The Personal tutorial guidance sessions in the framework of the teaching-learning field of the Bologna process: University of Minho (first cycle) courses students’ perceptions

The Bologna Process defends the adoption of a higher education in teaching-learning methodologies that – in contraposition to the previous model based on the transmission of knowledge, which for being essentially theoretical, gives the student a passive role in the knowledge construction process – allows a (pro) active, autonomous and practical learning, where the student acquires and develops his competences. The personal tutorial guidance sessions are included in the teaching contact hours. This abstract presents a study about the University of Minho (first cycle) Courses Students’ perceptions of the personal tutorial guidance sessions’ relevance in the scope of the learning-teaching process, so as to confirm if the implementation/implantation of the commonly called tutorial (type) education, as an approach to an active, autonomous and practical learning, is sensed by the learners themselves

Breaking the Cycle

A radio program requires several creation and work stages before it can be aired on a radio station. It is very important to begin with a defined concept that can be presented to media. Breaking the Cycle will be a radio talk show designed to feature lifestyle subjects. This document will expose all the production phases of the program, including the complete presentation of the edition on obesity, which is the pilot program. Together with detailed format information, the reader will find all the elements necessary in order to produce this radio product, such as work team, budget, technical completion and more. The information gathered in this document can work as a program proposal, in order to sell the show to any radio media organization suitable for the format. In addition to this written presentation, this project includes a recorded audio pilot that features the final product of Breaking the Cycle¿s concept.

Sustain Cycle

En la búsqueda de preservar el medio ambiente y estandarizar la disposición final de los residuos generados, Sustain Cycle nace como un gestor de residuos de aceite vegetal usado, reforzando la carente oferta del mercado. Fortaleciendo el compromiso de los generadores de este residuo además de una reducción de costos, la creación de Sustain Cycle se desarrolla bajo la figura jurídica de Fundación, deduciendo en los contribuyentes del impuesto el valor de las donaciones efectuadas. El aporte ambiental se basa en minimizar el riesgo de una mala disposición en la red de alcantarillado y su componente social se enfoca en evitar la reutilización ilegal y perjudicial para el consumidor. Sustain Cycle se centra en la recolección, acopio, filtrado y comercialización del AVU generado por todos los establecimientos comerciales que produzcan alimentos como papas a la francesa, empanadas, buñuelos, churros, plátanos y demás productos que requieran del aceite para su cocción.

Business cycle asymmentries: An investment cost approach

In this paper, investment cost asymmetry is introduced in order to test wheter this kind of asymmetry can account for asymmetries in business cycles. By using a smooth transition function, asymmetric investment cost is modeled and introduced in a canonical RBC model. Simulations of the model with Perturbations Method (PM) are very close to simulations through Parameterized Expectations Algorithm (PEA), which allows the use of the former for the sake of time reduction and computational costs. Both symmetric and asymmetric models were simulated and compared. Deterministic and stochastic impulse-response excersices revealed that it is possible to adequately reproduce asymmetric business cycles by modeling asymmetric investment costs. Simulations also showed that higher order moments are insu_cient to detect asymmetries. Instead, methods such as Generalized Impulse Response Analysis (GIRA) and Nonlinear Econometrics prove to be more e_cient diagnostic tools.

Business cycle asymmetries: Loss aversion, sticky prices, and wages

In this chapter, the Smets-Wouters (2003) New Kenesian model is reformulated by introducing the loss aversion utility function developed in chapter two. The purpose of this is to understand how asymmetric real business cycles are linked to asymmetric behavior of agents in a price and wage rigidities set up. The simulations of the model reveal not only that the loss aversion in consumption and leisure is a good mechanism channel for explaining business cycle asymmetries, but also is a good mechanism channel for explaining asymmetric adjustment of prices and wages. Therefore the existence of asymmetries in Phillips Curve. Moreover, loss aversion makes downward rigidities in prices and wages stronger and also reproduces a more severe and persistent fall of the employment. All in all, this model generates asymmetrical real business cycles, asymmetric price and wage adjustment as well as hysteresis.

Extra activities for the English class in the first cycle of Primary School. 'Actividades extra para la clase de inglés del primer ciclo de Educación Primaria'.

