Advancing towards inclusive social research: visual methods as opportunities for people with severe mental illness to participate in research

This article explores the possibilities offered by visual methods in the move towards inclusive research, reviewing some methodological implications of said research and reflecting on the potential of visual methods to meet these methodological requirements. A study into the impact of work on social inclusion and the social relationships of people suffering from severe mental illness (SMI) serves to illustrate the use of visual methods such as photo elicitation and graphic elicitation in the context of in-depth interviews with the aim of improving the aforementioned target group’s participation in research, participation understood as one of the basic elements of inclusive approaches. On the basis of this study, we reflect on the potential of visual methods to improve the inclusive approach to research and conclude that these methods are open and flexible in awarding participantsa voice, allowingpeople with SMI to express their needs, and therefore adding value to said approach

Filmes de amidos de mandioca modificados para recobrimento e conservação de uvas

In this article, films were produced with six types of cassava's starch mixed with gelatin and plasticized with sorbitol. These films were used in covering of grapes 'Benitaka' (Vitis vinifera L.) as biodegradable packaging. The acetylated starch film showed the best results in solubility, thickness and homogeneity, besides the less water loss the fruit, resulting in better coverage, increasing the shelf life fruits in 12 days. These results demonstrate the great potential of using films in food conservation, adding value to agricultural activity and helping to reduce non-biodegradable plastics in the environment.

Modificação e caracterização do resíduo pó de aciaria elétrica (PAE) para aplicação em reações de redução de cromo (VI)

In this study, electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) was thermally modified at different temperatures under H2 flow or charcoal in order to obtain reduced iron phases (Fe3O4, FeO and Fe0). The formation of these phases was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The tests performed for reducing Cr (VI) using resultant materials obtained after thermal treatment of the EAFD showed excellent results, with PAE600H (EAFD reduced at 600 ºC under H2 flow) decreasing around 100% of the Cr (VI) in only 10 minutes of reaction. These results indicate the possibility of adding value to the residue, obtaining materials that offer great potential for environmental applications.

Key performance indicators for successful metadata governance

Metadata in increasing levels of sophistication has been the most powerful concept used in management of unstructured information ever since the first librarian used the Dewey decimal system for library classifications. It remains to be seen, however, what the best approach is to implementing metadata to manage huge volumes of unstructured information in a large organization. Also, once implemented, how is it possible to track whether it is adding value to the company, and whether the implementation has been successful? Existing literature on metadata seems to either focus too much on technical and quality aspects or describe issues with respect to adoption for general information management initiatives. This research therefore, strives to contribute to these gaps: to give a consolidated framework for striving to understand the value added by implementing metadata. The basic methodology used is that of case study, which incorporates aspects of design science, surveys, and interviews in order to provide a holistic approach to quantitative and qualitative analysis of the case. The research identifies the various approaches to implementing metadata, particularly studying the one followed by the unit of analysis of case study, a large company in the Oil and Gas Sector. Of the three approaches identified, the selected company already follows an approach that appears to be superior. The researcher further explores its shortcomings, and proposes a slightly modified approach that can handle them. The research categorically and thoroughly (in context) identifies the top effectiveness criteria, and corresponding key performance indicators(KPIs) that can be measured to understand the level of advancement of the metadata management initiative in the company. In an effort to contrast and have a basis of comparison for the findings, the research also includes views from information managers dealing with core structured data stored in ERPs and other databases. In addition, the results include the basic criteria that can be used to evaluate metrics, in order to classify a metric as a KPI.

Chemical constituents and technological functional properties of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) waste flour

Acerola is a fruit that can be consumed in the form of juice and pulp. However, during its processing, a large amount of waste is generated (seed and bagasse). Adding value to these by-products is of great interest, since their use can enrich foods with nutrients and fiber. In this study, we performed phytochemical screening, determined the proximate and mineral composition, bioactive compounds and the technological functional properties of acerola seed flour and acerola bagasse flour. Seeds were dried in a ventilated oven at ± 45 °C and the bagasse was lyophilized. Samples were ground, stored in flasks protected from light. Phytochemical screening revealed metabolites of nutritional and pharmacological interest and no potentially toxic substances in the flours. Seed flour and bagasse flour showed high levels (g 100 g- 1 of dry matter - DM) of soluble fiber: 4.76 and 8.74; insoluble fiber: 75.76 and 28.58, and phenolic compounds: 4.73 and 10.82, respectively. The flours also showed high absorption of water, oil and emulsion stability, presenting potential for inclusion in meat products and bakery products.

