Understanding older people’s experiences of home care through the capability approach

The core concepts of CA In the theoretical framework of CA, well-being is constituted by a person’s unique way of functioning and capabilities. This means that a person's well-being is personal and involves freedom of choice which in turn means they have a number of options. Although many people may have the same resources, it is of importance to study how these resources are converted into how they function. Thus, wellbeing is about the person's freedom to achieve in general and the capabilities to function in particular (Sen, 1995). Strength of the capability approach The capability approach is a useful tool for matching objective evaluations with subjective metrics. Furthermore, although one’s individual abilities are in focus, contextual factors, and subjective perceptions and experiences, are taken into consideration. Critiques against the CA The capability approach has been criticized for being too individual-centered and not taking sufficient account to social structures in society. It is difficult to know what a person would choose to do if other options were available. Therefore, to operationalize abilities involves uncertainties.

The importance of body-mass exponent optimization for evaluation of performance capability in cross-country skiing

Introduction Performance in cross-country skiing is influenced by the skier’s ability to continuously produce propelling forces and force magnitude in relation to the net external forces. A surrogate indicator of the “power supply” in cross-country skiing would be a physiological variable that reflects an important performance-related capability, whereas the body mass itself is an indicator of the “power demand” experienced by the skier. To adequately evaluate an elite skier’s performance capability, it is essential to establish the optimal ratio between the physiological variable and body mass. The overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to investigate the importance of body-mass exponent optimization for the evaluation of performance capability in cross-country skiing. Methods In total, 83 elite cross-country skiers (56 men and 27 women) volunteered to participate in the four studies. The physiological variables of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and oxygen uptake corresponding to a blood-lactate concentration of 4 mmol∙l-1 (V̇O2obla) were determined while treadmill roller skiing using the diagonal-stride technique; mean oxygen uptake (V̇O2dp) and upper-body power output (Ẇ) were determined during double-poling tests using a ski-ergometer. Competitive performance data for elite male skiers were collected from two 15-km classical-technique skiing competitions and a 1.25-km sprint prologue; additionally, a 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trial using the double-poling technique was used as an indicator of upper-body performance capability among elite male and female junior skiers. Power-function modelling was used to explain the race and time-trial speeds based on the physiological variables and body mass. Results The optimal V̇O2max-to-mass ratios to explain 15-km race speed were V̇O2max divided by body mass raised to the 0.48 and 0.53 power, and these models explained 68% and 69% of the variance in mean skiing speed, respectively; moreover, the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the body-mass exponents did not include either 0 or 1. For the modelling of race speed in the sprint prologue, body mass failed to contribute to the models based on V̇O2max, V̇O2obla, and V̇O2dp. The upper-body power output-to-body mass ratio that optimally explained time-trial speed was Ẇ ∙ m-0.57 and the model explained 63% of the variance in speed. Conclusions The results in this thesis suggest that V̇O2max divided by the square root of body mass should be used as an indicator of performance in 15-km classical-technique races among elite male skiers rather than the absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression. To optimally explain an elite male skier’s performance capability in sprint prologues, power-function models based on oxygen-uptake variables expressed absolutely are recommended. Moreover, to evaluate elite junior skiers’ performance capabilities in 2-km double-poling roller-skiing time trials, it is recommended that Ẇ divided by the square root of body mass should be used rather than absolute or simple ratio-standard scaled expression of power output.

Capability outcomes from educational and ICT capability inputs : an analysis of ICT use in informal education in Kenya

In the field of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) ICT use in education is well studied. Education is often seen as a pre-requisite for development and ICTs are believed to aid in education, e.g. to make it more accessible and to increase its quality. In this paper we study the access and use of ICT in a study circle (SC) education program in the south coast of Kenya. The study is qualitative reporting results based on interviews and observations with SC participants, government officers and SC coordinators and teachers. The study builds on the capability approach perspective of development where individuals’ opportunities and ability to live a life that they value are focused. The aim of the study is to investigate the capability outcomes enabled through the capability inputs access and use of ICT in education as well as the factors that enabled and/or restricted the outcomes. Findings show that many opportunities have been enabled such as an increase in the ability to generate an income, learning benefits, community development and basic human development (e.g. literacy and self-confidence). However, conversion factors such as a poorly developed infrastructure and poor IT literacy prevent many of the individuals from taking full advantage of the ICT and the opportunities it enables. 

Um modelo de implementação do capability maturity model integration nível 2

Apesar de o CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) prover uma cobertura mais detalhada do ciclo de vida dos produtos que o uso isolado de outros processos de melhoria, ainda assim não pode ser visto como uma metodologia pronta para ser utilizada pelas organizações. Cada organização deve mapear as áreas de processo do nível CMMI desejado (caso a opção seja a representação por estágios, como veremos adiante) à sua metodologia, aos seus métodos e técnicas de desenvolvimento de produtos e sistemas, levando também em consideração os objetivos de negócio da organização. Tanto o CMMI como as demais normas e modelos de qualidade, dizem “o que” e não “como” fazer. Determinar este “como” é um trabalho adicional bastante grande que as organizações devem realizar quando da adoção destas normas. Para isto, normalmente as organizações buscam no mercado empresas de consultoria que possuem experiência na área. Essas consultorias são bastante indicadas porque aumentam significativamente a qualidade e a velocidade dos resultados. Este trabalho pretende facilitar as organizações interessadas na implementação de um modelo de qualidade, fornecendo descrições sobre alguns dos modelos de qualidade mais utilizados atualmente, bem como modelos de processos, guias e formulários que podem ser utilizados diretamente ou como uma base para a implementação do modelo desejado. Embora se aplique à implementação de qualquer modelo de qualidade, mais especificamente, este trabalho destina-se a auxiliar organizações que visem implementar o modelo CMMI nível 2 (doravante usaremos também a abreviação CMMI-N2). Para tanto, descreve de forma mais detalhada este modelo e fornece um caminho para a implementação do mesmo, incluindo a descrição de um processo mínimo de desenvolvimento de software, com base no RUP (Rational Unified Process) e o uso de um modelo de ciclo de vida de melhoria de processos, o IDEAL. Neste trabalho, propõe-se que seja utilizado o modelo IDEAL para a implementação do modelo de qualidade devido ao fato de este modelo ter sido concebido originalmente como um modelo de ciclo de vida para melhoria de processos de software com base no SW-CMM (Capability Maturity Model for Software). Associado a esse modelo, é sugerido que se utilize algumas técnicas e processos de gerência de projetos para cada área de processo do CMMI-N2, visando implantar cada área de processo através de um projeto. Para a implementação são propostos guias, modelos (formulários) de implementação e uma tabela que mapeia todas as áreas de processo do CMMI-N2, seus objetivos, práticas, produtos de trabalho e as ferramentas associadas.