Resumen basado en el de los autores. Trabajo al que se le concedió una ayuda para la creación de materiales curriculares interactivos en el año 2003

High and steady or low and rising? : vocational versus general education in life-cycle earnings. 'Alto y estable o bajo y en alza? : formación profesional versus general en los ingresos del ciclo de vida'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación

The drop goes plop : a first look at the water cycle.

Mamá y su bebé gaviota siguen el viaje épico de una gota de agua desde la formación de las nubes hasta la caída de la gota. Proporciona una primera introducción al ciclo del agua y se acompaña de distintas actividades para realizar en clase y que ayudan a los niños a comprenderlo. Por su tamaño, es idóneo para debates en grupo y lectura compartida. Al final hay un pequeño glosario.

Saving water : the water cycle.

La importancia del ahorro de agua sigue siendo una cuestión fundamental para el futuro. Este titulo ofrece un enfoque nuevo para ayudar a los lectores a realizar sus propios experimentos y actividades para aprender más sobre el agua: sus propiedades, su ciclo, agua potable, aguas superficiales y subterráneas. Tiene glosario, bibliografía y direcciones web.

Biological nutrient removal in SBR technology: from floccular to granular sludge

Biological nutrient removal has been studied and applied for decades in order to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. However, more anthropogenic uses and the continued demand for water have forced the facilities to operate at their maximum capacity. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to obtain more compact systems for nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. In this sense, optimization and long-term stabilization of high volume exchange ratios reactors, treating higher volumes of wastewater, have been investigated. With the same target, aerobic granular sludge was proposed as a reliable alternative to reduce space and increase loading rates in treatment plants. However, the low organic loading rate from low-strength influents (less than 1 Kg COD•m-3d-1) results in slower granular formation and a longer time to reach a steady state. Because of that, different methodologies and operational conditions were investigated in order to enhance granulation and nutrient removal from domestic wastewater.

Zooplankton structure and dynamics in Mediterranean marshes (Empordà Wetlands): a size-based approach

Zooplankton community structure (composition, diversity, dynamics and trophic relationships) of Mediterranian marshes, has been analysed by means of a size based approach. In temporary basins the shape of the biomass-size spectra is related to the hydrological cycle. Linear shape spectra are more frequent in flooding situations when nutrient input causes population growth of small-sized organisms, more than compensating for the effect of competitive interactions. During confinement conditions the scarcity of food would decrease zooplankton growth and increase intra- and interspecific interactions between zooplankton organisms which favour the greatest sizes thus leading to the appearance of curved shape spectra. Temporary and permanent basins have similar taxonomic composition but the latter have higher species diversity, a more simplified temporal pattern and a size distribution dominated mainly by smaller sizes. In permanents basins zooplankton growth is not only conditioned by the availability of resources but by the variable predation of planktivorous fish, so that the temporal variability of the spectra may also be a result of temporal differences in fish predation. Size diversity seems to be a better indicator of the degree of this community structure than species diversity. The tendency of size diversity to increase during succession makes it useful to discriminate between different succession stages, fact that is not achieved by analysing only species diversity since it is low both under large and frequent or small and rare disturbances. Amino acid composition differences found among stages of copepod species indicate a gradual change in diet during the life cycle of these copepods, which provide evidence of food niche partitioning during ontogeny, whereas Daphnia species show a relatively constant amino acid composition. There is a relationship between the degree of trophic niche overlap among stages of the different species and nutrient concentration. Copepods, which have low trophic niche overlap among stages are dominant in food-limited environments, probably because trophic niche partitioning during development allow them to reduce intraspecific competition between adults, juveniles and nauplii. Daphnia species are only dominant in water bodies or periods with high productivity, probably due to the high trophic niche overlap between juveniles and adults. These findings suggest that, in addition to the effect of interspecific competition, predation and abiotic factors, the intraspecific competition might play also an important role in structuring zooplankton assemblages.

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

The ongoing reforms, which were introduced under the Bologna Process and have already been extended outside of Europe , are a unique opportunity for reinforcing and structuring a common platform of understanding among members, based on the full time undergraduate courses in ( Urbanismo) Urban and Regional Planning. The training programs at this 1st cycle level, will obviously continue with the 2nd and 3rd cycles (Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree and PhD Degree or 3+2+3 years). The training programs at this full time 1st cycle level, can also becomes the framework of understanding for the development of research in the urban fields at national and international levels.