Internet Geography: New Spaces of Information

The objective of great investments in telecommunication networks is to approach economies and put an end to the asymmetries. The most isolated regions could be the beneficiaries of this new technological investments wave disseminating trough the territories. The new economic scenarios created by globalisation make high capacity backbones and coherent information society polity, two instruments that could change regions fate and launch them in to an economic development context. Technology could bring international projection to services or products and could be the differentiating element between a national and an international economic strategy. So, the networks and its fluxes are becoming two of the most important variables to the economies. Measuring and representing this new informational accessibility, mapping new communities, finding new patterns and localisation models, could be today���s challenge. In the physical and real space, location is defined by two or three geographical co-ordinates. In the network virtual space or in cyberspace, geography seems incapable to define location, because it doesn���t have a good model. Trying to solve the problem and based on geographical theories and concepts, new fields of study came to light. The Internet Geography, Cybergeography or Geography of Cyberspace are only three examples. In this paper and using Internet Geography and informational cartography, it was possible to observe and analyse the spacialisation of the Internet phenomenon trough the distribution of the IP addresses in the Portuguese territory. This work shows the great potential and applicability of this indicator to Internet dissemination and regional development studies. The Portuguese territory is seen in a completely new form: the IP address distribution of Country Code Top Level Domains (.pt) could show new regional hierarchies. The spatial concentration or dispersion of top level domains seems to be a good instrument to reflect the info-structural dynamic and economic development of a territory, especially at regional level.

Internet Geography: Spaces of Innovation

Information Society plays an important role in all kinds of human activity, inducing new forms of economic and social organization and creating knowledge. Over the last twenty years of the 20th century, large investments in telecommunication networks were made to approach economies and put an end to the asymmetries. The most isolated regions were the beneficiaries of this new technological investment���s wave disseminating trough the territories. The new economic scenarios created by globalisation make high capacity backbones and coherent information society polity, two instruments that could change regions fate and launch them in to an economic development context. Technology could bring international projection to services, products and could be the differentiating element between a national and an international economic strategy. So, the networks and its fluxes are becoming two of the most important variables to the economies. Measuring and representing this new informational accessibility, mapping new communities, finding new patterns and localisation models, could be today���s challenge. In the physical/real space, location is defined by two or three geographical co-ordinates. In the network/virtual space or in cyberspace, geography seems incapable to define location, because it doesn���t have a good model. Trying to solve the problem and based on geographical theories and concepts, new fields of study came to light. Internet Geography is one example. In this paper and using Internet Geography and informational cartography, it was possible to observe and analyse the spacialisation of the Internet phenomenon trough the distribution of the IP addresses in the Portuguese territory. This work shows the great potential and applicability of this indicator to regional development studies, and at the same time. The IP address distribution of Country Code Top Level Domains (.pt for Portugal) could show the same economic patterns, reflecting territorial inflexibility or, by opposition, new regional hierarchies. The spatial concentration or dispersion of top level domains seems to be a good instrument to analyse the info-structural dynamic and economic development of a territory, especially at regional level. At the same time it shows that information technologies are essential to innovation and competitive advantage.

Automated illustration of multimedia stories

Submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Computer Science

Sub-notifica����o de reac����es adversas medicamentosas : um problema com solu����o? : contribui����o para o conhecimento da sub-notifica����o de RAMs em Portugal e implementa����o de medidas minimizadoras do impacte

