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

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

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

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

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

Phylogenetic relationships, based on SSU rDNA sequences, among the didelphic genera of the family trichodoridae from Portugal

A survey of virus vector trichodorid nematodes was carried out in the central and northern regions of Portugal. Morphobio- metric identification showed the presence of trichodorid species previously reported from Portugal, except for Paratrichodorus porosus, which is reported for the first time in Continental Europe. Small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences of ten different species occurring in Portugal were obtained and a phylogenetic analysis based on their alignment was performed to infer relationships among the different Portuguese trichodorid species and three non-indigenous populations (Nanidorus minor, P. allius and P. teres). The re- sulting phylogenetic tree is in agreement with the currently accepted classification for Trichodoridae, except for Nanidorus, which clusters together with Trichodorus species, while the genera Paratrichodorus and Trichodorus appear as two distinct groups. A better understanding of the generic groupings in the family Trichodoridae was found. Based on the new molecular analyses we herein accept Nanidorus as a valid genus

Seleção e caracterização de leveduras capazes de crescer em compostos aromáticos derivados da lignina.

A utilização da biomassa lignocelulósica em biorrefinarias para a produção de biocombustíveis e bioprodutos gera grandes quantidades de lignina, tornando necessária a valorização dessa matéria‑prima. Tal valorização pode ser obtida pela conversão de compostos aromáticos derivados da lignina (CADLs) por linhagens microbianas capazes de metabolizá‑los em biomassa celular e em outros produtos de alto valor agregado. Nesse cenário, este trabalho buscou selecionar entre 76 linhagens de leveduras de diferentes espécies aquelas capazes de crescer em meios cuja única fonte de carbono fossem CADLs catecol, vanilina, ácido protocatecuico, ácido ferúlico, ácido p‑cumárico, ácido vanílico, ácido siríngico e ácido 4‑hidroxibenzoico. Para tanto, foram realizados inicialmente ensaios de crescimento em microplaca para determinar o potencial de cada linhagem. De forma geral, as linhagens cresceram nos compostos ácido protocatecuico, ácido vanílico, ácido 4‑hidroxibenzóico, catecol, ácido p‑cumárico e ácido ferúlico, e nenhuma linhagem foi capaz de crescer em vanilina e ácido siríngico. A partir dos resultados obtidos, foi possível selecionar 11 linhagens para análise da cinética de crescimento nos compostos catecol, ácido 4‑hidroxibenzoico, ácido vanílico, ácido protocatecuico, ácido p‑cumárico e ácido ferúlico com concentração de 20 mM. Em conclusão, foi possível selecionar três linhagens com capacidade de crescimento elevado (OD600) em até 20 mM de ácido protocatecuico, ácido 4‑hidroxibenzoico e ácido vanílico

Purification, kinetics and spectral characterisation of a new versatile peroxidase from a Bjerkandera Sp. isolate

From the extracellular fluid of a novel strain of Bjerkandera sp., it was isolated, purified and identified the main enzyme responsible for Remazol Brilliant Blue R dye decolourisation. Such an enzyme is able to oxidise manganese, as well as veratryl alcohol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol in manganese-independent reactions; hence, it can be included in the new group of versatile peroxidases. The molecular mass of said enzyme is ca. 45 kDa, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence obtained by Edman degradation is VAXPDGVNTA. The enzyme substrate range for oxidation of several phenolic and non-phenolic aromatic compounds was determined and the corresponding Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants calculated. Furthermore, spectrophotometric assays showing the Soret band and allowing observation of band shifts of the enzyme led to the conclusion that Bjerkandera strains may also synthesise at least two different versatile peroxidases, as happens with Pleurotus eryngii

Characterization of different fruit wines made from cacao, cupuassu, gabiroba, jaboticaba and umbu

The main aim of this work was to produce fruit wines from pulp of gabiroba, cacao, umbu, cupuassu and jaboticaba and characterize them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for determination of minor compounds and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection for major compounds. Ninety-nine compounds (C6 compounds, alcohols, monoterpenic alcohols, monoterpenic oxides, ethyl esters, acetates, volatile phenols, acids, carbonyl compounds, sulfur compounds and sugars) were identified in fruit wines. The typical composition for each fruit wine was evidenced by principal component analysis and Tukey test. The yeast UFLA CA 1162 was efficient in the fermentation of the fruit pulp used in this work. The identification and quantification of the compounds allowed a good characterization of the fruit wines. With our results, we conclude that the use of tropical fruits in the production of fruit wines is a viable alternative that allows the use of harvest surpluses and other underused fruits, resulting in the introduction of new products into the market.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Brasil (CNPq) and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior