electronic payments in mozambique: A Baseline on their adoption in Maputo and Matola

This study analyses the access and use of financial services by small business owners in the cities of Mozambique, as an important tool for boosting economic growth and diminishing inequality. It correlates owners��� and business characteristics with the probability of adopting Points-of-Sale (POS), Mobile Banking and Mobile Money in everyday transactions. The main findings highlight that what mostly affects the use of POS is the size of business and the volume of transactions (positively correlated with POS adoption), while using mobile phone technologies for payments predominantly depends on the owner���s age and whether he/she is a frequent cellphone user. Moreover, to increase the use of electronic means of payment it is necessary to increase financial literacy and improve the banking services.

Oral coinfection can stress peripheral lymphocyte to inflammatory activity in leprosy

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the intracellular profile of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from leprosy patients based on oral infections presence to determine whether these coinfections could be associated with pro-inflammatory activity in leprosy. METHODS: Leprosy patients regardless of clinical form and specific leprosy treatment (n=38) were divided into two groups: Group I - leprosy patients with oral infections (n=19), and Group II - leprosy patients without oral infections (n=19). Non-leprosy patients presenting oral infections were assigned to the control Group (n=10). Intracellular IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ production was evaluated by flow cytometry (FACS) before and 7 days after controlling the oral infection in the Group I, before and 7 days after dental prophylaxis in the Group II, and during oral infection process in control Group. RESULTS: Low percentages of CD3+ lymphocytes bearing IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ were observed in the Group I and Group II at baseline and 7 days after therapy or prophylaxis compared to controls. Group I showed reduced percentages of IL-4 at baseline and 7 days after therapy compared to controls, or at baseline of Group II, and the Group II showed reduced percentages of CD3+ cells bearing IL-4 compared to control. An increase of the percentages of CD3+cells bearing IL-4 was observed in the Group I after the oral infections treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of oral infections favors the intracellular cytokines expression and, probably, the inflammatory reaction operating as a stimulatory signal triggering the leprosy reactions.

The effectiveness of the ���Processo Especial de Revitaliza����o��� as an instrument of corporate restructuring in the context of the current economic crisis

This work project intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the Portuguese Government���s strategy to promote the orderly deleveraging of the corporate sector in the context of the current economic crisis. The recommendations of the Troika and the commitments assumed under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government in 2011 required the creation of formal processes to avoid disorderly deleveraging. Conclusions and recommendations were drawn based on past experiences of large-scale corporate restructuring strategies in other countries and on the analysis of financial and statistical data on companies applying for ���Programa Especial de Revitaliza����o���.

Qui��ama : um toponimo com v��rias grafias

Este trabalho �� motivado por se verificar uma certa confus��o sobre a grafia do top��nimo em estudo. As diversas grafias do top��nimo em estudo utilizadas em manuais escolares, em obras cient��ficas e liter��rias, em placas topon��micas e em documentos oficiais da Administra����o P��blica, constituem n��o s�� confus��es topon��micas como tamb��m confus��es topogr��ficas. Entretanto, apresentamos este trabalho com a finalidade de propor uma medida de uniformiza����o e normaliza����o das diversas grafias utilizadas na administra����o p��blica (programa televisivo e radiof��nico, jornais, conte��do escolar, institui����es p��blicas, etc) para se referenciar a regi��o em estudo. Contudo, esta uniformiza����o e normaliza����o visa contribuir para a gest��o de informa����o de qualidade na administra����o p��blica da regi��o. O estudo topon��mico em quest��o foi analisado em duas dimens��es, hist��rica e lingu��stica. Na dimens��o hist��rica analisamos os aspectos hist��ricos da regi��o. Na dimens��o lingu��stica, analisamos a quest��o da estrutura morfol��gica do top��nimo em estudo, a sua motiva����o sem��ntica e a sua classifica����o topon��mica de acordo Dick. Consideramos fundamentais para a an��lise do top��nimo em estudo.

How can Impresa increase the traffic of expresso website?

This report aims at describing the project developed in the Customer Relationship Management Field Lab, under a partnership established between Nova SBE and the group IMPRESA. The major goal was to elaborate on possible initiatives to increase the traffic on the website of Expresso, which were supported by evidences found through structured interviews and the company���s internal data. As the main findings are the increasing role of mobile devices and social media on the news��� consumption habits. These encourage an integrated improvement of the overall digital offer of Expresso, in a perspective of brand and audience development that should be a goal for the whole company.