RESUMO - Introdu����o: As Reac����es Adversas Medicamentosas (RAMs) constituem um grave problema de Sa��de P��blica em termos da mortalidade e morbilidade provocadas, tendo tamb��m um impacto econ��mico consider��vel nos Sistemas de Sa��de. Os Sistemas de Notificac��o Espont��nea de RAMs s��o considerados como o m��todo de vigil��ncia de medicamentos mais eficaz, sendo a sub-notifica����o de RAMs uma das suas maiores limita����es. Em termos globais, foi estimado que apenas 6% de todas as reac����es adversas s��o notificadas. Portugal apresenta uma taxa de notifica����o de RAMs relativamente baixa quando comparada com os pa��ses mais notificadores da Europa. S��o objectivos deste estudo: 1) caracterizar as atitudes e os comportamentos dos m��dicos, dos farmac��uticos e dos enfermeiros em Portugal Continental relativamente �� notifica����o de RAMs; e 2) caracterizar a efectividade de interven����es educacionais destinadas a reduzir a sub-notifica����o de RAMs. M��todos: Numa primeira fase ser�� efectuado um estudo de caso-controlo em m��dicos, farmac��uticos e enfermeiros de Portugal Continental, a exercer actividade no Servico Nacional de Sa��de (SNS), de modo a caracterizar as suas atitudes e comportamentos relativamente �� notifica����o de RAMs. Como casos ser��o considerados os Profissionais de Sa��de que notificaram pelo menos uma RAM num determinado per��odo e os controlos os Profissionais de Sa��de que n��o notificaram qualquer RAM nesse mesmo per��odo, sendo estes ��timos seleccionados aleatoriamente. O estudo ser�� conduzido atrav��s de um question��rio de auto-resposta, em que as quest��es relativas ��s atitudes e comportamentos s��o baseadas nos ���sete pecados mortais��� de Inman. Ser�� utilizada uma Escala Visual Anal��gica para registar as respostas, podendo estas ir de zero (totalmente em desacordo) at�� 10 (totalmente de acordo). Ser�� utilizada uma an��lise de regress��o log��stica para determinar o odds ratio ajustado (ORadj) da notifica����o de RAMs para uma mudan��a de exposi����o correspondente ao range interquartil para cada atitude. Numa segunda fase, ser�� efectuado ensaio aleatorizado controlado de cluster, para caracterizar a efectividade das interven����es educacionais realizadas sobre as causas identificadas na primeira parte do trabalho, com o intuito de reduzir a sub-notifica����o de RAMs. Com base em informac��o de 2007 foram identificados 43 clusters dispersos pelas v��rias Regi��es de Sa��de. As interven����es educacionais s��o compostas por uma apresenta����o com uma hora de dura����o complementada por um folheto recordat��rio. Ser��o ainda realizados dois sub-estudos, em que o V1.0, Final 28Set09 viii Sub-notifica����o de RAMs em Portugal ��� Um problema com solu����o ? primeiro tentar�� caracterizar o efeito de contamina����o entre Profissionais de Sa��de e o segundo pretende caracterizar a dura����o do efeito das interven����es educacionais. Resultados a atingir: Pretende-se, com a implementa����o deste projecto, aumentar o n��mero de notifica����es de RAMs pelos m��dicos, farmac��uticos e enfermeiros em cerca de 110%, de modo a atingir-se uma taxa de notifica����o de aproximadamente 300 notifica����es por milh��o de habitantes por ano (i.e., multiplicar por 2,1 o n��mero notifica����es existentes). -------------------ABSTRACT - Introduction: The Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are a serious Public Health problem in terms of mortality and morbidity caused, being also an economic burden for the health systems. The Spontaneous Adverse Event Reporting Systems are considered as the most effective drug surveillance methods, in which the ADR under-reporting represents one of its biggest limitations. It was estimated that only 6% of all adverse reactions are notified globally. When comparing with high ADR reporting rate countries Portugal shows a low ADR reporting rate. This study aims to: 1) characterize the physicians, pharmacists and nurses attitudes and behaviours related to ADR under-reporting; 2) characterize the educational interventions effectiveness to decrease the ADRs under-reporting. Methods: During a first phase a case-control study will be conducted in physicians, pharmacists and nurses in Continental Portugal working in the National Health System (NHS) in order to characterize their attitudes and behaviours related to ADR reporting. The Healthcare Professionals that have reported at least one ADR during a determined period will be considered as the cases and those that have not reported any ADR during the same period will be considered as the controls. The controls will be randomly selected. The study will be conducted through a self-administered questionnaire in which the questions related to the attitudes and behaviours are based in the Inmans���s ���seven mortal sins���. A Visual Analogue Scale will be used to record the responses. The responses can range from 0 (totally disagree) to 10 (totally agree). Logistic regression will be used to determine the ADR reporting adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) for a change in the exposure corresponding to the interquartile range for each attitude. In the second phase of the study a cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted to characterize the educational interventions effectiveness focused on the first phase identified causes with the aim to decrease the ADRs under-reporting. Based in 2007���s information 43 clusters have been identified throughout the several Health Regions. The educational interventions are composed of one hour presentation complemented by an informational leaflet. Two sub-studies will be also conducted in which the first one will try to characterize the contamination effect between the Healthcare Professionals and the second to characterize the educational interventions effect duration. V1.0, Final 28Set09 x Sub-notifica����o de RAMs em Portugal ��� Um problema com solu����o ? Outcome: With the project implementation an increase of the ADR notifications performed by the physicians, pharmacists and nurses by 110% is aimed in order to obtain approximately 300 notifications per million habitants per year (i.e., multiply by 2,1 the existent notifications).

A technology market transfer for the Zonadvanced video technology

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

A Directiva 2011-24-UE, relativa ao exerc��cio dos direitos dos doentes em mat��ria de cuidados transfronteiri��os : an��lise : potenciais repercuss��es no direito de acesso aos cuidados de sa��de transfronteiri��os em Portugal

