Kinetics of solute leachate from imbibing Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood) seeds

The electrical conductivity of leachates from imbibing seeds has been used as a vigor test for several species. The adaptation of this methodology to different species requires knowledge on the leaching kinetics of electrolytes. For Brazilwood seeds, the classic method was not satisfactory and rapid tests are essential because they have low storage capacity at room temperature. Leaching kinetics during seed imbibition is a function of physiological quality, presence or absence of seed coat, imbibing temperature and the initial moisture content of seed. In this study, the electrolyte leaching rate of six different categories of seeds, from two regions, was evaluated in seeds with and without seed coat and incubated with different moisture contents and at different temperatures. The results showed that the electrolyte leaching rate in Brazilwood seeds is independent of the physiological quality, the presence or absence of seed coat and imbibition temperature, but these factors changed the total amount of electrolytes leached. The leaching rate increased in the first few minutes of imbibition, suggesting that the adjustment of the methodology must consider the reduction in imbibition time, reduction in temperature, use of a controlled and slower pre-imbibition, and replacement of the imbibition solution after the first few minutes.

On universal central extensions of Hom-Leibniz algebras

In the category of Hom-Leibniz algebras we introduce the notion of Hom-corepresentation as adequate coefficients to construct the chain complex from which we compute the Leibniz homology of Hom-Leibniz algebras. We study universal central extensions of Hom-Leibniz algebras and generalize some classical results, nevertheless it is necessary to introduce new notions of ��-central extension, universal ��-central extension and ��-perfect Hom-Leibniz algebra due to the fact that the composition of two central extensions of Hom-Leibniz algebras is not central. We also provide the recognition criteria for these kind of universal central extensions. We prove that an ��-perfect Hom-Lie algebra admits a universal ��-central extension in the categories of Hom-Lie and Hom-Leibniz algebras and we obtain the relationships between both of them. In case �� = Id we recover the corresponding results on universal central extensions of Leibniz algebras.

Residents��� perspectives on tourism impacts of portuguese world heritage historic centers: Angra do Hero��smo and ��vora

The aim of this study is twofold. First, the study analyzes local community perspectives of the importance of the World Heritage Site (WHS) classification of the historic centers of Angra do Hero��smo and ��vora. Second, the study analyzes local residents��� perceived tourism impacts on the municipalities of Angra do Hero��smo and ��vora. The methodology comprises quantitative research based on a self-administered survey applied to convenience samples of local residents of the two Portuguese municipalities in 2014. The main results reveal that local residents have a strongly positive perception of the WHS designation in both municipalities. With regard to the perceived tourism impacts, residents from Angra do Hero��smo have a stronger agreement about the impacts of tourism on their city than the residents of ��vora, except for the negative social and cultural impacts. The comparison of the mean scores of these impacts across residents that live near and far from the historic centers reveals that the most valued and least valued impacts in the three categories of impacts (economic, social and cultural, and environmental) are common to all groups of residents. Nevertheless, residents living in or near the historic center of Angra do Hero��smo have higher means in the majority of tourism impacts (in all categories), with only one negative impact to concern the majority of respondents. Among the residents from ��vora, residents living in or near the historic center have higher means in the majority of economic impacts but lower means in almost social and cultural impacts. With regard to the environmental impacts, residents living in or near the historic center have higher means scores in the positive impacts and lower means scores in the negative environmental impacts.