Comparative study of lymphocytes from individuals that were vaccinated and unvaccinated against the pandemic 2009-2011 H1N1 influenza virus in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION:While no single factor is sufficient to guarantee the success of influenza vaccine programs, knowledge of the levels of immunity in local populations is critical. Here, we analyzed influenza immunity in a population from Southern Brazil, a region with weather conditions that are distinct from those in the rest of country, where influenza infections are endemic, and where greater than 50% of the population is vaccinated annually.METHODS:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 40 individuals. Of these, 20 had received the H1N1 vaccine, while the remaining 20 were unvaccinated against the disease. Cells were stimulated in vitro with the trivalent post-pandemic influenza vaccine or with conserved major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) peptides derived from hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Cell viability was then analyzed by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide)]-based colorimetric assay (MTT), and culture supernatants were assayed for helper T type 1 (Th1) and Th2-specific cytokine levels.RESULTS:Peripheral blood lymphocytes from vaccinated, but not unvaccinated, individuals exhibited significant proliferation in vitro in the presence of a cognate influenza antigen. After culturing with vaccine antigens, cells from vaccinated individuals produced similar levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ, while those from unvaccinated individuals produced higher levels of IFN-γ than of IL-10.CONCLUSIONS:Our data indicate that peripheral blood lymphocytes from vaccinated individuals are stimulated upon encountering a cognate antigen, but did not support the hypothesis that cross-reactive responses related to previous infections can ameliorate the immune response. Moreover, monitoring IL-10 production in vaccinated individuals could comprise a valuable tool for predicting disease evolution.

Factors associated with seropositivity for APGL-Iamong household contacts of leprosy patients

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is mainly transmitted among family members who share genetic and ambient factors. The clinical form of leprosy in the index case and kinship could be risk factors for leprosy transmission. High antibody levels in household contacts (HC) in the absence of neural or skin lesions may characterize latent infection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between seropositivity for anti-phenolic glycolipid-I immunoglobulin M antibodies (APGL-I) in HC and the clinical classification of the index case and to analyze the association between APGL-I positivity with other factors such as age, kinship, and gender. METHODS: We performed a survey among 320 HC of 120 leprosy patients who were evaluated and followed-up in a leprosy outpatient clinic of a university hospital. All HC underwent complete skin examination, peripheral nerve palpation, skin sensory tests, and serologic tests for the detection and quantification of APGL-I. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity rate was 20%, and was greatly affected by kinship. APGL-I seropositivity was higher in siblings (41%), followed by parents (28%), spouses (26%), other (19%), and offspring (14%). Independent risk factors for seropositivity were being siblings (OR 3.3) and being a HC of an index case with indeterminate leprosy (OR 5.3). APGL-I seropositivity was associated with index cases with a bacillary index of 4 (88%; p<.001). Seropositivity among HC was not significantly associated with their gender and age. There was no statistical difference in the seropositivity rates of HC of index patients with paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Strict evaluation and follow-up of HC with positive results for APGL-I is recommended. Special attention should be paid during the screening of siblings of the index cases, HC of patients with a high bacillary index, and HC of patients with indeterminate leprosy.

Estudo da influ��ncia do nevoeiro salino nas propriedades de calc��rios portugueses

