Spectroscopy studies on conservation issues in modern and contemporary paintings

Dissertation presented to the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of New University of Lisbon in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master���s degree in Conservation and Restoration Specialization in easel painting

Making connections: engineering and language issues in teaching english for specific purposes

Tese apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necess��rios �� obten����o do grau de Doutor em L��nguas, Literaturas e Culturas

Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea: Issues and Solutions for the 21st Century

A producer of 5.4 M bbl/d, totalling almost half of the consumption of the entire European Union, the Gulf of Guinea is a fundamental lifeline and maritime link between Europe, the Americas and Africa. Geographically positioned as a staging post for transit originating in Latin America and coupled with its relatively porous borders, the region is also the perfect stepping stone for contraband heading to European shores. While blessed with an enviable wealth of marine and mineral resources, the region is also plagued by an ever-increasing spectre of maritime piracy; accounting for around 30% of incidents in African waters from 2003 to 2011. It is for these reasons that this research centres around the issues of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, with a particular focus on the first two decades of the 21st century. This research looks to examine the overall picture of the present state of play in the area, before going on to provide an analysis of potential regional developments in maritime security. This research begins with the analysis of concepts/phenomena that have played a notable role in the shaping of the field of maritime security, namely Globalisation and security issues in the post-Cold War era. The ensuing chapter then focuses in on the Gulf of Guinea and the issues dominating the field of maritime security in the region. The penultimate chapter presents a SWOT analysis, undertaken as part of this research with the aim of correlating opinions from a variety of sectors/professions regarding maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The final chapter builds upon the results obtained from the abovementioned SWOT analysis, presenting a series of potential proposals/strategies that can contribute to the field of maritime security in the region over the coming years. This research draws to a close with the presentation of conclusions taken from this particular investigation, as well as a final overview of the earlier presented proposals applicable to the field of maritime security during the second decade of the 21st century.

Practices and trends of telework in the Portuguese industry: the results of surveys in the textile, metal and software sectors

The aim of the TeleRisk Project on labour relations and professional risks within the context of teleworking in Portugal ��� supported by IDICT ��� Institute for Development and Inspection of Working Conditions (Ministry of Labour), is to study the practices and forms of teleworking in the manufacturing sectors in Portugal. The project chose also the software industry as a reference sector, even though it does not intend to exclude from the study any other sector of activity or the so-called ���hybrid��� forms of work. However, the latter must have some of the characteristics of telework. The project thus takes into account the so-called ���traditional��� sectors of activity, namely textile and machinery and metal engineering (machinery and equipment), not usually associated to this type of work. However, telework could include, in the so-called ���traditional��� sectors, other variations that are not found in technologically based sectors. One of the evaluation methods for the dynamics associated to telework consisted in carrying out surveys by means of questionnaires, aimed at employers in the sectors analysed. This paper presents some of the results of those surveys. It is important to mention that, being a preliminary analysis, it means that it does not pretend to have exhausted all the issues in the survey, but has meant that it shows the bigger tendencies, in terms of teleworking practices, of the Portuguese industry.

EcoTerra Model - application of environmental fiscal reform in local government financing in Portugal

Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation: International and Comparative Perspectives: Volume VI, 699-715

The patient safety journey in Portugal : challenges and opportunities from a public health perspective

