Building safe food chains in developing countries : implications of a case study, Mozambique

Dissertação de Mestrado em Segurança AlimentarFood Safety and Food Security are intrinsically linked. Food security issues faced by developing countries, like famine, malnutrition and starvation have tended to dominate the policy agenda, leaving food safety as a secondary issue with both governments and stakeholders struggling to enable this important health and trade factor to be taken into account. The purpose of this case study is to analyse, and delve into, the food safety status in Mozambique, a developing country in Africa, streamlining the food safety considerations and recommendations of key points that could guide towards the achievement of safer food chains. This struggle can be seen in the reality experienced by entrepreneurs of the food industry when trying to implement an effective and legally compliant food safety system from farm to fork. Despite the efforts of international organizations to strengthen food safety in African developing countries, case study experience shows that huge gaps and challenges remain. While a number of countries and subsectors in the African region have achieved notable progress in implementing food safety strategies, many are still struggling. Like other developing countries, Mozambique urgently needs to address food safety concerns as a whole including public health, domestic and international market perspectives, with the proper involvement of all stakeholders.RESUMO - A Segurança Alimentar e a Segurança dos Alimentos estão intrinsecamente ligadas. Situações de insegurança alimentar vividas em países em desenvolvimento, como a desnutrição e a fome, tendem a dominar as agendas políticas. Neste sentido os assuntos relacionados com a segurança dos alimentos ficam em segundo plano. As entidades governamentais ficam, como todas as outras partes interessadas, numa luta constante para conseguir ter em conta este elemento tão importante para a saúde pública e para o comércio. O estudo de caso desenvolvido neste trabalho pretende analisar o estado de desenvolvimento da segurança dos alimentos em Moçambique, um país em desenvolvimento do continente Africano. Ao descrever a realidade vivida por um operador do setor alimentar que tenta implementar na sua empresa uma metodologia de segurança dos alimentos “do prado ao prato”, pretende-se delinear as situações experienciadas. Embora vários países e subsectores da região africana tenham alcançado progressos notáveis na implementação de estratégias de segurança dos alimentos, muitos ainda estão na expetativa do seu alcance. Moçambique, tal como outros países em desenvolvimento, necessita urgentemente de abordar as preocupações com a segurança dos alimentos como um todo, incluindo a saúde pública, as perspetivas do mercado interno e internacional, garantindo o envolvimento adequado de todas as partes interessadas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A aventura de uma estudante estagiária a caminho de se tornar Professora de Educação Física

O presente relatório foi elaborado no âmbito do Estágio Profissional, inserido no plano de estudos do segundo ano do 2ºCiclo em Ensino da Educação Física nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário, da Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto. O Estágio Profissional é o culminar da formação dos estudantes estagiários e futuros professores, uma vez que é durante este ano que estes se deparam com as exigências da profissão em contexto real e que procuram colocar em prática o que aprenderam ao longo da formação. O ano de estágio (da autora) decorreu numa escola situada no Porto, inserida num núcleo de estágio constituído por três elementos sob a orientação de uma Professora da Escola Cooperante e de uma Professora da Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto. Esta intervenção pedagógica ocorreu maioritariamente com uma turma do 9ºano, tendo também havido lugar a experiências de lecionação numa do 6ºano de escolaridade e no Desporto Escolar. Ao longo do presente relatório, são relatadas as experiências, intervenções e desafios que a autora foi enfrentando ao longo do ano, com especial foco nas primeiras impressões do que é "Ser Professora" e na pandemia que nos vimos obrigados a enfrentar ao longo do ano letivo de 2020/2021. Desta forma, uma das maiores aprendizagens retidas pela autora, assenta na valorização do aluno como um ser ativo no processo de ensino-aprendizagem e a constante adaptação e (re)adaptação que um professor tem de ser capaz de realizar em prol do alcance do objetivo estipulado. O estudo de investigação visou analisar em alunos de três turmas do 9ºano da Escola Cooperante a experiência dos mesmos no E@D, com um foco na importância da Educação Física para o seu bem-estar enquanto cidadão e enquanto aluno. Os resultados evidenciam a existência de uma correlação positiva entre o impacto das aulas de Educação Física e o bem-estar dos alunos durante o período de confinamento.This document was written within the context of the school placement, included in the second year of the 2nd cycle in Physical Education Teaching in the Primary and Education, at the Faculty of Sports of the University of Porto. school placement,is the culmination of the preservice training and future teachers, since it is during this year that they are faced with the demands of the profession in a real context and seek to put into practice what they have learned during their training. The school placement (of the author) took place at a school located in Porto, as part of a practicum group consisting of three elements under the guidance of a Professor from the Cooperating School and of a Professor from the Faculty of Sports of the University of Porto. This pedagogical intervention occurred mostly with a 9th grade class, but with teaching experiences also taking place in a 6th grade class and in School Sports. Throughout this report, the experiences, actions and challenges that the author has faced throughout the year are reported, with a special focus on the first impressions of the meaning of "Being a Teacher" and on the pandemic that we were forced to face throughout the 2020/2021academic year. Hence, one of the greatest learning experiences retained by the autor is that the student must be valued as an asset in the teaching-learning process and the constant adaptation and (re)adaptation that a teacher must be able to perform in order to achieve the previously stipulated goal. The research study aimed to analyze students from three 9th grade classes of the Cooperating School and their experience in e-learning focusing on the importance of Physical Education for their well-being and to fight loneliness feelings. The results show the existence of a positive correlation between the impact of Physical Education classes and the well-being of students during the confinement period