O nevoeiro salino �� um agente de meteoriza����o importante para a maioria dos materiais de constru����o. Os produtos em pedra natural n��o s��o exce����o. A estrutura das rochas geralmente apresenta caracter��sticas texturais (rede de poros, microfissuras, fissuras, planos de xistosidade, etc.), que facilitam a penetra����o do nevoeiro salino na pedra e a condensa����o no seu interior. A presen��a da solu����o salina pode conduzir �� degrada����o da rocha e em casos extremos, �� sua total desintegra����o, atrav��s de mecanismos f��sicos decorrentes da cristaliza����o de sais, da hidrata����o destes, ou de distintas dilata����es/retra����es t��rmicas entre sal e rocha. Contudo, a pedra tamb��m pode ser alterada por processos qu��micos, dos quais a dissolu����o dos carbonatos �� um exemplo. Entre os principais tipos de rocha explorados em Portugal, os calc��rios s��o particularmente suscet��veis ao nevoeiro salino, posto que geralmente apresentam porosidades abertas com valores elevados e uma rede de poros que permite uma penetra����o mais profunda do nevoeiro salino na estrutura da pedra. O estudo do comportamento dos calc��rios ao nevoeiro salino assume particular import��ncia em Portugal, devido ao facto do pa��s possuir uma orla costeira extensa, grande parte da qual sob a influ��ncia de nevoeiro salino. �� o litoral que apresenta a maior densidade populacional e, consequentemente, onde se concentram as constru����es. Al��m disto, Portugal possui vastas reservas de calc��rios ornamentais, que s��o utilizados em larga escala como materiais de constru����o, desde tempos imemoriais e cuja procura pelo mercado externo, tem vindo a sofrer um incremento significativo. Para este estudo foram selecionados seis calc��rios portugueses amplamente aplicados e com propriedades f��sico-mec��nicas diferentes. Depois de analisadas as suas caracter��sticas petrogr��ficas, qu��micas e as principais propriedades tecnol��gicas, os calc��rios foram submetidos aos seguintes ensaios de envelhecimento: choque t��rmico, gelo e nevoeiro salino. A determina����o de todas as caracter��sticas tecnol��gicas atrav��s de normas europeias, permitiu uma an��lise cr��tica dos respetivos m��todos de ensaio e a elabora����o de propostas de melhoria de alguns dos m��todos. No nevoeiro salino, a avalia����o deste ensaio foi complementada com as determina����es e an��lises a seguir apresentadas, n��o exigidas pela norma europeia: varia����es na absor����o de ��gua e na resist��ncia �� flex��o; compara����o do ensaio em tr��s acabamentos superficiais distintos; an��lises comparativas de imagens macrosc��picas da superf��cie, de imagens atrav��s de lupa binocular e de imagens de eletr��es secund��rios, obtidas com recurso a microssonda eletr��nica. Os resultados permitiram avaliar a aptid��o dos calc��rios para os principais tipos de aplica����es e, dentro de cada uma, para condi����es espec��ficas de uso. Assim, foi poss��vel definir as utiliza����es recomendadas para cada calc��rio, com o objectivo de maximizar a sua durabilidade. Os ensaios de envelhecimento possibilitaram determinar a resist��ncia dos calc��rios perante v��rias condi����es clim��ticas espec��ficas, incluindo as existentes em zonas costeiras. A an��lise detalhada dos resultados do nevoeiro salino refor��a o conhecimento de que a porosidade aberta desempenha um papel determinante no comportamento dos calc��rios neste ensaio de durabilidade. Verificou-se, tamb��m, que os acabamentos superficiais grosseiros s��o mais suscet��veis ao nevoeiro salino, mas menos sens��veis ��s altera����es crom��ticas provocadas por este ensaio. Constatou-se que o nevoeiro salino gera perda de brilho nas superf��cies com acabamento polido. Por fim, concluiu-se que a perda de massa registada por todas as amostras de calc��rio ensaiadas, ficou a dever-se essencialmente a processos de dissolu����o do CaCO3.

Potencial do Sienito Nefel��nico de Monchique para incorpora����o na ind��stria cer��mica

A procura de novos materiais aumenta dia ap��s dia, obrigando o Homem a procurar e encontrar novas solu����es, tendo sempre como crit��rio decisivo, uma explora����o econ��mica e ambiental sustent��vel. �� neste ��mbito que surge o tema desta disserta����o. O objetivo �� tirar um maior proveito do sienito nefel��nico de Monchique (Portugal), �� semelhan��a de pa��ses como a R��ssia, Canad�� e Noruega, que utilizam esta rocha a n��vel industrial. Neste trabalho, a investiga����o foi no sentido de estudar o potencial da rocha portuguesa para a ind��stria cer��mica. O elevado teor de alumina e ��lcalis que o sienito nefel��nico apresenta na sua constitui����o, serve de substituto aos minerais atualmente utilizados neste sector, os feldspatos isolados. A alumina serve de estabilizador, promovendo a durabilidade dos materiais pelo aumento da resist��ncia e o conte��do em ��lcalis funciona como fundente, diminuindo a temperatura de queima. Desta forma, o Maci��o de Monchique ganha uma nova import��ncia econ��mica, sendo uma mais-valia para o pa��s. Para tal, elaboraram-se provetes cer��micos constitu��dos por 0, 20, 40 e 60% em peso de sienito nefel��nico em mistura com argila. Posteriormente, sujeitaram-se os provetes a tr��s temperaturas diferentes, 900 ��C, 1000 ��C e 1100 ��C e submeteram-se cada um deles a ensaios f��sicos e mec��nicos, para determinar o potencial da incorpora����o do sienito de Monchique na ind��stria cer��mica. Os resultados indicaram que a adi����o de sienito nefel��nico melhora as propriedades f��sicas da argila. Relativamente ��s propriedades mec��nicas, o ensaio de resist��ncia �� flex��o indicou que, dos v��rios teores testados, o mais positivo encontra-se na percentagem de 20% de sienito nefel��nico, apresentando valores pr��ximos da argila pura utilizada como refer��ncia.

