An input-output analysis: linkages vs leakages

Resorting to input-output analysis, intersectoral linkages are investigated. For such assessment, the distinction between imported and domestically supplied inputs, which has been disregarded so far in empirical analysis, is crucial. Besides improving the measurement of domestic linkages, it also allows to evaluate the importance of international trade in the production process. Moreover, the interaction between domestic linkages and leakages resulting from international trade can also be analysed. Using as case study a small open economy, the Portuguese one, we assess sectoral interdependence and trade effects for individual sectors as well as for the economy as a whole.

Partial Derivative Automaton for Regular Expressions with Shuffle

We generalize the partial derivative automaton to regular expressions with shuffle and study its size in the worst and in the average case. The number of states of the partial derivative automata is in the worst case at most 2^m, where m is the number of letters in the expression, while asymptotically and on average it is no more than (4/3)^m

Acidemia and Blood Free Fatty Acids: Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a New Context

Following a hypothesis developed in na earlier paper, here it is discussed how deviations of blood pH from the normal range (namely states of acidemia) together with high blood levels of free fatty acids (FFA) may offer a rationale for many important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) by shaping a context for formation of fatty acid micelles and vesicles with an acidic core, which fuse with the endothelia, disrupt vital cell processes, and thereby may initiate atherosclerotic plaque formation. Acidemia may arise primarily from dysregulation of the systemic buffers that control blood pH, chronic diseases of kidneys and lungs, inappropriate diet, or may be induced by some common drugs. The level of free fatty acids may be increased and maintained high by chronic stress, and adrenergic shocks. Elevated concentrations of blood FFA in a context of acidemia allow to understand important cardiovascular aspects: the increased risk of menopausal women, the protective effects of physical exercise, the changes in vascular behavior characteristic of metabolic acidosis/acidemia, the role of diet in the pH balance, on how some known medicines like metformin, steroids, NSAIDS, proton pump inhibitors, and calcium supplements may influence CVD risk, and an explanation is offered for the role of statins

Information and communication technologies in health education

Las tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación asumen actualmente una creciente implementación en todas las áreas de la sociedad, encontrando su espacio en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en términos globales, y en el caso de la formación en enfermería, específicamente. En este estudio se pretende identificar y analizar las concepciones de los docentes de enfermería, en relación a las tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación y su utilización en ese ámbito de formación, las situaciones en las que ellos las usan, sus formas, las potencialidades y limitaciones que se identifican en ese proceso, qué recursos movilizan en su consolidación y expansión. Como estrategia de búsqueda se opta por un estudio de tipo exploratorio y transversal, utilizando una metodología cualitativa en un paradigma interpretativo, seleccionando como instrumentos de recolección de datos la entrevista semiestructurada, técnica nuclear, y el análisis documental, técnica complementaria, siendo el objeto un grupo de sujetos compuesto por dieciséis docentes de una Escuela Superior de Enfermería. Se constata la existencia de una actitud generalmente favorable en relación a la utilización de estas tecnologías, siendo identificadas diversas potencialidades para su aplicación en una formación e enfermería, principalmente con acceso a la información y a la comunicación. Al mismo tiempo se verificó la existencia de dificultades cotidianas, especialmente debido al déficit de recursos materiales y a lagunas formativas de los docentes, en este ámbito.The information and communication technologies assume nowadays an increasing implementation in all areas of the society, finding its own space in the teachinglearning process, in general, and in the case of nursing formation, particularly. The aim of this study is to identify and analyse the concepts of the nursing teachers, in relation to the information and communication technologies and their use in this formation area, the situations in which they use them, their ways, the potentialities and limitations they identify in this process, which resources they mobilize in its consolidation and expansion. As a research strategy we made an option by one study of exploratory and transversal type, using a qualitative methodology in an interpretative paradigm, selecting as instruments of data collection the halfstructured interview, nuclear technique, and the documental analysis, complementary technique, being the subject group in study composed by sixteen teachers of one Nursing High School. We have verified that there is a positive general attitude towards the use of these technologies, being identified many potentialities for their use in nursing training, especially when it comes to the access of information and in the communication process. At the same time we have verified some daily difficulties, especially due to lack of material resources and some less formation of the teachers, in this area.As tecnologias da informação e da comunicação assumem actualmente uma crescente implementação em todas as áreas da sociedade, encontrando o seu espaço no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, em termos globais, e no caso da formação em enfermagem, especificamente. Com este estudo pretende-se identificar e analisar as concepções dos docentes de enfermagem, em relação às tecnologias da informação e da comunicação e sua utilização nesse âmbito de formação, de que forma e em que situações o fazem, que potencialidades e constrangimentos identificam nesse processo, que recursos mobilizam na sua consolidação e expansão. Como estratégia de pesquisa optou-se por um estudo de tipo exploratório e transversal, utilizando uma metodologia qualitativa num paradigma interpretativo, seleccionando como instrumentos de recolha de dados a entrevista semi-estruturada, técnica nuclear, e a análise documental, técnica complementar, sendo o grupo de sujeitos em estudo composto por dezasseis docentes de uma Escola Superior de Enfermagem. Constatou-se a existência de uma atitude geralmente favorável em relação à utilização destas tecnologias, sendo identificadas diversas potencialidades para a sua aplicação na formação em enfermagem, principalmente no acesso à informação e na comunicação. Concomitantemente verificou-se a existência de dificuldades quotidianas, especialmente devido ao défice de recursos materiais e a lacunas formativas dos docentes, neste âmbito