Compra impulsiva nos centros comerciais portugueses: influência das características ambientais e pessoais

Mestrado em MarketingA compra por impulso é uma área de investigação que se enquadra no comportamento do consumidor. Conhecer os seus factores determinantes é crítico para os retalhistas, uma vez que a maior parte das decisões de compra efectuadas pelo consumidor não são tomadas até este se encontrar dentro da loja (Lee e Johnson, 2010). Definiu-se compra por impulso como sendo uma compra não planeada, que ocorre quando o desejo se sobrepõe ao autocontrolo, possuindo uma forte influência emocional e baixo controlo cognitivo. É uma compra rápida, espontânea, comandada por um estímulo e com pouca ponderação das consequências. Esta pesquisa baseou-se no modelo de Mehrabian e Russel (1974): modelo E-O-R (Estímulo-Organismo-Resposta), que explica que um ambiente de loja agradável (E) causa um estado emocional positivo no consumidor (O), que por sua vez, faz com que este queira permanecer dentro da loja e explorar as ofertas existentes (R). Aplicou-se este modelo à temática relacionada com a compra por impulso em centros comerciais portugueses e investigou-se em que medida o ambiente de loja (E) influencia o estado de espírito do consumidor (O), que, por sua vez, influencia a compra por impulso (R). Também se colocou a hipótese do funcionário e o ambiente loja (E) influenciarem directamente a compra por impulso (R). Para se testar este modelo desenvolveu-se um estudo quantitativo. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que apesar do ambiente de loja influenciar o estado de espírito do consumidor, este não influencia a compra por impulso, neste particular contexto. Também o ambiente de loja e o funcionário não influenciam a compra por impulso.Impulse buying is a significant aspect of consumer behavior, but also a critical concept for retailers, since most of buying decisions made by consumers are not taken until they're inside the store (Lee e Johnson, 2010). This type of purchase was defined as an unplanned purchase, which occurs when desire overlaps self-control and has a strong emotional influence and low cognitive control. It's a quick and spontaneous purchase, driven by a stimulus and little consideration of the consequences. The model of Mehrabian and Russel (1974) was followed: S-O-R model (Stimulus-Organism-Response), which explains why a pleasant store environment (S) causes shoppers' positive emotional state (O) and this in turn, make him wanting to stay inside the store and explore the existing offers (R). This model was applied to impulse buying in Portuguese shopping centers and it was considered that the store's environment (S) influences costumer's mood (O) which, in turn, influences impulse buying (R). It was also considered that the employee and store's environment (S) directly influence impulse buying (R). To test this model, a quantitative research methodology was used. The results revealed that besides the store's environment influences costumer's mood, this in turn, doesn't influence impulse buying, in this particular context. The same happens with store's environment and the employee