Chemical characterization of the flour of peel and seed from two papaya cultivars

Papaya is among the currently most important tropical fruits grown in Brazil and in the world. The fruit is mainly consumed fresh although it offers many industrial products. The processing of this fruit, as well as its fresh consumption, results in large amounts of waste, such as peels and seeds. Papaya consumption is one of the causes of significant loss of food value; therefore, new aspects on the use of its waste as by-products, or in the production of food additives, or even the incorporation of its flour in food have aroused great interest because these are products of high nutritional value, and their use may be economically viable. The objective of this study was to produce and characterize peel and seed flours from two papaya cultivars (Havai and Calimosa) for their chemical constituents focusing on possible use in foods. The proximate and mineral composition, titratable acidity, soluble solids, pH, contents of vitamin C, and phenolic compounds were determined. According to the results obtained, the papaya peel and seed flours had high contents of protein and fiber and therefore can be used as alternative sources of nutrients and can also be added in foods avoiding waste and adding value to the fruit.

Characterization of blueberry fruits (Vaccinium spp.) and derived products

The objectives of this study were to physicochemically characterize and determine the antioxidant activities and anthocyanin contents of organic Rabbiteye blueberries grown in Southern Brazil and its derived products, in order to investigate the utility of food processing wastes as raw materials for developing products with beneficial health properties. The antioxidant capacity of the blueberries was superior to that of other fruits and juices. The pomace exhibited high activity, albeit lower than that of the fruit, while the flour and the dried blueberries lost 66% and 46% of the original antioxidant activity, respectively. The average anthocyanin contents of the fruits were moderate compared to other sources and species of blueberries. The pomace contains a large amount of anthocyanins while the flour and dried blueberries exhibited a 32% and 42% loss in anthocyanin content, respectively. The use of agro-industrial residues, in addition to adding value and minimizing the impact caused by the accumulation in the environment, can be directed toward the development of new products with bioactive properties.

Developing novel one-step processes for obtaining food-grade O/W emulsions from pressurized fluid extracts: processes description, state of the art and perspectives

Abstract In this work, a novel on-line process for production of food-grade emulsions containing oily extracts, i.e. oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, in only one step is presented. This process has been called ESFE, Emulsions from Supercritical Fluid Extraction. With this process, emulsions containing supercritical fluid extracts can be obtained directly from plant materials. The aim in the conception of this process is to propose a new rapid way to obtain emulsions from supercritical fluid extracts. Nowadays the conventional emulsion formulation method is a two-step procedure, i.e. first supercritical fluid extraction for obtaining an extract; secondly emulsion formulation using another device. Other variation of the process was tested and successfully validated originating a new acronymed process: EPFE (Emulsions from Pressurized Fluid Extractions). Both processes exploit the supercritical CO2-essential oils miscibility, in addition, EPFE process exploits the emulsification properties of saponin-rich pressurized aqueous plant extracts. The feasibility of this latter process was demonstrated using Pfaffia glomerata roots as source of saponin-rich extract, water as extracting solvent and clove essential oil, directly extracted using supercritical CO2, as a model dispersed phase. In addition, examples of pressurized fluid-based coupled processes applied for adding value to food bioactive compounds developed in the past five years are reviewed.

