Afinidades em redes sociais e sua relação com disposição em colaborar: análise de caso em uma pequena empresa

O objetivo central desta pesquisa foi identificar se os indivíduos que recebem maior indicação de afinidade pelos membros da rede social em que estão inseridos na empresa são aqueles considerados possuidores de maior participação colaborativa pelos gestores. O estudo foi realizado com 17 funcionários do setor produtivo de uma pequena empresa metalúrgica localizada em São Caetano do Sul - SP. Inicialmente, utilizou-se a técnica de Análise de Redes Sociais (SNA-Social Network Analysis) através do software UCINET 6.0, considerando-se o critério de afinidade. Cada funcionário indicou um nível de afinidade que possui com cada um dos demais participantes da rede. A SNA permite diversas análises das relações entre os componentes da rede úteis para os gestores, e algumas delas são mostradas neste artigo. Porém, o foco principal do trabalho foi primeiramente identificar quais indivíduos (nós da rede) recebem maior número de manifestações de afinidade (variável afinidade). Numa segunda etapa, coletou-se a percepção dos gestores do setor com relação à disposição em colaborar de cada funcionário (variável disposição em colaborar). Finalmente, utilizando o software SPSS 15, realizou-se teste estatístico onde foi verificada a existência de forte correlação entre as duas varáveis. Assim, o estudo indicou que os funcionários que recebem maior número de manifestações de afinidade dos colegas são os que têm maior disposição em colaborar, segundo os gestores da empresa. Esta constatação indica que, se os gestores buscarem formas de estimular a inserção social dos funcionários, provavelmente haverá aumento nos níveis de participação colaborativa.

A Flow-Through Analysis of the US Lodging Industry During the Great Recession

Purpose – The objective of this exploratory study is to investigate the “flow-through” or relationship between top-line measures of hotel operating performance (occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room) and bottom-line measures of profitability (gross operating profit and net operating income), before and during the recent great recession. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses data provided by PKF Hospitality Research for the period from 2007-2009. A total of 714 hotels were analyzed and various top-line and bottom-line profitability changes were computed using both absolute levels and percentages. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between top and bottom line measures, and to derive flow-through ratios. Findings – The results show that average daily rate (ADR) and occupancy are significantly and positively related to gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) and net operating income per available room (NOIPAR). The evidence indicates that ADR, rather than occupancy, appears to be the stronger predictor and better measure of RevPAR growth and bottom-line profitability. The correlations and explained variances are also higher than those reported in prior research. Flow-through ratios range between 1.83 and 1.91 for NOIPAR, and between 1.55 and 1.65 for GOPPAR, across all chain-scales. Research limitations/implications – Limitations of this study include the limited number of years in the study period, limited number of hotels in a competitive set, and self-selection of hotels by the researchers. Practical implications – While ADR and occupancy work in combination to drive profitability, the authors' study shows that ADR is the stronger predictor of profitability. Hotel managers can use flow-through ratios to make financial forecasts, or use them as inputs in valuation models, to forecast future profitability. Originality/value – This paper extends prior research on the relationship between top-line measures and bottom-line profitability and serves to inform lodging owners, operators and asset managers about flow-through ratios, and how these ratios impact hotel profitability.

Adaptation and validation into Portuguese language of the HIV Antibody Testing Attitude Scale

Objective. To culturally adapt and validate a version in European Portuguese language of the HIV Antibody Testing Attitude Scale. Methods. Study conducting a methodological investigation for the adaptation and validation of an attitude measurement instrument. The instrument translation and back-translation were performed. Then, a pre-test was conducted. The study used a sample of 317 subjects from the academic community - students, professors and other professionals - who were contacted in the campus. Ethical principles were observed. Results. Three analyses were conducted using the method of principal component analysis (PCA) with five, four and three factors. A three-factor solution was achieved, which presents 50.82% variance. In the analysis of inter-item correlation, values between -0.018 and 0.749 were observed. Internal consistency shows Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.860 overall and between 0.865 and 0.659 in the three factors. Conclusion. The instrument version shows psychometric properties that allow its use in Portuguese-speaking countries.

