A certificação de alimentos orgânicos: influência na decisão de compra do consumidor ecologicamente consciente

O objetivo principal do presente estudo é compreender o processo de decisão de compra de Alimentos Orgânicos do consumidor Ecologicamente Consciente, em particular, o impacto da certificação no referido processo. Pretende-se entender o comportamento do consumidor numa perspetiva de marketing e contribuir para a criação de produtos/serviços sustentáveis, que resultem em fatores críticos de sucesso e em vantagem competitiva para as instituições que os desenvolvam.N/

Changes on surface morphology of corn starch blend films

This study aims at evaluating the influence of enzymatic degradation solution on the surface morphology and thermal properties of a poly(ethylene-vinyl alcohol) copolymer-corn starch thermoplastic blend (SEVA-C), as a function of immersion time. To perform this study, three different batches were assessed using SEVA-C samples of different thicknesses and a fixed weight of 1.6 g, immersed in alpha-amylase (50 u/L) up to 90 days at 37 degrees C. TGA, contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used. Three degradation mechanisms are considered in these systems: namely, mass loss due to plasticizer leaching (glycerol), starch enzymatic cleavage, and synthetic polymer fractions degradation. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the starch fraction and subsequent leaching from the internal bulk structure led to an increase in surface porosity, pore size, roughness, and to the development of small pits throughout the surface, as observed by SEM and AFM

Segmentação com árvores de classificação

Estabelecer perfis ou regras de segmentação pode tornar mais compreensível os desejos e as vontades dos públicos e contribuir para decisões de gestão mais fáceis. Modelos de discriminação lógicos fornecem resultados de fácil compreensão, dos quais as árvores de decisão surgem como os mais simplistas. Com base numa classificação de comportamentos de consumo, procuramos encontrar regras de segmentação da população jovem. Constatámos que ao contrário do que seria de esperar, não foram as variáveis demográficas que melhor diferenciam os jovens, mas sim as despesas de compra em artigos específicos. Apesar de as respostas terem sido obtidas numa grande diversidade de países (Portugal, Espanha, Alemanha, Grã-Bretanha, Macau, China, Moçambique e Quénia), são os comportamentos de compra que melhor segmentam os indivíduos, demonstrando claramente a tendência para que o consumo seja cada vez mais entendido como transnacional.Establishing patterns or segmentation rules can provide information about needs and whishes and contribute to easear solutions to management decision. Discriminating logical models present results more understandable. Logical discriminant models provide results of easy comprehension, and decision trees are the simplistic. Using a young people consuming behavior classification we try to obtain rules that generate segment profiles. Contrary to expected the demographic variables weren’t the best descriptors of segments but the attitudes and amounts spend on consuming. Even the fact that answers are obtain in different countries (Portugal, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Macau, China, Mozambique and Kenya), the consuming behavior represent the best reliable segment profile of young people, showing the tendency to transnational consumer behavior

Comparing knowledge, accessibility, and use of evidence-based chronic disease prevention processes across four countries

<p>Background: Evidence-based chronic disease prevention (EBCDP) effectively reduces incidence rates of many chronic diseases, but contextual factors influence the implementation of EBCDP worldwide. This study aims to examine the following contextual factors across four countries: knowledge, access, and use of chronic disease prevention processes.</p><p>Methods: In this cross-sectional study, public health practitioners (N = 400) from Australia (n = 121), Brazil (n = 76), China (n = 102), and the United States (n = 101) completed a 26-question survey on EBCDP. One-way ANOVA and Pearson's Chi-Square tests were used to assess differences in contextual factors of interest by country.</p><p>Results: Practitioners in China reported less knowledge of EBCDP processes (p < 0.001) and less use of repositories of evidence-based interventions, than those from other countries (p < 0.001). Academic journals were the most frequently used method for accessing information about evidence-based interventions across countries. When selecting interventions, Brazilian and Chinese practitioners were more likely to consider implementation ease while the Australian and United States practitioners were more likely to consider effectiveness (p < 0.001).</p><p>Conclusions: These findings can help inform and improve within and across country strategies for implementing EBCDP interventions.</p

