Teachers and productive pedagogies: Contextualising, conceptualising, utilising

Improving students' outcomes from schooling requires schools to be learning organisations, where both students and teachers are engaged in learning. As such, knowledge and talk about pedagogy need to be at the core of the professional culture of schools. This article argues that this will require the valuing of teachers' work, that is, their pedagogical practices, to be a central focus of educational policy. Dangers are associated with this argument in terms of understating the impacts of poverty, lack of funding to disadvantaged schools and other social factors such as the pressures of globalisation upon students' educational opportunities. Hence, while acknowledging the importance of pedagogy to students' outcomes, the article contextualises the argument through a recognition of the policy and structural conditions that work against the valuing of teachers and their work. It then conceptualises how, within this context, a focus on pedagogies can make a difference to students' academic and social outcomes from schooling. This conceptualisation utilises the productive pedagogies model of classroom practice, developed in a large Australian study of school reform, as an example of the forms of pedagogical practices that support students' achievement of academic and social outcomes. It is argued that such pedagogical practices ought to be a concern of teachers, school administrators, education systems and local communities interested in schools as learning organisations.

Construindo o diálogo entre competência, recursos e desempenho organizacional

Este artigo objetiva estudar como os recursos impactam o desempenho organizacional. Partindo da noção de competência como processo de coordenação e mobilização de recursos, utilizou-se o referencial do balanced scorecard (BSC) para mensurar a influência dessa coordenação sobre os indicadores de desempenho nas múltiplas perspectivas do BSC. A revisão da literatura sobre esse tema mostrou que se privilegia o uso de indicadores financeiros ou de processos internos, e que menos estudos avaliam indicadores de aprendizagem, impactos sobre os clientes, ou analisam mais de uma perspectiva simultaneamente. Um estudo de caso em profundidade em empresa de saneamento utilizando dados e indicadores sugere que fatores ambientais relacionados à demanda são os maiores determinantes do desempenho. A satisfação dos funcionários sugere associação com todas as perspectivas do BSC.

Sustentabilidade patrimonial e energética

Dissertação de Mestrado, Engenharia do Ambiente, 12 de Junho de 2014, Universidade dos Açores.

James W. Carey as critical theorist of the information age

This paper suggests that the thought of the North-American critical theorist James W. Carey provides a relevant perspective on communication and technology. Having as background American social pragmatism and progressive thinkers of the beginning of the 20th century (as Dewey, Mead, Cooley, and Park), Carey built a perspective that brought together the political economy of Harold A. Innis, the social criticism of David Riesman and Charles W. Mills and incorporated Marxist topics such as commodification and sociocultural domination. The main goal of this paper is to explore the connection established by Carey between modern technological communication and what he called the “transmissive model”, a model which not only reduces the symbolic process of communication to instrumentalization and to information delivery, but also politically converges with capitalism as well as power, control and expansionist goals. Conceiving communication as a process that creates symbolic and cultural systems, in which and through which social life takes place, Carey gives equal emphasis to the incorporation processes of communication.If symbolic forms and culture are ways of conditioning action, they are also influenced by technological and economic materializations of symbolic systems, and by other conditioning structures. In Carey’s view, communication is never a disembodied force; rather, it is a set of practices in which co-exist conceptions, techniques and social relations. These practices configure reality or, alternatively, can refute, transform and celebrate it. Exhibiting sensitiveness favourable to the historical understanding of communication, media and information technologies, one of the issues Carey explored most was the history of the telegraph as an harbinger of the Internet, of its problems and contradictions. For Carey, Internet was seen as the contemporary heir of the communications revolution triggered by the prototype of transmission technologies, namely the telegraph in the 19th century. In the telegraph Carey saw the prototype of many subsequent commercial empires based on science and technology, a pioneer model for complex business management; an example of conflict of interest for the control over patents; an inducer of changes both in language and in structures of knowledge; and a promoter of a futurist and utopian thought of information technologies. After a brief approach to Carey’s communication theory, this paper focuses on his seminal essay "Technology and ideology. The case of the telegraph", bearing in mind the prospect of the communication revolution introduced by Internet. We maintain that this essay has seminal relevance for critically studying the information society. Our reading of it highlights the reach, as well as the problems, of an approach which conceives the innovation of the telegraph as a metaphor for all innovations, announcing the modern stage of history and determining to this day the major lines of development in modern communication systems.

