less likely to occur among tobacco smokers. More recent epidemiological studies have found an inverse correlation between tobacco smoking and PD risk. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by death of DA and 5-HT neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway and is associated with motor and memory dysfunction. Extensive preclinical studies have since demonstrated that NIC is neuroprotective in models of PD. The mechanism by which NIC is neuroprotective is of particular interest in the field of neurodegeneration to understand disease risk and to develop better prevention and treatment strategies. Noteworthy, the abuse of methamphetamine (METH), a potent psychostimulant, causes long-term neurotoxic effects resembling some aspects of PD, including deficits to the DA, 5-HT and memory systems. The data presented in this dissertation indicate that long-term (56 d) oral NIC administration to rats starting in adolescence attenuates both the dopaminergic and memory deficits, but not the serotonergic deficits, caused by a high-dose METH regimen. The dopamine transporter (DAT) function and density in the iv striatum and nucleus accumbens core were used as markers of dopaminergic integrity, and the novel object recognition (NOR) test was used as marker of memory function. NIC is also neuroprotective when given short-term (21 d) beginning in adolescence, but not when it is initiated during adulthood. However, neuroprotection occurs when the duration of NIC administration is extended to 39 d beginning in adulthood. NIC pretreatment alone is sufficient for neuroprotection against METH-induced DAT deficits as well as NOR deficits. Furthermore, NIC ameliorates the NOR deficits caused by METH when given as posttreatment, suggesting that NIC has cognitive protection and cognitive enhancement properties. Lastly, the densities of α4β2 and α6β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are upregulated and downregulated, respectively, after administration of NIC in combination with METH. These data suggest an involvement of these receptors in neuroprotection against METH-induced dopaminergic and memory deficits

Lisbon mobility simulations for performance evaluation of mobile networks

In this paper a novel realistic vehicular mobility model is introduced. It captures the moving-in-groups, conscious travelling, and introduces the concept of smart travelling while following drivers’ social behavior extracted from inquiries and experimental traffic measurements. Under the model, a routing algorithm is considered. The routing algorithm minimizes the distance to a target on a step by step form, in every street crossing. This is done under a hierarchic street level structure that optimizes travel speed and quality. The mobility model was simulated for Lisbon case study and directional statistical results were compared with experimental measurements from Lisbon Municipality control center. The output shows a good correlation between simulated and experimental values.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio