A estrat??gia de Lisboa e as suas implica????es para a reforma institucional da Uni??o Europ??ia

Como manter a estrat??gia europ??ia de desenvolvimento atualizada, e ?? luz dos valores europeus, para reagir aos novos desafios decorrentes da globaliza????o, da mudan??a tecnol??gica e do envelhecimento das popula????es? Um novo paradigma emerge, em que o conhecimento e a inova????o s??o as principais fontes de riqueza e tamb??m de diferen??as entre as na????es, as empresas e as pessoas. Era preciso definir a via europ??ia de transi????o para essa economia baseada na inova????o e no conhecimento, com marcas distintas que v??o da salvaguarda da coes??o social e da diversidade cultural ??s pr??prias escolhas tecnol??gicas. Criar uma nova plataforma competitiva ?? fundamental para sustentar o modelo social europeu, que tamb??m dever?? ser renovado. Este artigo nos traz o debate dos pa??ses membros da Uni??o Europ??ia que precedeu a Cimeira de Lisboa (23 e 24 de Mar??o de 2000).

Os controles

O texto explora a quest??o dos controles administrativos na It??lia, tanto no que se refere aos controles internos quanto no que se refere aos controles externos. O autor aponta a debilidade dos controles internos, em particular no tocante aos controles de gest??o, e analisa o tipo mais difundido de controle externo na ordena????o italiana, os controles preventivos de legitimidade, que na sua opini??o deveriam ser substitu??dos pelos controles sucessivos sobre a atividade ou sobre a gest??o administrativas. O texto fala ainda da evolu????o das rela????es entre o Tribunal de Contas e o Parlamento, das tend??ncias recentes de transforma????o na ??rea de controle, incluindo aspectos relativos ?? reforma constitucional e ?? Uni??o Europ??ia, e das novidades legislativas surgidas em 1993 e 1994.

Hedge accounting no mercado acionário brasileiro : efeitos na qualidade da informação contábil e disclosure

Este trabalho investiga, no mercado acionário brasileiro, o efeito da contabilidade de hedge na qualidade das informações contábeis divulgadas, no disclosure dos instrumentos financeiros derivativos e na assimetria de informação. Para medir a qualidade da informação contábil, foram utilizadas as métricas de relevância da informação contábil e informatividade dos lucros contábeis. Para a execução deste trabalho, foi constituída uma amostra geral com empresas brasileiras, não financeiras, listadas na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo, compreendendo as 150 empresas com maior valor de mercado em 01/01/2014. A partir da amostra geral, foram constituídas amostras para a aplicação dos modelos de value relevance, informativeness, disclosure e assimetria de informação. A amostra para relevância contou com 758 observações firmas-anos, para o período de 2008 a 2013. A amostra para informatividade contou com 701 observações firmas-anos, para o período de 2008 a 2013. A amostra para disclosure contou com 100 observações firmas-anos, para o período de 2011 a 2012. A amostra para assimetria de informação contou com 100 observações firmas-anos, para o período de 2011 a 2012. Para as análises dos dados, utilizou-se regressões com errospadrão robustos com abordagem POLS e Efeitos Fixos, aplicadas sobre dados em painel. Complementarmente, para as análises do efeito do hedge accounting sobre o disclosure e assimetria de informação, foi aplicado o método de Propensity Score Matching. As evidências encontradas para a influência da contabilidade de hedge na relevância da informação contábil apontaram uma relação positiva e significante na interação com o LL. Na análise da informatividade dos lucros contábeis, a pesquisa evidenciou uma relação negativa e estatisticamente significante do lucro quando interagido com a variável dummy de hedge accounting. Quanto às evidências encontradas para a influência do hedge accounting sobre o disclosure dos derivativos, verificou-se uma relação positiva e estatisticamente significante da dummy de hedge accounting com o indicador de evidenciação dos derivativos. Em relação às evidências para a assimetria de informação, embora os coeficientes se mostrassem no sentido esperado, os mesmos não foram estatisticamente significativos. Adicionalmente, incorporamse às análises econométricas uma análise descritiva, na amostra geral, da utilização do hedge accounting no Brasil, para o ano de 2013. Dentre as 150 empresas da amostra, 49 empresas utilizaram hedge accounting, onde 41 empresas adotam apenas 1 tipo de hedge. O hedge de fluxo de caixa é o tipo de hedge mais adotado pelas empresas, sendo utilizado por 42 companhias.

