The influence of the specifics of small businesses on innovation:: A multiple case study of the Brazilian metal-mechanical industry

Purpose – Based on a multi-case analysis of small businesses in the metal-mechanical industry in the region of Sorocaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how small businesses (in terms of the owner, business, and influences exerted by the environment) influence innovation. Design/methodology/approach – Six case studies are used to analyze the Brazilian metal-mechanical industry. The data are collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observations. In addition, innovations over the previous five years are evaluated in order to establish a comparative pattern between companies. Findings – This study examines how facilitating factors are related to the owners of small businesses. These factors include owners’ personal ambitions, the centralization of decisions, and their confidence in their ability to make effective decisions. Factors related to the organization that favor innovation include a simple and streamlined structure and fewer levels of bureaucracy, whereas low capital intensity limit innovation. While some factors related to the environment favor innovation, others have a limiting effect (e.g. short-term horizons and a lack of formal strategic planning). Originality/value – The main contribution of this research is to show that innovation is not synonymous with financial investment. Strategic reorganization and the rationalization of productive resources through competitive priorities may lead to innovation in different spheres, helping to increase the competitiveness and strength of the national economy

Responsabilidade Social Corporativa no Futebol do Brasil: Estudos de Caso com as Equipes do Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

O reconhecimento do esporte como um meio de socialização e inclusão social pode ser observado pelo grande número de projetos esportivos destinados aos jovens das classes populares. Parte-se do pressuposto de que, como as crianças e jovens gostam do esporte, irão através desta pratica participar e se manter nos projetos existentes que terão como objetivo desenvolver valores positivos nesses indivíduos. O futebol é a principal atividade esportiva conhecida e praticada no Brasil, assim clubes desta modalidade são um importante veículo de identificação para os jovens. Se o clube de futebol está envolvido na comunidade, acaba por fazer parte e desenvolver uma força direcionadora no ambiente o qual está inserido. Desse modo, a pesquisa parte de um estudo exploratório sobre as ações de responsabilidade social nos clubes da série A do Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol. O envolvimento social desses clubes se caracteriza pelo foco na inserção da comunidade adjacente à sede do clube, ao trabalho voluntário e à educação, todos com o foco no jovem. No entanto, essas ações identificadas ainda se restringem a uma caracterização de brevidade e fragmentação

Low-cost bus business models and the case of Brazil

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify low-costbus business models from different parts of the world and check their applicability in the Brazilian market. It also identifies crucial factors for the development of that kind of business and investigates the relationship between low-cost buses and other modes of transport. This research analyzes every relevant aspect to the applicability of low-cost business models in Brazil, driving to discussions and conclusions. The gains on the development of low-cost bus systems in Brazil may have a wide reach, from personal to general public benefits. Design/methodology/approach – Business models for low-cost bus systems are used to analyze in a qualitative approach. The data are collected through semi-structured interviews, direct observations and documental basis. In addition, innovations over the previous five years are evaluated in order to establish a comparative pattern between companies. Findings – There is a great potential in the Brazilian passenger market for the entrance of low-cost bus companies. The only question is just when it is the right time to enter that market. Most of the negative points presented for the implementation of a low-cost company are related to the current economical and political crisis in Brazil. It was identified as a potential cause for the overall decrease of the passengers market in recent years, and specifically of the bus passengers market. Originality/value – The recent regulation changes, the high demand for passengers and even the similarity of possible routes in Brazil to the ones in Europe and in the USA make Brazil a fertile soil for the development of that kind of business. A similar price mechanism to the ones applied worldwide was also identified as doable in Brazil

A multiple case study of the Brazilian metal-mechanical industry

Purpose – Based on a multi-case analysis of small businesses in the metal-mechanical industry in the region of Sorocaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how small businesses (in terms of the owner, business, and influences exerted by the environment) influence innovation. Design/methodology/approach – Six case studies are used to analyze the Brazilian metal-mechanical industry. The data are collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observations. In addition, innovations over the previous five years are evaluated in order to establish a comparative pattern between companies. Findings – This study examines how facilitating factors are related to the owners of small businesses. These factors include owners’ personal ambitions, the centralization of decisions, and their confidence in their ability to make effective decisions. Factors related to the organization that favor innovation include a simple and streamlined structure and fewer levels of bureaucracy, whereas low capital intensity limit innovation. While some factors related to the environment favor innovation, others have a limiting effect (e.g. short-term horizons and a lack of formal strategic planning). Originality/value – The main contribution of this research is to show that innovation is not synonymous with financial investment. Strategic reorganization and the rationalization of productive resources through competitive priorities may lead to innovation in different spheres, helping to increase the competitiveness and strength of the national economy

SISTEMAS DE GESTÃO DA QUALIDADE NA ÁREA NUCLEAR: ISO 9001:2015 E ISO 19443

Os sistemas de gestão da qualidade se caracterizam pela junção de processos, procedimentos, instruções, formulários e registros utilizados por uma A ISO 19443 é uma norma que aplica os princípios da ISO 9001 para a indústria nuclear, aliando as melhores práticas de qualidade com os requisitos específicos da indústria nuclear, com foco em segurança. A implementação de um Sistema de Gestão baseado nesta norma ajuda a aumentar a cultura de segurança na indústria nuclear e a credibilidade perante os fornecedores. O artigo pretende demonstrar uma breve interpretação dos dez requisitos estabelecidos na norma ISO 19443, buscando um maior entendimento de cada requisito enfatizando o que está preconizado nos seus requisitos, como: contexto organizacional, gerenciamento de stakeholders e gerenciamento de riscos, trazendo entendimento de cada requisito tratado entre as ISO 9001:2015 e ISO 19443:2018. Buscando um maior entendimento, foram consideradas as impressões de um grupo de especialistas quanto a norma estudada, onde os principais benefícios dessas Normas foram tratados, considerando a possibilidade das organizações às adotarem como referência seu Sistema de Gestão. A limitação da pesquisa deve-se ao fato da norma estudada ser recente, tendo um baixo número de publicações e poucos especialistas

A COMPARISION USING STATISTICAL AND MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR STREAMFLOW TIME SERIES

This study was carried out in the Sibinacocha lake watershed in the Peruvian Andes. In this region the long-term meteorological data are scarce and there are few studies of flow forecasts. Based on this evidence, in this study we present the monthly flow simulation, using statistical models and data-oriented model, with the purpose of evaluating the performance of these methodologies. The results of the comparative statistical analyses indicated that the data-oriented models, specifically the Recurrent Neural Networks, provided great improvements over the other models applied, specifically the ability to capture the minimum and maximum monthly flow, resulting in excellent statistical values (R2=0.85, d=0.96), thus suggesting this methodology as a possible application for flow forecasts

Prevalence and variables predictive of depressive symptoms in patients hospitalized for heart failure

Background: Our study set out to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and variables that influence its presence in patients hospitalized for heart failure. Depression is associated with a substantially increased risk of developing heart failure in individuals at risk, and has been related to adverse outcomes in patients with established heart failure. It is important to determine its prevalence in different populations and assess related causes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 103 patients with heart failure, admitted to public hospital, via a questionnaire that evaluates clinical variables, socio-demographics and we applied the Beck Depression Inventory to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and predictors of their presence. We used the chi2, Student test and considered significant when < 0.05 and subjected to logistic regression analysis when between 0.05 and 0.1. Results: The mean age of the patients in our study was 65.4 &#177; 13.6. Depressive symptoms were present in 69 (67%) patients: 35 (34%) had mild depressive symptoms, 22 (21.3%) had moderate symptoms and 12 (11.6%) patients presented severe symptoms. Marital status was significant when analyzed, and the predictors of depressive symptoms were marital status, sex, living arrangements and heart failure etiology. Conclusions: Because depressive symptoms in patients hospitalized for heart failure are very common, it is important to detect these disorders. The prevalence of these varies according to socio-demographic and clinical data, and these factors should be taken into consideration when planning future studies, as well as screening and intervention programs for co-morbid depressive disorders in hospitalized patients with heart failure. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 1: 18-25

DIMINISHED HAND GRIP STRENGTH AND CIRRHOSIS: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

ABSTRACT Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass and strength, observed to varying degrees in patients with various chronic conditions. In cirrhotic patients, it reflects protein-energy malnutrition due to metabolic protein imbalance and is associated with worsened prognosis and reduced post-liver transplantation survival. Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological distribution of diminished hand grip (HG) strength in cirrhotic patients at an outpatient clinic of Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Vitória-ES, Brazil, seeking its association with liver function and cirrhosis complications. Methods: Cross-sectional, epidemiological, and single-center study. A questionnaire was administered to patients and HG strength was measured using a dynamometer, with three interval measures taken for 3 seconds each. Results: The study’s total population was 64 cirrhotic patients, with a mean age of 58 years and alcohol as the most prevalent etiology. Reduced HG strength was defined based on two reference values: using cutoff point 1, reduced HG strength was identified in 33 patients (51.6%); according to cutoff point 2, 23 (35.9%) had reduced HG strength. The study showed that, among the parameters observed, there was an association between the female gender and diminished HG strength in both cutoff points. Additionally, it was noted that patients with a score of 15 or more on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) had decreased HG strength at cutoff point 2. The study showed no association between decreased HG strength and the occurrence of cirrhosis complications in the population studied. Conclusion: In our study, we obtained a diminished HG strength variation of 35-52%, which was related to higher MELD scores, suggesting an association with worse clinical outcomes. Therefore, the presence of reduced muscle strength in cirrhotic patients may be linked to prognostic factors and should be valued as clinical data in the management of these patients

