Consumer behavior in the intentions to change between electricity suppliers in Portugal: A push-pull-mooring framework

The liberalization process of the Portuguese electricity market, which started in the 1990s, is integrated in the strategic action enacted by the European Union (EU). With the introduction of competition in the electricity sector, it became essential for electricity providers to identify which factors determine consumers' choice and switching between electricity suppliers. This study intends to apply the push-pull-mooring migration theory to consumers in the electricity market to understand the switching behavior between suppliers. The results showed that push and mooring dimensions have a significant impact on consumer switching intention. In general, low satisfaction and higher value-billing of the other services can push consumers away from their current electricity supplier. Furthermore, these results suggest that the moderating effects such as the switching costs, the previous experience in this market as well as the social influence play important roles in the relationship between some components of the push effects (commitment, satisfaction, and value-billing other services) and the intention to change. Therefore, this study helps both market players and public policy makers designing strategies and incentives aligned with consumer behavior, considering both economic and psychological factors and their combined effect in their switching intention.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Key processes for the construction of an informal guide to develop digital competences: support resettled refugees in active job search

Any kind of learning program requires a set of processes to make sure that learning can happen in a specific environment. This means that it is important to identify the method and instructional model that can help learners getting engaged in a specific theme, in this case in developing digital competences. In this work, we present the method followed to build an informal Guide for refugees to develop digital competences, to support their active job search (which is part of an ongoing Ph.D. project). Hence, the five processes of Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning were used (i.e. selecting words; selecting images; organizing images; organizing words; integrating) to present text, graphics, video and audio information for optimal learning. For the creation of this informal Guide, an analysis model was developed to support the research process, namely the design of the questionnaires used to collect data. The study was divided into three phases: in phase 1, data were collected to characterize the participants (in terms of their earlier learning; their proficiency in Portuguese; their professional activity in their country of birth; their professional activity in Portugal; the computing devices they have and use). After collecting these data, the respondents (refugees) with an active profile were identified and invited to participate in the study. In phase 2 type of online social networks used by the respondents with an active profile were identified, as well as the digital competences they assume to have developed), so that in phase 3 we could conceive and carry out training sessions, with the inputs from experts, to develop digital competences. Thus, the main goal of this work is to present the methodology used to build the informal Guide, as well as depict some of the most relevant characteristics of the selected participants.publishe

Densidade de semeadura de trigo - uma questão de economia.

Para uma efetiva recomendação da quantidade econômica de semente, necessária para a obtenção da máxima produção de trigo, em termos deste insumo, é muito importante que no cálculo da quantidade de semente sejam considerados os parâmetros: massa de 1.000 sementes, vigor e/ou poder germinativo da semente, densidade de sementes or metro quadrado (estande de plantas/m2) a ser atingido e o espaçamento entre linhas.bitstream/CNPAF/20698/1/comt_54.pd

THERMODYNAMIC AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A BIOGAS -FUELED MICRO GAS TURBINE WITH COMPRESSOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DRIVE

The increase in global and Brazilian energy demand plus environmental concern due to pollutant emissions are motivating investigation and development of sustainable energy sources and the interaction between them. In this context, electricity generation through solar and solid urban waste energy harnessing has become an effective option for Brazilian energy matrix diversification. Therefore, in order to ratify this trend, a thermodynamic analysis of a 200 kWe micro gas turbine using biogas as fuel and photovoltaic panels to drive compressor shaft is presented in this paper. In terms of methodology, Engineering Equation Solver (EES) Demo was used to run a classic steady state thermodynamic model and a parametric analysis to evaluate MGT performance with a PV system integrated in order to assess specific fuel consumption reduction (SFC) at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, operation. Radiasol 2 was the software used to acquire solar insolation data over the year. The fuel economy occurs since power produced in turbine does not need to be discounted to drive compressor shaft during periods when solar insolation is present or when energy generation during the day is sufficient to be credited as Brazilian legislation allows grid integrated systems. In cases that solar energy is not enough or absent, a transmission mechanism similar to a clutch should be considered as well as proposed in other studies to guarantee uninterrupted system operation. Futhermore, an economic analysis was performed to evaluate kWh cost for conventional and hybrid systems. Interest rate, inflation, construction period and amortization period are important parameters taken into account to calculated annuity factor that must be evaluated to predict energy cost. The thermodynamic results showed that SFC=0,718 kg/kWh for conventional operation and SFC=0,266 kg/kWh for hybrid operation for the best operating compressor pressures ratio. The economic results showed that payback time for MGT and MGT with compressor photovoltaic drive are lower than lifetime systems, and hybrid MGT electricity cost is lower when compared to paid ones nowadays

