A comparative benchmarking analysis of main Iberian container terminals: a DEA approach

Benchmarking is an important tool to organisations to improve their productivity, product quality, process efficiency or services. From Benchmarking the organisations could compare their performance with competitors and identify their strengths and weaknesses. This study intends to do a benchmarking analysis on the main Iberian Sea ports with a special focus on their container terminals efficiency. To attain this, the DEA (data envelopment analysis) is used since it is considered by several researchers as the most effective method to quantify a set of key performance indicators. In order to reach a more reliable diagnosis tool the DEA is used together with the data mining in comparing the sea ports operational data of container terminals during 2007.Taking into account that sea ports are global logistics networks the performance evaluation is essential to an effective decision making in order to improve their efficiency and, therefore, their competitiveness.

Evaluation of exposure parameters in plain radiography: a comparative study with european guidelines

Typical distribution of exposure parameters in plain radiography is unknown in Portugal. This study aims to identify exposure parameters that are being used in plain radiography in the Lisbon area and to compare the collected data with European references [Commission of European Communities (CEC) guidelines]. The results show that in four examinations (skull, chest, lumbar spine and pelvis), there is a strong tendency of using exposure times above the European recommendation. The X-ray tube potential values (in kV) are below the recommended values from CEC guidelines. This study shows that at a local level (Lisbon region), radiographic practice does not comply with CEC guidelines concerning exposure techniques. Further national/local studies are recommended with the objective to improve exposure optimisation and technical procedures in plain radiography. This study also suggests the need to establish national/local diagnostic reference levels and to proceed to effective measurements for exposure optimisation.

Extreme Value Theory versus traditional GARCH approaches applied to financial data: a comparative evaluation

Although stock prices fluctuate, the variations are relatively small and are frequently assumed to be normal distributed on a large time scale. But sometimes these fluctuations can become determinant, especially when unforeseen large drops in asset prices are observed that could result in huge losses or even in market crashes. The evidence shows that these events happen far more often than would be expected under the generalized assumption of normal distributed financial returns. Thus it is crucial to properly model the distribution tails so as to be able to predict the frequency and magnitude of extreme stock price returns. In this paper we follow the approach suggested by McNeil and Frey (2000) and combine the GARCH-type models with the Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to estimate the tails of three financial index returns DJI,FTSE 100 and NIKKEI 225 representing three important financial areas in the world. Our results indicate that EVT-based conditional quantile estimates are much more accurate than those from conventional AR-GARCH models assuming normal or Student���s t-distribution innovations when doing out-of-sample estimation (within the insample estimation, this is so for the right tail of the distribution of returns).

A comparative study of alternative approaches for common factors identification

Preliminary version

Actors in foreign television news: a comparative analysis

Foreign News about events that takes place in other country Actors are defined as people who appear in the item (as individuals or as representing some entity) speaking or being quoted (directly or indirectly)

Comparative study of power converter topologies and control strategies for the harmonic performance of variable-speed wind turbine generator systems

Power converters play a vital role in the integration of wind power into the electrical grid. Variable-speed wind turbine generator systems have a considerable interest of application for grid connection at constant frequency. In this paper, comprehensive simulation studies are carried out with three power converter topologies: matrix, two-level and multilevel. A fractional-order control strategy is studied for the variable-speed operation of wind turbine generator systems. The studies are in order to compare power converter topologies and control strategies. The studies reveal that the multilevel converter and the proposed fractional-order control strategy enable an improvement in the power quality, in comparison with the other power converters using a classical integer-order control strategy. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Os padr��es de vincula����o estabelecidos e indicadores de resil��ncia (autonomia e capacidades de intera����o social) em crian��as de idade pr��-escolar em fun����o da frequ��ncia em rede p��blica ou privada

A disserta����o procura compreender de que maneira a frequ��ncia da crian��a numa escola p��blica ou numa escola privada, poder�� afetar o desenvolvimento dos indicadores de resili��ncia definidos (autonomia e capacidades de intera����o social) e a sua vincula����o aos pais. O presente estudo realizou-se em tr��s escolas do primeiro ciclo com jardim de inf��ncia, duas das quais pertenciam ao ensino p��blico e uma ao ensino privado. A revis��o da literatura, exposta nos v��rios cap��tulos, apresenta a vis��o de diversos investigadores sobre a problem��tica da rela����o entre o desenvolvimento dos indicadores de resili��ncia definidos, a maneira como as crian��as criam as suas rela����es de vincula����o, focando as diferen��as relativamente �� frequ��ncia em rede p��blica ou rede privada. Por se tratar de um estudo comparativo, foi escolhida uma metodologia quantitativa. Procedeu-se, em seguida, a uma an��lise qualitativa dos resultados obtidos em algumas vari��veis. O estudo conclui que n��o se verificam diferen��as significativas no que diz respeito aos resultados obtidos pelas crian��as relativamente ��s vari��veis em estudo, com exce����o do indicador de resili��ncia ���capacidades de intera����o social���. Este estudo tamb��m nos mostra que existem v��rias vari��veis a ter em conta para compreender a resili��ncia e a rela����o entre as vari��veis, nomeadamente, as qualifica����es dos prestadores de cuidados. Sugere-se a continua����o do trabalho iniciado, avaliando a vincula����o e os indicadores de resili��ncia estudados (autonomia e capacidades de intera����o social) destas mesmas crian��as, no futuro. Sugere-se ainda a realiza����o de outros estudos, dentro da mesma ��rea, que possam aprofundar a influ��ncia das diversas vari��veis que dizem respeito ao contexto socioecon��mico e sociodemogr��fico onde as crian��as est��o inseridas e ver de que maneira estes afetam as vari��veis estudadas neste trabalho. - Abstract The dissertation sought to understand how child���s frequency in a public or a private school, can affect the development of resilience indicators defined (autonomy and capabilities social interaction capabilities) and their connection to parents. This study was conducted in three primary schools with kindergarten, two of which belonged to public education and one to private education. The literature review, exposed in several chapters, presents the view of many researchers on the issue of the relationship between the development of resilience indicators defined, the way children create their linking relations, focusing on the differences in the frequency on public or private school. Since this is a comparative study, a quantitative methodology was chosen. Then we���ve proceeded to a qualitative analysis of the results obtained on some variables. The study concludes that there are no significant differences with regard to the results obtained by children, for the variables under study except for the indicator of resilience ���capabilities of social interaction���. This study also shows that there are several variables to take into account to understand the resilience and the relation between variables, namely, the qualifications of care providers. It is suggested to continue the work begun by evaluating the binding and resilience indicators studied (autonomy and social interaction skills) of these same children in the future. It is also suggested in other studies within the same area, which may deepen the influence of several variables that relate to socio-demographic and socio-economic context where children are located and see how they affect the variables studied in this work

Deforma����o mioc��rdica analisada por 2D strain em indiv��duos com l��pus eritematoso sist��mico

Mestrado em Tecnologia de Diagn��stico e Interven����o Cardiovascular. ��rea de especializa����o: Ultrassonografia Cardiovascular.

Rela����o entre o envelhecimento e o campo visual binocular em tarefas do quotidiano

RESUMO: Introdu����o ��� O envelhecimento pode estar relacionado com a perda de autonomia e decl��nio da capacidade funcional dos indiv��duos, o que tende a comprometer a execu����o de tarefas do quotidiano e consequentemente leva a repercuss��es na qualidade de vida, afetando-a de forma negativa. Objetivos ��� Rever a bibliografia atualmente dispon��vel no que respeita ��s repercuss��es do envelhecimento no campo visual binocular e atencional e �� influ��ncia do campo visual binocular na leitura, escrita e marcha/locomo����o em idosos. Metodologia ��� Este estudo �� uma revis��o de literatura. Procedeu-se �� an��lise de 37 artigos cient��ficos, que posteriormente foram organizados numa grelha de observa����o e numa tabela comparativa. Resultados ��� Dos artigos analisados, 32,43% (n=12) apontam para uma diminui����o da extens��o do campo visual binocular e atencional relacionada com o envelhecimento. Repercuss��es da diminui����o da extens��o do campo visual binocular sem fator atencional nas atividades quotidianas s��o referidas em 54,05% (n=20) dos artigos. Neste grupo de artigos 40,53% (n=15) apontam para a exist��ncia de uma rela����o entre o campo visual binocular com o desempenho na leitura, escrita ou marcha/locomo����o. Do total de artigos analisados, dos 45,95% (n=17) que descrevem o campo visual binocular com fator atencional, 10,81% (n=4) apontam para a mesma rela����o. Discuss��o/Conclus��es ��� O envelhecimento provoca um decr��scimo no campo visual binocular, sendo este mais acentuado na periferia. Este decr��scimo, na presen��a de uma aten����o visual diminu��da, influencia o desempenho na leitura, escrita e marcha/locomo����o.

