Performance measurement and management in Portuguese law enforcement

Performance measurement of police services is complicated by ambiguous and complex goal- and objectives-setting, and by the difficulties of measuring outputs. This article looks at the organizational and management changes being made in Portuguese police forces. The authors fill a gap in the literature on performance measurement in Portugal by taking a national approach to the study of how law enforcement agencies are introducing new management accounting changes. The article therefore widens the debate on performance measurement and performance improvements in law enforcement.

Leaf area and epicuticular wax content of Sida spp

Morpho-physiological characteristics and chemical composition are directly related to superior competitive ability of crops. This study intended to make a comparative analysis of dry matter production, leaf area and amount of epicuticular wax of three species of Sida spp: S. urens L., S. rhombifolia L. and S. spinosa L. Plants were collected at three growth stages: V1: stage described as up to 10 fully expanded leaves; V2: between 11 leaves and flowering; and R: after flowering. At stages V2 and R, the highest number of leaves was recorded for S. rhombifolia, followed by S. spinosa at V2 and S. urens at R. These results were relatively proportional to leaf area for all species. S. spinosa at the vegetative stage produced the highest values of specific leaf area (SLA), with no significant differences between species at the stage R. The amount of wax per unit of leaf area between species at the same developmental stage was significantly different only at the reproductive stage, where S. spinosa produced 23.18 and 6.23 fold more wax than S. urens and S. rhombifolia respectively. Between the growth stages of each species, there was decrease in the amount of wax with plant age and increase in leaf area (AFE), number of leaves and dry matter. The leaves of the Sida species exhibit different characteristics and this information can be used to optimize the use of herbicides in the control of these weeds.

Towards a model for the measurement of data quality in websites

Websites are, nowadays, the face of institutions, but they are often neglected, especially when it comes to contents. In the present paper, we put forth an investigation work whose final goal is the development of a model for the measurement of data quality in institutional websites for health units. To that end, we have carried out a bibliographic review of the available approaches for the evaluation of website content quality, in order to identify the most recurrent dimensions and the attributes, and we are currently carrying out a Delphi Method process, presently in its second stage, with the purpose of reaching an adequate set of attributes for the measurement of content quality.

Use of Performance Measurement in the Public Sector: the case of the police service

Many public organisations have been under great pressure in recent years to increase the efficiency and transparency of outputs, to rationalise the use of public resources, and to increase the quality of service delivery. In this context, public organisations were encouraged to introduce the New Public Management reforms with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance organisation through a new public management model. This new public management model is based on measurement by outputs and outcomes, a clear definition of responsibilities, the transparency and accountability of governmental activities, and on a greater value for citizens. What type of performance measurement systems are used in police services? Based on the literature, we see that multidimensional models, such as the Balanced Scorecard, are important in many public organisations, like municipalities, universities, and hospitals. Police services are characterised by complex, diverse objectives and stakeholders. Therefore, performance measurement of these public services calls for a specific analysis. Based on a nationwide survey of all police chiefs of the Portuguese police force, we find that employee performance measurement is the main form of measurement. Also, we propose a strategic map for the Portuguese police service.

Competências relevantes para a efetividade do processo decisório em defesa aérea

Este artigo investiga o impacto das competências consideradas essenciais para o desempenho das atividades de defesa aérea sobre a efetividade do processo decisório. Como principais referenciais teóricos, foram utilizados os estudos de Simon (1970; 1987) sobre o processo decisório e o modelo de competências por setor de Gramigna (2002). Na pesquisa de campo, utilizou-se a triangulação de dados: entrevistas, análise documental, observações e questionário, por meio do qual levantou-se a percepção dos profissionais que desempenham as funções em estudo. Os dados foram analisados através de análise fatorial exploratória e análise de regressão linear múltipla. Os resultados da pesquisa realizada para este artigo contribuem para o estabelecimento de programas voltados ao desenvolvimento de competências individuais específicas, com impacto direto nas competências essenciais da organização. Os achados deste artigo servem também aos gestores militares como subsídio para decisões relativas à alocação de pessoal e formação de equipes, visando distribuir de forma mais racional os indivíduos, aliando suas competências aos interesses organizacionais, tal seja, alinhando as práticas de gestão de pessoas à estratégia organizacional.

Higher education of tourism in Spain and its adaptation to the European higher education area

The international tourism system has deeply undergone structural changes in the last decades which not remain outside the subsystem higher education in tourism, especially in the European case. This article has two objectives: firstly, describes the European higher education area and the objectives, skills and subjects taught in the main Spanish universities that offer higher education in tourism. On the other hand, in the light of knowledge that researchers' descriptive models, provide experience of the implementation of European credit and thorough a deeply review of the literature on the topic higher education in tourism, to propose strategies that will enable other tourism higher education systems approach to the European reality. These policy proposals are aimed at agents and elements from higher education in tourism subsystem and they specifically include: the institutions providing education in tourism, the curriculum, the teaching methods, teachers and students.