The effects of parental sensitivity and involvement in caregiving on mother–infant and father–infant attachment in a portuguese sample

In the present longitudinal study, we investigated attachment quality in Portuguese mother–infant and in father–infant dyads, and evaluated whether attachment quality was related to parental sensitivity during parent–infant social interaction or to the amount of time each parent spent with the infant during play and in routine caregiving activities (e.g., feeding, bathing, play). The sample consisted of 82 healthy full-term infants (30 girls, 53 boys, 48 first born), and their mothers and fathers from mostly middle-class households. To assess parental sensitivity, mothers and fathers were independently observed during free play interactions with their infants when infants were 9 and 15 months old. The videotaped interactions were scored by masked coders using the Crittenden’s CARE-Index. When infants were 12 and 18 months old, mother–infant and father–infant dyads were videotaped during an adaptation of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation. Parents also described their level of involvement in infant caregiving activities using a Portuguese version of the McBride and Mills Parent Responsibility Scale. Mothers were rated as being more sensitive than fathers during parent–infant free play at both 9 and 15 months. There also was a higher prevalence of secure attachment in mother–infant versus father–infant dyads at both 12 and 18 months. Attachment security was predicted by the amount of time mothers and fathers were involved in caregiving and play with the infant, and with parents’ behavior during parent–infant free play.

A case study on the improvement of eco-efficiency ratios: application to a composite processing industry

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) defines Eco-Efficiency as follows: ‘Eco- Efficiency is achieved by the delivery of competitively priced-goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout the life-cycle to a level at least in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity’. Eco-Efficiency is under this point of view a key concept for sustainable development, bringing together economic and ecological progress. Measuring the Eco-Efficiency of a company, factory or business, is a complex process that involves the measurement and control of several and relevant parameters or indicators, globally applied to all companies in general, or specific according to the nature and specificities of the business itself. In this study, an attempt was made in order to measure and evaluate the eco-efficiency of a pultruded composite processing company. For this purpose the recommendations of WBCSD [1] and the directives of ISO 14301 standard [2] were followed and applied. The analysis was restricted to the main business branch of the company: the production and sale of standard GFRP pultrusion profiles. The main general indicators of eco-efficiency, as well as the specific indicators, were defined and determined according to ISO 14031 recommendations. With basis on indicators’ figures, the value profile, the environmental profile, and the pertinent eco-efficiency’s ratios were established and analyzed. In order to evaluate potential improvements on company eco-performance, new indicators values and ecoefficiency ratios were estimated taking into account the implementation of new proceedings and procedures, both in upstream and downstream of the production process, namely: a) Adoption of new heating system for pultrusion die in the manufacturing process, more effective and with minor heat losses; b) Implementation of new software for stock management (raw materials and final products) that minimize production failures and delivery delays to final consumer; c) Recycling approach, with partial waste reuse of scrap material derived from manufacturing, cutting and assembly processes of GFRP profiles. In particular, the last approach seems to significantly improve the eco-efficient performance of the company. Currently, by-products and wastes generated in the manufacturing process of GFRP profiles are landfilled, with supplementary added costs to this company traduced by transport of scrap, landfill taxes and required test analysis to waste materials. However, mechanical recycling of GFRP waste materials, with reduction to powdered and fibrous particulates, constitutes a recycling process that can be easily attained on heavy-duty cutting mills. The posterior reuse of obtained recyclates, either into a close-looping process, as filler replacement of resin matrix of GFRP profiles, or as reinforcement of other composite materials produced by the company, will drive to both costs reduction in raw materials and landfill process, and minimization of waste landfill. These features lead to significant improvements on the sequent assessed eco-efficiency ratios of the present case study, yielding to a more sustainable product and manufacturing process of pultruded GFRP profiles.

Estudo comparativo do comportamento de diferentes ferramentas na fresagem de aços duplex

A maquinagem por arranque de apara é, na actualidade, um dos processos de fabrico mais utilizados e de maior relevo no panorama da indústria metalomecânica mundial. Para além da forte evolução que se tem registado ao longo das últimas décadas nos equipamentos ligados à maquinagem, também as ferramentas têm visto o seu desempenho fortemente melhorado, graças essencialmente ao desenvolvimento de revestimentos finos, mono e multicamada, que têm proporcionado o conjunto de propriedades mais indicado a cada situação. Por outro lado, os aços inoxidáveis duplex têm registado um forte incremento na sua aplicação, a qual requer, em muitos casos, o uso da maquinagem para a obtenção das formas necessárias. Tendo em consideração estes dois factores, o presente trabalho visa, essencialmente avaliar qual a ferramenta mais adequada para trabalhar este tipo de ligas, em função do tipo de maquinagem e condições de corte. Para tal, foram utilizadas diferentes ferramentas dotadas da mesma geometria, e seleccionados parâmetros que constituíssem um denominador comum entre os valores indicados pelos diferentes fabricantes. Foram consideradas apenas condições de maquinagem com utilização de fluido de corte e realizados percursos de corte previamente determinados na fresagem, utilizando fresas de topo em condições de maquinagem de alta velocidade. A análise comparativa recaiu sobre a qualidade da superfície gerada por maquinagem, avaliada através de perfilometria, e o desgaste registado por cada uma das ferramentas utilizadas.