Carbon Nanofiber Type and Content Dependence of the Physical Properties of Carbon Nanofiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

The variation of the physical properties of four differ- ent carbon nanofibers (CNFs), based-polymer nano- composites incorporated in the same polypropylene (PP) matrix by twin-screw extrusion process was investigated. Nanocomposites fabricated with CNFs with highly graphitic outer layer revealed electrical isolation-to-conducting behaviors as function of CNF’s content. Nanocomposites fabricated with CNFs with an outer layer consisting on a disordered pyro- litically stripped layer, in contrast, revealed better mechanical performance and enhanced thermal sta- bility. Further, CNF’s incorporation into the polymer increased the thermal stability and the degree of crystallinity of the polymer, independently on the filler content and type. In addition, dispersion of the CNFs’ clusters in PP was analyzed by transmitted light opti- cal microscopy, and grayscale analysis (GSA). The results showed a correlation between the filler concentration and the variance, a parameter which measures quantitatively the dispersion, for all composites. This method indicated a value of 1.4 vol% above which large clusters of CNFs cannot be dispersed effectively and as a consequence only slight changes in mechanical performance are observed. Finally, this study establishes that for tailoring the physical properties of CNF based-polymer nanocomposites, both adequate CNFs structure and content have to be chosen.

Type checking cryptography implementations

Cryptographic software development is a challenging eld: high performance must be achieved, while ensuring correctness and com- pliance with low-level security policies. CAO is a domain speci c language designed to assist development of cryptographic software. An important feature of this language is the design of a novel type system introducing native types such as prede ned sized vectors, matrices and bit strings, residue classes modulo an integer, nite elds and nite eld extensions, allowing for extensive static validation of source code. We present the formalisation, validation and implementation of this type system

The undergraduate level (1st study cycle) as a fundamental platform/standard for the development of Urban and Regional Planning in higher education programs

LUDA is a research project of Key Action 4 "City of Tomorrow & Cultural Heritage" of the programme "Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development" within the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission

A DC Voltage-Multiplier Circuit Working as a High-Voltage Pulse Generator

The intensive use of semiconductor devices enabled the development of a repetitive high-voltage pulse-generator topology from the dc voltage-multiplier (VM) concept. The proposed circuit is based on an odd VM-type circuit, where a number of dc capacitors share a common connection with different voltage ratings in each one, and the output voltage comes from a single capacitor. Standard VM rectifier and coupling diodes are used for charging the energy-storing capacitors, from an ac power supply, and two additional on/off semiconductors in each stage, to switch from the typical charging VM mode to a pulse mode with the dc energy-storing capacitors connected in series with the load. Results from a 2-kV experimental prototype with three stages, delivering a 10-mu s pulse with a 5-kHz repetition rate into a resistive load, are discussed. Additionally, the proposed circuit is compared against the solid-state Marx generator topology for the same peak input and output voltages.

Renormalization-group constraints on Yukawa alignment in multi-Higgs-doublet models

We write down the renormalization-group equations for the Yukawa-coupling matrices in a general multi-Higgs-doublet model. We then assume that the matrices of the Yukawa couplings of the various Higgs doublets to right-handed fermions of fixed quantum numbers are all proportional to each other. We demonstrate that, in the case of the two-Higgs-doublet model, this proportionality is preserved by the renormalization-group running only in the cases of the standard type-I, II, X, and Y models. We furthermore show that a similar result holds even when there are more than two Higgs doublets: the Yukawa-coupling matrices to fermions of a given electric charge remain proportional under the renormalization-group running if and only if there is a basis for the Higgs doublets in which all the fermions of a given electric charge couple to only one Higgs doublet.