Development of human central nervous system 3D in vitro models for preclinical research

Neurological disorders are a major concern in modern societies, with increasing prevalence mainly related with the higher life expectancy. Most of the current available therapeutic options can only control and ameliorate the patients��� symptoms, often be-coming refractory over time. Therapeutic breakthroughs and advances have been hampered by the lack of accurate central nervous system (CNS) models. The develop-ment of these models allows the study of the disease onset/progression mechanisms and the preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutics. This has traditionally relied on genetically engineered animal models that often diverge considerably from the human phenotype (developmentally, anatomically and physiologically) and 2D in vitro cell models, which fail to recapitulate the characteristics of the target tissue (cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, cell polarity). The in vitro recapitulation of CNS phenotypic and functional features requires the implementation of advanced culture strategies that enable to mimic the in vivo struc-tural and molecular complexity. Models based on differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSC) in 3D cultures have great potential as complementary tools in preclinical research, bridging the gap between human clinical studies and animal models. This thesis aimed at the development of novel human 3D in vitro CNS models by integrat-ing agitation-based culture systems and a wide array of characterization tools. Neural differentiation of hNSC as 3D neurospheres was explored in Chapter 2. Here, it was demonstrated that human midbrain-derived neural progenitor cells from fetal origin (hmNPC) can generate complex tissue-like structures containing functional dopaminergic neurons, as well as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Chapter 3 focused on the development of cellular characterization assays for cell aggregates based on light-sheet fluorescence imaging systems, which resulted in increased spatial resolu-tion both for fixed samples or live imaging. The applicability of the developed human 3D cell model for preclinical research was explored in Chapter 4, evaluating the poten-tial of a viral vector candidate for gene therapy. The efficacy and safety of helper-dependent CAV-2 (hd-CAV-2) for gene delivery in human neurons was evaluated, demonstrating increased neuronal tropism, efficient transgene expression and minimal toxicity. The potential of human 3D in vitro CNS models to mimic brain functions was further addressed in Chapter 5. Exploring the use of 13C-labeled substrates and Nucle-ar Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy tools, neural metabolic signatures were evaluated showing lineage-specific metabolic specialization and establishment of neu-ron-astrocytic shuttles upon differentiation. Chapter 6 focused on transferring the knowledge and strategies described in the previous chapters for the implementation of a scalable and robust process for the 3D differentiation of hNSC derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Here, software-controlled perfusion stirred-tank bioreactors were used as technological system to sustain cell aggregation and dif-ferentiation. The work developed in this thesis provides practical and versatile new in vitro ap-proaches to model the human brain. Furthermore, the culture strategies described herein can be further extended to other sources of neural phenotypes, including pa-tient-derived hiPSC. The combination of this 3D culture strategy with the implemented characterization methods represents a powerful complementary tool applicable in the drug discovery, toxicology and disease modeling.