The influence of initial teacher training in future teachers' perceptions about mathematics teaching and learning

ICEMST 2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROCEEDING BOOK (pp.865-869). Disponível em http://www.2014.icemst.com/

CIL 3.7237 – Fragments of an inscribed statue base for L. Licinius Lucullus

Squeeze, photographs and notes by A.E. Gordon

Aspectos a considerar en una actualización de la normativa nacional en materia de legionelosis

Objetivo: En España, el vigente Real Decreto 865/2003 establece una serie de medidas destinadas a la prevención de la legionelosis que inciden especialmente en el mantenimiento de las instalaciones de riesgo relacionadas con la proliferación y transmisión de Legionella. Este trabajo pretende revisar determinados aspectos estructurales, de mantenimiento, operacionales y documentales que, desde el punto de vista del Control Oficial, podrían ser incluidos en una futura nueva norma que pudiera ser más efectiva, si cabe, en la prevención y control de la legionelosis en las instalaciones de riesgo. Materiales y Métodos: Se ha utilizado la normativa nacional vigente en materia de la legionelosis, documentación técnica de apoyo, otras normativas de aplicación en países de la Unión Europea, así como servicios en línea de información científica (ISI Web of Knowledge) y bases de datos de bibliografía médica (MEDLINE PubMed). Resultados y Discusión: Tras más de una década en vigor, es necesario que ciertos aspectos técnicos de las instalaciones de riesgo en la transmisión de la legionelosis sean revisados y adecuados al conocimiento actual y a la experiencia adquirida. Entre ellos se encuentran la clasificación de riesgo de las instalaciones, aspectos técnicos y operacionales de los sistemas de agua fría de consumo humano y caliente sanitaria, de los equipos de enfriamiento evaporativos, de los sistemas de agua climatizada y de los procedimientos de toma de muestras. Por último, se discute sobre la inclusión de técnicas analíticas basadas en la Biología Molecular (qPCR) como método oficial en la determinación de Legionella. Conclusiones: Una posible nueva normativa sobre prevención y control de la legionelosis debe contemplar una clasificación de las instalaciones en función del riesgo, que recoja las de reciente aparición que han sido asociadas a brotes. También deberá contar con anexos sobre las medidas preventivas para cada una de ellas, que desarrollen protocolos de toma de muestras específicos y modelos para la evaluación de riesgos adecuados que tengan en cuenta establecimientos especialmente sensibles, debería estudiarse la inclusión de las técnicas analíticas moleculares como métodos oficiales o complementarios a los oficiales. Esta actualización permitirá una actuación más rápida y eficaz ante la identificación de casos y la asociación de los mismos a las instalaciones de riesgo implicadas.

Feasibility study to inform the design of a UK multi-centre randomised controlled trial of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of recurrent cellulitis of the leg

Background: This paper describes the results of a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods: Twenty-nine members of the UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network (UK DCTN) expressed an interest in recruiting for this study. Of these, 17 obtained full ethics and Research & Development (R&D) approval, and 15 successfully recruited patients into the study. A total of 70 participants with a diagnosis of cellulitis of the leg were enrolled over a 5-month period. These participants were largely recruited from medical admissions wards, although some were identified from dermatology, orthopaedic, geriatric and general surgery wards. Data were collected on patient demographics, clinical features and willingness to take part in a future RCT. Results: Despite being a relatively common condition, cellulitis patients were difficult to locate through our network of UK DCTN clinicians. This was largely because patients were rarely seen by dermatologists, and admissions were not co-ordinated centrally. In addition, the impact of the proposed exclusion criteria was high; only 26 (37%) of those enrolled in the study fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria for the subsequent RCT, and were willing to be randomised to treatment. Of the 70 participants identified during the study as having cellulitis of the leg (as confirmed by a dermatologist), only 59 (84%) had all 3 of the defining features of: i) erythema, ii) oedema, and iii) warmth with acute pain/tenderness upon examination. Twenty-two (32%) patients experienced a previous episode of cellulitis within the last 3 years. The median time to recurrence (estimated as the time since the most recent previous attack) was 205 days (95% CI 102 to 308). Service users were generally supportive of the trial, although several expressed concerns about taking antibiotics for lengthy periods, and felt that multiple morbidity/old age would limit entry into a 3-year study. Conclusion: This pilot study has been crucial in highlighting some key issues for the conduct of a future RCT. As a result of these findings, changes have been made to i) the planned recruitment strategy, ii) the proposed inclusion criteria and ii) the definition of cellulitis for use in the future trial.