Repetitive Solid State Pulse Modulator Based on a DC Voltage Multiplier

A newly developed solid-state repetitive high-voltage (HV) pulse modulator topology created from the mature concept of the d.c. voltage multiplier (VM) is described. The proposed circuit is based in a voltage multiplier type circuit, where a number of d.c. capacitors share a common connection with different voltage rating in each one. Hence, besides the standard VM rectifier and coupling diodes, two solid-state on/off switches are used, in each stage, to switch from the typical charging VM mode to a pulse mode with the d.c. capacitors connected in series with the load. Due to the on/off semiconductor configuration, in half-bridge structures, the maximum voltage blocked by each one is the d.c. capacitor voltage in each stage. A 2 kV prototype is described and the results are compared with PSPICE simulations.

Health related quality of life in patients with refractory chronic heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization: type of therapeutic response

The benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the health-related quality of life (HRQL) are largely demonstrated in selected patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the differences between responders and non-responders, with regard to the effect of CRT in the various dimensions that constitute HRQL are still a matter of discussion. Objective: To evaluate the impact of CRT on the HRQL of patients with CHF refractory to optimal pharmacological therapy, within 6 months after CRT. Methods: 43 patients, submitted to successful implantation of CRT, were evaluated in hospital just before intervention and in the outpatient clinic within 6 months after CRT. HRQL was analyzed based on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Patients were classified as super-responders (ejection fraction of left ventricle - LVEF - ≥45% post-CRT), n=15, responders (sustained improvement in functional class and LVEF increased by 15%), n=19, and non-responders (no clinical or LVEF improvement), n=9. Results: In the group of super-responders, CRT was associated with an improvement in HRQL for the various fields and sums assessed (ρ<0.05); in responders, CRT has been associated with an improvement of HRQL in the various fields and sums, except in the self-efficacy dimension (ρ<0.05); in non-responders, CRT was not associated with improvement of HRQL. Conclusion: In a population with severe CHF undergoing CRT, the patients with clinical and echocardiographic positive response, obtained a favorable impact in all dimensions of HRQL, while the group without response to CRT showed no improvement. These data reinforces the importance of HRQL as a multidimensional tool for assessment of benefits in clinical practice.

Evaluating the quality of life in patients with refractory chronic heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization regarding the type of therapeutic response

The benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the quality of life have been largely demonstrated in selected patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the differences between responders and non-responders, with regard to the effect of CRT in the various dimensions of quality of life is still a matter of discussion. Objective: to evaluate the impact of CRT on the quality of life of patients with CHF refractory to optimal pharmacological therapy, within 6 months after CRT.

Sensor de glicose polarimétrico

Esta tese tem como principal objectivo a investigação teórica e experimental do desempenho de um sensor polarimétrico baseado num cristal líquido para medição da concentração de glicose. Recentemente uma série de sensores polarimétricos baseados em cristais líquidos foram propostos na literatura e receberam considerável interesse devido as suas características únicas. De facto, em comparação com outros moduladores electro-ópticos, o cristal líquido funciona com tensões mais baixas, tem baixo consumo de energia e maior ângulo de rotação. Além disso, este tipo de polarímetro pode ter pequenas dimensões que é uma característica interessante para dispositivos portáteis e compactos. Existem por outro lado algumas desvantagens, nomeadamente o facto do desempenho do polarímetro ser fortemente dependente do tipo de cristal líquido e da tensão a ele aplicada o que coloca desafios na escolha dos parâmetros óptimos de operação. Esta tese descreve o desenvolvimento do sensor polarimétrico, incluindo a integração dos componentes de óptica e electrónica, os algoritmos de processamento de sinal e um interface gráfico que facilita a programação de diversos parâmetros de operação e a calibração do sensor. Após a optimização dos parâmetros de operação verificou-se que o dispositivo mede a concentração da glicose em amostras com uma concentração de 8 mg/ml, com uma percentagem de erro inferior a 6% e um desvio padrão de 0,008o. Os resultados foram obtidos para uma amostra com percurso óptico de apenas 1 cm.