Funcionamento cognitivo em idosos

O aumento da popula����o idosa apresenta-se como um desafio quer para os profissionais, quer para as institui����es, no que concerne ao entendimento dos seus problemas e limita����es e disponibiliza����o de respostas adaptadas. Este �� um estudo explorat��rio descritivo e inferencial que tem como objetivo analisar o funcionamento cognitivo, nomeadamente as fun����es executivas de 62 idosos institucionalizados tendo em conta vari��veis sociodemogr��ficas e a participa����o em atividades de estimula����o cognitiva e o uso do computador. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Question��rio Socidemogr��fico e Cl��nico, Mini Mental State Examination , Escala de Depress��o Geri��trica, Trail Making Test, Stroop e Wisconsin de Classifica����o de Cartas -vers��o computorizada. Os resultados mostram que nas vari��veis WCST Categorias Completas e WCST N�� de Erros, os grupos ���participa em atividades de estimula����o cognitiva��� e o que ���participa em atividade de estimula����o cognitiva e usa o computador/internet���, apresentam melhor resultados respeitantes ��s vari��veis fun����es executivas, em compara����o com o grupo de idosos que n��o participa em atividades. Por outro lado na vari��vel ��ndice B:A os resultados s��o inversamente proporcionais. Quanto ��s vari��veis sociodemogr��ficas sexo e escolaridade, n��o s��o verificadas diferen��as entre grupos, o mesmo n��o acontece com a vari��vel idade relativamente �� vari��vel WCST N�� Erros, onde idosos mais jovens apresentam pior desempenho que idosos mais velhos.

As expetativas das m��es face �� inclus��o de crian��as com Trissomia 21 no primeiro ano do ensino b��sico nas escolas da Regi��o Aut��noma da Madeira

Partindo da an��lise do conceito de inclus��o de crian��as com S��ndrome de Down no primeiro ano do ensino b��sico nas escolas da Regi��o Aut��noma da Madeira, ap��s a interven����o da Equipa de Interven����o Precoce, fazendo refer��ncia ��s expetativas das m��es, este estudo aborda os principais fatores que poder��o influenciar esta tem��tica. Tem como objetivos analisar as expetativas das m��es sobre o processo inclusivo de crian��as com Trissomia 21 na transi����o do pr��-escolar para o 1.�� ciclo e compreender em que medida a Interven����o Precoce contribui para a exist��ncia de expetativas positivas ou negativas face �� inclus��o dos seus filhos. Ao mesmo tempo procura constatar-se quais as principais preocupa����es em rela����o �� entrada dos seus filhos no primeiro ciclo. Este trabalho assenta numa abordagem qualitativa: os dados foram recolhidos atrav��s da realiza����o de sete entrevistas a m��es de crian��as com Trissomia 21. Para a an��lise de informa����o recolhida, utilizou-se a t��cnica de an��lise de conte��do com categorias definidas �� posteriori. Concluiu-se que as m��es t��m expetativas positivas em rela����o �� inclus��o dos seus filhos tendo, no entanto, expetativas negativas em rela����o aos servi��os prestados pelas equipas de Interven����o Precoce no que se refere �� adequa����o de servi��os, nomeadamente, o tempo destinado ao apoio da Terapia da Fala que foi considerado insuficiente pela maioria das m��es. Relativamente �� entrada no primeiro ciclo, as principais preocupa����es prendem-se com a comunica����o oral que o(a) seu (sua) filho(a) ir�� estabelecer com os professores e colegas, com a eventual falta de sensibiliza����o dos docentes face �� problem��tica da T21 e, no que se refere �� aprendizagem, as maiores preocupa����es passam pelo acompanhamento do ritmo de trabalho dos colegas e com a capacidade, ou n��o, de ler e escrever.

SOCIAL BUSINESS DILEMMAS IN BRAZIL: REDE ASTACASE

ABSTRACTSocial businesses seek financial, social and even environmental results. Academic knowledge on how such organizations operate, however, has emerged more recently. This article sought to investigate qualitatively the main tensions and dilemmas occurring throughout the history of Rede Asta, a pioneer social business in direct catalog sales of artisanal products in Brazil. Results indicate the Rede Asta managers have experienced tensions and dilemmas in three of the four categories identified by Smith, Gonin, and Besharov (2013): social and financial performance, organizational aspects and learning. One of the dilemmas involves organizational aspects and learning, since Asta achieves feasibility with two organizations: a nonprofit association and a for-profit corporation. On perceptions of belonging, stakeholders declared they felt they were a part of the organization’s social and environmental goals; some even as activists.

DETERMINANTS OF THE SUCCESS OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL BRANDS IN LATIN AMERICA

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to address the issue of the implementation of global and local brands in Latin America by drawing on contingency theory to develop and test hypotheses relating to how product category characteristics affect the success of global and local brands in the region. Hypotheses are tested using data obtained from top brands rankings reported in five Latin American markets (Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean and Central America, Chile and Mexico). The study design considers estimating a logistic regression on a binomial dependent variable measuring whether 475 top brands are global or local brands, with product category characteristics as independent variables. Results reveal that product categories related to subscriptions, local tastes, high-tech, and global citizenship do have an impact on the success of global and local brands in Latin America.

Accountability and co-production of information and control: social observatories and their relationship with government agencies

Abstract:Through the development of a proposal to categorize accountability into four stages - classical, cross-sectional, systemic, and diffused -, this article aims to identify characteristics of co-production of information and socio-political control of public administration in the work of Brazilian social observatories in relationship with government control agencies. The study analyses data from 20 social observatories and, particularly, three experiences of co-production of information and control, based on a systemic perspective on accountability and a model with four categories: Political and cultural; valuing; systemic-organizational, and production. The conclusions summarize characteristics of these practices, specific phases in the accountability processes, as well as the potentialities and challenges of co-production of information and control, which not only influences, but it is also influenced by the accountability system.

Sistema de apoio �� decis��o espacial para an��lise do impacte ambiental da dispers��o de poluentes atmosf��ricos

Neste artigo e�� apresentado um Sistema de Apoio a�� Decisa��o Espacial (SADE) onde os decisores podem facilmente definir diferentes tipos de problemas espaciais recorrendo a diferentes categorias de objetos, pre��-definidas ou a definir, associando- lhes caracteri��sticas com ou sem depende��ncia espacial, e indicando formas de interfere��ncia (impactos) entre essas caracte- ri��sticas/propriedades. A ana��lise espacial para determinac��a��o ou avaliac��a��o de configurac��o��es alternativas para a localizac��a��o de diferentes tipos de ocorre��ncias espaciais sera�� feita atrave��s da utilizac��a��o interativa do SADE de acordo com conjuntos de regras intri��nsecas aos va��rios elementos gra��ficos (objetos, categorias, caracteri��sticas, impactos) utilizados na definic��a��o dos problemas. O teste a�� generalidade representativa e anali��tica do SADE proposto e�� efectuado recorrendo a um problema concreto, suficientemente especi��fico e complexo, relativo a�� aplicac��a��o de modelos gaussianos para o estudo da dispersa��o atmosfe��rica de eventuais poluentes resultantes do tratamento de resi��duos so��lidos. A regia��o em estudo esta�� limitada, neste exemplo, ao munici��pio de Coimbra, Portugal. Para este munici��pio esta��o acessi��veis, e sa��o utilizados, os dados demogra��ficos ao ni��vel da secc��a��o de voto (censos oficiais) e, como tal, e�� possi��vel a realizac��a��o de um estudo reali��stico do impacto com populac��o��es humanas.

Seguran��a alimentar nos refeit��rios de uma universidade portuguesa : aplica����o da teoria do comportamento planeado

A Organiza����o Mundial de Sa��de estima que nos pa��ses mais industrializados uma em cada tr��s pessoas sofra, por ano, de uma doen��a de origem alimentar. De acordo com os dados da Ag��ncia Europeia para a Seguran��a Alimentar foram relatados pelos 27 Estados Membros da Uni��o Europeia, no ano 2012, um total de 5.363 surtos de origem alimentar, assistindo-se a uma preval��ncia do setor da restaura����o, como o local de maior ocorr��ncia dos surtos de doen��as de origem alimentar. Para o mesmo ano, Portugal reportou 7 surtos de origem alimentar, envolvendo 135 pessoas com 42 hospitaliza����es. Neste contexto, a aplica����o de boas pr��ticas de higiene, nomeadamente no setor da restaura����o, �� essencial para proteger o consumidor das doen��as de origem alimentar. Neste estudo, pretendeu-se identificar os constructos do modelo da Teoria do Comportamento Planeado (Theory of Planned Behaviour ��� TPB, segundo a terminologia anglo-sax��nica), de Icek Ajzen, que melhor explicam a inten����o dos operadores de alimentos em adotarem os comportamentos de higiene, a saber: i) utiliza����o de luvas e touca de prote����o de cabelos, e ii) remo����o de adornos pessoais, durante a manipula����o de alimentos. Para o efeito, foi aplicado um question��rio tendo por base a Teoria do Comportamento Planeado, a uma amostra de cento e vinte e tr��s operadores dos v��rios refeit��rios de uma universidade portuguesa, na sua grande maioria do sexo feminino (91,1%) e que manipulam alimentos numa base di��ria, recorrendo-se primeiramente a uma fase preliminar de estudo qualitativo, ou pr��-inqu��rito, para melhor selecionar os temas essenciais e as principais categorias a considerar na constru����o deste inqu��rito. Os inqu��ritos foram tratados estatisticamente recorrendo-se �� estat��stica descritiva, �� an��lise fatorial e avalia����o da consist��ncia interna dos fatores resultantes, seguido da aplica����o de regress��o linear e metodologia de an��lise de trajet��rias (path modeling) com vista �� valida����o do TPB. Os resultados obtidos apontam para o fato de a Atitude ser o melhor preditor da Inten����o em adotar os comportamentos em estudo. Verificou-se tamb��m que a motiva����o de cumprir resulta da press��o exercida pelos superiores hier��rquicos ou colegas, influenciando positivamente a inten����o, na medida em que as cren��as normativas assumiram-se como sendo o segundo preditor que melhor previu a inten����o.

Qualified intervention/qualifying formation

An education promoting scientific literacy (SL) that prepares the citizens to a responsible citizenship has persisted as an argument across discussions on curricula design. The ubiquity of science and technology on contemporary societies and the ideological requirement of informed democratic participation led to the identification of relevant categories that drive curriculum reforms towards a humanistic approach of school science. The category ���Science as culture��� acquires in the current work a major importance: it enlightens the meaning of scientific literacy. Looking closely to the French term, culture scientifique et tecnologique, turns science simultaneously into a cultural object and product that can be both received and worked at different levels and within several approaches by the individuals and the communities. On the other hand, nonformal and informal education spaces gain greater importance. Together with the formal school environment these spaces allow for an enrichment and diversification of learning experiences. Examples of nonformal spaces where animators can develop their work may be science museums or botanical gardens; television and internet can be regarded as informal education spaces. Due to the above mentioned impossibility of setting apart the individual or community-based experiences from Science and Technology (S&T), the work in nonformal and informal spaces sets an additional challenge to the preparation of socio-cultural animators. Socio-scientific issues take, at times, heavily relevance within the communities. Pollution, high tension lines, spreading of diseases, food contamination or natural resources conservation are among the socio-scientific issues that often call upon arguments and emotions. In the context of qualifying programmes on socio-cultural animation (social education and community development) within European Higher Education Area (EHEA) the present study describes the Portuguese framework. The comparison of programmes within Portugal aims to contribute to the discussion on the curriculum design for a socio-cultural animator degree (1st cycle of Bologna process). In particular, this study intends to assess how the formation given complies with enabling animators to work, within multiple scenarios, with communities in situations of socio-scientific relevance. A set of themes, issues and both current and potential fields of action, not described or insufficiently described in literature, is identified and analysed in the perspective of a qualified intervention of animators. One of these examples is thoroughly discussed. Finally, suggestions are made about curriculum reforms in order, if possible, to strongly link the desired qualified intervention with a qualifying formation.

