Reliability of Web-Based Information in Inquiry Projects

This case study aims at identifying how a community of secondary school students selects web-based information and factors associated with the reliability of online reference sources during their collaborative inquiry (co-inquiry) projects. This study, conducted in a public secondary school in Brazil, focused on information literacy skills for collaborative open learning (colearning). The research is based on qualitative content analysis implemented on the online platform weSPOT. Although students are mindful of the importance of comparing different sources of information they seem not to be aware of reliability in online environments. Teacher's guidance is essential to support co-learners in developing competences, particularly related to critical thinking.

Ergonomics and interfaces of traditional information systems: packaging

The contemporary world is characterized, among other factors, by the influence of the new computer information systems on the behavior of individuals. However, traditional information systems still have interaction problems with users. The aim of this study was to determine whether the interaction aspects between user versus traditional information systems (particularly the graphics) have been fully studied. To do so, the ergonomic aspects and usability of such systems were reviewed, with emphasis on the problems of visibility, legibility and readability. From that criteria, the evolution of ergonomic studies of information systems was reviewed (bibliometrics technique); and examples of ergonomic and usability problems in packaging were demonstrated (case study). The results confirm that traditional information systems still have problems of interaction between human X system, hindering the effective perception of information.

Nitrogen diffusion in niobium under low pressure

The interaction among heavy interstitial atoms present in metals with bcc structure is studied using anelastic spectroscopy. This technique makes it possible to obtain information on interstitial concentration, precipitation, solubility limit, and diffusion. The diffusion coefficients of nitrogen in niobium were obtained using the relaxation parameters obtained from anelastic spectroscopy measurements for different oscillation frequencies of the system. The results showed the interstitial diffusion of nitrogen present in solid solution in niobium when submitted to different charges of nitrogen at a temperature of 1373 K and a partial pressure in the order of 10-4 Torr. The exponential variation of the pressure experimentally in function of the time was thus obtained.

An analysis of embeddedness in the value creation in interorganisational networks: an illustrative example in Brazil

The purpose of this article is to propose a methodological approach to analyse how the positioning of actors in an interorganisational network can influence the elements of value creation. This study fills a gap in the existing literature by exploring the relationship between the positioning of actors and the value creation in a context of interorganisational networks. The case study method was employed and the data was obtained from four companies of an interorganisational network, located in Brazil, which produces earthmoving equipments. The central actor in this network is benefited through access to resources, power and information of the other network actors. The centrality position seems to help this company in the absorption and diffusion of knowledge among the other network actors. The research indicates, that a dense core (through strong ties) and redundancy (for triangulation and knowledge absorption), benefited the following value creation elements: tangible; intangible; services and economic.