Obtenção de plantas de Humulus lupulos L. resistentes a virus

A biotecnologia vegetal tornou-se uma ferramenta fundamental no melhoramento das mais variadas espécies. Na sua vertente de transformação genética, abriu novos horizontes de interesse agrícola e económico, no controlo de doenças e pragas. No lúpulo, a perda de produtividade, devido a infeções virais, levou a que a estratégia de transformação genética, para introdução de resistência a vírus, se tornasse extremamente interessante. Neste trabalho, procurou-se estabelecer condições para obter um sistema de transformação eficiente, com base na introdução do gene da cápside viral. Testou-se o sistema de micropropagação e de regeneração em duas cultivares (Eroica e Brewer’s Gold) e num clone espontâneo (Bragança). Utilizaram-se diferentes meios base e diferentes explantes (folhas, pecíolos e entrenós). Este sistema de regeneração, permitiu desenvolver dois processos de transformação: 1) mediado por Agrobacterium e 2) bombardeamento de partículas. Foram testados diferentes parâmetros de transformação (plasmídeos, tempos de corte, co-cultura, meios de seleção). Verificou-se a transformação por diferentes técnicas de análise molecular e obteve-se transformação estável em qualquer dos processos. Após 2 anos em terra, as plantas transformadas utilizando os dois processos, foram testadas para o gene da cpArMV, apresentando resultados positivos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

THE USE of CONSORTIA for the INTERNATIONALIZATION of FIRMS – MOTA-ENGIL CASE STUDY

Internationalization has been widely studied throughout the years. Broadly, it has been predicted as irrevocable and having increasing impact on firm-related strategy. Within entry modes, consortium, has not received as much attention as others. Hence, it seems important to understand how this specific entry mode allows the entrance of firms in the international markets. This study intends to answer the question of “how” to internationalize, anticipating the consortium as the most feasible way for construction firms to enter certain markets. The reasons that determine its choice concern the specificness of the projects, markets and of the firm. In the first part of the study, we review the existent literature on consortia as an entry mode and as a tool of internationalization used by construction firms. Through this review we build a framework that reveals the motivations that lead to this choice. In the second part, we present the case study of Mota-Engil, as a potential source of valuable information which may contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon under study. This case study corroborates the motivations found to create consortia. The paper closes with its contributions, limitations and suggestions for future researches.consortia, internationalization, cooperation, construction

Índice de risco relativo de mortalidade de aves ibéricas em parques eólicos baseado em modelos inflacionados em zero

Mestrado em Biologia AplicadaClimate change is one of the greatest threats towards humankind and wildlife. This consciousness motivated the search for alternatives that could contribute to mitigate climate change. Betting on renewable energies seems to be a winning strategy adopted worldwide in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global climate alterations and to improve nations’ energy independency. However, nowadays, these energy usages still have negative impacts, mostly on wildlife. Wind energy is even considered the greatest unintended human impact on avifauna. In this context, the aim of this thesis was to increase the knowledge about wind farms impacts on avifauna, which variables influence birds’ fatalities by collision with wind turbines and birds’ vulnerability. Models based on excessive zero counts were tested to understand which variables influence birds’ fatalities assessed on 25 Portuguese wind farms. This allowed to estimate the probability of mortality observation per species. The information obtained was used to build the fatality risk index that also considered the vulnerability factors, which give information of species conservation concern and resilience. Those indexes allow to prioritise the existing and limited conservation efforts on more vulnerable species. Models and indexes are also important for improving knowledge about wind energy impacts on wildlife and what can lead to reduce them, in order to achieve a sustainable and greener future.As alterações climáticas são uma das maiores ameaças para a Humanidade e para a vida selvagem. A consciência sobre a importância destas questões motivou a procura de alternativas, com intuito de mitigar estas alterações globais, causadas nomeadamente pelos gases de efeitos de estufa. Assim, as energias renováveis apresentam-se como uma possível estratégia vencedora a adotar, de forma a reduzir as emissões destes gases e levar à independência energética. No entanto, o uso destas energias renováveis ainda apresenta impactes negativos, especialmente para os ecossistemas. A energia eólica é inclusivamente considerada uma das maiores causas não intencionais de origem antropogénica para a mortalidade adicional de aves. Neste contexto, esta dissertação tem como os principais objetivos o desenvolvimento do conhecimento relativo aos impactes da energia eólica, quais as variáveis que influenciam a mortalidade de aves respeitante à colisão com as turbinas eólicas assim como as variáveis que afetam a vulnerabilidade das espécies. Foram testados modelos de contagem com excesso de zeros para compreender a influência das variáveis nas observações de mortalidade em 25 parques eólicos portugueses. A partir destes modelos foi possível estimar a probabilidade de observação de mortalidade para cada uma das espécies estudadas, provocada por colisão com eólicas. Esta informação foi ainda utilizada de forma a desenvolver um índice de risco de fatalidade com base nestas estimativas, assim como em fatores elucidativos da vulnerabilidade das espécies, nomeadamente o seu estatuto de conservação e resiliência. Desta forma é então possível direcionar esforços e recursos para a preservação das espécies com maior vulnerabilidade e prioridade de conservação. Este tipo de modelos e índices é ainda fundamental para incrementar o conhecimento sobre os impactes da energia eólica na vida selvagem e para compreender quais as medidas que podem ser tomadas para os reduzir e, assim, garantir um futuro mais verde e sustentável para todas as formas de vida

