Study of the process and problems of strategic outsourcing on-going management

Purpose: To develop a model that describes the clients' management process of strategic outsourcing of services during its on-going phase. The study identifies and explores problems that occur during this phase and which influence outsourcing's effectiveness. The research studies an under-explored area and develops knowledge about the management of outsourcing during the on-going phase of continuous operation. Research design The investigation focused on strategic outsourcing - of industrial maintenance - in a single sector where such maintenance is of strategic importance, namely, in the pulp and paper industry; however, it is expected to be of value to other industries and services. The first part was exploratory, based on a single case study, and focused on the construction of the model in an inductive fashion. The second part further tested the ability of the model to describe the management of strategic outsourcing through three case studies. Findings: Management of the strategic outsourcing of services consists of a number of activities which influence each other and operate concurrently at different hierarchical levels. The management process of this 'stable' phase entails continuous learning and evolution. In each of the activities there are ineffective elements which originate in management problems. Such problems are identified and explored in the research and were found to originate in practices employed either by the clients or the suppliers. Research limitations/implications: All case studies were conducted within one group of companies, though each company had independent management and the outsourcing was implemented differently. This approach enables the discussion about the appropriateness of the findings to describe what happens in the outsourcing of industrial maintenance in the pulp and paper industry. Moreover the research design enables the findings to have an expected value to the outsourcing of other services and in other industries. Finally, a research agenda based on the findings is suggested. It is expected to guide further exploration of the findings and to motivate the exploration of new tendencies in outsourcing practices. Practical implications: The model can help outsourcing managers better understand the complexity, dynamism and problems of their own outsourcing management process, and improve their practices accordingly based on the findings. Originality/value The thesis addresses the on-going management of strategic outsourcing of services. Most literature provides insights into outsourcing strategy and high-level decisions (such as make/buy). Significant and dynamic activity and problems were seen to be occurring during this on-going phase.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Study of the process and problems of strategic outsourcing on-going management

Purpose: To develop a model that describes the clients' management process of strategic outsourcing of services during its on-going phase. The study identifies and explores problems that occur during this phase and which influence outsourcing's effectiveness. The research studies an under-explored area and develops knowledge about the management of outsourcing during the on-going phase of continuous operation. Research design The investigation focused on strategic outsourcing - of industrial maintenance - in a single sector where such maintenance is of strategic importance, namely, in the pulp and paper industry; however, it is expected to be of value to other industries and services. The first part was exploratory, based on a single case study, and focused on the construction of the model in an inductive fashion. The second part further tested the ability of the model to describe the management of strategic outsourcing through three case studies. Findings: Management of the strategic outsourcing of services consists of a number of activities which influence each other and operate concurrently at different hierarchical levels. The management process of this 'stable' phase entails continuous learning and evolution. In each of the activities there are ineffective elements which originate in management problems. Such problems are identified and explored in the research and were found to originate in practices employed either by the clients or the suppliers. Research limitations/implications: All case studies were conducted within one group of companies, though each company had independent management and the outsourcing was implemented differently. This approach enables the discussion about the appropriateness of the findings to describe what happens in the outsourcing of industrial maintenance in the pulp and paper industry. Moreover the research design enables the findings to have an expected value to the outsourcing of other services and in other industries. Finally, a research agenda based on the findings is suggested. It is expected to guide further exploration of the findings and to motivate the exploration of new tendencies in outsourcing practices. Practical implications: The model can help outsourcing managers better understand the complexity, dynamism and problems of their own outsourcing management process, and improve their practices accordingly based on the findings. Originality/value The thesis addresses the on-going management of strategic outsourcing of services. Most literature provides insights into outsourcing strategy and high-level decisions (such as make/buy). Significant and dynamic activity and problems were seen to be occurring during this on-going phase.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

An implementation trial of ACT-based bibliotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder that is associated with pain, discomfort, constipation and diarrhoea. It affects around 20% of adults in Western countries. Reports of distress and self-consciousness, as well as experiential and situational avoidance are common. Previous studies have shown that ACT may be effective for people with IBS. Methods: An uncontrolled trial of ACT based bibliotherapy was undertaken in a specialist motility clinic. Outcomes were measured with standardised self-report questionnaires pre-treatment, and at two and six months. Missing data was handled using maximum likelihood imputation. Data was analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: 45 participants enrolled in the study, with 36 providing data at two months, and 24 at six months. Participants were predominantly female, with an average tenyear history of IBS, and 71% of the sample had moderate or severe symptoms. At six months,participants had improved on symptom severity (hp 2 = .09, 90% CI = .01 - .18), GI specific anxiety (hp 2 = .07, 90% CI = .01 - .16) and IBS willingness (hp 2 = .14, 90% CI = .04 - .24), but had not shown behavioural changes towards greater activity, (hp 2 = .01, 90% CI = .0 - .05) or to reduce IBS avoidance behaviours (hp 2 = .05, 90% CI = .0 = .13). Contrary to hypothesis, intervention did not reduce the impact of IBS on quality of life(hp 2 = .04, 90% CI = .0 - .09). Discussion: Bibliotherapy interventions may be useful for people with refractory IBS, though greater contact and structured exposure may be necessary to change behaviour. The study was limited by problems with attrition, though these data suggest future research in this area would be worthwhile