Evaluating the firm's likelihood to adopt an e-procurement system

Towards identifying the factors that foster electronic procurement systems adoption, we reviewed the literature and developed a model that explains electronic-procurement systems (EPS) adoption, considering the technology-organization-environment framework as well as the institutional theory. This model was tested with data collected from the 2500 largest companies operating in Portugal. Based on the t-test for equality of means we found evidence that EPS adoption is positively and significantly associated to (1) firm size; (2) technology competence; (3) the perception companies have about the EPS success of their competitors; (4) the extent of adoption among competitors; and (5) the trading partner readiness to perform electronic transactions. The logistic regression supplied further evidence that technology competence, firm size, extent of adoption among competitors and trading partner readiness provide a reasonable estimate for each firm's likelihood to adopt EPS. We also found evidence that firms which main activity is commerce are more likely to adopt EPSs than firms operating on manufacturing or services industries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Congregating educational technology and school health: contributions in health education

A saúde dos indivíduos está relacionada com o acesso à formação e a sua capacidade de aprender e aplicar os conhecimentos adquiridos, sendo frequente associar atualmente comportamentos saudáveis aos resultados educativos, significando esta conexão que a melhoria na eficiência de um destes campos pode beneficiar o outro. A reflexão subjacente a estas conceções permite perspetivar uma relação profícua entre a tecnologia educativa e a saúde escolar, estabelecendo uma conjugação das potencialidades inerentes às áreas da educação e da saúde, com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade de vida, a responsabilização e a participação dinâmica dos indivíduos, famílias, grupos, instituições e comunidades nos processos relativos à saúde, com base no fomento de estilos de vida saudáveis e da redução dos comportamentos de risco. Fazendo uso dos dados obtidos através de entrevistas efetuadas às equipas de saúde escolar e aos docentes coordenadores da educação para a saúde, bem como dos questionários aplicados a alunos do 9.º ano de escolaridade, procedeu-se à identificação das conceções sobre a tecnologia educativa e sua aplicabilidade na educação para a saúde, à caracterização da utilização da tecnologia educativa na saúde escolar e à descrição dos resultados da aplicação da tecnologia educativa neste âmbito de intervenção.Individuals health is related with their access to education and to their ability to learn and apply the acquired knowledge, in this line, currently, healthy behaviours are often associated with educational outcomes, which means that improving the efficiency of one of these areas may benefit the other. The thinking behind such conceptions allows for envisaging a fruitful relationship between educational technology and school health, establishing a conjugation of the inherent potential of the areas of education and health, with the objective of improving quality of life, accountability and dynamic participation of individuals, families, groups, institutions and communities in health related processes, based on promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing risk behaviours. Making use of data obtained from interviews carried out to school health teams and teachers coordinating education for health, as well as from questionnaires applied to 9.th grade students, we proceeded to the identification of conceptions about educational technology and its applicability on education for health, the characterization of the use of educational technology in school health and the description of the results of applying educational technology in this area of intervention

Revisiting sovereign bond spreads’ determinants in the EMU

We study the determinants of 10-year sovereign bond yield spreads of 11 EMU member states, covering the lifetime of the euro, up until the end of 2014. Panel and SUR analyses coupled with qualitative variables show that the pricing of European debt has not been static across time and EMU countries, and market participants became increasingly aware of macro- economic and fiscal fundamentals