Modelling of a wastewater treatment plant using GPS-X

Dissertation to obtain the degree of Master in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

The relationship between sexual and emotional promiscuity and infidelity

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia

Roteiro metodológico para o estudo dos moinhos e aproveitamentos hidráulicos no concelho de Lousada

A Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente é possuidora de um valioso arquivo, resultante da atividade centenária desenvolvida pelos diferentes organismos com tutela sobre a gestão da água e o planeamento dos recursos hídricos, que importa conhecer e divulgar. O Arquivo Histórico dos Serviços Hidráulicos é um dos mais ricos acervos locais do País, reunindo um conjunto de milhares de documentos, que vão do século XIX à atualidade, constituindo um repositório documental com características ímpares e um testemunho da identidade, memória e história dos Serviços Hidráulicos. Os processos arquivados contam casos de estudo que percorrem os usos das águas públicas para diferentes fins e as modalidades da sua utilização, das quais queremos destacar os aproveitamentos hidráulicos e a laboração de moinhos. Com este artigo, pretendemos apresentar um roteiro metodológico para o estudo das formas de organização dos processos existentes no arquivo sobre os moinhos e aproveitamentos hidráulicos, no concelho de Lousada, no que respeita aos documentos e peças anexas, bem como aos modelos administrativos subjacentes.

Combined bioremediation and enzyme production by Aspergillus sp. in olive mill and winery wastewaters

Olive mill wastewaters (OMW) and vinasses (VS) are effluents produced respectively by olive mills and wineries, both sectors are of great economic importance in Mediterranean countries. These effluents cause a large environmental impact, when not properly processed, due to their high concentration of phenolic compounds, COD and colour. OMW may be treated by biological processes but, in this case, a dilution is necessary, increasing water consumption. The approach here in proposed consists on the bioremediation of OMW and VS by filamentous fungi. In a screening stage, three fungi (Aspergillus ibericus, Aspergillus uvarum, Aspergillus niger) were selected to bioremediate undiluted OMW, two-fold diluted OMW supplemented with nutrients, and a mixture of OMW and VS in the proportion 1:1 (v/v). Higher reductions of phenolic compounds, colour and COD were achieved mixing both residues; with A. uvarum providing the best results. In addition, the production of enzymes was also evaluated during this bioremediation process, detecting in all cases lipolytic, proteolytic and tannase activities. A. ibericus, A. uvarum and A. niger achieved the highest value of lipase (1253.7 ± 161.2 U/L), protease (3700 ± 124.3 U/L) and tannase (284.4 ± 12.1 U/L) activities, respectively. Consequently, this process is an interesting alternative to traditional processes to manage these residues, providing simultaneously high economic products, which can be employed in the same industries.

A comparison of environmental licensing systems in operation in the wood panel manufacturing industry in the Northern Hemisphere

The objective of this thesis is to compare and contrast environmental licensing systems, for the wood panel industry, in a number of countries in order to determine which system is the best from an environmental and economic point of view. The thesis also examines the impact which government can have on industry and the type of licensing system in operation in a country. Initially, the thesis investigates the origins of the various environmental licensing systems which are in operation in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, USA and Canada. It then examines the Environmental Agencies which control and supervise industry in these countries. The impact which the type of government (i.e. unitary or federal) in charge in any particular country has on industry and the Regulatory Agency in that country is then described. Most of the mills in the thesis make a product called OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and the manufacturing process is briefly described in order to understand where the various emissions are generated. The main body of the thesis examines a number of environmental parameters which have emission limit values in the licenses examined, although not all of these parameters have emission limit values in all of the licenses. All of these parameters are used as indicators of the potential impact which the mill can have on the environment. They have been set at specific levels by the Environmental Agencies in the individual countries to control the impact of the mill. Following on from this, the two main types of air pollution control equipment (WESPs and RTOs) are described in regard to their function and capabilities. The mill licenses are then presented in the form of results tables which compare air results and water results separately. This is due to the fact that the most significant emission from this type of industry is to air. A matrix system is used to compare the licenses so that the comparison can be as objective as possible. The discussion examines all of the elements previously described and from this it was concluded that the IPC licensing system is the best from an environmental and economic point of view. It is a much more expensive system to operate than the other systems examined, but it is much more comprehensive and looks at the mill as a whole rather than fragmenting it. It was also seen that the type of environmental licensing system which is in place in a country can play a role in the locating of an industry as certain systems were seen to have more stringent standards attached to them. The type of standard in place in a country is in turn influenced by the type of government which is in place in that country.