Comparison of different breast planning techniques and algorithms for radiation therapy treatment

This work aims at investigating the impact of treating breast cancer using different radiation therapy (RT) techniques – forwardly-planned intensity-modulated, f-IMRT, inversely-planned IMRT and dynamic conformal arc (DCART) RT – and their effects on the whole-breast irradiation and in the undesirable irradiation of the surrounding healthy tissues. Two algorithms of iPlan BrainLAB treatment planning system were compared: Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) and commercial Monte Carlo (iMC). Seven left-sided breast patients submitted to breast-conserving surgery were enrolled in the study. For each patient, four RT techniques – f-IMRT, IMRT using 2-fields and 5-fields (IMRT2 and IMRT5, respectively) and DCART – were applied. The dose distributions in the planned target volume (PTV) and the dose to the organs at risk (OAR) were compared analyzing dose–volume histograms; further statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS v20 software. For PBC, all techniques provided adequate coverage of the PTV. However, statistically significant dose differences were observed between the techniques, in the PTV, OAR and also in the pattern of dose distribution spreading into normal tissues. IMRT5 and DCART spread low doses into greater volumes of normal tissue, right breast, right lung and heart than tangential techniques. However, IMRT5 plans improved distributions for the PTV, exhibiting better conformity and homogeneity in target and reduced high dose percentages in ipsilateral OAR. DCART did not present advantages over any of the techniques investigated. Differences were also found comparing the calculation algorithms: PBC estimated higher doses for the PTV, ipsilateral lung and heart than the iMC algorithm predicted

Sustained remission from depressive-like behavior depends on hippocampal neurogenesis

Impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis has been associated with the expression of depressive-like symptoms and some studies have suggested neurogenesis as a critical factor in the normalization of behavior by antidepressant (AD) drugs. This study provides robust evidence that ongoing neurogenesis is essential for the maintenance of behavioral homeostasis and that its pharmacological arrest precipitates symptoms commonly found in depressed patients. Further, the incorporation of newly born neurons and astrocytes into the preexisting hippocampal neurocircuitry is shown to be necessary for the spontaneous recovery from the adverse effects of stress and for long-term benefits of AD treatments.We thank M Carneiro and L Martins for technical assistance. AM-P, LP, MM and SM received fellowships from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). This work was supported by FCT (PTDC/SAU-NEU/105180/2008) and the ICVS

Systematic Observation of Corner Kick Strategies in Portuguese Football Players

Set pieces are important for the success of football teams, with the corner kick being one of the most game defining events. The aim of this research was twofold: (1) to analyze the corner kicks of a senior football amateur team, and (2) to compare the corner kicks of successful and unsuccessful teams (of the 2020/21 sporting season). In total, 500 corners were observed using a bespoke notational analysis tool, using a specific observational instrument tool (8 criteria; 25 categories). Out of the 500 corner kicks, 6% resulted in a goal. A greater number of direct corners using inswing trajectories were performed (n = 54%). Corners were delivered to central and front post areas most frequently (n = 79%). Five attackers were most predominantly used for offensive corners (n = 58%), but defenders won the ball more frequently (n = 44%). Attempts at goal occurred following a corner most commonly from outside of the box (n = 7%). Goals were scored most frequently with the foot (n = 16%) and head (n = 15%). Successful teams are more effective at reaching the attackers and score more goals directly from corners. Unsuccessful teams deliver more corner kicks out of play, the first touch is more frequently from the opposition defenders, and fewe goals are scored from corner kicks. The study provides an insight into the determining factors and patterns that influence corner kicks and success in football matches. This information should be used by coaches to prepare teams for both offensive and defensive corner kicks to increase team success and match outcomes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutritional Properties of Baobab Pulp from Different Angolan Origins

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) is found widely in the forests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. The baobab fruit has a sour and slightly sweet taste and is widely consumed by the natives, thus containing a high nutritional value and providing a source of income for rural people. This study aimed to compare the nutritional composition of baobab fruit pulp from different localities in the Namibe province (Angola). Twenty samples of baobab pulp were collected in markets of the four municipalities of Namibe. The results obtained showed that there is some geographic location dependence on nutritional and functional composition. The municipality of Camucuio showed samples with higher fibre content (56.62 g/100 g) and vitamin C (288.9 mg/100 g). Samples from the Virei municipality stood out for their antioxidant activity (1936 mmol TE/100 g), high K content (42.4 mg/g) and higher values of protein (2.42 g/100 g). The samples collected in the municipality of Bibala stood out for their high contents of carbohydrates (28.1 g/100 g), total phenolic compounds (972 mg GAE/100 g) and Ca (3.80 mg/g). Despite the differences in origin, the high nutritional value of baobab fruit has the potential to improve the diet of thousands of people in Africa qualitatively.publishersversionpublishe

Colloidal nanomaterials for water quality improvement and monitoring

Water is the most important resource for all kind forms of live. It is a vital resource distributed unequally across different regions of the globe, with populations already living with water scarcity, a situation that is spreading due to the impact of climate change. The reversal of this tendency and the mitigation of its disastrous consequences is a global challenge posed to Humanity, with the scientific community assuming a major obligation for providing solutions based on scientific knowledge. This article reviews literature concerning the development of nanomaterials for water purification technologies, including collaborative scientific research carried out in our laboratory (nanoLAB@UA) framed by the general activities carried out at the CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials. Our research carried out in this specific context has been mainly focused on the synthesis and surface chemical modification of nanomaterials, typically of a colloidal nature, as well as on the evaluation of the relevant properties that arise from the envisaged applications of the materials. As such, the research reviewed here has been guided along three thematic lines: 1) magnetic nanosorbents for water treatment technologies, namely by using biocomposites and graphite-like nanoplatelets; 2) nanocomposites for photocatalysis (e.g., TiO2/Fe3O4 and POM supported graphene oxide photocatalysts; photoactive membranes) and 3) nanostructured substrates for contaminant detection using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), namely polymers loaded with Ag/Au colloids and magneto-plasmonic nanostructures. This research is motivated by the firm believe that these nanomaterials have potential for contributing to the solution of environmental problems and, conversely, will not be part of the problem. Therefore, assessment of the impact of nanoengineered materials on eco-systems is important and research in this area has also been developed by collaborative projects involving experts in nanotoxicity. The above topics are reviewed here by presenting a brief conceptual framework together with illustrative case studies, in some cases with original research results, mainly focusing on the chemistry of the nanomaterials investigated for target applications. Finally, near-future developments in this research area are put in perspective, forecasting realistic solutions for the application of colloidal nanoparticles in water cleaning technologies.publishe

Manual De Boas Práticas Para A Conservação Dos Charcos Temporários Mediterrânicos

Este Manual de Boas Praticas pretende divulgar as medidas de gestão sustentável que permitem compatibilizar as atividades humanas com a proteção dos Charcos Temporários Mediterrânicos

WNT6 is a novel oncogenic prognostic biomarker in human glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a universally fatal brain cancer, for which novel therapies targeting specific underlying oncogenic events are urgently needed. While the WNT pathway has been shown to be frequently activated in GBM, constituting a potential therapeutic target, the relevance of WNT6, an activator of this pathway, remains unknown. Methods: WNT6 protein and mRNA levels were evaluated in GBM. WNT6 levels were silenced or overexpressed in GBM cells to assess functional effects in vitro and in vivo. Phospho-kinase arrays and TCF/LEF reporter assays were used to identify WNT6-signaling pathways, and significant associations with stem cell features and cancer-related pathways were validated in patients. Survival analyses were performed with Cox regression and Log-rank tests. Meta-analyses were used to calculate the estimated pooled effect. Results: We show that WNT6 is significantly overexpressed in GBMs, as compared to lower-grade gliomas and normal brain, at mRNA and protein levels. Functionally, WNT6 increases typical oncogenic activities in GBM cells, including viability, proliferation, glioma stem cell capacity, invasion, migration, and resistance to temozolomide chemotherapy. Concordantly, in in vivo orthotopic GBM mice models, using both overexpressing and silencing models, WNT6 expression was associated with shorter overall survival, and increased features of tumor aggressiveness. Mechanistically, WNT6 contributes to activate typical oncogenic pathways, including Src and STAT, which intertwined with the WNT pathway may be critical effectors of WNT6-associated aggressiveness in GBM. Clinically, we establish WNT6 as an independent prognostic biomarker of shorter survival in GBM patients from several independent cohorts. Conclusion: Our findings establish WNT6 as a novel oncogene in GBM, opening opportunities to develop more rational therapies to treat this highly aggressive tumor.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/SAU-GMG/113795/2009 and IF/00601/2012 to B.M.C.; SFRH/BD/92786/2013 to C.S.G.; SFRH/BD/88121/2012 to J.V.C.; SFRH/BD/81042/2011 to M.P.; SFRH/BD/93443/2013 to S.Q.) and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (B.M.C.), by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and National Funds through FCT under the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007038; by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013 and NORTE-01-0246-FEDER-000012, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); and by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio