Erosion perceptions, beliefs and the sustainability of coastal areas: an individual or collective endeavour?

Coastal erosion (CE) is a phenomenon that has undergone a conceptual evolution. Nowadays, it is considered a physical and social process that is scientifically studied, quantified, and technically mitigated. It may also be approached by following the individual/collective perceptions of coastal communities. Risk and vulnerability associated with CE may also be addressed by considering different aspects that require a differentiated and trans-disciplinary analysis. A gap regarding the social perception of CE in Portuguese coastal communities was detected in the literature review. Therefore, the initial questions and aim of this study are, as follows: to research the social perceptions of CE and to understand how they impact public decisions/participation aimed at mitigating CE. The purpose of this research, supported by a hypothetical-deductive-approach, is exploratory and followed a multiple-case study strategy. The study was conducted using a mixed methodological paradigm (qualitative and quantitative). The Paramos/Espinho and Costa-da-Caparica cases, which differ environmentally, geographically and socioeconomically, were selected. Social and environmental vulnerability indicators were determined through the Analytical-Hierarchy-Process. These indicators were used to structure/draft the exploratory interviews and a questionnaire. These were applied to three categories of stakeholders: politicians/decision-makers, presidents of recreational associations and fishermen/inhabitants; all chosen by convenience sampling. The interviews identified both the historical and current perception of CE, as well as the public-institutional interaction within the scope of the planned/executed interventions targeting the mitigation of this problem. The questionnaire also revealed memories of damaging events, recognition of the causes of CE and sea encroachment, identification of risk perception, and understanding of the feedback about the strategies developed for mitigating erosion. The results showed that the perception of CE was derived from constructed experience and social memory. For the participants, the erosion «issue» is a serious daily problem. They identified risks and mentioned natural causes that are magnified by both climate change and human causes. Disengagement of the state through inefficient decision-making, inadequate construction and maintenance of defence structures, and through their laxness regarding building new constructions were all mentioned as significant examples of human causes. Participants highlighted the authorities’ lack of sensitivity towards traditional knowledge and their lack of will to welcome/integrate the contribution participants’ experience could make. The main contribution of this work resides in the empirically based development of a model for the social perception of CE, by positioning vulnerability in the context of CE. The perceived vulnerability/risk was deemed to result not only from CE, but also from a variable and dynamic context-specific framework, and from internal/external factors that were identified.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

From “boat to plate”: creating value through sustainable fish supply chain visibility

Environmental concerns about the scarcity of marine resources are critical driving forces for firms aiming to prepare their supply chains for sustainability. Building on previous work, this paper highlights the mplementation of good practices geared towards sustainable operations in the seafood department, which were pursued in an exploratory retailer case. Outcomes of the adopted environmentally and socially acceptable fish retailing strategies, ranged from traceability, to self-certification and eco-labelling. The consequences for business were, as follows: stronger collaboration and trust across the chain of custody, improvement of sponsors’ image and of consumers’ loyalty and, progress in the Greenpeace retailers’ evaluation ranking.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prediction of road accident severity using the ordered probit model

The ordered probit model is used to examine the contribution of several factors to the injury severity faced by motor-vehicle occupants involved in road accidents. The estimated results suggest that motor-vehicle occupants travelling in light-vehicles, at two-way roads, and on dry road surfaces tend to suffer more severe injuries than those who travel in heavy-vehicles, at one-way roads, and on wet road surfaces. Additionally, the driver's seat is clearly the safest seating position, urban areas seem to originate less serious accidents than rural areas, and women tend to be more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries than men

Perceptions of future leaders towards business ethics and sustainability

This paper examines the perception of business students (BS) concerning business ethics (BE) and sustainable operations management (SOM), in cases reporting ethical dilemmas. The BS have not previously attended any specific course, either dealing with BE, SOM or providing training in ethics. A test administered to 60 BS enabled to picture perceptions regarding: (i) ethical maturity level based on general education/personal sensitivity; and (ii) ethical decision-making processes of BS. The study also determined that BS have a surprisingly high ethical maturity. However, they are not sensitive to BE/SOM scientific’ research importance. Findings point out to development of Business School curricula

A Biologia e a Matemática vistas com as mãos e com os olhos através do croché

O croché, a arte de puxar laçadas de fio através de loops com a ajuda de uma agulha em gancho, é uma técnica muito promissora no desenvolvimento de competências e na transmissão de conceitos. Por um lado, permite o aperfeiçoamento da motricidade fina, bem como da flexibilidade de raciocínio e do pensamento lógico. Por outro, viabiliza a construção de modelos tridimensionais manipuláveis, representativos de conceitos em diversas áreas científicas como a Biologia e a Matemática. Talvez o caso mais icónico seja o da criação de modelos físicos de espaços hiperbólicos, avançado pela primeira vez por Daina Taimina, em 1997 (1). É, até hoje, a única técnica capaz de representar, a três dimensões, as propriedades da geometria hiperbólica patente no mundo vivo, por exemplo, no padrão de crescimento dos corais e de diversas plantas. Foi, inspirando-se neste trabalho, que o projecto STOL – Science Through Our Lives, recriou um recife de corais em croché denominado “Ponto a Ponto Enche a Ciência o Espaço” (2), numa lógica WIP (Work in Progress), que já pôde ser visto em diversos locais do país e que está associado a uma oficina de carácter hands on. Mais recentemente, a equipa STOL produziu, em croché, modelos de plantas – fractal, por exemplo fetos, que estão a ser usados para transmitir conceitos matemáticos de geometria fractal e auto-semelhança, na oficina ’Matemática das Plantas’ proposta pelo Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade de Lisboa (MUHNAC) que, a partir do seu património único (3) no centro da cidade, integra estratégias participativas na sua oferta educativa. Recorrendo a uma pedagogia baseada em hands on, surge o questionamento: o que dizem estes crochés curiosos? As metodologias de Aprendizagem Activa no Ensino das Ciências – IBSE (Inquiry Based Science Education) - explicam porque é importante questionar (4). A partir de estruturas naturais do jardim e outros objectos como os produzidos no âmbito desta parceria feliz entre o STOL e o MUHNAC, quer-se levar o participante a questionar aspectos da Matemática e da Biologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Developing a structured and strategically focused performance assessment system