Personalidade e stresse em militares da Força Aérea Portuguesa: diferenças entre género

RESUMO: A organização militar é uma das mais importantes para qualquer , é uma instituição com regras e valores muito bem definidos, em que factores como a personalidade e o stress terão de ser muito bem avaliados para que se possa integrar uma carreira militar. A amostra estudada foi constituída por 200 militares da Força Aérea Portuguesa, com idade compreendidas entre os 19 e os 52 anos sendo a média de idades 26,3 anos (DP= 5,9). Em estudos anteriores verifiou-se que as diferenças entre géneros são uma condicionante no dia-a-dia de um militar (Lorenzi-Cioldi, 1994). Contudo, Eagly (1987), afirma que a diferença entre géneros tem uma pequena percentagem (5%) contra os 95 % de variabilidade explicada por outros factores na vida militar. Com esta investigação pretendeu-se verificar se existem diferenças entre géneros em relação aos factores básicos da personalidade, stress, afectividade e desejabilidade social, para além de outros aspectos relacionados com estes factores. Utilizaram-se as seguintes medidas de avaliação: o Big Five Factory, BFI (Benet-Martínez & John, 1998), a Paulhus Deception Scale, PDS (Paulhus, 1998), a Positive and Negative Affect Shedule, PANAS (Watson, Clark e Tellenger, 1998) e o Daily Stress Inventory, DSI (Brantley e Glenn, 1989). Conclui-se que ao nível da personalidade, nos factores de extroversão e conscienciosidade as mulheres apresentam valores mais elevados que os homens, em relação ao stress, nos factores competências pessoais, factores ambientais e stressores variados as mulheres obtêm valores mais baixos que os homens. ABSTRACT: The military institution is one of the most important in any country, it has very strict rules and values and therefore factors such as personality and stress must be thoroughly evaluated in order to integrate a military career. The sample under study is constituted by 200 militaries of the Portuguese Air Force, with ages between 19 and 52 years old, being the average 26,3 (DP=5,9). From previous studies it is know that differences in gender constitute a special condition in military personnel day to day life (Lorenzi-Cioldi, 1994). On the other hand, Eagly (1987) states that gender differences represents a small percentage (5%) against 95 % of variance explained by other military life factors. The main focus of this investigation was to determine if there were differences in gender in personality, stress, affect, social desirability and also to study other aspects related to these factors. The measures used were: the Big Five Factory, BFI (Benet-Martínez & John, 1998), the Paulhus Deception Scale, PDS (Paulhus, 1998), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS (Watson, Clark e Tellenger, 1998), the Daily Stress Inventory, DSI (Brantley e Glenn, 1998). It was concluded that on the personality level, women present higher scores on factors such as extroversion and consciousness. On the stress level, when considering factors such as personal competences, environmental factors and varied stressors, women present lower scores than men.

The measurement by serological means of the impact of the Hong Kong/68 influenza virus on a population

In order to obtain evidence on the size of the impact of the Hong Kong/68 variant of influenza A2 virus on the population of São Paulo, Brazil, serum samples taken in 1967 before this variant appeared and during successive years after it appeared were examined for their antibody content. Haemagglutination-inhibition tests performed on a total of 2726 serum samples from adults showed a sharp decrease in 1969 of the proportion of sera without antibody to the Hong Kong/68 variant and a corresponding mercase in the proportion with high titres. It was concluded that about three-quarters of the adult population became infected at some time after the variant appeared, the majority in the first year of prevalence.

Chagas' disease and social security: a case-control study in an urban area, Goiás, Brazil

One hundred and twenty subjects with Chagas' cardiopathy and 120 non-infected subjects were randomly selected from first time claimants of sickness benefits in the National Institute of Social Security (INPS) in Goiás. Cases of Chagas' cardiopathy were defined based on serological test, history of residence in an endemic area and, clinical and/or electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations suggestive of Chagas' cardiomyopathy. Controls were defined as subjects with at least two negative serological tests. Case and controls were compared in the analysis for age, sex, place of birth, migration history, socio-economic level, occupation, physical exertion at work, age at affiliation and years of contribution to the social security scheme, clinical course of their disease and ECG abnormalities. Chagas' disease patients were younger than other subjects and predominantly of rural origin. Non-infected subjects presented a better socio-economic level, were performing more skilled activities and had less changes of job than cases. No important difference was observed in relation to age at affiliation to INPS. About 60% of cases have claimed for benefits within the first four years of contribution while among controls this proportion was 38.5%. Cases were involved, proportionally more than controls, in "heavy" activities. A risk of 2.3 (95%CL 1.5 - 4.6) and 1.8 (95%CL 1.2- 3.5) was obtained comparing respectively "heavy" and "moderate" physical activity against "light". A relative risk of 8.5 (95%CL 4.9 - 14.8) associated with the presence of cardiopathy was estimated comparing the initial sample of seropositive subjects and controls. A high relative risk was observed in relation to right bundle branch block (RR = 37.1 95%CL = 8.8 - 155.6) and left anterior hemiblock (RR = 4.4, 95%CL = 2.1 - 9.1).

