Exploring the role the brand plays in the choice of charity by UK volunteers

Charities need to understand why volunteers choose one brand rather than another in order to attract more volunteers to their organisation. There has been considerable academic interest in understanding why people volunteer generally. However, this research explores the more specific question of why a volunteer chooses one charity brand rather than another. It builds on previous conceptualisations of volunteering as a consumption decision. Seen through the lens of the individual volunteer, it considers the under-researched area of the decision-making process. The research adopts an interpretivist epistemology and subjectivist ontology. Qualitative data was collected through depth interviews and analysed using both Means-End Chain (MEC) and Framework Analysis methodology. The primary contribution of the research is to theory: understanding the role of brand in the volunteer decision-making process. It identifies two roles for brand. The first is as a specific reason for choice, an ‘attribute’ of the decision. Through MEC, volunteering for a well-known brand connects directly through to a sense of self, both self-respect but also social recognition by others. All four components of the symbolic consumption construct are found in the data: volunteers choose a well-known brand to say something about themselves. The brand brings credibility and reassurance, it reduces the risk and enables the volunteer to meet their need to make a difference and achieve a sense of accomplishment. The second closely related role for brand is within the process of making the volunteering decision. Volunteers built up knowledge about the charity brands from a variety of brand touchpoints, over time. At the point of decision-making that brand knowledge and engagement becomes relevant, enabling some to make an automatic choice despite the significant level of commitment being made. The research identifies four types of decision-making behaviour. The research also makes secondary contributions to MEC methodology and to the non-profit context. It concludes within practical implications for management practice and a rich agenda for future research.

Ciprofibrate quantification in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, sensitive and specific method for quantifying ciprofibrate in human plasma using bezafibrate as the internal standard (IS) is described. The sample was acidified prior extraction with formic acid (88%). The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using an organic solvent (diethyl ether/dichloromethane 70/30 (v/v)). The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Chromatography was performed using Genesis C18 4 mu m analytical column (4.6 x 150 mm i.d.) and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water (70/30, v/v) and 1 mM acetic acid. The method had a chromatographic run time of 3.4 min and a linear calibration curve over the range 0.1-60 mu g/mL (r > 0.99). The limit of quantification was 0.1 mu g/mL. The intra- and interday accuracy and precision values of the assay were less than 13.5%. The stability tests indicated no significant degradation. The recovery of ciprofibrate was 81.2%, 73.3% and 76.2% for the 0.3, 5.0 and 48.0 ng/mL standard concentrations, respectively. For ciprofibrate, the optimized parameters of the declustering potential, collision energy and collision exit potential were -51 V, -16 eV and -5 V, respectively. The method was also validated without the use of the internal standard. This HPLC-MS/MS procedure was used to assess the bioequivalence of two ciprofibrate 100 mg tablet formulations in healthy volunteers of both sexes. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from the ciprofibrate plasma concentration vs. time curves: AUC(last), AUC(0-168 h), C(max) and T(max). The geometric mean with corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI) for test/reference percent ratios were 93.80% (90% CI = 88.16-99.79%) for C(max), 98.31% (90% CI = 94.91-101.83%) for AUC(last) and 97.67% (90% CI = 94.45-101.01%) for AUC(0-168 h). Since the 90% Cl for AUC(last), AUC(0-168 h) and C(max) ratios were within the 80-125% interval proposed by the US FDA, it was concluded that ciprofibrate (Lipless (R) 100 mg tablet) formulation manufactured by Biolab Sanus Farmaceutica Ltda. is bioequivalent to the Oroxadin (R) (100 mg tablet) formulation for both the rate and the extent of absorption. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Noninvasive Evaluation of Oral Lesions Using Depth-sensitive Optical Spectroscopy