The number and adequacy of Performance-Indicators (PIs) for organisational purposes are core to the success of organisations and a major concern to the sponsor of this research. This assignment developed a procedure to improve a firm’s performance assessment system, by identifying two key-PIs out of 28 initial ones, and by setting criteria and their relative importance to validate and rank the adequacy and the right number of operational metrics. The Analytical-Hierarchy-Process was used with a synthesis-method to treat data coming from the management inquiries. Although organisational alignment has been achieved, business processes should also be targeted and PIs continuously revised.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of collaborative networks in product-service system business models for an advanced manufacturing technology SME

This research appreciates the relevance of servitization business models for an Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) SME in the Ornamental Stones (OS) cluster. A holistic conceptual model was designed and tested addressing strategy, organizational structure and technological infrastructure. Primary data gathered by semi-structured interviews were completed by unstructured observation and documentation studying. The model usefulness/usability was qualitatively confirmed by the outcomes relevance. As regards results, primary stages of servitization are already occurring in the case. They might progress towards advanced servitization, if both digital business platforms and Industry4.0 and collaborative networks are deployed. Moreover, the lack of open innovation in the OS SME generates strong feelings of ownership towards resources, which constrains servitization progress and provides a threat to cluster survival. However, a mandatory progress towards Building Information Modelling is expected, which is going to demand virtual breeding environments and virtual organizations that will leverage competitive advantage and enable servitization progress.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Tobacco rattle virus and its associated vector trichodorid nematodes in Portugal

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV, genus Tobravirus), transmitted by trichodorid nematodes, occurs as a wide range of serologically distinguishable strains that cause diseases in various economically important crops. The virus and its associated vector nematodes occur world-wide, being particularly prevalent in Europe and North America. In Portugal, an investigation is being conducted to identify TRV strains occurring in association with their natural vector species. The project has focused on potato growing areas in northern and central Portugal, with soil sampling biased in favour of areas where TRV-like symptoms have been reported. Nematodes were extracted from soil and phenotypically identified. TRV was recovered from nematodes in virus transmission studies, and identification confirmed using sap transmission tests, a leaf squash method with EM, ELISA, ISEM, and RT-PCR. Trichodorids were recovered frequently from potato fields, and the species identified were: Trichodorus lusitanicus, T. primitivus, Paratrichodorus anemones, P. hispanus, P. minor, P. pachydermus, also three new undescribed species and an unidentified Paratrichodorus species. TRV occurred in 4 of 58 (7%) soil samples in association with trichodorids: one in the North and the others in the centre of the country. Molecular characterisation of the TRV isolates and their associated vector trichodorids is presently in process

Design and business: growing up as a separate couple

This paper addresses the difficulties faced by postgraduate design students (DS) and professional designers (PD) concerning the design, development and implementation of business projects (BP), and of sustainable management (SM). The DS have not previously attended any specific course, either dealing with BP, or having had training in SM. A test administered to 60 DS enabled to picture issues regarding: (i) the sense of discomfort regarding business and management areas, due to lack of skills, and (ii) the special requirements for skills in unfamiliar areas such as production, management, marketing and product stewardship. The study determined that DS perceive the need for educational policies that allow the acquisition of new skills in the referred areas. However, it seems that they are not sensitive to BP/SM scientific’ research importance. Findings point out a direction to curriculum development to bridge Design and Business areas, by overcoming the identified gap.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

An Interactive WebGIS Integrating Environmental Susceptibility Mapping in a Self-Burning Waste Pile Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach

Mining activities promote resulting wastes, so coal mines are prone to release contaminants to the environment, namely to the soil and water. Therefore, the analysis of this type of risk is crucial in waste pile management. The Sao Pedro da Cova (Porto, Portugal) coal waste pile has been studied in recent years, with several data acquired from 2019-2021 under a research project using distinct methodologies. These results are now combined in a multi-approach method to estimate the environmental impacts of the waste pile and identify the contamination. With the integration of all the data in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment, and to fulfill a scientific gap, this study aims: (i) to create a susceptibility map of contamination in the areas surrounding the self-burning coal waste pile in Sao Pedro da Cova, using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy AHP approaches; and (ii) to develop a webGIS application incorporating all the information acquired that can be useful for the residents of Sao Pedro da Cova and also to the decision-making public entities and researchers. The results obtained show that the contamination susceptibility is higher surrounding the abandoned mine, particularly along the waste piles and the corresponding runoff areas, which can be especially sensitive