Empreendedorismo em turismo rural: o caso do Norte de Portugal

A presente dissertação tem como objectivo principal estudar o empreendedorismo em turismo rural: o caso do Norte de Portugal, recorrendo para isso, a uma análise quantitativa. A análise efectuada é baseada numa amostra formada por empresas pertencentes ao sector do turismo em Portugal do Norte de Portugal que fossem empresas activas e que tivessem registado na base de dados um contacto de e-mail. Foram apuradas 267 empresas a quem se enviou um questionário tendo-se obtido 41 respostas válidas, sendo esse o número de empresas da nossa amostra final. Além dos dados obtidos via questionário foram recolhidos dados económico-financeiros através da base de dados empresarial SABI (Sistema de Análise de Balanços Ibéricos). Os resultados obtidos indicam que um maior nível de internacionalização, bem como mais elevadas habilitações académicas dos gestores das empresas se associam a melhores níveis de desempenho organizacional.This dissertation´s main objective is to study entrepreneurship in rural tourism: the case of Northern Portugal, using a quantitative analysis. The analysis is based on a sample of companies belonging to the tourism sector in northern Portugal who were active companies and had registered an e-mail contact in the database. To a total of 267 companies a questionnaire was sent and 41 valid answers were obtained, which is the number of companies in our final sample. In addition to the data obtained through the questionnaire, economic and financial data was collected through the SABI (Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System) business database. The results obtained indicate that a higher level of internationalization and higher academic qualifications of company managers are associated with a better level of organizational performance

Angiogenesis inhibitors in clinical development; where are we now and where are we going?

Angiogenesis is crucial for tumour growth and the formation of metastases. Various classes of angiogenesis inhibitors that are each able to inhibit one of the various steps of this complex process can be distinguished. Results from clinical studies with these agents are summarised. In general, it has been shown that most angiogenesis inhibitors can be safely administered, but that tumour regressions are rare. Combining angiogenesis inhibitors with cytotoxic chemotherapy can enhance anticancer activity. Recently, some promising data with regard to clinical efficacy have been presented. While performing clinical studies with angiogenesis inhibitors, defining biological activity is crucial, but thus far no validated techniques are available. It is conceivable that in the near future various classes of angiogenesis inhibitors will be combined in an attempt to further improve antiangiogenic and anticancer activity

Physiological traits of the symbiotic bacterium Teredinibacter turnerae isolated from the mangrove shipworm Neoteredo reynei

Nutrition in the Teredinidae family of wood-boring mollusks is sustained by cellulolytic/nitrogen fixing symbiotic bacteria of the Teredinibacter clade. The mangrove Teredinidae Neoteredo reynei is popularly used in the treatment of infectious diseases in the north of Brazil. In the present work, the symbionts of N. reynei, which are strictly confined to the host's gills, were conclusively identified as Teredinibacter turnerae. Symbiont variants obtained in vitro were able to grow using casein as the sole carbon/nitrogen source and under reduced concentrations of NaCl. Furthermore, cellulose consumption in T. turnerae was clearly reduced under low salt concentrations. As a point of interest, we hereby report first hand that T. turnerae in fact exerts antibiotic activity. Furthermore, this activity was also affected by NaCl concentration. Finally, T. turnerae was able to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, this including strains of Sphingomonas sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus sciuri. Our findings introduce new points of view on the ecology of T. turnerae, and suggest new biotechnological applications for this marine bacterium

Electrophoretical studies of proteins of the hypopharyngeal glands and of the larval food of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lep (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae)

The electrophoretical protein patterns of hypopharyngeal glands, larval food of Melipona, and royal jelly of Apis were compared.Since protein patterns of hypopharyngeal glands from newly emerged workers, brood cell provisioners and foragers are similar to freshly deposited larval food, the identical protein bands probably represent actual gland secretion. This suggests that, as in Apis, the glands secrete proteins to the larval food, and maintain this ability throughout life, although at slightly different intensities, according to the activity of the bees.The similarity on the electrophoretic profiles of the major larval food protein in Apis and Melipona is an interesting finding because of its probable evolutionary significance

Anthocyanin Partition in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems Based on Isopropanol and Sodium/Ammonium Sulfate

Partitioning of anthocyanins contained in the crude extract of Syzygium cumini fruit was investigated in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) made up of isopropa nol and Na2SO4/(NH4)2SO4. Na2SO4 induced ATPS formation more effectively than (NH4)2SO4. The increase in temperature enhanced phase separation in the (NH4)2SO4 ATPS, while the opposite occurred in the Na2SO4 ATPS. The higher the overall mixture concentration or temperature, the higher the values of tie-line length and slope. In all systems and conditions, anthocyanins preferentially parti tioned to the top phase. The partition coefficient and theoretical recovery yield in the top phase varied in the ranges 1.14–1.77 and 53.31–63.87 % in the (NH4)2SO4 ATPS, and in the ranges 1.94–21.50 and 65.90–95.55 % in the Na2SO4 ATPS