Implementación de buenas prácticas logísticas en el marco de seguridad industrial, almacenamiento y gestión del control de inventarios en la empresa Yokomotos

Con este trabajo se pretende generar una implementación de una mejora logística que agregue valor, aumente la eficiencia y mejore los procesos de almacenamiento y distribución, gestión del control de inventarios y seguridad industrial de la empresa YOKOMOTOS. Se realizó un estudio profundo de la situación y los problemas que tiene actualmente la empresa. Todo esto con el fin de dar resultados que diferencien a esta compañía en el mercado de los repuestos para motos, obteniendo mayor prestigio y reconocimiento a nivel latinoamericano. De igual forma se establecieron las posibles soluciones que permitieran mitigar estos problemas, mejorando los procesos en el área de almacenamiento, sistema de inventarios y seguridad industrial. Se realizaron diferentes pruebas piloto para analizar la viabilidad de nuestras soluciones, analizando espacios, tiempos y costos. Por último se implementó la mejor solución la cual se ajustó respondiendo a los requerimientos de la compañía, mejorando así los procesos de almacenamiento y distribución agregándole valor a su cadena.

Disputa territorial por las Islas Dokdo en las relaciones políticas entre Corea del Sur y Japón (2005-2012)

Las relaciones políticas y económicas entre Corea del Sur y Japón pasaban por su mejor momento en los primeros años del siglo XXI, cuando la disputa territorial por las islas Dokdo, un grupo de islotes ubicados en el mar de Japón y que por décadas han simbolizado el fin de la ocupación del país nipón en territorio coreano, causara nuevas y significativas tensionen entre los dos países. Dicho fenómeno, se sugiere fundamental en la comprensión de las nuevas relaciones bilaterales entre los dos actores y se presenta como foco de análisis en la presente monografía. El documento, presenta un análisis descriptivo de la disputa territorial por las Islas y de sus efectos en las relaciones entre los dos países, tanto en los ámbitos político, social y económico.

A importância dos Sistemas Aumentativos e Alternativos da Comunicação (SAAC), como estímulo da linguagem da criança no Jardim de Infância

A presente dissertação foi elaborada com a finalidade de procurar respostas e de atingir uma melhor compreensão sobre a aquisição e o domínio da linguagem da criança, em idade pré-escolar, bem como de aferir a importância de que os Sistemas Aumentativos e Alternativos da Comunicação (SAAC) se revestem enquanto estímulo para a mesma. Este fascínio e interesse por esta temática, foi potenciado pela experiência de ter lidado com uma criança que apresentava dificuldades a esse nível. Senti então a grande/premente necessidade de conhecer a função que a linguagem tem no desenvolvimento da criança, bem como familiarizar-me com ferramentas para desenvolver as aprendizagens, quer no contexto escolar, quer no dia-a-dia. Este trabalho pretende aferir o grau de conhecimento dos Educadores de Infância relativamente aos Sistemas Aumentativos e Alternativos da Linguagem (SAAL), utilizando, inquéritos por questionários como ferramenta de investigação para a obtenção de respostas, usando uma população alvo constituída por Educadores de Infância. A presente Dissertação está intimamente ligada à teoria, dado que esta contribui para a compreensão desta problemática, permitindo produzir ou verificar elementos do conhecimento no âmbito da mesma. Este documento encontra-se estruturado em duas áreas: a correspondente à fundamentação teórica e outra que diz respeito ao enquadramento empírico, onde será descrita a metodologia, feita a apresentação dos resultados e sua discussão, culminando com a conclusão, que apresenta propostas de trabalho futuras. Pretende-se com esta pesquisa e análise, ajudar a melhorar as práticas pedagógicas e a desenvolver precocemente a linguagem das crianças em ambiente de Jardim de Infância, bem como valorizar e tornar conhecidas as funcionalidades dos SAAC, podendo estes funcionarem como estimulantes e promotores de um melhor desenvolvimento da linguagem nas crianças de tenra idade.