Effectiveness of online corporate collaborative teams

With this article we intend to contribute to the understanding of what can make Online Collaborative Teams (OCT) effective. This is done by identifying what can be considered best practices for individual team members, for leaders of OCT, and for the organizations that the teams are a part of. Best practices in these categories were identified from the existing literature related to online teams and collaborative work literature.

SIAT:sistema de informa����es e alertas de tr��nsito

A evolu����o tecnol��gica e das sociedades permitiu que, hoje em dia, uma boa parte da popula����o tenha acesso a dispositivos m��veis com funcionalidades avan��adas. Com este tipo de dispositivos, temos acesso a in��meras fontes de informa����o em tempo-real, mas esta caracter��stica ainda n��o ��, hoje em dia, aproveitada na sua totalidade. Este projecto tenta tirar partido desta realidade para, utilizando os diversos dispositivos m��veis, criar uma rede de troca de informa����es de tr��nsito. O utilizador apenas necessita de servir-se do seu dispositivo m��vel para, automaticamente, obter as mais recentes informa����es de tr��nsito enquanto, paralelamente, partilha com os outros utilizadores a sua informa����o. Apesar de existirem outras alternativas no mercado, com solu����es que permitem usufruir do mesmo tipo de funcionalidades, nenhuma utiliza este tipo de dispositivos (GPS���s convencionais, por exemplo). Um dos requisitos necess��rio na implementa����o deste projecto �� uma solu����o de geocoding. Ap��s terem sido testadas v��rias solu����es, nenhuma cumpria, na totalidade, os requisitos deste projecto, o que originou o desenvolvimento de uma nova solu����o que cumpre esses requisitos. A solu����o ��, toda ela, muito modular, formada por v��rios componentes, cada um com responsabilidades bem identificadas. A arquitectura desta solu����o baseia-se nos padr��es de desenvolvimento de uma Service Oriented Architecture. Todos os componentes disponibilizam as suas opera����es atrav��s de web services, e a sua descoberta recorre ao protocolo WS-Discovery. Estes v��rios componentes podem ser divididos em duas categorias: os do n��cleo, respons��veis por criar e oferecer as funcionalidades requisitadas neste projecto e os m��dulos externos, nos quais se incluem as aplica����es que apresentam as funcionalidades ao utilizador. Foram criadas duas formas de consumir a informa����o oferecida pelo servi��o SIAT: a aplica����o m��vel e um website. No ��mbito dos dispositivos m��veis, foi desenvolvida uma aplica����o para o sistema operativo Windows Phone 7.

Patterns of induced abortion in urban area of Southeastern region, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To assess the behavior of induced abortion as a function of certain demographic variables, for the population of fertile women (15 to 49 years old) residing in the Vila Madalena subdistrict S. Paulo (Brazil). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two population samples were selected. One sample, with 996 women, investigated the incidence of induced abortions during 1987, using the RRT. In the other, involving 1,004 women, the same information was detected through a conventional approach. In both samples, the induced abortion occurring during the reproductive life was recorded in direct fashion. Though this analysis refers only to information about past abortions, that is by 2,000 women -, it should be noted that it is exactly the RRT that lends credibility to the found or results given results. CONCLUSION: The analysis furnishes evidence showing that single women, young women between the ages of 15 and 19, women who have not had live births, women who have a number of children below the expected ideal, women who use contraceptive methods (especially inefficient ones) and women who do not have any restrictions as to abortion constitute the categories most inclined to resort to induced abortion. This grouping suggests the existence of interrelationships between categories, that is, each of these categories is probably composed primarily of the same women, those who are at the beginning of their reproductive lives.