Silk fibroin microparticles as carriers for delivery of human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 : in vitro and in vivo bioactivity

The in vitro and in vivo efficiency of fibroin microparticles as a delivery carrier for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) was evaluated. BMP-2 was encapsulated in silk fibroin particles that were produced by a simple and very mild processing method. The dose-response of BMP-2-loaded fibroin particles was examined in C2C12 cells, after 5 days of culture. The BMP-2 retained most of its activity as observed by the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, which was much higher when BMP-2 was encapsulated into the particles rather than just surface-adsorbed. After 2 weeks of culture, increased mineralization was observed with BMP-2-loaded particles in comparison to soluble added growth factor. No significant cytotoxicity was detected. When implanted in a rat ectopic model, bone formation was observed by in vivo micro-computed tomography after 2 and 4 weeks postimplantation, with particles loaded with 5 or 12.5 microg BMP-2. An increase in bone density was observed over time. Histology revealed further evidence of ectopic bone formation, observed by strong alizarin red staining and osteocalcin immunostaining. Our findings show that fibroin microparticles may present an interesting option for future clinical applications in the bone tissue engineering field, and therefore, further studies have been planned.The authors acknowledge Anna Hofmann and Anna Khadem for additional help with some experiments, and Karin Brenner for animal maintenance. This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Ph.D. grant SFRH/BD/17049/2004), project ElastM (POCI/CTM/57177/2004 funded by FEDER and the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia), Marie Curie Alea Jacta EST short-term grant (MEST-CT-2004-8104), and European STREP Project HIP-POCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758). This work was carried out under the scope of the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283)

Characterization of aqueous silver nitrate solutions for leakage tests

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pH over a period of 168 h and the ionic silver content in various concentrations and post-preparation times of aqueous silver nitrate solutions. Also, the possible effects of these factors on microleakage test in adhesive/resin restorations in primary and permanent teeth were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A digital pHmeter was used for measuring the pH of the solutions prepared with three types of water (purified, deionized or distilled) and three brands of silver nitrate salt (Merck, Synth or Cennabras) at 0, 1, 2, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h after preparation, and storage in transparent or dark bottles. Ionic silver was assayed according to the post-preparation times (2, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168 h) and concentrations (1, 5, 25, 50%) of solutions by atomic emission spectrometry. For each sample of each condition, three readings were obtained for calculating the mean value. Class V cavities were prepared with enamel margins on primary and permanent teeth and restored with the adhesive systems OptiBond FL or OptiBond SOLO Plus SE and the composite resin Filtek Z-250. After nail polish coverage, the permanent teeth were immersed in 25% or 50% AgNO3 solution and the primary teeth in 5% or 50% AgNO3 solutions for microleakage evaluation. ANOVA and the Tukey's test were used for data analyses (&#945;=5%). RESULTS: The mean pH of the solutions ranged from neutral to alkaline (7.9±2.2 to 11.8±0.9). Mean ionic silver content differed depending on the concentration of the solution (4.75±0.5 to 293±15.3 ppm). In the microleakage test, significant difference was only observed for the adhesive system factor (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Under the tested experimental conditions and based on the obtained results, it may be concluded that the aqueous AgNO3 solutions: have neutral/alkaline pH and service life of up to 168 h; the level of ionic silver is proportional to the concentration of the solution; even at 5% concentration, the solutions were capable of indicating loss of marginal seal in the composite restorations; the 3-step conventional adhesive system had better performance regarding microleakage in enamel on primary and permanent teeth.FAPESPCNPqCAPES - PQ

THE EFFECTS OF PICTURE ACTIVITY SCHEDULES ON TRANSITION TIMES IN AN INCLUSIVE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

This study determined the effectiveness of using picture activity schedules with preschoolers who exhibited disruptive behaviors in an inclusive setting during transition times in a public preschool. The participants in this study were three male and one female student, ages 3 years to 5 years, who were enrolled in an inclusive public preschool. All children are Caucasian. Three of the children had an individualized education plan including goals for speech and social-emotional concerns. One child was typically developing and did not have an individualized education plan. The study method used a single-subject withdrawal design (ABAB). The results confirmed that the use of picture activity schedules decreased the mean duration of transitions and the duration returned to pre-intervention levels when picture activity schedules were removed for two of the four children

