Avalição do impacto de uma biblioteca universitária

Neste estudo apresenta-se uma avaliação do impacto da Biblioteca da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (FCUP), na perspetiva dos estudantes e observando alguns dados relativos ao uso da Biblioteca FCUP. A investigação recorre a uma análise de métodos mistos, isto é, avalia dados qualitativos, que descrevem mas não mensuram as características, em especial as ações humanas, e dados quantitativos que apresentam forma numérica e revelam uma quantidade certa podendo ser sujeitos a manipulação estatística. A «Notícias da Biblioteca», uma newsletter publicada bimestralmente pela Biblioteca FCUP, inclui uma seção denominada “Voz do Utilizador”, onde são incluídos pequenos textos de opinião da autoria dos utilizadores, escolhidos aleatoriamente e, que frequentam as instalações destes serviços da FCUP. Aplicando a Norma Internacional ISO16439:2014 (E) – Information and documentation – Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries, examinaram-se vinte textos de opinião, sobre a biblioteca, redigidos por estudantes de várias nacionalidades, publicados de janeiro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014, na «Notícias da Biblioteca». Investigaram-se ainda 7 entrevistas. Apelando à Estatística Descritiva efetuaram-se tabelas de contingência que são úteis para conhecer a relação entre os dados em função de determinados grupos, isto é, observar a frequência de uma variável em função das categorias de outra variável. Com as tabelas de contingência obtém-se percentagens em função dos efeitos do impacto da biblioteca e dos grupos de estudantes e analisa-se a relação entre eles. O estudo utilizou ainda alguns dados estatísticos indicadores que mostram o impacto, a saber, indicadores de desempenho relativos ao uso da biblioteca – número de visitas per capita e número de empréstimos per capita. Estas avaliações em bibliotecas fornecem informações úteis para as chefias de topo, para o desenvolvimento de novos projetos e a otimização do impacto e desempenho destes serviços das instituições de Ensino Superior./ This study presents an impact assessment of the Library of the Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), from the students’ point of view and some statistical data collected from the FCUP Library use. We used a mixed methods research, i.e., qualitative data, that describes but does not measure characteristics, in particular human actions, and quantitative data represented by numbers that indicate exact amounts which can be statistically manipulated. The newsletter «Notícias da Biblioteca» published, bimonthly, by the FCUP Library includes a section called “User Voice” where we can find opinion texts expressed by library users, randomly chosen, and who usually go to the library. Applying International Standard ISO16439: 2014 (E) - Information and documentation - Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries, we examined 20 opinion texts written by students of various nationalities, published from January 2013 to December 2014, in «Notícias da Biblioteca» During this period of time, we have taken seven interviews. Using the principles of Descriptive Statistics, we produced Contingency Tables to determine how the data relates in terms of certain groups, i.e., to observe the frequency of the dependent variable on another categorical variable. Working with the Contingency Tables allowed us to obtain percentages according to the effects of the impact of the library in various groups of students and study the relationship between them. This study also used some statistical data that show the impact of the library within the institution, such as: performance indicators relating to the use of the library - number of visits per capita and number of loans per capita. These assessment impact studies in libraries provide useful data for the top management, to develop new projects, thus maximizing the impact and performance of these services of higher education institutions.

Traços desadaptativos da personalidade, sintomas depressivos e afectividade positiva e negativa: Uma amostra com estudantes universitários

Pretendemos estudar quais os traços desadaptativos de personalidade que se relacionam com os sintomas depressivos, a afectividade positiva e negativa, numa amostra de 187 estudantes universitários, entre os 18 e os 43 anos. Calculámos as correlações entre as escalas de padrões de personalidade e as escalas de padrões graves de personalidade do Inventário Multiaxial clínico de Millon II (MCMI-II) com os sintomas depressivos avaliados pela Escala de Depressão do Centro de Estudos Epidemiológicos e com a afectividade positiva e negativa avaliadas pela Escala de Afectividade Positiva e Afectividade Negativa. Realizámos uma análise da regressão múltipla utilizando as escalas de padrões de personalidade do MCMI-II como predictores e o resultado na CES-O, como variável dependente. Obtivemos uma correlação significativa entre os padrões de personalidade borderline, masoquista, esquizotípico, negativista e evitante e paranóide e os sintomas depressivos. A afectividade negativa apresenta-se também positivamente correlacionada com os padrões dependente e esquizóide. A afectividade positiva correlacionou-se significativa e positivamente com os padrões histriónico e narcisista e negativamente com os padrões esquizóide, esquizotípico, negativista, borderline, evitante e masoquista. Na análise de regressão, o padrão borderline prevê a presença de sintomas depressivos e os padrões sádico e dependente também, mas num sentido negativo. /ABSTRACT: We intendend to study wich personality traits relate to depressiva symptoms, and positive and negative affectivity, in a sample of 187 university students, between 18 and 43 years. We did the correlation between the personality patterns scales and the personality patterns of severe personality with the depressive symptoms measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the positive and negative affectivity measured by the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Shedule. We did a multiple regression analysis using the personality patterns scale of Millon Clinical Multiaxial lnventory (MCMI-II) as predictors and the result of CES-D, as dependent variable. We obtained a significant correlation between the borderline, masochist, schizotypal, negativistic, avoidant and paranoid personality patterns and the depressive symptoms. Negative affectivity relates also positively with dependent and schizoid patterns. Positive affectivity correlated significant and positively with histrionic and narcissistic personality patterns and negatively with schizoid, schizotypal, negativistic, borderline, avoidant and masochist personality patterns. ln the regression analysis, the borderline pattern predicts the presence of depressive symptoms as well as the sadistic and dependent, but in the negative sense.