BACKGROUND: Optical spectroscopy is a noninvasive technique with potential applications for diagnosis of oral dysplasia and early cancer. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of a depth-sensitive optical spectroscopy (DSOS) system for distinguishing dysplasia and carcinoma from non-neoplastic oral mucosa. METHODS: Patients with oral lesions and volunteers without any oral abnormalities were recruited to participate. Autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectra of selected oral sites were measured using the DSOS system. A total of 424 oral sites in 124 subjects were measured and analyzed, including 154 sites in 60 patients with oral lesions and 270 sites in 64 normal volunteers. Measured optical spectra were used to develop computer-based algorithms to identify the presence of dysplasia or cancer. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using a gold standard of histopathology for patient sites and clinical impression for normal volunteer sites. RESULTS: Differences in oral spectra were observed in: (1) neoplastic versus nonneoplastic sites, (2) keratinized versus nonkeratinized tissue, and (3) shallow versus deep depths within oral tissue. Algorithms based on spectra from 310 nonkeratinized anatomic sites (buccal, tongue, floor of mouth, and lip) yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.96 in the training set and 0.93 in the validation set. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to selectively target epithelial and shallow stromal depth regions appeared to be diagnostically useful. For nonkeratinized oral sites, the sensitivity and specificity of this objective diagnostic technique were comparable to that of clinical diagnosis by expert observers. Thus, DSOS has potential to augment oral cancer screening efforts in community settings. Cancer 2009;115:1669-79. (C) 2009 American Cancer Society.

Qual a importância do trabalho voluntário para sustentabilidade de organizações não-governamentais?

A presente dissertação trata do trabalho voluntário nas instituições privadas sem fins lucrativos de pequeno porte. O estudo tem como principal objetivo a investigação a respeito do impacto do trabalho voluntário na sustentabilidade dessas instituições por meio do estudo de caso da organização não-governamental Colcha de Retalhos. Como objetivo secundário buscou-se analisar as motivações, significados e benefícios do trabalho voluntário para o voluntariado. O estudo se caracteriza como descritivo-interpretativo, por uma abordagem predominantemente qualitativa, os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas estruturadas e pesquisa documental. Os dados revelam aspectos importantes para a pesquisa e fomentou o estudo de assuntos vinculados ao voluntariado trazido pelos próprios entrevistados, tais como: cidadania, tensões nas relações entre voluntários e famílias atendidas, voluntários e escolas e voluntários e voluntários. Questões próprias do voluntariado e do Terceiro Setor são abordadas com o intuito de embasar as análises e conclusões do estudo. Os resultados apontam para um impacto positivo do trabalho voluntário na sustentabilidade das instituições sem fins lucrativos de pequeno porte.

Impacto do trabalho voluntário na atuação de instituições privadas sem fins lucrativos : o caso APAE-Rio

A presente dissertação trata do trabalho voluntário e da atuação das instituições privadas sem fins lucrativos que atendem pessoas portadoras de necessidades especiais. A questão central deste estudo é a investigação a respeito do impacto do trabalho voluntário na atuação das mencionadas instituições, e seu objetivo final é a avaliação deste impacto. O estudo tem como objetivos secundários o levantamento de informações sobre as motivações do trabalhador voluntário e a identificação dos significados atribuídos ao trabalho voluntário. Adotou-se a pesquisa do tipo estudo de caso com tratamento qualitativo e quantitativo dos dados obtidos. A aplicação de questionários junto aos familiares e voluntários da Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais (APAE-Rio) revelou aspectos importantes para a pesquisa e fomentou o estudo de assuntos vinculados ao voluntariado trazidos pelos próprios entrevistados, tais como o amor, a solidariedade e a cidadania. Questões próprias do voluntariado e do Terceiro Setor também são abordadas, juntamente com as principais correntes de pensamento no campo da ética, com o intuito de embasar as conclusões do estudo. Os resultados apontam para um impacto positivo do trabalho voluntário na atuação das instituições privadas sem fins lucrativos que atendem pessoas portadoras de necessidades eSpeCiaIS. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Trabalho Voluntário, Terceiro Setor e Solidariedade

Intra-empreendedorismo e organizações não-governamentais: prática e discurso

Essa tese tem como objetivo contribuir para a compreensão da ocorrência de práticas associadas ao intra-empreendedorismo em organizações não-governamentais (ONGs). Elaborou-se um referencial de análise preliminar a partir da revisão bibliográfica sobre os conceitos de intra-empreendedorismo, organizações não-governamentais e teoria institucional. Esse arcabouço teórico orientou a realização de pesquisa empírica, qualitativa e de natureza exploratória, empreendida por meio de estudo de caso, tendo como objeto de estudo organizações não-governamentais. Foram realizados dois estudos de casos. O primeiro analisou uma ONG localizada na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, cujo foco principal de atuação é a área da saúde, e que emprega o trabalho voluntário de forma intensiva. O segundo estudo de caso foi voltado à análise de uma ONG localizada na cidade de São Paulo, cujo foco principal de atuação é a educação, que desenvolve suas atividades valendo-se basicamente de trabalho remunerado, e que se enquadra na categoria de Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público - OSCIP. Com os estudos de casos, foi possível obter subsídios para analisar e refinar o referencial previamente elaborado. São levantadas, também, considerações referentes à adoção de práticas associadas ao intra-empreendedorismo e ao discurso empreendedor legitimador das organizações não-governamentais.