Caracteriza����o da amostra portuguesa da ��rea da sa��de na Web of Science

Introdu����o: A produ����o e o uso da literatura cient��fica s��o analisados, quantificados e interpretados pela bibliometria, ci��ncia utilizada para estudos m��tricos da informa����o publicada e que estuda as quest��es relacionadas com a comunica����o cient��fica e a atividade cient��fica. Objetivo: O estudo apresentado �� uma an��lise bibliom��trica da produ����o cient��fica portuguesa da ��rea da sa��de indexada na Web of Science. M��todos: Analisa-se a produ����o referente ao per��odo entre 1992 e final de 2011. A an��lise da produ����o cient��fica centrou-se nas seguintes vari��veis: categorias de classifica����o da Web of Science, tipologia de documentos indexados, t��tulos de revistas, distribui����o por anos de publica����o, afilia����o institucional, idiomas, pa��ses de origem dos autores com quem foram estabelecidas rela����es de parceria cient��fica e quem facultou os financiamentos �� investiga����o cient��fica. Resultados: Foram contabilizados 34.208 trabalhos. Destes, o artigo �� a forma mais utilizada pelos autores portugueses para a divulga����o dos resultados de investiga����o (58,5%). A d��cada mais recente �� contemplada com 75,4% dos registos. A maioria da produ����o com visibilidade internacional �� oriunda de universidades e de centros de investiga����o hospitalar; institutos, laborat��rios da ind��stria farmac��utica e universidades estrangeiras t��m valores residuais. A colabora����o com outros investigadores internacionais destaca-se no caso da Europa (73,2%). O financiamento da investiga����o cient��fica �� suportado basicamente pela Funda����o para a Ci��ncia e Tecnologia (59,5%), seguida da Comiss��o Europeia (17,8%). O ingl��s �� o idioma mais usado para a divulga����o dos resultados de investiga����o nacional na ��rea da sa��de (97,8%). Conclus��es: O uso de bases de dados ou de plataformas cient��ficas para estudos bibliom��tricos �� um processo moroso e dif��cil. O total de trabalhos em an��lise foi sempre o mesmo mas, em algumas vari��veis, os valores n��o coincidem, quer porque alguns dos registos foram classificados em mais do que uma categoria tem��tica, quer pelos trabalhos multidisciplinares oriundos das mesmas institui����es, quer pelos trabalhos de colabora����o internacional. Tamb��m no presente estudo os artigos s��o o ve��culo privilegiado para a divulga����o dos resultados cient��ficos. Apontamento final: deve encorajar-se a utiliza����o de outras plataformas cient��ficas e de outras bases de dados para uma mais completa recupera����o da produ����o cient��fica nacional na ��rea da sa��de. Introduction: The production and the use of the scientific literature are analyzed, quantified and interpreted by bibliometry. Bibliometry is the science used in published information metric studies and studies the questions of scientific communication and the scientific production. Aim of the study: This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the indexed Web of Science Portuguese scientific production in the health field. Methods: We analyzed the production from 1992 to the end of 2011. This analysis focused in several variables: general categories areas of Web of Science, indexed document types, source titles, publication years, group/corporate authors, languages, identification of the countries with scientific partnerships and identification of the funding agencies for scientific research. Results: We found 34.208 works. From this, the article is the most common channel for disseminating the research results (58.5%). The most recent decade has 75.4% of the total of records. Most of the production with international visibility becomes from universities and hospital research centers; institutes, pharmaceutical labs or foreign universities have residual values. Collaborating with other international researchers is very common, particularly with Europe (73.2%). In general, the Funda����o para a Ci��ncia e Tecnologia supports the scientific research (59.5%), followed by the European Commission (17.8%). The language commonly used for disseminating the research results in health is the English (97.8%). Conclusions: Using databases or scientific platforms for bibliometric studies is a hard and difficult process. The total of works analyzed was always the same but, with some variables, the numbers does not coincide: a) some of the registries were classified in several categories; b) some of the multidisciplinary works were from the same institution; c) the large number of international partnership. In this study, articles are the privileged way for disseminating the scientific results. A last thought: the use of other scientific platforms and databases should be encouraged for a more complete retrieval of the national research production in health.