Expenditure pattern analysis of cultural tourists at World Heritage Sites: an empirical evidence based on CHAID analysis

Nowadays, World Heritage Sites (WHS) have been facing new challenges, partially due to a different tourism consumption patterns. As it is highlighted in a considerable amount of studies, visits to these sites are almost justified by this prestigious classification and motivations are closely associated with their cultural aspects and quality of the overall environment (among others, Marujo et al, 2012). However, a diversity of tourists’ profiles have been underlined in the literature. Starting from the results obtained in a previous study about cultural tourists’ profile, conducted during the year 2009 in the city of Évora, Portugal, it is our intend to compare the results with a recent survey applied to the visitors of the same city. Recognition of Évora by UNESCO in 1986 as “World Heritage” has fostered not only the preservation of heritage but also the tourist promotion of the town. This study compares and examined tourists’ profile, regarding from the tourists’ expenditure patterns in Évora. A total of 450 surveys were distributed in 2009, and recently, in 2015, the same numbers of surveys were collected. Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) was applied to model consumer patterns of domestic and international visitors, based on socio demographic, trip characteristics, length of stay and the degree of satisfaction of pull factors. CHAID allowed find a population classification in groups that able to describe the dependent variable, average daily tourist expenditure. Results revealed different patterns of daily average expenditure amongst the years, 2009 and 2015, even if primarily results not revealed significant variations in socio-demographic and trip characteristics among the visitors’ core profile. Local authorities should be aware of this changing expensive behavior of cultural visitors and should formulate strategies accordingly. Policy and managerial recommendations are discussed.

Motivação e satisfação no trabalho: aplicação numa organização do setor de formação profissional

Os recursos humanos são considerados o ativo mais poderoso e valioso de qualquer organização, mas o seu desempenho é, de uma forma geral, influenciado pela motivação e satisfação no trabalho. Deste modo, a presente investigação pretende analisar a motivação e a satisfação dos colaboradores numa organização do sector da formação profissional. A partir deste pressuposto, pretende-se analisar a motivação e a satisfação dos colaboradores da instituição alvo do estudo, averiguar se se verifica correlação entre as vaiáveis motivacionais (sucesso, afiliação e poder) e as variáveis de satisfação (salário, promoções, colegas de trabalho, superiores hierárquicos e realização da tarefa), analisar o relacionamento entre a variável dependente (satisfação com o salário) e variáveis independentes de natureza sociodemográfica e analisar se a motivação e a satisfação global dos colaboradores são influenciadas pelas variáveis explicativas da análise fatorial de componentes principais. A análise dos dados baseou-se em 72 inquéritos por questionário que foram já validados por autores da motivação (McClelland) e satisfação (Deshpande), aplicados à totalidade dos colaboradores da empresa, ou seja, à população em estudo. Procedeu-se à análise estatística para sustentar toda a parte empírica. Os resultados mostram que os colaboradores da empresa Competir se sentem razoavelmente motivados e satisfeitos, ainda que um pouco mais motivados do que satisfeitos. Concluiu-se que, na generalidade, os colaboradores se sentem motivados essencialmente no que diz respeito ao sucesso e afiliação, e satisfeitos principalmente com os seus colegas de trabalho e com a realização da tarefa. A satisfação com o salário é mais baixa no caso de género feminino, mas tende a aumentar com a antiguidade na empresa; Motivation and Job Satisfaction: An Application in an organization of vocational training sector Abstract: Human resources are considered the most powerful and valuable asset in any organization, but its performance is, in general, influenced by motivation and job satisfaction. The present research intends to analyse the motivation and the satisfaction of the employees in an organization of vocational training sector. Based on this assumption, we intend to analyze the motivation and satisfaction of the employees of the studied institution, to verify if there is a correlation between motivational (success, affiliation and power) and satisfaction variables (salary, promotions, Work, hierarchical superiors and task accomplishment), to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable (satisfaction with the salary) and independent variables of a sociodemographic nature and to analyze if the motivation and the overall satisfaction of the employees are influenced by the explanatory variables of the principal components factorial analysis. Data analysis was based on 72 questionnaire surveys that have already been validated by the authors of motivation (McClelland) and satisfaction (Deshpande), applied to all the company's employees, i.e., the study population. In order to support all the empirical part, were proceeded to the statistical analysis. The results shows that the employees of the company Competir feel reasonably motivated and satisfied, even if a little more motivated than satisfied. It was concluded that, in general, employees feel motivated primarily with regard to success and affiliation, and especially satisfied with their co-workers and with the complete of the task. Satisfaction with salary it’s lower in the case of female gender, but tends to increase with seniority in the company.

