Elemental and topographic characterization of LDPE based copolymeric films obtained by gamma irradiation

The preparation of PE-g-HEMA (polyethylene-grafted-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) films by 60Co gamma irradiation has been optimized to produce a new material suitable for bioapplications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TJN-4PKFGWY-1/1/ce67dece44bee190c7fdab19460ed6d

Analyzing the determinants of e-commerce in small and medium-sized enterprises: a cognition-driven framework

The increasing use of information technology in enterprises’ daily operations has led to multiple innovative ways to run a business, including electronic commerce (hereafter, e-commerce). However, firms with fewer resources, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are more reluctant to use electronic channels during transactions. This aversion to contemporary business models is a result of these companies’ lack of knowledge and capabilities regarding e-commerce. To improve their businesses, SMEs’ managers and decision makers could benefit from a methodological framework that fosters a deeper understanding of the determinants of e-commerce. This study sought to explore the use of fuzzy cognitive mapping to address this need. The results are grounded in the knowledge and experience of a panel of experts in e-commerce. The fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) developed shows that entrepreneur profile, market, operational management, marketing and promotions, website and digital platform, and products present the highest centrality indices as determinants of SME e-commerce. The findings offer a better understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between these determinants. The advantages, limitations, and shortcomings of our constructivist proposal are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação genética de progênies e indivíduos de açaizeiro para número de perfilhos e índice de produtividade volumétrica de palmito.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação genotípica de progênies e indivíduos de uma população de açaizeiro e estimação de parâmetros genéticos para os caracteres número de perfilhos e índice de produtividade volumétrica de palmito nos perfilhos

Avaliação genética em progênies de uma população de açaizeiro (Euterpe oleracea).

O presente trabalho relata a avaliação genotípica de progênies de açaí no estado do Pará para os caracteres altura da planta (ALT), diâmetro do fuste à altura do colo (DFC), número de folhas vivas (NFV) e número de perfilhos (NP) e também estimativas de parâmetros genéticos e ambientais que permitem inferir sobre o controle genético e nível de variabilidade genética presente no material avaliad

Bounded rationality in decision making: Biases in managers of the Portuguese port sector

Decision-making is a multidisciplinary and ubiquitous phenomenon in organizations, and it can be observed at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Decision making plays, however, an increasingly important role for the manager, whose cognitive competence is reflected in his ability to identify potential opportunities, to immediately detect and solve the problems he faces, and to predict and prevent future threats. Nevertheless, to what extent do managers of the most diverse sectors continue to rely on false knowledge when they have better strategies at their disposal? The present article proposes the diagnosis of three prominent biases – overconfidence, optimism, and anchoring effect – in managers of the Portuguese port sector, as well as a comparative analysis with the conclusions already documented in relation to the Brazilian civil construction sector. In addition, this paper also provides a set of measures capable of contributing to the mitigation of the effects of these and other biases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Indicadores físicos da qualidade do solo no monitoramento da recuperação de clareiras da Província Petrolífera de Urucu, Amazonas.

O objetivo deste estudo é encontrar parâmetros indicativos da recuperação da qualidade da estrutura do solo

In vitro analysis, an accurate tool to estimate dry matter digestibility in rabbits. Intra- and inter- laboratory variability

[EN] The aim of the present study was to determine the intra- and inter-laboratory variability of an enzymatic system of in vitro analysis for estimating dry matter (DM) digestibility in rabbits and validating the predicted nutritive value of 4 complete diets and 4 raw materials during three different periods of time. Chemical composition, DM digestibility and digestible energy (diets only) were known. In vitro DM digestibility (DMdinv) of all samples was determined by 4 laboratories (triplicate analysis) at different times with an interval of one month between analyses. DMdinv variability and chemical parameters were measured in terms of repeatability (SR: intra-series variability within each laboratory), reproducibility (SL: intra-series variability among laboratories) and reliability (SF: variability through time within each laboratory). Both the laboratory and sample affected DMdinv values (P<0.001). The period of time also had a significant effect (P=0.002) on mean DMdinv values (67.4, 66.8 and 67.0% for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd month, respectively). Significant laboratory x sample, time x laboratory and time x sample interaction effects were also observed. Repeatability, reproducibility and reliability values for the diets were better than those obtained for the raw materials (by 2.0, 1.9 and 2.4 times, respectively). Repeatability values were also better than the values obtained for reproducibility and reliability (by 2.2 and 3.6 times, respectively). Repeatability and reproducibility values were consistently worse for raw materials than for complete diets (by 1.5, 4, 2.9 and 1.3, 4.3, 2.8 times for SR and SL in period 1, period 2 and period 3, respectively), and were also worse in period 1 with respect to the other two periods (by 2.1 and 2.2 times for SR and SL, respectively). Finally, the in vitro method always showed better coefficients of variation of repeatability (CVR) and reproducibility (CVL) than those of the chemical parameters frequently used as predictors of dietary energy value (acid detergent fibre and crude fibre) (1.73 vs. 2.41 and 3.88 for CVR and 3.24 vs. 3.70 and 5.17 for CVL, respectively). In conclusion, the proposed in vitro methodology showed adequate repeatability and reproducibility, being suitable for predictive purposes.This research was supported by ERAFE project CE-FAIR (3-CT96-1651)Carabaño, R.; Nicodemus, N.; García, J.; Xiccato, G.; Trocino, A.; Pascual Amorós, JJ.; Falcão-E-Cunha, L.... (2008). In vitro analysis, an accurate tool to estimate dry matter digestibility in rabbits. Intra- and inter- laboratory variability. World Rabbit Science. 16(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.614SWORD16