RESUMO - 1. INTRODU����O: Ao longo dos tempos, assistiu-se a um aumento da import��ncia da Sa��de P��blica na Comunidade Europeia, mas s�� h�� relativamente pouco tempo teve o merecido lugar de destaque �� luz da legisla����o comunit��ria. Neste contexto e com a adop����o do Programa Europeu de Sa��de P��blica, surge a necessidade de actualizar o pensamento nesta ��rea. Assim, �� identificada uma oportunidade para formular uma estrat��gia, que seja pass��vel de reduzir desigualdades e que tamb��m em compreenda as necessidades de sa��de. Com o expandir da quest��o e com o prop��sito de reduzir as desigualdades, surge a Directiva 2011/24/UE, que visa regulamentar os direitos dos doentes em mat��ria de cuidados transfronteiri��os. 2. OBJETIVO: Este trabalho apresenta como objetivo primordial analisar a Directiva 2011/24/UE, bem como a Lei n.�� 52/2014, de 25 de Agosto, e identificar as principais barreiras, ao exerc��cio do direito de acesso aos cuidados de sa��de transfronteiri��os, pelos benefici��rios do SNS em Portugal, derivadas da aplica����o de tais instrumentos legais. 3. METODOLOGIA: Foi utilizada uma abordagem anal��tica e documental, baseada na metodologia qualitativa. 4. CONCLUS��ES: As principais barreiras ao direito de acesso aos cuidados de sa��de transfronteiri��os, para os benefici��rios do SNS em Portugal, s��o de ordem financeira, lingu��stica e cultural, informacional, de mobilidade f��sica, de proximidade geogr��fica, de car��cter administrativo e de continuidade dos cuidados. A transposi����o da Directiva 2011/24/UE para o quadro jur��dico portugu��s resulta essencialmente em iniquidades no ��mbito do acesso aos cuidados de sa��de transfronteiri��os.

Estudo das Perce����es dos profissionais I-D sobre a qualidade da Informa����o e o seu impacto no desempenho dos servi��os

O estudo da perce����o dos Profissionais I-D sobre a qualidade da informa����o no desempenho das suas fun����es insere-se numa estrat��gia de investiga����o emergente em Portugal de gest��o baseada em evid��ncias, em que se pretende estudar e debater a problem��tica da qualidade da informa����o na forma����o dos futuros Profissionais da Informa����o. O universo estudado �� o grupo de licenciados em Ci��ncias da Informa����o e da Documenta����o pela Universidade Aberta que colaborou por meio da realiza����o de um question��rio atrav��s do Google Drive. �� objetivo deste trabalho determinar a import��ncia das dimens��es da qualidade de informa����o em v��rios e heterog��neos dom��nios, nomeadamente; na tomada de decis��o, na gest��o da informa����o e no impacto no desempenho, seja em contexto privado ou laboral. As dimens��es consideradas relevantes pelos respondentes foram as seguintes: qualidade da informa����o, quantidade de informa����o, acessibilidade, disponibilidade, usabilidade, compreens��o, relev��ncia, formato, concis��o, impacto individual, aprendizagem, efic��cia na decis��o, impacto organizacional, tempo de resposta, objetividade e credibilidade da informa����o. Existe uma perce����o generalizada na amostra estudada para que a qualidade da informa����o seja associada ��s caracter��sticas de fiabilidade, organiza����o, concis��o, facilidade de obten����o, pertin��ncia, rapidez e seguran��a. Com efeito, �� relevante e de indesment��vel import��ncia discutir no contexto acad��mico o valor da informa����o por meio da avalia����o dos seus atributos de qualidade, a fim de se dinamizarem novos indicadores e desempenhos que apontem para a efetividade das informa����es que s��o disponibilizadas em m��ltiplas situa����es informacionais.

Product quality judgments in a two-sequence cue environment

Previous research demonstrated that the sequence of informational cues and the level of distraction have an impact on the judgment of a product���s quality. This study investigates the influence of the force behind the processing of these cues, working memory (WM). The results indicate that without distraction, consumers with low and high WM capacity (WMC) equally base their product evaluation on the first sequential cue. In the presence of a distractor, however, low WM individuals are no longer able to recall the initial cue, and thus derive their product judgment from the final cue. Moreover, evidence of intercultural differences in the perception of product related cues, and their aptitude for signaling a favorable product quality is provided.

Contributions towards smart cities : exploring block level census data for the characterization of change in Lisbon

The interest in using information to improve the quality of living in large urban areas and its governance efficiency has been around for decades. Nevertheless, the improvements in Information and Communications Technology has sparked a new dynamic in academic research, usually under the umbrella term of Smart Cities. This concept of Smart City can probably be translated, in a simplified version, into cities that are lived, managed and developed in an information-saturated environment. While it makes perfect sense and we can easily foresee the benefits of such a concept, presently there are still several significant challenges that need to be tackled before we can materialize this vision. In this work we aim at providing a small contribution in this direction, which maximizes the relevancy of the available information resources. One of the most detailed and geographically relevant information resource available, for the study of cities, is the census, more specifically the data available at block level (Subsec����o Estat��stica). In this work, we use Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) and the variant Geo-SOM to explore the block level data from the Portuguese census of Lisbon city, for the years of 2001 and 2011. We focus on gauging change, proposing ways that allow the comparison of the two time periods, which have two different underlying geographical bases. We proceed with the analysis of the data using different SOM variants, aiming at producing a two-fold portrait: one, of the evolution of Lisbon during the first decade of the XXI century, another, of how the census dataset and SOM���s can be used to produce an informational framework for the study of cities.