Leadership behaviors impacting follower’s results

This study explores the concepts of Leadership Behavior and the impact on the followers. which can generate engagement, commitments and organizational success. The purpose of the paper is to discuss How Leadership Behavior impacts on follower’s results through implied motives how communication about autonomy and responsibility leads to a better performance both personal and organizational, from employees and also how communication can be performed by leaders to be effective on the organizational success. The research question is “How Leadership Behavior impacts on follower’s results through implied motives? And it will lead us to test and validate the impact of communication on performance through organizations structures. Is necessary to gather the right people with certain behaviors and with the right information for better decision making and consequently better and faster business results can be achieved. Communication is the main factor for information to flow within the organization hierarchies or teams and departments. Employees transform that information into knowledge, thus their perception capacity and performance, being knowledge defined as “understood information” or information as “organized facts”, applying it to their activities. In this context it’s possible to say that knowledge workers and organizations are those, which use knowledge intensively Reinforcing the main purpose of this research mentioning that "effective leadership is still largely a matter of communication. An effective leader thinks about what he says, carefully working out every expression of any significance". The central idea here is that for a system to have the freedom to self-organize, it must have some degree of "space" or autonomy for the occurrence of the relevant innovation. The idea of integrating the needs of individuals and organizations became a powerful force. Alternatives to the bureaucratic organization have begun to emerge as the research showed how bureaucratic structures, leadership styles and the general work of organizations could be modified to create "richer" jobs and motivators that would encourage people to exercise their capacities and creativity This is a conceptual paper, which explores the concepts of communication, autonomy and responsibility, framed by leadership models. The methodology used to was documentary analysis, including papers from the main scientific databases: Scopus and WOS, using the keywords communication, autonomy, responsibility and leadership. In the near future the field methodology will be "Action Research” to study methods, contents and ways of communication from leaders to their teams. The study is going to be performed during 2015/2016 in a specific company environment, using several techniques to collect data: observation and the register of evidences in loco. Data collected will be analyzed and preliminary conclusions will lead to new researches and analysis and a cycle will be done until the end of the study. As expected results we hope to prove that Communication within organization hierarchies will generate more autonomy and better performance from employees which will originate better results from their tasks and thus more efficiency which in turn will lead to high organizational performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How is Trust affected by a Leader’s failure on his role?

This study explores the trust concept on leadership and how it can affect employee’s behavior. The purpose of the paper is to discuss how leadership trust can be affected by a leader’s failure on his role. The research question is "How is trust affected by a leader’s failure on his role?” And it will lead us to test and validate the impact of leader’s trust on employee’s behavior and performance through organizations structures. In leadership, trust between superiors and followers plays a very important role. Since last decade, there has been a considerable increase in researching trust at the organizational level. Researchers and practitioners continue to recognize trust as an important factor in determining organizational success, organizational stability and the well-being of employees. Trust has also emerged as a central construct in a wide range of management studies including those focusing on performance. This is a conceptual paper, which explores the concepts of trust, behavior and performance, framed by leadership models. The literature review includes a documentary analysis of papers from the main scientific databases: Scopus and WOS, using the keywords leadership, trust, behavior and performance. As expected results we anticipate to confirm if leader’s trust within organization hierarchies will generate and be a key factor on behavior and thus lead to better performance from employees which will originate better results from their tasks and thus more efficiency which in turn will lead to high organizational performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Review hops - bioactive compounds and their applications

Humulus lupulus L. it’s the scientific name of a perennial climbing plant of great importance because of its biocompounds of interest such as: organic acids, polyphenols and essential oils. The female inflorescences (cones) of hops glands secrete mainly lupulin. This is known worldwide as an essential raw material and flavoring agent in beer production. Phytochemical compounds from the plant such as xanthohumol, humulone, and lupulone have been used in trials for cosmetic application. Also the use of the plant has been reported for long time in traditional medicine, due to its properties, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant among others. This review presents the botanical aspects of the plant as well as its chemical compounds, traditional uses, and its biological activities for textile, food, medicinal, and cosmetic applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Studying the Pacific Subtropical Front with multiple assets

We describe a novel approach to physical oceanography by coordinating remote sensing, multiple autonomous vehicles and ship borne sensors. In contrast with conventional oceanography where ships are the single point of sampling in the middle of a big ocean or are used simply as the base of operations from where autonomous vehicles are deployed, we propose a new approach where ship and autonomous vehicles are coordinated together via satellite communications. We conclude with results and lessons learned from a real-world deployment of the R/V Falkor oceanographic ship together with multiple autonomous vehicles to study the Pacific's Subtropical Front, 800 miles off the coast of San Diego

