Strategic Management Method for the Incubation Process of Industrial Companies: Case Study of the Tooling Industry in Brazil

AbstractIndustrial competitiveness has required from companies elevated quality standards, cost reduction and a high capacity of delivery. Within this scenario, an important industrial segment has a fundamental role: the tool and die industry. Tools and dies are resources that are fit to a specific task and are either produced as a single-unit batch or intermittently according to demand. Generally, this industrial segment has demonstrated low competitiveness, which in turn affects the performance of other production chains that rely on it. This is the case of the plastic transformation and metalworking industry, especially when forged and stamped parts are considered. This low competitiveness is a consequence of the deficient corporate structure found in these companies, which results in lack of compliance to quality standards, high costs and long delivery times. Besides the support given to current tool-and-die making clusters, a decentralization structuring project of this industry to other regions of Brazil is necessary. This need is illustrated by new automotive and other consumer goods production plants that have recently started operating in the northeast and central regions of Brazil. In order to contribute to this issue, this article proposes a strategic management model for the incubation process of industrial companies that comply with competitiveness standards required by current market demands. Besides the usual difficulties related to incubation and the creation of any enterprise, the tooling industry faces an additional obstacle related to investment in assets (buildings, machinery, and software). Therefore, a nucleation process based on an existing structure that will be shared by several companies is proposed (IDS – Industrial Development Structure). This structure shall be preferably established on an ICT (Brazilian denomination for Science and Technology Institutes) that shall contribute with professional training (tool and die making) and specialized services (e.g. metrology and tool tryouts)

Least limiting water range for oil palm production in Amazon region, Brazil

In areas cultivated with oil palm, typically mechanized field operations using heavy vehicles may negatively affect soil physical properties and productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate soil physical quality in an area cultivated with oil palm by monitoring the temporal variation of the soil water content and relating it to the critical limits of the least limiting water range. Soil bulk density (Bd), soil penetration resistance (SR), least limiting water range (LLWR), and water stress days (WSD) were used to assess soil physical quality in planting rows (PR) and the traffic zone (TZ) at depths 0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm. The Bd was higher and the LLWR was reduced in TZ only at the surface layer. The effect of temporal variation in soil water content on the soil physical quality was higher in TZ, mainly in subsurface layers. Bd and LLWR did not affect the fresh fruit bunch production; however, WSD in TZ at 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers provided evidence of effects of temporal variation of soil water content on oil palm productivity

Selenium Biofortification and the Problem of its Safety

Selenium is an essential mineral element to humans and animals because it is an important component of selenoproteins that are important for functioning of the metabolism. Because of poor soil conditions in various regions of the world, the enrichment of edible plants with selenium via the biofortification strategy has been implemented. However, selenium in the context of plant mineral nutrition appears twofold due to its biofortifying character at low concentrations and toxicity at high concentrations. In this sense, understanding of the functional mechanisms in which selenium is involved is important, ranging from its absorption and assimilation in organic compounds to its beneficial or harmful effects, considering its role in food security and human health. Therefore, this chapter addresses the key aspects related to selenium in the soil-plant-man environment and the narrow limit between biofortification and toxicity, as well as the main scientific findings on this mineral element in the biochemical, physiology and plant nutrition contexts

WAIST/HEIGHT RATIO: A MARKER OF NUTRITIONAL ALTERATION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in Brazil is progressively increasing among children. In obese individuals, the concentration of fat in the abdominal region is a predictive marker for future health problems. Among the indicators of central adiposity, the waist-to-height ratio (WHR) has been shown to be more sensitive for predicting future health hazards than waist circumference alone. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the WHR and the classification of nutritional status of preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 711 preschool children in daycare in Taubate, SP. The sampling was probabilistic, having the nursery as the sampling unit. The weight, height and waist circumference of each child were measured. For classifying children with excess weight (risk of overweight, overweight or obesity), or with overweight or obesity the cut-off points of the Z-scores of Body Mass Index (zBMI), proposed by the Ministry of Health (2009), were used, from the point of view of the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed using the ROC (Receiver Operator Curve). Results: The area under the curve (AUC) of WHR for excess weight was 0.851 (p< 0.0001), and for overweight or obesity together was 0.886 (p< 0.0001). Values of 0.52 and 0.54 of the WHR were the cut-off points for optimization of Sensitivity/Specificity respectively for excess weight or overweight or obesity. Conclusion: The WHR is a useful tool in basic health care for children at the beginning of preschool age, for the assessment of nutritional status and central adiposity

Automatização da seleção dos pixels âncora no cálculo da equação de balanço de radiação na superfície do algoritmo SEBAL