Consumption of musical content and movies/series online in Portugal

Abstract —This study addresses the consumption of musical and/or movies and series online according to the frequency of Internet use. The time spent on Internet, nowadays, goes beyond a simple search or checking the email. What will be the sociodemographic characteristics of Portuguese users? Will the choices facing the Portuguese users be homogeneous in what concerns the frequency of Internet use to access music and movies online? The answer to these research questions is the aim of this study. Using the Flash Eurobarometer 437 database, it is identified that age is significantly related to the frequency of using the Internet to access music and movies online. It is also observed that gender is significantly related to frequency of using the Internet to access movies online. However, the perception of quality and speed of Internet connection are not significantly related to frequency of using the Internet. The choices facing the Portuguese users are not homogeneous regarding the frequency of Internet use to access music and movies online as observed in four different clusters with different characteristics. These results can be an indication that policies concerning the music and movies contents should fit the characteristics of each of these clusters.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Melhoria da produtividade da clementina ‘Fina’, no Algarve.

A clementina ‘Fina’ é uma das tangerineiras mais cultivadas no Algarve. A baixa produtividade e o pequeno tamanho dos frutos deste cultivar, limitam os rendimentos do citricultor. Na tentativa de melhorar a produtividade desta clementina, foi realizado um ensaio, num pomar comercial, onde se estudou o efeito de aplicações hormonais de GA3 e de GA3+2,4-D. A aplicação de GA3 em plena floração aumentou o número de frutos vingados e provocou uma pequena redução do seu tamanho. O tratamento com GA3 +2,4-D reduziu o número de frutos vingados, em relação ao tratamento com GA3, mas estimulou o crescimento do fruto e aumentou o seu tamanho final. Podemos concluir que, no nosso ensaio, a aplicação conjunta de GA3 e 2,4-D constituiu o tratamento mais eficaz, na melhoria da produtividade da clementina ‘Fina’

Evaluating structural differences in cortical bone tissue after demineralization and calcination

Although the best results in bone grafting have been achieved with autogeneuos bone tissue, allografts and xenografts have been widely used either in mineralized, demineralized, or calcined forms. Demineralized bone has been proven to stimulate new bone formation by exposing, proteins and growth factors necessary for osteoinduction. On the other hand, calcined bone offers a natural architectural mineralized matrix, not present in synthetic apatite materials, as well as an excellent source of calcium. Despite the extensive use and importance of these materials, systematic works regarding their characterization are relatively scarce

Glass-based biosensing device for monitoring CA15-3 cancer biomarker

We thank funding to the European Research Council, through the Starting Grant 3P’s (GA311086, given to MGFS) and to Norte 2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte, through the project CANCER (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000029). The authors also thank due to CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predictive models for managing financial incentives oriented to companies: Application to Portugal 2020

Since Portugal joined the European Union (EU) that it has been receiving incentives/funds to reduce disparities with other EU countries. Despite this goal, disparities between European regions still exist and the impact of such funds is questionable. What if it is possible to predict the success of such incentives when the funds are awarded to the beneficiaries? Using data from the database of The Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI), for the programs National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), and Portugal 2020, two predictive models are developed to estimate the number of applications to be received and the schedule of expected payments to beneficiaries for a four-month period. The results allow for a better prediction, on one hand, of the resources to be allocated to the evaluation process of the applications, and on the other hand, of the financial execution plan for the upcoming period, in order to prepare the financial execution.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Adsorption of 2,2 '-dithiodipyridine as a tool for the assembly of silver nanoparticles

Silver nanostructured thin films stabilized by 2,2’-dithiodipyridine (2dtpy) were prepared. The Ag nanoparticles were obtained by treating the complex [Ag(2dtpy)]NO3 with NaBH4 in a methanol–toluene mixture. The films were transferred to borosilicate glass slips by a dip-coating method and were found to consist of Ag nanoparticles possibly linked via 2dtpy molecules. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies have offered the possibility of investigating the adsorption modes of 2dtpy at the Ag nanoparticle surfaces in the fil