Does absorptive capacity affect project performance? A study based on project management practices, organization learning, and knowledge

The literature has emphasized that absorptive capacity (AC) leads to performance, but in projects its influences still unclear. Additionally, the project success is not well understood by the literature, and AC can be an important mechanism to explain it. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of absorptive capacity on project performance in the construction industry of São Paulo State. We study this influence through potential and realized absorptive capacity proposed by Zahra and George (2002). For achieving this goal, we use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative research is based on 15 interviews with project managers in different sectors to understand the main constructs and support the next quantitative phase. The content analysis was the technique used to analyze those interviews. In quantitative phase through a survey questionnaire, we collected 157 responses in the construction sector with project managers. The confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical linear regression were the techniques used to assess the data. Our findings suggest that the realized absorptive capacity has a positive influence on performance, but potential absorptive capacity and the interactions effect have no influence on performance. Moreover, the planning and monitoring have a positive impact on budget and schedule, and customer satisfaction while risk coping capacity has a positive impact on business success. In academics terms, this research enables a better understanding of the importance of absorptive capacity in the construction industry and it confirms that knowledge application in processes and routines enhances performance. For management, the absorptive capacity enables the improvements of internal capabilities reflected in the increased project management efficiency. Indeed, when a company manages project practices efficiently it enhances business and project performance; however, it needs initially to improve its internal abilities to enrich processes and routines through relevant knowledge.

Reduction capability of soil humic substances from the Rio Negro basin, Brazil, towards Hg(II) studied by a multimethod approach and principal component analysis (PCA)

This paper characterizes humic substances (HS) extracted from soil samples collected in the Rio Negro basin in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, particularly investigating their reduction capabilities towards Hg(II) in order to elucidate potential mercury cycling/volatilization in this environment. For this reason, a multimethod approach was used, consisting of both instrumental methods (elemental analysis, EPR, solid-state NMR, FIA combined with cold-vapor AAS of Hg(0)) and statistical methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and a central composite factorial planning method. The HS under study were divided into groups, complexing and reducing ones, owing to different distribution of their functionalities. The main functionalities (cor)related with reduction of Hg(II) were phenolic, carboxylic and amide groups, while the groups related with complexation of Hg(II) were ethers, hydroxyls, aldehydes and ketones. The HS extracted from floodable regions of the Rio Negro basin presented a greater capacity to retain (to complex, to adsorb physically and/or chemically) Hg(II), while nonfloodable regions showed a greater capacity to reduce Hg(II), indicating that HS extracted from different types of regions contribute in different ways to the biogeochemical mercury cycle in the basin of the mid-Rio Negro, AM, Brazil. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Influence of diet on oxidative DNA damage, uracil misincorporation and DNA repair capability

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Interactions in the Agrobacterium-soybean system and capability of some Brazilian soybean cultivars to produce somatic embryos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

3-BOSON SYSTEM WITH ABSORPTIVE SHORT-RANGE POTENTIAL

We study the properties of the three-boson system with absorption, through a short range interaction in the limit where the range reduces to zero. We derive an analytic expression for the three-boson width that relates it to the real part of the three-boson energy, two-boson binding energy and decay constant. One of the characteristics of this expression is that, in this limit, the ratio between the width and the three-boson binding energy is proportional to the range.

Ultrastructural alterations in colon absorptive cells of alloxan-induced diabetic rats submitted to long-term physical training

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Studies of absorptive interaction between Aspergillus niger and the reactive azo dye Procion Blue MX-G

Aspergillus niger on paramorphogenic form showed to be efficient adsorbent to reactive azo dye Procion Blue MX-G, where it has obtained rates of colour removal above 99% in acid pH, at 120 minutes of equilibrium time. Temperature did not exert expressive influence in the process, and the applicability of Freundlich's, isotherm suggest the occurrence of various molecules layers of adsorbed dye on the substratum surface.

Influence of the supply of reactive power in the calculation of the transfer capability

This paper presents some initial concepts for including reactive power in linear methods for computing Available Transfer Capability (ATC). It is proposed an approximation for the reactive power flows computation that uses the exact circle equations for the transmission line complex flow, and then it is determined the ATC using active power distribution factors. The transfer capability can be increased using the sensitivities of flow that show the best group of buses which can have their reactive power injection modified in order to remove the overload in the transmission lines. The results of the ATC computation and of the use of the sensitivities of flow are presented using the Cigré 32-bus system. © 2004 IEEE.

The effectiveness of technical assistance, socio-economic development and the absorptive capacity of competition authorities

Includes bibliography