Adaptivity and a posteriori error control for bifurcation problems I: the Bratu problem

This article is concerned with the numerical detection of bifurcation points of nonlinear partial differential equations as some parameter of interest is varied. In particular, we study in detail the numerical approximation of the Bratu problem, based on exploiting the symmetric version of the interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin finite element method. A framework for a posteriori control of the discretization error in the computed critical parameter value is developed based upon the application of the dual weighted residual (DWR) approach. Numerical experiments are presented to highlight the practical performance of the proposed a posteriori error estimator.

Immigration experience of Latin American working women in Alicante, Spain: an ethnographic study

Objective: to describe the experience of Latin American working women regarding immigration, taking into account the expectations and conditions in which this process takes place. Method: ethnographic qualitative study. Data collection was performed by means of semi-structured interviews with 24 Latin American immigrant women in Spain. The information collected was triangulated through two focal groups. Results: the expectations of migrant women focus on improving family living conditions. Social support is essential for their settling and to perform daily life activities. They declare they have adapted to the settlement country, although they live with stress. They perceive they have greater sexual freedom and power with their partners but keep greater responsibility in childcare, combining that with the role of working woman. Conclusions: migrant women play a key role in the survival of households, they build and create new meanings about being a woman, their understanding of life, their social and couple relationships. Such importance is shaped by their expectations and the conditions in which the migration process takes place, as well as their work integration.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of apixaban compared to low-molecular-weight heparins and vitamin k antagonists for treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism

Objective: Cost-effectiveness analysis of a 6-month treatment of apixaban (10 mg/12h, first 7 days; 5 mg/12h afterwards) for the treatment of the first event of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prevention of recurrences, versus low-molecular-weight heparins/vitamin K antagonists treatment (LMWH/VKA). Material and methods: A lifetime Markov model with 13 health states was used for describing the course of the disease. Efficacy and safety data were obtained from AMPLIFY and AMPLIFY-EXT clinical trials; health outcomes were measured as life years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life years (QALY). The chosen perspective of this analysis has been the Spanish National Health System (NHS). Drugs, management of VTE and complications costs were obtained from several Spanish data sources (€, 2014). A 3% discount rate was applied to health outcomes and costs. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (SA) were performed in order to assess the robustness of the results. Results: Apixaban was the most effective therapy with 7.182 LYG and 5.865 QALY, versus 7.160 LYG and 5.838 QALYs with LMWH/VKA. Furthermore, apixaban had a lower total cost (€13,374.70 vs €13,738.30). Probabilistic SA confirmed dominance of apixaban (led to better health outcomes with less associated costs) in 89% of the simulations. Conclusions: Apixaban 5 mg/12h versus LMWH/VKA was an efficient therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of recurrences of VTE from the NHS perspective.

Bioethics, culture and infanticide in brazilian indigenous communities : the Zuruahá case

O artigo analisa a prática do infanticídio em comunidades indígenas brasileiras. Tomando como referência um caso específico envolvendo duas crianças do povo Zuruahá, focaliza o tema sob uma abordagem mais abrangente e discute como o infanticídio é interpretado em outros povos indígenas. Foram considerados, na discussão, os debates ocorridos durante a Audiência Pública realizada no Congresso Nacional Brasileiro, em dezembro de 2005, que analisou o tema, além de revisão bibliográfica. Diante dos posicionamentos assumidos naquela audiência, procurou-se identificar os problemas éticos e os dilemas morais, contextualizando-os e analisando-os à luz do respeito ao pluralismo cultural. A fim de contribuir com o debate, os autores analisam as possibilidades de intervenção nas práticas tradicionais de infanticídio, recusando qualquer opção que não esteja ancorada numa atitude de profundo respeito pela cultura de outros povos ou que não apresente condição de dialogar com indivíduos ou grupos com diferentes moralidades. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

Automated morphometry provides accurate and reproducible virtual staging of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

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