The Paradigm of the Total Quality Management in the Portuguese Higher Education

Total quality management is a process based on a “to do differently” strategy. This strategy implies trying to achieve continuous improvement by sharing responsibilities reducing misused resource and meeting customer’s expectations. Typically, Total Quality Management is implemented in industry and services using a group of principles. The implementation of such principles guides the organizations towards the improvement of quality standards. Deming contributed to the total quality management process by proposing the set of principles and techniques that helps organisations to improve their quality process. We implement the total quality management principles inn two Portuguese high education institutions: ISCTE and University of Évora. We use separate questionnaires in order to verify if the techniques of the Total Quality Management, proposed by Deming, which were applied in Japanese and US companies, could be applied similarly in Portuguese high education institutions. Likewise for industrial companies, application of Total Quality Management techniques may help higher education institutions in their adaptation to the constantly changing education environment. The improving of quality in higher education will result in a general quality improvement of people’s skills which ultimately will improve the level of efficiency contributing to the development of markets and the economy. The results of this study show a set of difficulties as well as benefits from implementation of Total Quality Management, which may be a consequence of the cultural environment of the institutions. This study concludes that the two higher education institutions can still improve the application of the 14 principles proposed by Deming, and that correct application of these principles may permit them to evolve to the excellence level. However, it is important to notice that the principles should be applied in a flexible way and in agreement with the specific needs of each organization

Eighty-three Thousand Youth: Selected Findings of Eight Population-Based Studies

Meta-analysis of quantitative research that explores the particular needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students and sheds light on the issue of anti-gay harassment in schools. The studies include six statewide surveys, two administered in urban school districts and one conducted in the schools of 55 American Indian tribes. The report looks at the three studies which had been done at the time in which students were asked about experiencing sexual-orientation-based harassment, at the rates as well as the correlates of this type of bullying and violence. It also examines and compares the findings of four studies in which students were asked their sexual orientation and five that asked proximal questions and then used them (alone or in combination with identity) to infer respondents' "actual" sexual orientations. Proximal variables included gender(s) of people with whom the respondent has had sexual experiences, gender(s) of people to whom the respondent feels attraction and/or expects to have sexual experiences, and gender(s) about whom the respondent fantasizes

New Directions for the Portuguese Higher Education: Tendencies, Challenges and Opportunities in the Road of the Quality

Developments achieved by the industry over the last decades, either in evaluation, assurance or even in the improvement of their product’s quality, the so called “Quality Management”, came as an essential reference to the definition of quality procedures to be applied in higher education. With the Bologna process, Portuguese higher education institutions will need to appeal to methods and instruments that allow them to evaluate and guarantee their teaching quality. If a higher education institution intends to implement TQM using the Deming’s guiding principles, will have to move forward to continuous quality improvement. Usually, the quality definition is connected to satisfaction of customer’s expectations. In higher education institutions, this association is not consistent because customer's identification generates a great diversity of opinions, this being one of the first obstacles that appear in TQM implementation. This research was based in an empiric study carried out in two higher education institutions - ISCTE and the University of Évora. The main objective was to find out if the Deming’s fourteen guiding principles and the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) could be applied to Portuguese higher education institutions. The results highlight a group of potential difficulties and benefits which can be the effect of the present organizational culture of these institutions. But the implementation benefits of TQM clearly overcome the difficulties that can appear: the improvement of customer's satisfaction and the image of the organization; the efficient management and use of resources and spaces; the employees involvement in the prosecution of organization targets; the information channels improvement and communication within the organization; the creation of a community spirit, interdependence and share of values; and the increased responsibility towards the community. The study concludes that there is a strong connection between the two models - CAF and Deming’s guiding principles. This association shows that to each criteria of the CAF model there is a connection to more than one of the Deming’s guiding principles. Both models develop actions for the improvement of the organizations quality, the first one in a more general and the second one in a more detailed level