Responsabilidade social corporativa: o que há de filantrópico no trabalho voluntário?

O crescente investimento das empresas na área de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (RSC) vem provocando diversos questionamentos, tanto no meio acadêmico quanto no empresarial, sobre a necessidade e os reais motivos que levam as organizações a incentivarem e divulgarem ações de cunho social promovidas na comunidade onde estão inseridas. O objetivo deste estudo é confrontar o discurso adotado sobre a prática de RSC em uma empresa de consultoria multinacional, especializada no ramo de gestão empresarial e escritório na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, com as diferentes perspectivas de seus trabalhadores sobre os motivos que a faz realizar tais atividades, bem como a razão pela qual o seu quadro de empregados decide filiar-se a elas. Na construção da base teórica, foram utilizadas as visões das diferentes correntes existentes sobre o tema de RSC. Para averiguar as possíveis inconsistências entre o discurso e a prática, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo baseada em documentos oficiais e entrevistas com empregados de ambos os sexos e diferentes cargos desta companhia. Os resultados sugerem divergências entre os discursos dos empregados mostrando que estes questionam os propósitos da empresa, bem como das intenções filantrópicas dos demais colegas de trabalho.

(Des)compassos entre entendimento e práticas de responsabilidade social corporativa

Esta pesquisa propõe uma análise sobre como empresas listadas na Bolsa de Valores brasileira entendem responsabilidade social corporativa e colocam-na em prática. Para tal foram resgatadas discussões sobre o conceito de responsabilidade social corporativa, sua abrangência, complexidade, bem como os debates acadêmicos e corporativos sobre o tema. Por meio de uma análise qualitativa do conteúdo de relatórios anuais, sociais, de sustentabilidade e outros documentos, totalizando-se mais de 600 publicações, foram avaliados o entendimento em responsabilidade social corporativa e as práticas das 100 maiores empresas listadas na Bolsa de Valores brasileira. O entendimento foi avaliado com base em fragmentos de discurso e expressões lexicais, e a prática foi dimensionada com base nos programas e ações divulgadas. Como resultado, foram criadas três categorias atreladas ao entendimento do conceito (Amplo, Restrito e Confuso) e três ao comprometimento das práticas (Alto, Médio e Baixo). Com esta análise, apenas um quarto da amostra foi classificada em um grupo de amplo entendimento e alto comprometimento das práticas. Também foi observado que quase um terço das empresas da amostra apresentou desvios no entendimento do que é Responsabilidade Social Corporativa, confundindo filantropia com o próprio negócio, ações voluntárias de funcionários como próprias, multas com investimentos, entre outras informações ambíguas. A contribuição da presente pesquisa se faz relevante ao sintetizar e evidenciar (des)compassos entre o entendimento e as práticas de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa, podendo auxiliar para o enriquecimento do tema, na medida em que se estabelece uma metodologia analítica passível de aplicação e expansão efetiva para sustentação e reforço das ações socioambientais.

Pontos críticos para o desempenho dos voluntários na operacionalização de megaeventos esportivos

O objetivo desta dissertação é analisar os pontos de atenção na operacionalização de um megaevento esportivo, em que milhares de voluntários participam como força de trabalho, sem qualquer tipo de remuneração, considerando que o Brasil, nesta década, sediará importantes megaeventos e precisará contar com o uso de mão de obra voluntária. Para tal, foi realizada pesquisa qualitativa exploratória, por meio de entrevistas individuais em profundidade com voluntários que apresentavam experiências anteriores em eventos esportivos e com gestores do Comitê Organizador dos Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos do Rio de Janeiro em 2016. Assim, aprofundou-se as análises sobre motivação, planejamento do evento, organização durante o evento e legado, na visão destes dois grupos