The extrapolation problem and how population modeling can help

We argue that population modeling can add value to ecological risk assessment by reducing uncertainty when extrapolating from ecotoxicological observations to relevant ecological effects. We review other methods of extrapolation, ranging from application factors to species sensitivity distributions to suborganismal (biomarker and "-omics'') responses to quantitative structure activity relationships and model ecosystems, drawing attention to the limitations of each. We suggest a simple classification of population models and critically examine each model in an extrapolation context. We conclude that population models have the potential for adding value to ecological risk assessment by incorporating better understanding of the links between individual responses and population size and structure and by incorporating greater levels of ecological complexity. A number of issues, however, need to be addressed before such models are likely to become more widely used. In a science context, these involve challenges in parameterization, questions about appropriate levels of complexity, issues concerning how specific or general the models need to be, and the extent to which interactions through competition and trophic relationships can be easily incorporated.

Stakeholder inclusivity in social and environmental report assurance

Purpose – The purpose of the research was to discover the process of social and environmental report assurance (SERA) and thereby evaluate the benefits, extent of stakeholder inclusivity and/or managerial capture of SERA processes and the dynamics of SERA as it matures. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used semi-structured interviews with 20 accountant and consultant assurors to derive data, which were then coded and analysed, resulting in the identification of four themes. Findings – This paper provides interview evidence on the process of SERA, suggesting that, although there is still managerial capture of SERA, stakeholders are being increasingly included in the process as it matures. SERA is beginning to provide dual-pronged benefits, adding value to management and stakeholders simultaneously. Through the lens of Freirian dialogic theory, it is found that SERA is starting to display some characteristics of a dialogical process, being stakeholder inclusive, demythologising and transformative, with assurors perceiving themselves as a “voice” for stakeholders. Consequently, SERA is becoming an important mechanism for driving forward more stakeholder-inclusive SER, with the SERA process beginning to transform attitudes of management towards their stakeholders through more stakeholder-led SER. However, there remain significant obstacles to dialogic SERA. The paper suggests these could be removed through educative and transformative processes driven by assurors. Originality/value – Previous work on SERA has involved predominantly content-based analysis on assurance statements. However, this paper investigates the details of the SERA process, for the first time using qualitative interview data.

An ethical turn in African mining: voluntary regulation through fair trade

In recent decades there has been an ethical turn in expectations of how African mineral production and trade should be conducted. Good labour conditions, the absence of conflict and mining’s potential for securing economic, social and environmental benefits are being demanded in the jewellery trade. As a consequence the quality of precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones is now being judged on their ethical credentials in addition to their aesthetic and mineral qualities. Mineral production for industrial manufacture, particularly in the electronics industry, is also coming under scrutiny. Adding value through ethics is closely associated with the use of voluntary (non-state) regulation. This includes standards and associated certification and labels, which have been widely adopted by the minerals and metals sector in efforts to ensure improvements in the social and environmental conditions of production and to enable access to the profitable and expanding global ‘ethical market’. In this chapter, we focus on ethical trading schemes that incorporate voluntary regulation, by using artisanal gold mining in Tanzania and the sale of gold through international fair trade markets as an exemplar to consider the development dynamics that emerge from ethical schemes.

Aspectos sócio-econômicos dos códigos de conduta de responsabilidade social (CRS) do setor de gás e petróleo

A presença de uma empresa internacionalmente significa também a disseminação mundial de seu Código de Conduta de Responsabilidade Social (Código de CRS). É portanto necessário um certo controle do conteúdo desses Códigos. As regras e padrões internacionais podem desempenhar este papel. O setor de gás e petróleo causa grande impacto nas comunidades em que as empresas exercem suas atividades. O mesmo se pode afirmar em relação aos seus Códigos de CRS. Este estudo examina, então, duas vertentes distintas mas convergentes. De um lado, o estudo comparativo de como os Códigos de CRS das empresas do setor de gás e petróleo tratam dos aspectos sócio-econômicos. De outro, examina-se a conformidade ou falta de conformidade dos Códigos de CRS com os tratados, convenções, normas e padrões internacionais. Estratégias podem então ser propostas ao setor de gás e petróleo, para a melhoria dos padrões sócio-econômicos de seus Códigos de CRS. Com isso atende-se às necessidades das comunidades envolvidas e, também, cria-se valor para as empresas do setor de gás e petróleo.