Effetto antinfiammatorio del trattamento emodialitico in pazienti con malattia renale cronica allo stadio terminale e COVID-19: confronto fra due filtri dializzatori (ATA vs PMMA)

Background I filtri dializzatori ad alto flusso potrebbero mitigare la “tempesta citochinica" nell'infezione da Sars-COV-2, ma il loro impatto nei pazienti in dialisi cronica non è accertato. Lo scopo delle studio è valutare l’effetto del filtro in triacetato asimmetrico di cellulosa (ATA) e in polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) sui marcatori infiammatori in pazienti in dialisi cronica affetti da SARS-CoV-2. Metodi Si tratta di uno studio prospettico osservazionale su pazienti in trattamento emodialitico cronicp con COVID-19 arruolati da marzo 2020 a Maggio 2021.Le variabili cliniche, la conta leucocitaria, la IL-6, la proteina C-reattiva (PCR), la procalcitonina (PCT) e la ferritina sono state determinate al basale. I valori ematici di PCR, PCT, e IL-6 sono stati determinati pre e post-dialisi per ogni seduta effettuata (i valori ottenuti sono stati corretti per ’emoconcentrazione). I pazienti sono stati trattati con emodiafiltrazione online con un filtro ad alto flusso in PMMA o ATA. L’end-point primario è stato valutare l’effetto dei due filtri sulle molecole infiammatorie, in particolare sulla reduction ratio (RR) della IL-6. Risultati Dei 74 pazienti arruolati, 48 sono trati trattati con filtro ATA e 26 con filtro PMMA (420 vs 191 sedute dialitiche). La RR percentuale mediana della IL-6 è risultata maggiore nel gruppo ATA (17,08% IQR -9,0 - 40.0 vs 2,95% IQR -34,63 – 27,32. Anche le RR percentuale di PCR e PCT sono state maggiori nel gruppo ATA. La regressione logistica multipla avente come variabile dipendente una IL-6RR maggiore del 25%, ha mostrato che ATA determinava una maggiore probabilità di raggiungere l’outcome dopo correzione per i parametri infiammatori pre-dialisi (OR 1,721 95% CI 1,176 – 2,538 p=0,0056). Al contrario una PCR elevata riduceva la probabilità di ottenere una IL-6RR significativa (OR 0,9101 95% CI 0,868 – 0,949, p<0.0001). Conclusioni Nella nostra popolazione il filtro ATA ha mostrato un migliore profilo antiinfiammatorio.

Variable selection algorithm for the construction of MIMO operating point dependent neurofuzzy networks

An input variable selection procedure is introduced for the identification and construction of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) neurofuzzy operating point dependent models. The algorithm is an extension of a forward modified Gram-Schmidt orthogonal least squares procedure for a linear model structure which is modified to accommodate nonlinear system modeling by incorporating piecewise locally linear model fitting. The proposed input nodes selection procedure effectively tackles the problem of the curse of dimensionality associated with lattice-based modeling algorithms such as radial basis function neurofuzzy networks, enabling the resulting neurofuzzy operating point dependent model to be widely applied in control and estimation. Some numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed construction algorithm.

Mixed-integer nonlinear approach for the optimal scheduling of a head-dependent hydro chain

This paper is on the problem of short-term hydro scheduling (STHS), particularly concerning a head-dependent hydro chain We propose a novel mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) approach, considering hydroelectric power generation as a nonlinear function of water discharge and of the head. As a new contribution to eat her studies, we model the on-off behavior of the hydro plants using integer variables, in order to avoid water discharges at forbidden areas Thus, an enhanced STHS is provided due to the more realistic modeling presented in this paper Our approach has been applied successfully to solve a test case based on one of the Portuguese cascaded hydro systems with a negligible computational time requirement.

