Medals and likes: A methodology for big data image dataset analysis of Olympic athletic beauty on Instagram

This article seeks to understand how the Cultural Analytics’ methodological approach and computational tools help interpret large image datasets. A set of 87 730 images of 389 Olympic athletes was collected from Instagram and analyzed, featuring a timespan from September 2011 to November 2020. The image set was structured and organized using computer vision processing combined with interactive visualization tools (Google Vision, PixPlot, Image Network Plotter). The analysis, mixing quantitative and qualitative methods, identified patterns represented as image clusters. Regular personal computers served as the hardware platform. Approximately 60 % of the athletes’ posts were related to non-sports topics, highlighting common characteristics of the visual culture disseminated on Instagram, such as selfies, lifestyle, leisure, travel, and food. Images of sports content, considered a central aspect of the research, had a lower frequency of publications featuring topics such as competitions, training, exercises, and sports practices in general. Beyond this result, the study offers a possible technical framework for similar researchers using large image datasets

The State, Aerospace Multinational Corporations and Variegated Forms of Corporate Capture in Regional Training Systems: A Cross-National Comparative Study Between Charleston, SC, U.S.A. and São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

In today’s globalized world, the power of influence of multinational corporations over the state and society is significant. One particular area is related to how MNCs have influenced states and public educational institutions in order to shape their educational agendas and training initiatives. Many scholars have conceptualized such an influence as processes of corporate capture. In this dissertation, I examine and compare the existing processes of corporate capture related to Boeing and Embraer in the regional training systems of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A., and São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. I also investigate how their distinctive state forms and their forms of governance account for differences in the evolution of such processes. This research, drawing from Neo-Marxist theories of the state and labor geography, critically engages with FDI studies and the GPN literature. Methodologically, this dissertation is based on qualitative cross-national comparative methods. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2014 and 2017, when fifty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with state managers, representatives from educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and firms, among others. In this research I develop two major arguments. First, I argue that the evolution of processes of corporate capture in the regional training systems of São José dos Campos and Charleston is intrinsically connected to their accumulation strategies and state forms. However, such an evolution happens through different mechanisms and is related to different state scales. Second, I turn my attention to the local forms of governance of Charleston and São José dos Campos, claiming that they reinforce processes of corporate capture at the local scale. I argue that their tendency to reinforce processes of corporate capture in training has to be comprehended alongside with their state form and type of state selectivity

Multiphase Mass Transfer in Iron and Steel Refining Processes

In the present chapter, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for multiphase flow was developed, allowing the simulation of two different processes, the desulfurization of hot metal in a ladle mechanically agitated by an impeller (KR process) and the desulfurization of steel in a gas-agitated ladle. The model gives important information to characterize the fluid flow conditions, to define the velocity profiles of the phases involved, and to predict the evolution of the sulfur content during the desulfurization treatments. An expression for the rate of transfer of sulfur from the metal to the slag was proposed. This expression can be used in processes where sulfur is transferred from the metal to the slag phase. The predictions of the variations of sulfur content of the metal phase with time were validated based on experimental data obtained in a Brazilian industrial plant for steel desulfurization. After the validation, the model was used to simulate the effects of several parameters and to optimize the processes. Based on these simulations, it was possible to set up the best operational conditions to improve the productivity of sulfur removal in the primary and secondary metallurgy

Perspectiva do impacto da blockchain em empresas do setor de alimentos: multicasos

Purpose: Analysis of food company managers’ perceptions of the need for a technological change and the managerial aspects considered most important. Originality/value: The study highlighted the need to apply technology for food supply integration chain to improve internal and external processes and identified the aspects that contribute the most to business growth. Methods: The research is exploratory with a quantitative approach. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. To analyze possible decision making about implementing blockchain technology by supply chain managers, we adopted Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) – a multicriteria analysis method. Results: It was observed that the best decision making would be an implementation of the blockchain (50.08%) or other technologies (34.94%) to achieve a better corporate performance. In addition, among the evaluated criteria, operational efficiency was considered the most important to managers, followed by technology, level of logistics service, quality, sustainability, and cost. Conclusion: It was found that regardless of a company’s size, there was a consensus among managers about the need for technological changes in their companies to keep up with market trends.Objetivo: Análise a percepção dos gestores de empresas de alimentos em relação a necessidade de mudanças tecnológicas e os aspectos gerenciais considerados mais importantes. Originalidade/valor: O trabalho evidenciou a necessidade de aplicação de tecnologia pela cadeia produtiva de alimentos para melhoria dos processos internos e externos, e identificou os critérios que mais contribuem para os avanços empresariais. Método: Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória com abordagem quantitativa. Foi aplicado um questionário estruturado para levantamento de dados, e para analisar a possível tomada de decisão sobre a implementação da tecnologia blockchain pelos gestores da cadeia de suprimentos foi adotado o Método de Análise Multicritério – AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). Resultados: Foi evidenciado que a melhor tomada de decisão, seria a implementação da blockchain (50,08%), ou de outras tecnologias (34,94%), com vistas ao alcance de melhor performance corporativa. Além disso, dentre os critérios avaliados, a eficiência operacional foi considerada o mais importante na visão os gestores, seguido por tecnologia, nível de serviço logístico, qualidade, sustentabilidade e custo. Conclusão: Constatou-se que independentemente do porte da empresa, ocorreu um consenso entre os gestores sobre a necessidade de mudanças tecnológicas em suas empresas, para acompanhar as tendências de mercado