Influência do desponte sôbre a composição do côlmo e do caldo da cana-de-açucar, I. Var. Co 421

I. This paper deals with an experiment carried out to evaluate the effect of the sugar cane upper end on the composition of the sugar cane harvest as a raw material for the sugar industry. The variety studied was Co 421. The authors intend to study other varieties in the future. The data were collected from plant cane, at intervals of two weeks, always from the same field, from a small central area of 3.000 square meters approximately. Sixty (60) stalks were cut in each occasion, randomly chosen from the whole area. They were afterwards separated into three groups of 20 stalks, one for each of the treatments, namely: a) Complete stalks, with no leaves or sheaths. b) Stalks harvested by the technique of REYNOSO, that is, as usually done in practice. c) Stalks with the tops completely cut out, that is, cut by technique of REYNOSO and then with 3 other top internodes eliminated. The treatments caused significant differences on the following technological characteristics: a) Weight b) Cane pol c) Available sucrose (pol) per cent cane d) Cane juice pol e) Saline coefficient of juice. II. Except for weight, all changes were favorable to treatment c, even if with differences relatively slight, in percentage. IIII. Treatment differences for cane fiber, brix, reducing sugars, juice ashes, coefficient of purity and glucose coefficient were not significant. IV. Time of harvest was an important factor affecting the composition of the cane and of the juice. V. On the average the available sucrose of cane for treatments, with an standard error of 0.13%, was: Treatment c 13.05% Treatment b 12.65% Treatment a 12.53% This shows that there is no sound basis for the heavy fines applied by some sugar mills to planters who do not cut low enough the tops of the cane stalks.

Influência do desponte sôbre a composição do colmo e do caldo da cana-de-açúcar: III. Var. CB 41-76

I. This paper deals with an experiment carried out to evaluate the effect of sugar cane upper end on the composition of the stalks and juice of sugar cane harvest as a raw material for the sugar industry. The variety studied was CB 41-76. The data were collected from plant cane at intervals of a two weeks, always from the same field, from a small central area of 3.000 square meters approximately, 60 stalks were cut in each occasion, randomly chosen from the whole area. They were afterwards separated into three groups of 20 stalks one for each of the treatments, namely: a) Complete stalk, with no leaves or sheaths. b) Stalks harvested by the technique of REYNOSO, that is, as usually done in practice. c) Stalks with the tops completely cut out, that is, cut by the techinique of REYNOSO and then with 3 other top internodes eliminated. The treatments caused significant differences on the weight of cane and coefficient of purity of juice, but the percentual differences between the average treatments a and c is 13% and 2%, respectively. II. Treatment differences for cane pol, cane fibre, brix, juice pol, reducing sugars, juice ashes, glucose coefficient, saline coefficient and available sucrose (pol) per cent were not significant. III. Time of harvest was an important factor affecting the composition of the cane and the juice. This paper shows that there is no sound basis for the heavy fines applied some sugar mills to planters who do not cut low enough the tops of the cane stalks.

Dosilia (Porifera, Demospongiae) redefined

Dosilia plumosa (Carter, 1849), type species of the genus, and D. brouni (Kirkpatrick, 1906), with distribution respectively in the Oriental and Ethiopic regions, are revised based on a SEM analysis of spicules, gemmules and skeletal structure. The lectotype here designated for D. plumosa is illustrated as well as the holotype by monotypy determined for D. brouni. Dosilia palmeri (Potts, 1885) and D. radiospiculata (Mills, 1888) distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions and D. pydanieli Volkmer-Ribeiro, 1992, found in the Neotropical region, are revised based on a SEM analysis of spicules, gemules and skeletal structure. The holotype by monotypy is determined for D. radiospiculata. Heteromeyenia plumosa Weltner,1895 is synonymyzed with D. radiospiculata. Upon the revision of its five species, the genus is redefined and a key presented.