Motivação no trabalho voluntário: expectativas e motivos na Pastoral da Criança

The present study has proposed a structural model to identify the reasons why individuals become voluntary, keep and exit this type of work. The empirical space was the Pastoral da Criança - social action agency of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) - community-based institution that has its work based on solidarity and the sharing of knowledge. The theoretical framework has the context in which are volunteering studies in Brazilian and world level. Then discuss the various concepts of volunteering and presented the theoretical models of volunteer motivation. Studies of Mostyn (1983) and studies conducted by the BEPEGE-Base for Studies and Research in Management Policies and Strategies - in their line of research GERQUAL - Human Resource Management and Organizational Quality - of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte as Carvalho e Souza(2006), Souza, Medeiros e Fernandes (2006), Souza et al (2009, 2010), Cavalcante et al (2011a, 2011b, 2011c, 2011d) were the main theoretical references for the construction of the model that was tested. Data collection was done through a survey with 71 indicators, in 2 visits to cities from the Diocese of Pesqueira, Pernambuco. The first data collection occurred in the period between May 30 and June 3, 2011, in Buique/PE and the second collection happened in Pesqueira/PE, in St. Joseph Seminary, in the period between July 6-8, 2011. 720 questionnaires were collected. The sample was divided into two parts. Exploratory Factor Analysis was applied in first part and Confirmatory Factor Analysis - structural equation modeling - in the second half. The examination of the results achieved by the expectations, reasons for entry, reasons for staying and exit reasons showed that all hypotheses were accepted. So the motivation of voluntary Pastoral da Criança can be explained by a set of interactions between these five constructs: Altruistic, Affectionate, Amiable, Adjusted and Astute

Efetividade do clareamento dentário com peróxido de carbamida a 10% e avaliação dos efeitos adversos sobre o esmalte dentário

The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness and adverse effects on dental enamel caused by nightguard vital bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide. This was accomplished through the interaction of researchers from different areas such as dentistry, materials engineering and physics. Fifty volunteers took part in the doubleblind randomized controlled clinical trial. They were allocated to an experimental group that used Opalescence PF 10% (OPA) and a control group that used a placebo gel (PLA). Fragments of human dental enamel from the vestibular surface of healthy premolars, extracted for orthodontic reasons, were fixed to the vestibular surface of the first upper molars of the volunteers for in situ observation. Bleaching was performed at night for 21 days. The observation periods included Baseline (BL), T0 (21 days), T30 (30 days after treatment) and T180 (180 days after treatment, only for the OPA group). Tooth color was assessed by comparing it with the Vita® scale and by the degree of satisfaction expressed by the volunteer. We also assessed adverse clinical effects, dental sensitivity and gingival bleeding. The study of adverse effects on enamel was conducted in vivo and in situ, using the DIAGNOdent® laser fluorescence device to detect mineral loss. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to check for superficial morphological alterations, energy dispersive spectrophotometry (EDS) to semiquantitatively assess chemical composition using the Ca/P ratio, and the x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique to observe alterations in enamel microstructure. The results showed that nightguard vital bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide was effective in 96% of the cases, versus 8% for the PLA group. Dental sensitivity was present in 36% (9/25) of the cases. There was no significant association between gingival bleeding and the type of gel used (p = 1.00). In vivo laser fluorescence analysis showed no difference in values for the control group, whereas in the OPA group there was a statistically significant difference between baseline values in relation to the subsequent periods (p<0.01), with lower mean values for post-bleaching times. There was a significant difference between the groups for times T0 and T30. Micrographic analysis showed no enamel surface alterations related to the treatment performed. No significant alteration in Ca/P ratio was observed in the OPA group (p = 0.624) or in the PLA group (p = 0.462) for each of the observation periods, nor between the groups studied (p=0.102). The XRD pattern for both groups showed the presence of three-phase Hydroxyapatite according to JCPDS files (9-0432[Ca5(PO4)3(OH)], 18-0303[Ca3(PO4)2.xH2O] and 25-0166[Ca5(PO4)3(OH, Cl, F)]). No other peak associated to other phases was found, independent of the group analyzed, which reveals there was no disappearance, nucleation or phase transformation. Neither was there any alteration in peak pattern location. With the methodology and protocol used in this study, nightguard vital bleaching with 10% carbamide peroxide proved to be an effective and safe procedure for dental enamel