ABSTRACT - Despite improvements in healthcare interventions, the incidence of adverse events and other patient safety problems constitutes a major contributor to the global burden of diseases and a concern for Public Health. In the last years there have been some successful individual and institutional efforts to approach patient safety issues in Portugal, unless such effort has been fragmented or focused on specific small areas. Long-term and global improvement has remained elusive, and most of all the improvement of patient safety in Portugal, must evaluate not only the efficacy of a change but also what was effective for implementing the change. Clearly, patient safety issues result from various combinations of individual, team, organization, system and patient factors. A systemic and integrated approach to promote patient safety must acknowledge and strive to understand the complexity of work systems and processes in health care, including the interactions between people, technology, and the environment. Safety errors cannot be productively attributed to a single human error. Our objective with this paper is to provide a brief overview of the status quo in patient safety in Portugal, highlighting key aspects that should be taken into account in the design of a strategy for improving patient safety. With these key aspects in mind, policy makers and implementers can move forward and make better decisions about which changes should be made and about the way the needed changes to improve patient safety should be implemented. The contribution of colleagues that are international leaders on healthcare quality and patient safety may also contribute to more innovative research methods needed to create the knowledge that promotes less costly successful changes.---- ---------------------- RESUMO ��� As quest��es relacionadas com a Seguran��a do Doente, e em particular, com a ocorr��ncia de eventos adversos tem constitu��do, de h�� uns tempos a esta parte, uma crescente preocupa����o para as organiza����es de sa��de, para os decisores pol��ticos, para os profissionais de sa��de e para os doentes/utentes e suas fam��lias, sendo por isso considerado um problema de Sa��de P��blica a que urge dar resposta. Em Portugal, nos ��ltimos anos, t��m sido desenvolvidos esfor��os baseados, maioritariamente, em iniciativas isoladas, para abordar os aspectos da Seguran��a do Doente. O facto de essas iniciativas n��o serem integradas numa estrat��gia expl��cita e de dimens��o regional ou nacional, faz com que os resultados sejam parcelares e tenham visibilidade reduzida. Paralelamente, a melhoria da qualidade dos cuidados de sa��de (a longo prazo) resultante dessas iniciativas tem sido esparsa e nem sempre a avalia����o tem sido feita tendo em conta crit��rios de efectividade e de efici��ncia. A Seguran��a do Doente resulta da interac����o de diversos factores relacionados, por um lado, com o doente e, por outro, com a presta����o de cuidados que envolvem elementos de natureza individual (falhas activas) e organizacional/estrutural (falhas latentes). Devido �� multifactorialidade que est�� na base de ��problemas/falhas�� na Seguran��a do Doente, qualquer abordagem a considerar deve ser sist��mica e integrada. Simultaneamente, tais abordagens devem contemplar a compreens��o da complexidade dos sistemas e dos processos de presta����o de cuidados de sa��de e as suas interdepend��ncias (envolvendo aspectos individuais, tecnol��gicos e ambientais). O presente trabalho tem por objectivo reflectir sobre o ��estado da arte�� da Seguran��a do Doente em Portugal, destacando os elementos-chave que se consideram decisivos para uma estrat��gia de ac����o nesse dom��nio. Com esses elementos os respons��veis pela governa����o da sa��de poder��o valorizar os aspectos que consideram decisivos para uma pol��tica de Seguran��a do Doente mais eficaz. A contribui����o de quatro colegas internacionalmente reconhecidos como l��deres na ��rea da Qualidade em Sa��de e da Seguran��a do Doente, constitui, por certo, uma oportunidade ��mpar para a identifica����o e discuss��o de alguns dos principais desafios, amea��as e oportunidades que s

Metabolic flux analysis of neural cell metabolism in primary cultures

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry, Neuroscience

Documenting InStory ��� Mobile Storytelling in a Cultural Heritage Environment

This paper describes the process and problems that had to be faced during the elaboration of a digital interactive narrative for the Instory project (http://img.di.fct.unl.pt/InStory/) implanted in ��Quinta da Regaleira��, Sintra, Portugal, and classified as World Heritage by Unesco. It also explores some of the practical and theoretical issues in what regards the literary terminology and strategies involved.

Energy-efficient diversity combining for different access schemes in a multi-path dispersive channel

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Electrot��cnica e Computadores

Landscape composition and climatic parameters significant in the spread of an invasive species (Pine wood Nematode)

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente

Contribution of Mental Health Service User Groups to Mental Health Services and Policy in Ghana : The Case of Mental Health Society of Ghana