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Ciência da Computação, 2013.Segundo dados da FAO, 70% dá água potável no mundo é utilizada na irrigação. Métodos como o lisímetro e a evapotranspiração potencial têm sido utilizados para estimar a necessidade hídrica da cultura. No entanto, tais métodos fornecem dados pontuais, muitas vezes sem refletir as condições reais da área cultivada, podendo sub-estivar ou superestimar a necessidade hídrica e prejudicando a produção. O algoritmo SEBAL utiliza imagens de satélite para calcular a estimativa de evapotranspiração em determinada área cultivada. As imagens de satélite fornecem um alto grau de granularidade no cálculo da evapotranspiração o que aumenta a precisão na estimativa de necessidade hídrica. O algoritmo depende de dois pixels âncora para calibrar o cálculo de evapotranspiração. A seleção incorreta destes pixels acarreta em erros consideráveis na estimativa. Os critérios de seleção dos pixels descritos no manual de referência do algoritmo são subjetivos, necessitando da experiência de um especialista. O presente projeto visa utilizar técnicas computacionais específicas como o processamento de imagens de satélite e geoestatística para resolver a seleção automática dos pixels âncoras (quente e frio) na imagem de satélite, reduzindo a necessidade de um especialista para realizar a tarefa. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTAccording to FAO, 70 % of drinking water worldwide is used for irrigation. Methods as the lysimeter and potential evapotranspiration have been used to estimate the crop water requirement. However, such methods provide only point data, often without reflecting the actual conditions of the cultivated area and may underestimate or overestimate the water requirement and hurting production. The SEBAL algorithm uses satellite images to estimate o acreage evapotranspiration. The satellite images provide a high degree of granularity in the calculation of evapotranspiration which increases accuracy in estimating water requirements. The algorithm depends on two anchor pixels to calibrate the calculation of evapotranspiration. Improper selection of these pixels leads to considerable estimated errors. The pixel selection criteria described in the algorithm reference manual are subjective, requiring the expertise of a specialist. This project aims to use specific computational techniques as satellite imagery processing and geo-statistics to automate selection of hot and cold anchor pixels in a satellite image, reducing the need for an expert to perform the task

Evaluation of Technological Trends and Demands of the Manufacturing Industry to a Center of R&D&I

The manufacturing industry is fairly representative in the Brazilian economy. The research activities in technology, development and innovation promoted by technology centers are of great importance to boost the competitiveness of this segment. In this context, this work aims presenting the development of the strategic planning for a Center of R&D&I (Research & Development & Innovation), looking 20 years ahead, on a macro level, creating a master plan which summarizes the future focus areas of competence for technology research, development and innovation, coping with manufacturing trends, using a participative workshop approach. Thus, it is expected that this center offer integrated technological solutions with high added value that promote the development and competitiveness of the manufacturing industry, in the prospects for medium and long term. In order to achieve the project objectives taking the principle of strategic planning was followed. On the one hand, focus was placed on the internal perspective analyzing the current status of the Center. On the other hand, the environment of the Center (external perspective) was analyzed. Matching the analysis results regarding both perspectives future competence areas were derived, according to global technological trends as well as national and local industrial demand. Thus, the competencies required to be developed by a technology center to meet the manufacturing industry over the next twenty years would be derived

Tratamento único com dose baixa de mifepristona no período neonatal induz comportamento tipo-depressivo

Resumo: Transtorno Bipolar de Humor está entre as seis condições médicas mais incapacitantes no mundo e é considerada a terceira causa de morte entre pessoas de 15 a 24 anos de idade. Contudo, a falta de medicamentos adequados e modelos animais apropriados torna difícil o entendimento da sua etiopatogenia. Portanto, se faz necessário o estudo de modelos que melhor mimetizem episódios maníacos a fim de estudar drogas que são mais eficientes em um grupo maior de pessoas. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do tratamento neonatal com uma única dose de Mifepristona (20, 100 ou 200 ?g, s.c.) no comportamento adulto. Na primeira etapa (100 dias de idade), foi analisada a locomoção dos animais testados através do teste de campo aberto, e também foi realizado o teste de preferência a sacarose. O grupo 20 ?g mostrou diminuição estatisticamente significativa na locomoção quando comparado ao grupo controle. Na segunda etapa (168 dias de idade), ambos os testes foram realizados novamente, após os animais serem expostos ao estresse agudo induzido por imobilização. Quando os resultados da segunda etapa foram comparados ao da primeira etapa, o grupo 20 ?g mostrou diminuição estatisticamente significante na preferência à sacarose. A menor dose utilizada nos experimentos foi capaz de induzir um comportamento tipo-depressivo, e nenhuma das outras doses testadas foi capaz de mimetizar um comportamento tipo-maníaco

Soldagem subaquatica molhada com eletrodo tubular

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro TecnologicoSão identificadas as causas básicas da instabilidade do arco e interrupção do processo na soldagem subaquática molhada com eletrodo tubular, e propostas soluções para as mesmas. O estudo é realizado sob uma lâmina d?água de 10 cm, num banco de ensaios automatizado, com base nos oscilogramas de corrente, tensão e velocidade do arame, aspecto dos cordões e propriedades metalúrgicas da solda. É feito um mapeamento da faixa de trabalho das variáveis do processo, e pesquisadas alternativas como injeção de gás entre o bico de contato e o arame, aumento do diâmetro do eletrodo e aumento da aceleração do arame

Mothers’ conceptions about excess weight in infancy and the nutritional status of their children

OBJECTIVE: To analyze maternal conceptions about excess weight in infancy and the nutritional status of their preschool-aged children. METHODS: A mixed, exploratory study was performed using semi-structured interviews. Two study groups were defined: a group of 16 mothers of children with excess weight and a group of 15 mothers of eutrophic children. The interviews were submitted to content analysis using CHIC software (Classification Hiérarchique Implicative et Cohésitive¯). RESULTS: The mothers of children with excess weight tended to conceive thin children as malnourished, while those of normal weight children emphasized the influence of family and genetics as determinants of a child’s nutritional status. Although there was a certain consensus among the mothers that an unhealthy diet contributes to the risk of a child developing excess weight, the concept of genetics as a determinant of a child’s nutritional status was also present in the dialogue from the mothers of both groups. This result indicates a lack of clarity regarding the influence of eating behavior and family lifestyle on weight gain and the formation of a child’s eating habits. Both groups indicated that the mother has a decisive role in the eating habits of her child; however, the mothers of children with excess weight did not seem to take ownership of this concept when addressing the care of their own children. CONCLUSION: Differences in conceptions, including taking ownership of care, may contribute to the development of excess weight in preschool-aged children