Processo de decisão no licenciamento comercial num quadro de governança: o caso dos centros comerciais no Algarve

Tese de Mestrado em Gestão e Políticas PúblicasO presente estudo pretende conhecer o processo de decisão no licenciamento comercial e os seus intervenientes à luz dos quadros teóricos da gestão na Administração Pública, bem como os reflexos da reforma administrativa nos últimos dois regimes de licenciamento comercial, objeto de análise. Desenvolvemos uma análise empírica sobre os centros comerciais no Algarve, utilizando para o efeito uma metodologia de natureza qualitativa. Através de entrevistas semiestruturadas conhecemos a opinião dos stakeholders com intervenção direta e indireta no processo de decisão. Os resultados refletem um conhecimento privilegiado sobre a realidade dos centros comerciais no Algarve e as preocupações subjacentes ao seu licenciamento, bem como as principais dificuldades que lhes são inerentes. Constatamos as influências comunitárias no processo decisório e as perspetivas de futuro para os centros comerciais a médio prazo. Conclui-se também pela importância da localização dos centros comerciais de pequena e média dimensão em ambiente urbano como fator dinamizador dos centros das cidades e gerador da complementaridade e coexistência dos diversos formatos de comércio.This study seeks to examine the decision-making process in the licensing of shopping centers and its stakeholders according to the theoretical frames of management in public administration, as well as the reflexes from the past two commercial licensing regimes, that are our object of analysis. We developed an empirical analysis of the shopping centers in Algarve, using for this purpose a qualitative methodology. Through structured interviews we’ve got to know the views of stakeholders with direct and indirect intervention in the decision process. The results reflect a privileged knowledge about the reality of shopping centers in the Algarve and the concerns underlying its licensing as well as the main difficulties inherent to them. We found the European Union influences in the decision-making process and the prospects for the future of shopping centers in the medium term. Our conclusions support the importance of the location of small and medium-sized shopping centers in urban environment as a boosting factor for the development of city centers and generating complementarity and coexistence among the different formats of trade

Electrochemical studies on small electron transfer proteins using membrane electrodes

Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry 541 (2003) 153-162Membrane electrodes (ME) were constructed using gold, glassy carbon and pyrolytic graphite supports and a dialysis membrane, and used to study the electrochemical behavior of small size electron transfer proteins: monohemic cytochrome c522 from Pseudomonas nautica and cytochrome c533 as well as rubredoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris . Different electrochemical techniques were used including cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SW) and differential pulse voltammetry (DP). A direct electrochemical response was obtained in all cases except with rubredoxin where a facilitator was added to the protein solution entrapped between the membrane and the electrode surface. Formal potentials and heterogeneous charge transfer rate constants were determined from the voltammetric data. The influence of the ionic strength and the pH of the medium on the electrochemical response at the ME were analyzed. The benefits from the use of the ME in protein electrochemistry and its role in modulating the redox behavior are analyzed. A critical comparison is presented with data obtained at non-MEs. Finally, the interactions that must be established between the proteins and the electrode surfaces are discussed, thereby modeling molecular interactions that occur in biological systems

Direct electrochemistry of the Desulfovibrio gigas aldehyde oxidoreductase

Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 1329–1338 (2004)This work reports on the direct electrochemistry of the Desulfovibrio gigas aldehyde oxidoreductase (DgAOR), a molybdenum enzyme of the xanthine oxidase family that contains three redox-active cofactors: two [2Fe-2S] centers and a molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide cofactor. The voltammetric behavior of the enzyme was analyzed at gold and carbon (pyrolytic graphite and glassy carbon) electrodes. Two different strategies were used: one with the molecules confined to the electrode surface and a second with DgAOR in solution. In all of the cases studied, electron transfer took place, although different redox reactions were responsible for the voltammetric signal. From a thorough analysis of the voltammetric responses and the structural properties of the molecular surface of DgAOR, the redox reaction at the carbon electrodes could be assigned to the reduction of the more exposed iron cluster, [2Fe-2S] II, whereas reduction of the molybdopterin cofactor occurs at the gold electrode. Voltammetric results in the presence of aldehydes are also reported and discussed

Mediated catalysis of Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome c peroxidase by P. pantotrophus pseudoazurin: kinetics of intermolecular electron transfer

J Biol Inorg Chem (2007) 12:691–698 DOI 10.1007/s00775-007-0219-9This work reports the direct electrochemistry of Paracoccus pantotrophus pseudoazurin and the mediated catalysis of cytochrome c peroxidase from the same organism. The voltammetric behaviour was examined at a gold membrane electrode, and the studies were performed in the presence of calcium to enable the peroxidase activation. A formal reduction potential, E (0)', of 230 +/- 5 mV was determined for pseudoazurin at pH 7.0. Its voltammetric signal presented a pH dependence, defined by pK values of 6.5 and 10.5 in the oxidised state and 7.2 in the reduced state, and was constant up to 1 M NaCl. This small copper protein was shown to be competent as an electron donor to cytochrome c peroxidase and the kinetics of intermolecular electron transfer was analysed. A second-order rate constant of 1.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) was determined at 0 M NaCl. This parameter has a maximum at 0.3 M NaCl and is pH-independent between pH 5 and 9

Artefacts induced on c-type haem proteins by electrode surfaces

J Biol Inorg Chem (2011) 16:209–215 DOI 10.1007/s00775-010-0717-zIn this work it is demonstrated that the characterization of c-type haem containing proteins by electrochemical techniques needs to be cautiously performed when using pyrolytic graphite electrodes. An altered form of the cytochromes, which has a redox potential 300 mV lower than that of the native state and displays peroxidatic activity, can be induced by interaction with the pyrolytic graphite electrode. Proper control experiments need to be performed, as altered conformations of the enzymes containing c-type haems can show activity towards the enzyme substrate. The work was focused on the study of the activation mechanism and catalytic activity of cytochrome c peroxidase from Paracoccus pantotrophus. The results could only be interpreted with the assignment of the observed non-turnover and catalytic signals to a non-native conformation state of the electron-transferring haem. The same phenomenon was detected for Met–His monohaem cytochromes (mitochondrial cytochrome c and Desulfovibrio vulgaris cytochrome c-553), as well as for the bis-His multihaem cytochrome c 3 from Desulfovibrio gigas, showing that this effect is independent of the axial coordination of the c-type haem protein. Thus, the interpretation of electrochemical signals of c-type (multi)haem proteins at pyrolytic graphite electrodes must be carefully performed, to avoid misassignment of the signals and incorrect interpretation of catalytic intermediates

Benefits of membrane electrodes in the electrochemistry of metalloproteins: mediated catalysis of Paracoccus pantotrophus cytochrome c peroxidase by horse cytochrome c: a case study

J Biol Inorg Chem. 2008 Jun;13(5):779-87. doi: 10.1007/s00775-008-0365-8A comparative study of direct and mediated electrochemistry of metalloproteins in bulk and membrane-entrapped solutions is presented. This work reports the first electrochemical study of the electron transfer between a bacterial cytochrome c peroxidase and horse heart cytochrome c. The mediated catalysis of the peroxidase was analysed both using the membrane electrode configuration and with all proteins in solution. An apparent Michaelis constant of 66 +/- 4 and 42 +/- 5 microM was determined at pH 7.0 and 0 M NaCl for membrane and bulk solutions, respectively. The data revealed that maximum activity occurs at 50 mM NaCl, pH 7.0, with intermolecular rate constants of (4.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(6) and (1.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1) for membrane-entrapped and bulk solutions, respectively. The influence of parameters such as pH or ionic strength on the mediated catalytic activity was analysed using this approach, drawing attention to the fact that careful analysis of the results is needed to ensure that no artefacts are introduced by the use of the membrane configuration and/or promoters, and therefore the dependence truly reflects the influence of these parameters on the (mediated) catalysis. From the pH dependence, a pK of 7.5 was estimated for the mediated enzymatic catalysis

Analysis of the activation mechanism of Pseudomonas stutzeri cytochrome c peroxidase through an electron transfer chain

J Biol Inorg Chem (2011) 16:881–888 DOI 10.1007/s00775-011-0785-