The association between need for touch and desire for unique products and consumer (inter)dependent problem-solving

Some people cannot buy products without first touching them, believing that doing so will create more assurance and information and reduce uncertainty. The international consumer marketing literature suggests an instrument to measure consumers' necessity for pohysical contact, called Need for Touch (NFT). This paper analyzes whether the Need for Touch structure is empirically consistent. Based on a literature review, we suggest six hypotheses in order to assess the nomological, convergent, and discriminant validity of the phenomenon. Departing from these, data supported four assumptions in the predicted direction. Need for Touch was associated with Need for Input and with Need for Cognition. Need for Touch was not associated with traditional marketing channels. The results also showed the dual characterization of Need for Touch as a bi-dimensional construct. The moderator effect indicated that when the consumer has a higher (vs. lower) Need for Touch autotelic score, the experiential motivation for shopping played a more (vs. less) important role in impulsive motivation. Our Study 3 supports the NFT structure and shows new associations with the need for unique products and dependent decisions.

Subclass problem-dependent design for error-correcting output codes

A common way to model multiclass classification problems is by means of Error-Correcting Output Codes (ECOCs). Given a multiclass problem, the ECOC technique designs a code word for each class, where each position of the code identifies the membership of the class for a given binary problem. A classification decision is obtained by assigning the label of the class with the closest code. One of the main requirements of the ECOC design is that the base classifier is capable of splitting each subgroup of classes from each binary problem. However, we cannot guarantee that a linear classifier model convex regions. Furthermore, nonlinear classifiers also fail to manage some type of surfaces. In this paper, we present a novel strategy to model multiclass classification problems using subclass information in the ECOC framework. Complex problems are solved by splitting the original set of classes into subclasses and embedding the binary problems in a problem-dependent ECOC design. Experimental results show that the proposed splitting procedure yields a better performance when the class overlap or the distribution of the training objects conceal the decision boundaries for the base classifier. The results are even more significant when one has a sufficiently large training size.

A regime-dependent balanced control variable based on potential vorticity

In this paper it is argued that rotational wind is not the best choice of leading control variable for variational data assimilation, and an alternative is suggested and tested. A rotational wind parameter is used in most global variational assimilation systems as a pragmatic way of approximately representing the balanced component of the assimilation increments. In effect, rotational wind is treated as a proxy for potential vorticity, but one that it is potentially not a good choice in flow regimes characterised by small Burger number. This paper reports on an alternative set of control variables which are based around potential vorticity. This gives rise to a new formulation of the background error covariances for the Met Office's variational assimilation system, which leads to flow dependency. It uses similar balance relationships to traditional schemes, but recognises the existence of unbalanced rotational wind which is used with a new anti-balance relationship. The new scheme is described and its performance is evaluated and compared to a traditional scheme using a sample of diagnostics.

Conditioning and preconditioning of the variational data assimilation problem

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) centres use numerical models of the atmospheric flow to forecast future weather states from an estimate of the current state. Variational data assimilation (VAR) is used commonly to determine an optimal state estimate that miminizes the errors between observations of the dynamical system and model predictions of the flow. The rate of convergence of the VAR scheme and the sensitivity of the solution to errors in the data are dependent on the condition number of the Hessian of the variational least-squares objective function. The traditional formulation of VAR is ill-conditioned and hence leads to slow convergence and an inaccurate solution. In practice, operational NWP centres precondition the system via a control variable transform to reduce the condition number of the Hessian. In this paper we investigate the conditioning of VAR for a single, periodic, spatially-distributed state variable. We present theoretical bounds on the condition number of the original and preconditioned Hessians and hence demonstrate the improvement produced by the preconditioning. We also investigate theoretically the effect of observation position and error variance on the preconditioned system and show that the problem becomes more ill-conditioned with increasingly dense and accurate observations. Finally, we confirm the theoretical results in an operational setting by giving experimental results from the Met Office variational system.

Variable and strain dependent colonisation of chickens by Escherichia coli O157

The prevalence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 in poultry is considered minimal compared with other species, especially ruminants. However, deliberate inoculation studies have shown that poultry are readily and persistently infected by this organism but that the mechanism of colonisation is independent of intimin, a recognised factor in host-EHEC interactions in mammalian species, and may be dependent upon flagella. Few strains of EHEC O157 have been tested in poultry and here 1-day-old and 6-week-old chicks were inoculated with seven non-toxigenic E. coli O157 strains in separate experiments. Persistence was measured semi-quantitatively by bacteriological assessment of E. coli O157 cultured from cloacal swabs (shedding score). In the 1-day-old chick model that was monitored for 43 days, all seven strains established well after inoculation. In the 6-week-old chicken model, one strain established and gave consistently high shedding for the duration of the experiment (156 days). Whereas of the remaining six strains, two persisted for 113 days, two persisted for 43 days, one persisted for 22 days and one strain was never detected.

C programs for solving the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation in a fully anisotropic trap

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Notes on the two-brane model with variable tension

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)