Composição Química do Óleo Essencial da Ocotea diospyrifolia (Mez) (Lauraceae) e Ação Sinérgica / Chemical Composition of Ocotea diospyrifolia Essential Oil (Mez) (Lauraceae) and Synergistic Action

Neste trabalho foram avaliados a composição química do óleo essencial da Ocotea diospyrifolia (Mez) (Lauraceae) através de técnicas cromatográficas e sua atividade antimicrobiana frente as bactérias gram-positivas Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus e gram-negativas Escherichia coli e Acnetobacter baumannii. A extração do óleo essencial de folhas e cascas foi realizada em extrator de Clevenger por 6 h possibilitando um rendimento de 2,31 % para folhas e 0,22 % para as cascas. Cromatografia gasosa com detecção por ionização de chama e por espectrometria de massas foi utilizado na análise e identificação dos constituintes do óleo. Na identificação da composição química para o óleo das folhas ?-elemeno (12,40%) e espatulenol (21,79%) foram os compostos majoritários. Para o óleo obtido das cascas os sesquiterpenos ?-copaeno (8,01%) e ?-cadineno (8,51%) foram os de maiores concentrações. O teste de sensibilidade antimicrobiano mostrou uma eficácia perante as bactérias gram-positivas E. faecalis e S. aureus diferentemente da bactéria gram-negativa E. coli que não mostrou nenhuma inibição por parte do óleo essencial testado. Para a Acinetobacter baumannii houve uma fraca atividade em relação ao óleo essencial da casca testada. O teste de sinergismo mostrou uma eficiência por parte do óleo essencial das cascas frente á bactéria gram- negativa Acinetobacter baumannii, portadora do gene de resistência blaoxa-23. Houve uma redução de 4 horas no crescimento bacteriano em combinação entre o óleo e o antibiótico polimixina B.

ESTUDO SOBRE A TERMINALIDADE DA VIDA NO CURSO DE MEDICINA: UMA REVISÃO DA LITERATURA

Introduction: Terminality is a process that covers distinct psychic manifestations, with effects in the patient in this situation, the family and the health team. In that meaning, this study aims to make a bibliographic survey about the terminality and its reflections in the patient, the medicine student and the doctor. Methodology: Thereunto, a search was made in the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), with descriptors “terminally ill” and “medical students”. Firstly, 42 works were found, from which, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 texts were selected. Results: Moreover, these topics were discussed: Communication between terminally ill patients and medicine students; Palliative care as an alternative to terminality; Student’s, professional’s and patient’s preparedness to deal with the matter of death. Discussion: The learning related to terminal illness and palliative care is essential for the future physician, because it provides security, empathetic attendance in the patients and their families care, that is a fact that strengthens the doctor-patient relationship. Therefore, it is known that this bond is extremely important regarding the process of death, as it enables both for the student and the physician, as well as for the patient and their family, a fruitful communication between them. In addition, it ensures trust between these people and helps with ways to deal with terminal illness, through empathy. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to expand the reflexion and teaching of topics referring to the question of death, to capacitate medical staff to deal with the terminality of life.Introdução: A terminalidade é um processo que engloba manifestações psíquicas, com efeitos no paciente, na família e na equipe de saúde. Nesse esteio, este estudo objetiva fazer um levantamento bibliográfico sobre a terminalidade e os reflexos desta no paciente, no estudante de medicina e no médico. Metodologia: Para isso, fez-se uma busca na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), utilizando os descritores “paciente terminal” e “estudantes de medicina”. A princípio, encontraram-se 42 trabalhos, dos quais, segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão, selecionaram-se 12 textos. Resultados: Dentre os assuntos englobados na discussão sobre o término da vida, destacam-se as seguintes temáticas: Comunicação entre pacientes terminais e estudantes de medicina; Cuidados paliativos como alternativa à terminalidade; Preparo do estudante, do profissional e do paciente para lidar com a questão da morte. Discussão: O aprendizado relacionado à terminalidade e aos cuidados paliativos é essencial ao futuro médico, pois propicia segurança, atendimento empático nos cuidados com o paciente e seus familiares, fato que fortalece a relação médico-paciente. Diante disso, sabe-se que esse vínculo é extremamente importante no que se refere ao processo da morte, visto que possibilita, tanto para o estudante e o médico quanto para o paciente e sua família, uma comunicação profícua entre os indivíduos. Além disso, assegura a confiança entre essas pessoas e contribui com o auxílio às formas de lidar com a terminalidade, pela empatia. Conclusão: Assim, é preciso ampliar a reflexão e ensino dos assuntos referentes ao término da vida, para capacitar o corpo médico a lidar com a morte