Efetividade do flúor e da escovação e eficácia dos materiais de colagem ionômero de vidro e resina composta na reversão das microporosidades criadas pelo condicionamento ácido no esmalte dentário

The objectives of this clinical study was to evaluate the use of the toothpaste with fluoride and without fluoride and the daily tooth brushing are effective in the reversion of the dental enamel conditioned by acid. Another objective of this clinical study was to evaluate if the positioning of orthodontic accessories with glass ionomer cement helps in the reversion of the dental enamel conditioned by acid, when compared to composed resin. One hundred and twenty teeth were selected with indication of extraction by orthodontic reasons. The 30 volunteers were divided, randomly, in two groups. A group used toothpaste without fluoride and the other with it. The teeth of the sample were shuffled, in each volunteer. The teeth were conditioned by the 37% orthophosphoric acid. One of the conditioned teeth stayed in the mouth and suffered action of the abrasion for the tooth brushing, in another teeth a stainless steel mesh protection was positioned with glass ionomer cement, in another tooth the screen was glued with composed resin, in a fourth tooth (the control) was only conditioned after the extractions, 60 days later. All the teeth were appraised through DIAGNOdent, MEVA and EDS. In the obtained data it was possible to observe that there were not statistic significant differences in any comparison, even in the group that did not have access to the fluoride in the toothpaste as in the other that had. According with the used methodology, it was possible to observe too that there was not statistic significant differences in any comparison, even in the group that had the stainless steel mesh positioned with glass ionomer cement as in the group that the stainless steel mesh was positioned with composed resin. However, it was observed that there was an improvement in the topography of the enamel in all the teeth. The accomplishment of this study was facilitated due to the participation of the researchers' of the health area (dentistry), materials engineer, physics and chemistry. The researchers were originating from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and of the University of Queensland, in Australia. This interdisciplinary group was decisive in the accomplishment of the study. It can be concluded that the enamel tends to return to its initial aspect, even if the patient does not have access to fluoride. That is probably due the action of the abrasion for the tooth brushing and mastication. In spite of it not being significant, it is suggested that the conditioned enamel was more resistant to the abrasion in the group that had access to fluoride. It was also possible to conclude that the fluoride liberated by the glass ionomer was not enough to provide a significant difference in the enamel conditioned by the acid, when compared with the composed resin, even in the group that did not use fluoride in the toothpaste as in the group that used

O Evangelho segundo a Pastoral da Criança :por uma pedagogia da sobrevivência

This work aims to analyze social and educational actions at Pastoral da Criança, using education as a survival tool. This was done at Parque dos Coqueiros, a neighborhood in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The methodology for data collection was composed of comprehensive interview (Jean Kaufmann), participant observation (Robert Bogdan) and documental analysis (Le Goff); all os which bring reflections related to concepts such as strategies, tatics and know how (Michel de Certeau), configuration (Nobert Elias), and control technology (Michel de Foucault), care ethics (Leonardo Boff) and etno-theories (Natália Ramos). Pastoral da Criança is a social action organism that belongs to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, originated at Florestópolis, Londrina (Paraná), in the year of 1983. These actions have been an expression of a new logic of actions of the Catholic Church. It values the participation of laymen in the activities of the Pastoral. Thus, the parish is seen as a nucleus that irradiates the Church s Social Doctrine. At Rio Grande do Norte this institution has guided poverty stricken families on issues related to children s health as well as working with laymen for volunteer work. This is considered devotion, that is firmed by an individual and group mystique. The social and educational actions are done in three axes: 1) Monthly home visits, where there is mother-child support; 2) Life Celebration Day, where they weigh children and promote nutritional surveillance; 3) Meeting for Evaluation and Reflection, that aims to articulate community leaders to think about problems attached to the social actions they realize. This action tripod , as it is called by the Pastoral Agents are the types of actions that fundament survival education for poor children ranging from 0 to 6 years old. The families learn to deal with prevention, the essential, the alternative and probabilities of survival tactics due to exclusion matters or even social extermination. The Pastoral da Criança aims to recover childhood emotions in poverty stricken areas. It also has influence in the diminishing of malnutrition and mother and child mortality. This education for survival is the base on the art of teaching and learning of poverty stricken children. It is a social educational action, non assistencialist, but considered a shy action in order to promote mobilization of the communities that are accompanied for the emancipation and change of social conditions