Constraints on leptogenesis from a symmetry viewpoint

It is shown that type I seesaw models based on the standard model Lagrangian extended with three heavy Majorana right-handed fields do not have leptogenesis in leading order, if the symmetries of mass matrices are also the residual symmetry of the Lagrangian. In particular, flavor models that lead to a mass-independent leptonic mixing have a vanishing leptogenesis CP asymmetry. Based on symmetry arguments, we prove that in these models the Dirac-neutrino Yukawa coupling combinations relevant for leptogenesis are diagonal in the physical basis where the charged leptons and heavy Majorana neutrinos are diagonal.

Synthesis, characterization and redox behaviour of benzoyldiazenido- and oxorhenium complexes bearing N,N- and S,S-type ligands

The reactions of [ReCl2{eta(2)-N2C(O)Ph}(PPh3)(2)](1) with 2-aminopyrimidine (H(2)Npyrm), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and tetraethylthiuram disulfide (tds), in MeOH upon reflux, lead to the new eta(1)-(benzoyldiazenido)-rhenium(III) complexes [ReCl{eta(1)-N2C(O)Ph}(HNpyrm)(PPh3)(2)](2)and [ReCl2{eta(1)-N2C(O)Ph}(bpy)(PPh3)] (3), and the known oxo(diethyldithiocarbamato)dirhenium(v)complex [Re2O2(mu O){Et2NC(S)S}(4)](4), respectively. The Et2NC(S)S ligands in 4 result from S-S bond rupture of tds molecules. The obtained compounds have been characterized by IR, H-1, P-31{H-1} and C-13{H-1} NMR spectroscopies, FAB(+)-MS, elemental and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for 2 and 4)analyses. Complex 2 represents the first structurally characterized Re compound derived from 2-aminopyrimidine. Besides, the redox behaviour of 2-4 in CH2Cl2 solution has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, and the Lever electrochemical ligand parameter (E-L)has been estimated, for the first time, for HNpyrm. The electrochemical results are discussed in terms of electronic properties of the Re centres and the ligands.

Advanced side information creation techniques and framework for Wyner-Ziv video coding

Recently, several distributed video coding (DVC) solutions based on the distributed source coding (DSC) paradigm have appeared in the literature. Wyner-Ziv (WZ) video coding, a particular case of DVC where side information is made available at the decoder, enable to achieve a flexible distribution of the computational complexity between the encoder and decoder, promising to fulfill novel requirements from applications such as video surveillance, sensor networks and mobile camera phones. The quality of the side information at the decoder has a critical role in determining the WZ video coding rate-distortion (RD) performance, notably to raise it to a level as close as possible to the RD performance of standard predictive video coding schemes. Towards this target, efficient motion search algorithms for powerful frame interpolation are much needed at the decoder. In this paper, the RD performance of a Wyner-Ziv video codec is improved by using novel, advanced motion compensated frame interpolation techniques to generate the side information. The development of these type of side information estimators is a difficult problem in WZ video coding, especially because the decoder only has available some reference, decoded frames. Based on the regularization of the motion field, novel side information creation techniques are proposed in this paper along with a new frame interpolation framework able to generate higher quality side information at the decoder. To illustrate the RD performance improvements, this novel side information creation framework has been integrated in a transform domain turbo coding based Wyner-Ziv video codec. Experimental results show that the novel side information creation solution leads to better RD performance than available state-of-the-art side information estimators, with improvements up to 2 dB: moreover, it allows outperforming H.264/AVC Intra by up to 3 dB with a lower encoding complexity.