An investigation into support for restrictions on HIV carriers in the Chicago metropolitan area

An investigation into support for restrictions on people testing seropositive for HIV is reported on. Data were collected during telephone interviews with two-hundred adults aged eighteen to sixty-five in the Chicago metropolitan area. Using the analytic technique of LISREL, six models which attempt to explain support for restrictions were tested. It was found that the model best supported by the data indicates that two groups contribute to support for restrictions on HIV carriers - one due to intolerance of homosexuality and one to mistrust of public health officials regarding their control and management of the AIDS epidemic. The relevance of these findings for public health policy makers is discussed.

Populations of larvae of Anopheles spp. in natural breeding sites in Western Venezuela, an area of refractory malaria

Studies have been un dertaken into on the diversity and relative abundance of larvae of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) spp. in 22 permanent or temporary pools in an area of 70 km² in the eastern piedmont of the Venezuela Andes, between the mountains and the plains, an area in which malaria is refractory and A. nuñeztovari is present. Twelve species were identified, the most frequent, abundant and sympatric being A. triannulatus, A. albitarsis, A. nuñeztovari, A. oswaldoi and A. strodei. The samples from the permanent pools showed greater diversity of species and greater numbers of larvae than the samples from the temporary pools. The existence of the same larval associations in pools of other localities in the eastern piedmont of the Venezuelan Andes suggests the possibility of the making an ecological map of the breeding sites of A. nuñeztovari and for these anophelines in a region extending for 430 km.

Relatório de estágio na repartição de obras da Força Aérea

No âmbito do sector da construção, a actividade contratual influi directamente na garantia da segurança e estabilidade económica do sector, através de meios financeiros, materiais e humanos. A contratação pública é dada como um procedimento administrativo cujos trâmites estão integralmente definidos no Código dos Contratos Públicos (CCP). Na generalidade, pretende fazer-se uma adaptação da estrutura global dos parâmetros do CCP aos procedimentos internos da Força Aérea (FA). A Repartição de Obras da Direcção de Infra-Estruturas (DI) da FA tem por missão promover a construção de infra-estruturas novas ou a remodelação das já existentes, assim como a sua conservação. No âmbito do estágio realizado na Secção de Construção Civil da Repartição de Obras, a formação contratual obedece a determinadas regras de participação, propostas e júri do procedimento, definidos no CCP. É feita uma análise das disposições do Caderno de Encargos (CE) pelos Directores de Fiscalização e pelos Fiscais de Obras, com o propósito de identificar quais os aspectos (técnicos e de habilitação) que devem ser verificados durante o processo de avaliação das propostas. A fase de admissão das propostas e posterior adjudicação da obra ou fornecimento de bens ou serviços é acompanhada da elaboração de relatórios de análise que emitem o parecer do Júri do concurso, tendo em conta os critérios definidos no CCP. A última fase do estágio incide sobre o estudo detalhado do CE, nomeadamente no que respeita à análise das Cláusulas Gerais, Técnicas e Especiais, das peças desenhadas, do mapa de trabalhos e do programa de trabalhos. O plano de trabalhos é o resultado da análise entre o que está previsto em caderno de Encargos e o que é executado pelo empreiteiro. Pretende-se nesta última fase, descrever, caracterizar e acompanhar a obra de Construção do Hangar do Chipmunk e Planadores na BA1, em Sintra, no que respeita apenas à execução da estrutura metálica.

Physiological age in Lutzomyia youngi (Diptera: Psychodidae) populations from an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis, Venezuela

Batches of sylvatic females of Lutzomyia youngi (Phlebotominae) captured in a Shannon trap on twelve occasions over one year in a locality where subcutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic, near the city of Trujillo, Venezuela, were used to study: 1) the percentages of parous females according to previously established criteria and 2) the average number of eggs laid spontaneously by isolated females during 7 days after feeding on hamsters. The data on the batches of females captured on nights previous to the rainy period (prepluvial) were compared with those on females captured after the rains (postpluvial) . Significant differences were detected by variation analysis for two variables and different number of N, as also were consistent groupings by Duncan's Test for pre-and postpluvial lots of females. The females captured on nights prior to the rainy periods (January-March and August-September) presented higher rates of nulliparity (86-72%) and contained or laid a greater number of eggs (71-67) than those captured after the rains (March-June and November-December) which presented lower rates of nulliparity (60-24%) and a smaller number of eggs (50-30). The rainfall peaks occurred in April and September-October, respectively. It is considered that these differences can be used by epidemiological studies as a means of estimating the physiological age of female populations of L. youngy.