As peculiaridades da democratiza����o da regi��o do C��ucaso do Sul no contexto da Pol��tica Europeia de Vizinhan��a

O per��odo ap��s o colapso da Uni��o Sovi��tica foi o tempo da procura de novas identidades na nova realidade e de escolha de novos parceiros e aliados, o tempo da constru����o de novos estados e de formula����o das regras e normas nacionais. Ap��s o desmoronamento da ideologia sovi��tica - um facto reconhecido oficialmente durante o per��odo da Perestroika ���, as pessoas sentiram uma necessidade de preencher o v��cuo ideol��gico e desenvolver uma nova identidade. Foi proclamada a rejei����o da estrutura pol��tica administrativa herdada da Uni��o Sovi��tica e do sistema de economia planificada, e desenvolvida a tend��ncia para a constru����o do estado democr��tico fundado numa economia de mercado. As expectativas relativas ��s transforma����es no per��odo p��s-sovi��tico estavam relacionadas com o Ocidente (EUA e UE), e a constru����o do estado soberano foi fundada em modelos ocidentais de estado de direito, ���boa governan��a��� e a economia de mercado. A UE desempenhou um papel importante na democratiza����o dos estados da regi��o do Sul do C��ucaso atrav��s de v��rios projetos e programas bilaterais e multilaterais no ��mbito da Pol��tica Europeia de Vizinhan��a e da Parceria Oriental. Embora as reformas democr��ticas tenham sido realizadas com vista ao estabelecimento de uma Constitui����o democr��tica, �� implementa����o de elei����es democr��ticas e ao desenvolvimento da sociedade civil, fortaleceram, tamb��m, ainda mais, a natureza autorit��ria do poder, impediram a cria����o de um estado de direito, refor��aram viola����o dos direitos e das liberdades humanas. (NODIYA, 2003: 30; BAKHMAN, 2003: 17; BADALOV, 2003: 20). Deste modo, o processo da promo����o da democracia atrav��s das reformas nos tr��s estados do Sul do C��ucaso conduziu �� cria����o de estados de ���conte��do autocr��tico misto, mas de forma democr��tica��� (CHETERYAN, 2003: 41). Embora seja poss��vel identificar as semelhan��as entre os tr��s estados da regi��o do Sul do C��ucaso nas reformas do processo de desenvolvimento, os m��todos e meios de implementa����o de reformas nas realidades dos estados regionais pela administra����o nacional foram bastante diferentes, por raz��es associadas ��s especificidades de cada um (DELCOUR e WOLCZUK, 2013: 3). Cada pa��s �� caracterizado pelas suas peculiaridades ao n��vel da situa����o geopol��tica e diversidade do potencial econ��mico ��� fatores que definem a trajet��ria pol��tica e econ��mica do estado no per��odo p��s-sovi��tico e, em certa medida, influenciam o modo como se desenvolvem as rela����es com a UE e, portanto, o processo de ado����o das reformas e a sua introdu����o a n��vel nacional.

Desenvolvimento de um Range Extender para Ve��culo El��trico

Disserta����o de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Eletr��nica Industrial e de Computadores

Valvuloplastia a��rtica por bal��o como ponte para o tratamento definitivo na estenose a��rtica grave

Homem de 36 anos, com quadro de estenose a��rtica cr��tica e choque cardiog��nico refrat��rio, foi submetido a valvuloplastia a��rtica por bal��o como procedimento de salvamento, seguindo-se compensa����o cl��nica, o que possibilitou a realiza����o de cirurgia de troca valvar a��rtica no 48�� dia ap��s esse procedimento. O acompanhamento cl��nico e ecocardiogr��fico demonstrou melhora funcional significativa at�� o presente, oito meses ap��s a cirurgia. A valvuloplastia a��rtica por bal��o constitui op����o terap��utica de salvamento em pacientes com estenose a��rtica grave e elevado risco cir��rgico, servindo como ponte para a cirurgia de troca a��rtica ou transplante card��aco. A cirurgia de troca a��rtica deve ser considerada, mesmo em pacientes com disfun����o ventricular grave, reservando-se o transplante card��aco aos pacientes em que se sup��e depress��o muito acentuada e irrevers��vel da contratilidade mioc��rdica.

Atua����o dos enfermeiros na emerg��ncia pr��-hospitalar em situa����es de paragem c��rdio-respirat��ria

Disserta����o de mestrado em Enfermagem da Pessoa em Situa����o Cr��tica

O planeamento estrat��gico e a import��ncia do "Account Planner": a reestrutura����o do portal da Universidade do Minho: um estudo de caso

Disserta����o de mestrado em Ci��ncias da Comunica����o (��rea de especializa����o em Publicidade e Rela����es P��blicas)