Live nearby, be different, work apart? Some learnings from action spaces discrepancies in Santiago de Chile

International audienceThis article examines macro-level contextual parameters and individual-based factors deemed in the literature to directly influence individuals’ daily mobility practices. It considers urban structure, place of residence, situation in the social hierarchy, and position in the life course. Taking its inspiration from approaches highlighting segregation at destination place and studies focusing on mobility biographies, it enquires whether systematic discrepancies may be detected between the places frequented for work or study on a daily basis by groups of individuals residing in the same neighborhood. It also looks at whether home location (in a central area, inner suburb, or outskirt) influences how action spaces are configured. The analysis relies on a three-phase integrated method. First, a typology of individuals is assembled so as to put together homogenous socio-demographic groups. Second, the action spaces of these groups are calculated and mapped. Third, the significance of spatial differences in action spaces is assessed using a bivariate colocation test, hitherto used primarily in spatial epidemiology. This three-phase method is applied to data collected in Santiago de Chile during a survey of 1000 households, designed to capture spatial mobility from a biographical perspective.En este artículo se examina un conjunto de parámetros contextuales y factores individuales que aparecen en la bibliografía como los que influyen directamente en las prácticas cotidianas de movilidad de los individuos. Considera la estructura urbana, el lugar de residencia, la posición de los individuos en la jerarquía social y el ciclo de vida. Basándose en enfoques que ponen de relieve la segregación en el lugar de destino y en estudios sobre la movilidad desde una perspectiva biográfica, trata de ver si se pueden detectar discrepancias sistemáticas entre los lugares frecuentados diariamente para el trabajo o el estudio por grupos de personas que viven en el mismo barrio. También trata de determinar si la ubicación de la vivienda (en una zona central, un suburbio cercano o una periferia) influye en la configuración de los espacios de acción. El análisis se basa en un método de tres fases. En primer lugar, se establece una tipología de individuos para formar grupos sociodemográficos homogéneos. Luego se calculan y cartografían los espacios de acción de estos grupos. En tercer lugar, la importancia de las diferencias espaciales entre los espacios de acción se evalúa mediante una prueba de colocación bivariada, que hasta ahora se ha utilizado principalmente en la epidemiología espacial. Este método se aplica a datos recogidos en Santiago de Chile en una encuesta de 1000 hogares, diseñada para captar la movilidad espacial desde una perspectiva biográfica.Cet article examine un ensemble de paramètres contextuels et de facteurs individuels qui apparaissent dans la littérature comme influençant directement les pratiques quotidiennes de mobilité des individus. Il considère la structure urbaine, le lieu de résidence, la position des individus dans la hiérarchie sociale et le cycle de vie. S'inspirant d'approches mettant en évidence la ségrégation sur le lieu de destination et d'études sur la mobilité appréhendée dans une perspective biographique, il cherche à voir si des divergences systématiques peuvent être détectées entre les lieux fréquentés quotidiennement pour le travail ou les études par des groupes d'individus résidant dans un même quartier. Il cherche également à savoir si la localisation du domicile (dans une zone centrale, une proche banlieue ou une périphérie) influence la configuration des espaces d'action. L'analyse repose sur une méthode en trois phases. Tout d'abord, une typologie des individus est établie de manière à constituer des groupes sociodémographiques homogènes. Ensuite, les espaces d'action de ces groupes sont calculés et cartographiés. Troisièmement, la significativité des différences spatiales entre les espaces d'action est évaluée à l'aide d'un test de colocalisation bivarié, utilisé jusqu'à présent principalement en épidémiologie spatiale. Cette méthode est appliquée à des données recueillies à Santiago du Chili lors d'une enquête auprès de 1000 ménages, conçue pour saisir la mobilité spatiale sous un angle biographique

Magnesium levels in nutrient solution and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L cv Carioca) development. Evaluation of the growth relations and assimilate partitioning

The effect of magnesium levels in nutrient solution upon relation between shoot and root, leaf weight ratio and assimilate partitioning of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Carioca) was studied. Bean plants (3 per pot) were grown in 6 l pots containing Hoagland & Arnon n. 2 solution modified to obtain 2.4, 24.3, 48.6, 72.9 and 97.2 ppm of magnesium. The experimental design was a completely randomized factorial replicated 3 times with 5 levels of magnesium and 5 samplings wich were done forthnightly. Therefore, it may be suggested that the 48.6 ppm of magnesium level proposed by Hoagland & Amen (1950) is the best choice for the common bean, according to the conditions of this experiment. Magnesium concentrations over 48.6 ppm didn't show significant alterations of the evaluated parameters. Nutrient solution with 2.4 ppm of magnesium content provides higher efficiency to the common bean plants during almost all its cycle, except the final of the reproductive phase. These results suggest that magnesium concentration increased to 48.6 ppm, in the cycle final perhaps could increase the productivity