Parcerias logisticas: estudos de caso

O processo de globaliza����o tem contribu��do para o desenvolvimento da reestrutura����o das firmas, por vezes s��o necess��rias alian��as, o que implica altera����es na cadeia de valor, sendo fundamentais novas formas de relacionamento interpessoal e de opera����o. Os P��los Industriais representam a presen��a f��sica de entidades em determinadas posi����es geogr��ficas, respons��veis pelo desenvolvimento econ��mico, tecnol��gico e social da regi��o. Este trabalho de investiga����o tem como intuito geral verificar o contributo efetivo para o aumento de vantagem competitiva das firmas parceiras na log��stica e produ����o de componentes para o setor autom��vel, tendo como estudo do caso Caetano Coatings Automotive. O estudo foi realizado no P��lo Industrial do Carregado, com base numa pesquisa emp��rica, cumulativamente com revis��o da literatura inerente ��s parcerias em cluster no sector autom��vel e v��rias visitas ao local. Para a realiza����o deste objetivo foi utilizado o m��todo do estudo do caso por permitir ao investigador atrav��s da observa����o direta e entrevista analisar fen��menos atuais. Tal recolha de dados demonstra que altera����es de localiza����o e o fator proximidade contribuem para aumento de competitividade do P��lo Industrial atrav��s da redu����o do espa��o e tempo e consequentemente redu����o de custos e lead-time. Foram analisadas de forma comparativa o desenvolvimento das firmas que detinham e det��m parcerias no P��lo Industrial, tendo sido identificado de forma significativa as contribui����es para o aumento da vantagem competitiva. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam fatores que contribuem para novos tipos de relacionamento e aumento de vantagem competitiva foi devida �� deslocaliza����o das firmas parceiras integradas no P��lo Industrial.

Os programas de matem��tica do ensino b��sico de 1990 e de 2007 e o processo de implementa����o do programa de 2007, no 1�� ciclo do Ensino B��sico

Mestrado em Educa����o Matem��tica na Educa����o Pr�� ��� Escolar e nos 1.�� e 2.�� Ciclos do Ensino B��sico

Contratualiza����o na Administra����o P��blica: o caso da descentraliza����o de compet��ncias educacionais para os Munic��pios

A presente investiga����o procurou descrever, de forma exaustiva, o processo de previs��o, negocia����o, implementa����o e avalia����o do Contrato de Execu����o celebrado entre a C��mara Municipal de Sintra e o Minist��rio da Educa����o em 2009. Este contrato corresponde a um instrumento previsto na regulamenta����o do quadro de transfer��ncias de compet��ncias para os munic��pios em mat��ria de educa����o, de acordo com o regime previsto no Decreto-Lei n.�� 144/2008, de 28 de julho. Definida a problem��tica e os objetivos, a investiga����o centrou-se num estudo de caso no qual foi feita a descri����o e interpreta����o do processo e das a����es desenvolvidas pelos intervenientes no per��odo compreendido entre 2008 e 2011. Recorreu-se �� confronta����o dos dados obtidos atrav��s da an��lise das fontes documentais e do recurso ��s entrevistas realizadas aos respons��veis pelo Pelouro da Educa����o e diretores dos Agrupamentos de Escolas, �� luz da revis��o da literatura e do contributo de diferentes trabalhos de investigadores nesta mat��ria. A investiga����o permitiu concluir que o processo de contratualiza����o foi algo complexo face �� realidade deste Munic��pio e que o normativo apresenta v��rias lacunas no que diz respeito �� contratualiza����o da referida transfer��ncia de compet��ncias, designadamente porque procura generalizar algo que n��o ��, de todo, generaliz��vel ��� o campo da educa����o face �� complexidade dos territ��rios educativos em causa e aos dos intervenientes envolvidos no mesmo.

Estudo e otimiza����o de uma pilha de combust��vel de pequena pot��ncia (10W) e sua integra����o em equipamento port��til

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mec��nica

Comparative study of amine solutions used in CO2 absorption/desorption cycles

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Qu��mica

STIR, SPIR and SPAIR techniques in magnetic resonance of the breast: a comparative study

The amount of fat is a component that complicates the clinical evaluation and the differential diagnostic between benign and malign lesions in the breast MRI examinations. To overcome this problem, an effective erasing of the fat signal over the images acquisition process, is essentials. This study aims to compare three fat suppression techniques (STIR, SPIR, SPAIR) in the MR images of the breast and to evaluate the best image quality regarding its clinical usefulness. To mimic breast women, a breast phantom was constructed. First the exterior contour and, in second time, its content which was selected based on 7 samples with different components. Finally it was undergone to a MRI breast protocol with the three different fat saturation techniques. The examinations were performed on a 1.5 T MRI system (Philips��). A group of 5 experts evaluated 9 sequences, 3 of each with fat suppression techniques, in which the frequency offset and TI (Inversion Time) were the variables changed. This qualitative image analysis was performed according 4 parameters (saturation uniformity, saturation efficacy, detail of the anatomical structures and differentiation between the fibroglandular and adipose tissue), using a five-point Likert scale. The statistics analysis showed that anyone of the fat suppression techniques demonstrated significant differences compared to the others with (p > 0.05) and regarding each parameter independently. By Fleiss��� kappa coefficient there was a good agreement among observers P(e) = 0.68. When comparing STIR, SPIR and SPAIR techniques it was confirmed that all of them have advantages in the study of the breast MRI. For the studied parameters, the results through the Friedman Test showed that there are similar advantages applying anyone of these techniques.