RESUMO: Este estudo procurou documentar a perspectiva (s) dos utentes de sa��de mental e das associa����es de prestadores de cuidados sobre a presta����o, o papel e a contribui����o de servi��os de sa��de mental da comunidade tal como foram percebidos por um n��mero de informadores-chave, incluindo os utentes do servi��o mentais e os pr��prios prestadores de cuidados. O caso espec��fico da Sociedade Sa��de Mental do Gana (MEHSOG) foi o foco deste estudo. O modelo foi o de um estudo de caso, utilizando discuss��es de grupo e entrevistas com informadores-chave como instrumentos de recolha de dados. Estas ferramentas de colheita de dados foram complementadas por observa����es dos participantes e pela revis��o de documentos da MEHSOG e dos v��rios grupos de apoio da comunidade de auto-ajuda que comp��em a associa����o nacional. O estudo revelou que os utentes dos servi��os de sa��de mental e seus prestadores de cuidados constituem um importante grupo de partes interessadas na presta����o de servi��os de sa��de mental da comunidade e no desenvolvimento de pol��ticas que tenham em conta as necessidades e os direitos das pessoas com doen��a mental ou epilepsia. O envolvimento da MEHSOG promove a mobiliza����o de membros e fam��lias relacionadas com a doen��a mental de beneficiar de servi��os de tratamento bem organizados com um impacto significativo na melhoria da sa��de e da participa����o dos utentes dos servi��os e seus prestadores de cuidados prim��rios em processos de tomada de decis��o da fam��lia e na comunidade processos de desenvolvimento. Os utentes dos servi��os por beneficiarem de tratamento, e os prestadores de cuidados prim��rios, por se tornarem mais livres e menos sobrecarregados com a responsabilidade de cuidar, podem passar a envolver-se mais em atividades que melhoramo seu estado, o de suas fam��lias e das comunidades. A advocacia dos membros da MEHSOG para conseguir que a ���Mental Health Bill��� se transforme numa Lei foi tamb��m um desenvolvimento significativo resultante da participa����o ativa dos utentes do servi��o em chamar a aten����o para uma nova e inclusiva legisla����o de sa��de mental para o Gana. Entre os fatores e oportunidades que permitiram aos utentes dos servi��os de sa��de mental e aos prestadores de cuidados prim��rios de pessoas com doen��a mental apoiar activamente a presta����o de servi��os de sa��de mental comunit��ria e o desenvolvimento de pol��ticas conta-se a contribui����o da sociedade civil do Gana, particularmente o movimento da defici��ncia, e os esfor��os anteriores de ONGs em sa��de mental e dos profissionais de sa��de mental para ter uma nova lei em sa��de mental. Observ��mos um certo n��mero de desafios e barreiras que actuam de forma a limitar a influ��ncia dos utentes dos servi��os de sa��de mental na provis��o da sa��de mental comunit��ria e no desenvolvimento de pol��ticas. Entre elas o estigma social contra a doen��a mental e pessoas com doen��a mental ou epilepsia e seus cuidadores primaries �� um factor chave. O estigma tem alterado a percep����o e as an��lises do p��blico em geral, especialmente dos profissionais de sa��de e das autoridades pol��ticas afetando a prioriza����o dos problemas de sa��de mental nas pol��ticas e programas. Outro desafio foi a deficiente infra-estrutura dispon��vel para apoiar servi��os de sa��de mentais que assegurem aos utentes permanecerem em bom estado de sa��de e bem-estar para serem advogados de si pr��prios. A recomenda����o do presente estudo �� que os movimentos de utentes dos servi��os de sa��de mental s��o importantes e que eles precisam de ser apoiados e encorajados a desempenhar o seu papel como pessoas com experi��ncia vivida para contribuir para a organiza����o e presta����o de servi��os de sa��de mental, bem como para a implementa����o, monitoriza����o e avalia����o de pol��ticas e programas. ------------------------------------ ABSTRACT: This study sought to document the perspective(s) of mental health users and care-givers associations in community mental health service provision and their role and contribution as it was perceived by a number of key informants including the mental service users and care-givers themselves. The specific case of the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) was the focus of this study. A case study approach was used to with Focus Group Discussions and Key Informants Interviews being the data collection tools that were used. These data collection tools were complemented by participant observations and review of documents of the MEHSOG and the various community self-help peer support groups that make up the national association. The study revealed that mental health service users and their care-givers constitute an important stakeholder group in community mental health service provision and development of policies that factor in the needs and rights of persons with mental illness or epilepsy. MEHSOG���s involvement in mobilising members and education families to come forward with the relations with mental illness to benefit from treatment services were well made a significant impact in improving the health and participation of service users and their primary carers in family decision-making processes and in community development processes. Service users, on benefiting from treatment, and primary care-givers, on becoming freer and less burdened with the responsibility of care, move on to engage in secure livelihoods activities, which enhanced their status in their families and communities. The advocacy MEHSOG members undertook in getting the mental health Bill become Law was also noted as significant development that was realised as a result of active involvement of service users in calling for a new and inclusive mental health legislation for Ghana. Enabling factors and opportunities that enabled mental health service users and primary care-givers of people with mental illness to actively support community mental health service provision and policy development is with the vibrant civil society presence in Ghana, particularly the disability movement, and earlier efforts by NGOs in mental health in Ghana long-side mental health professionals to have a new law in mental health. A number of challenges were also noted which were found to limit the extent to which mental health service users can be influential in community mental health service provision and policy development. Key among them was the social stigma against mental illness and people with mental illness or epilepsy and their primary carers. Stigma has affected perceptions, analyses of the general public, especially health practitioners and policy authorities that it has affected their prioritisation of mental health issues in policies and programmes. Another challenge was the poor infrastructure available to support enhanced mental health care services that ensure mental health service users remain in a good state of health and wellbeing to advocate for themselves. The recommendation from the study is that mental health service user movements are important and need to be supported and encouraged to play their role as persons with lived experience to inform organisation and provision of mental health services as well as design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programes.