Analytical enrichment: A target to source approach for missing requirements in decision support systems

Operational Systems collect transactional data and support the execution of business processes in an organization. These systems are often the data source for Decision Support Systems (DSS), i.e. analytical systems designed to aid business users in the decision-making process. For this reason, several problems in Operational Systems, such as missing data requirements or data quality issues, can lead to unfulfilled analytical needs of the DSS and, consequently, have a negative effect on the Decision Making Process since relevant business queries may not be answered. The objective of this study is to understand the impact of the integration of DSS requirements in the design of operational systems. To achieve this objective, this dissertation uses a real use case DSS to identify the missing requirements and develop a DSS prototype to demonstrate the positive impact on the Decision-Making process when these requirements are fulfilled. Throughout this development, ways of dealing with the various types of missing requirements are going to be addressed. Additionally, a methodology to evaluate the missing requirements is suggested, along with a proposal to classify and understand the missing requirements and how they can be dealt with. Also, the evaluation method is applied, and the developed prototype is compared to the baseline system in order to measure the impact. Finally, the benefits of this integration are shown, as well as other factors that can also constrain the DSS requirements.Os sistemas operacionais recolhem dados transacionais e apoiam a execução de processos de negócio numa organização. Estes sistemas são frequentemente a fonte de dados para os Sistemas de Apoio à Decisão (SAD), ou seja, sistemas analíticos concebidos para auxiliar os utilizadores empresariais no processo de tomada de decisão. Por esta razão, vários problemas nos Sistemas Operacionais, tais como requisitos de dados em falta ou questões de qualidade de dados, podem levar a necessidades analíticas não satisfeitas do SAD e, consequentemente, ter um efeito negativo no Processo de Tomada de Decisão, uma vez que as questões de negócio relevantes podem não ser respondidas. O objetivo do presente estudo é compreender o impacto da integração dos requisitos do SAD na conceção dos sistemas operacionais. Para atingir este objetivo, esta dissertação utiliza um caso de estudo real de um SAD para identificar os requisitos em falta e desenvolver um SAD protótipo para demonstrar o impacto positivo no processo de Tomada de Decisão quando estes requisitos são cumpridos. Ao longo deste desenvolvimento, as formas de lidar com os vários tipos de requisitos em falta serão abordadas. É também proposto um método de avaliação para compreender e categorizar os requisitos em falta e a forma como podem ser tratados. Além disso, o método de avaliação é aplicado, e o protótipo desenvolvido é comparado com o sistema de base, no sentido de medir o impacto. Finalmente, são mostrados os benefícios desta integração, bem como outros fatores que também podem limitar os requisitos do SAD

How Leadership Fosters Communication and Impacts Employees Responsibility and Autonomy

This study explores the communication, autonomy and responsibility concepts, which can generate organizational success. The purpose of the paper is to discuss how communication about autonomy and responsibility leads to a better performance both personal and organizational, from employees and also how communication can be performed by leaders to be effective on the organizational success. The research question is "How Leadership fosters Communication and impacts Employees Responsibility and Autonomy?" And it will lead us to test and validate the impact of communication on performance through organizations structures. Is necessary to gather the right people with certain behaviors and with the right information for better decision making and consequently better and faster business results can be achieved. Communication is the main factor for information to flow within the organization hierarchies or teams and departments. Employees transform that information into knowledge, thus their perception capacity and performance, being knowledge defined as "understood information" or information as "organized facts", applying it to their activities. In this context it's possible to say that knowledge workers and organizations are those, which use knowledge intensively Reinforcing the main purpose of this research mentioning that "effective leadership is still largely a matter of communication. An effective leader thinks about what he says, carefully working out every expression of any significance". The central idea here is that for a system to have the freedom to self-organize, it must have some degree of "space" or autonomy for the occurrence of the relevant innovation. The idea of integrating the needs of individuals and organizations became a powerful force. Alternatives to the bureaucratic organization have begun to emerge as the research showed how bureaucratic structures, leadership styles and the general work of organizations could be modified to create "richer" jobs and motivators that would encourage people to exercise their capacities and creativity This is a conceptual paper, which explores the concepts of communication, autonomy and responsibility, framed by leadership models. The methodology used to was documentary analysis, including papers from the main scientific databases: Scopus and WOS, using the keywords communication, autonomy, responsibility and leadership. In the near future the field methodology will be "Action Research" to study methods, contents and ways of communication from leaders to their teams. The study is going to be performed during 2015/2016 in a specific company environment, using several techniques to collect data: observation and the register of evidences in loco. Data collected will be analyzed and preliminary conclusions will lead to new researches and analysis and a cycle will be done until the end of the study. As expected results we hope to prove that Communication within organization hierarchies will generate more autonomy and better performance from employees which will originate better results from their tasks and thus more efficiency which in turn will lead to high organizational performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio