World state of quality: a frontier approach to benchmark the performance of countries worldwide

Purpose - The World State of Quality (WSQ) Project aims to evaluate, analyse, rank and categorise countries according to their performance in quality as a multidimensional concept. The Project involves the computation of an overall score for each country, obtained as a weighted average of ranking positions of 16 metrics, with weights determined by a panel of experts. Methodology-This work proposes an alternative strategy for that procedure, using a Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) Composite Indicator approach under the framework of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This strategy avoids the need of using subjective weights and normalising data by rank positions, using a more objective procedure to obtain the countries’ ranking. A new overall score of the World State of Quality is proposed, which allows the categorisation of countries’ performance. The novel insights resulting from the use of this methodology are discussed, including the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the various countries, and the peers that can be used for facilitating continuous improvements policies. Findings - The results show that the BoD approach and the original method used by the WSQ Project present comparable results. Countries’ strengths and weaknesses and their suitable peers and targets for benchmarking are presented with illustrative examples. Originality/value – A novel frontier approach for countries’ benchmarking regarding their performance in quality is proposed, incorporating new insights into the current method.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(2021.05244)The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology) through PhD research grants and SFRH/BD/131285/2017. This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

OTIMIZAÇÃO DE INVESTIMENTOS EM GESTÃO DE ATIVOS DE SISTEMAS DE ABASTECIMENTO DE ÁGUA UTILIZANDO O ÍNDICE DE VALOR DA INFRAESTRUTURA

The field of asset management provides a coordinated effort to extract value from physical assets, incorporating an integrated approach to deal with risks, costs and performance. This paper proposes an oriented approach to selecting infrastructure investment projects in an asset management framework. The standard metric used for project selection with multiple assets is the Infrastructure Value Index (IVI), which has been used to characterize water sector assets in several countries. Two mixed-integer linear programming models are developed in this paper. The first optimization model deals with a capital budget allocation problem that intends to select investment projects that maximize assets’ condition. The second optimization model deals with a budget planning problem aiming at minimizing the capital required to maintain the assets in the desired condition. The application of the models is illustrated by a case study of a company operating in the water sector in Portugal, namely in a pumping station from a water supply system. The results obtained in the different scenarios analysed are discussed with a view to supporting the design of more efficient asset management policies. A área de conhecimento associada à gestão de ativos potencia a extração de valor de ativos físicos, incorporando uma abordagem integrada que envolve riscos, custos e desempenho. Este trabalho propõe uma nova abordagem para selecionar projetos de investimento em infraestruturas no âmbito da gestão de ativos. A métrica padrão utilizada para a seleção de projetos em ativos múltiplos é o Índice de Valor de Infraestruturas (IVI), que tem sido utilizado para caracterizar ativos do setor de águas em diversos países. Este trabalho desenvolveu dois modelos de programação linear inteira mista. O primeiro modelo de otimização trata de um problema de alocação de orçamento de capital selecionando projetos de investimento com vista à maximização da condição dos ativos. O segundo modelo de otimização trata de um problema de planeamento de orçamento, visando minimizar o capital necessário para manter os ativos nas condições desejadas. A aplicação dos modelos é ilustrada por um estudo de caso de uma empresa que opera no setor da água em Portugal. Os resultados obtidos nos diferentes cenários analisados são discutidos com vista a apoiar o desenho de políticas de gestão de ativos mais eficientes

Consistent Long-Term Therapeutic Efficacy of Human Umbilical Cord Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells After Myocardial Infarction Despite Individual Differences and Transient Engraftment

Human mesenchymal stem cells gather special interest as a universal and feasible add-on therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, human umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UCM-MSC) are advantageous since can be easily obtained and display high expansion potential. Using isolation protocols compliant with cell therapy, we previously showed UCM-MSC preserved cardiac function and attenuated remodeling 2 weeks after MI. In this study, UCM-MSC from two umbilical cords, UC-A and UC-B, were transplanted in a murine MI model to investigate consistency and durability of the therapeutic benefits. Both cellular products improved cardiac function and limited adverse cardiac remodeling 12 weeks post-ischemic injury, supporting sustained and long-term beneficial therapeutic effect. Donor associated variability was found in the modulation of cardiac remodeling and activation of the Akt-mTOR-GSK3β survival pathway. In vitro, the two cell products displayed similar ability to induce the formation of vessel-like structures and comparable transcriptome in normoxia and hypoxia, apart from UCM-MSCs proliferation and expression differences in a small subset of genes associated with MHC Class I. These findings support that UCM-MSC are strong candidates to assist the treatment of MI whilst calling for the discussion on methodologies to characterize and select best performing UCM-MSC before clinical application

Formar bem as mães para criar e educar boas crianças: as revistas portuguesas de educação familiar e a difusão da maternidade científica (1945-1958)

Este artigo tem como principal objetivo contribuir para a compreensão do processo de construção da maternidade científica em Portugal. Neste sentido, foi analisado um conjunto de artigos (n=628), publicados em revistas de educação familiar, entre 1945 e 1958. A análise realizada permitiu compreender que as revistas analisadas contribuem para a difusão da maternidade científica, ou seja, da ideia de que a aquisição de conhecimento científico sobre a criação e educação das crianças é elemento indispensável ao adequado exercício da função maternal. Observou-se, ainda, a existência de diferentes estratégias de educação para a maternidade, às quais está subjacente um elemento de classe, assim como diferentes níveis de adesão, por parte das mulheres, à concepção de maternidade científica

Para o estudo da evolução do ensino e da formação em administração educacional em Portugal

Estudos sobre a evolução do ensino de disciplinas, na formação de professores em Portugal, são recentes. O controle burocrático centralizado reteve as dimensões do controle político-administrativo. De certo modo, protegeu a esfera educativa das influências modernizantes, do capitalismo industrial e das lógicas mercantis e gerencialistas. Defendeu a educação do domínio político, da intervenção de movimentos sociais, das propagandas de ideais democráticos e da cidadania. A utilização da designação "Administração educacional" ilustra as dificuldades sentidas, ao longo dos últimos anos, em termos da construção acadêmica de uma área, seja pela falta de tradição, seja pelos antecedentes históricos.In Portugal, studies about the evolution of disciplines teaching in the teachers formation are recent. The centralized bureaucratic control has held back the dimensions of politic administrative control. In a certain way, it has protected the education against the new-fashioned influences, manufacturing capitalism, and mercantile and managerial logics. This centralized bureaucratic control has also profected the education against the politic dominion, the intervention of social movements, the advertising of democratic ideals, and against the citizenship. The use of the term "Educational administration" shows the difficulties met by the searchers along the latest years, since there is no tradiction nor historic antecedence

Um cenário de possibilidades para o estágio curricular supervisionado no contexto de um instituto federal

Este artigo trata da pesquisa acerca da formação inicial de professores, focando o Estágio Curricular Supervisionado (ECS). O objetivo foi investigar o processo de estágio e buscar novas alternativas de atuação do docente recém-formado pelo viés da pesquisa. Neste texto, apresenta-se um recorte da pesquisa, que trata do atual modelo de prática do ECS e apresenta uma proposta de alteração pelo viés da pesquisa. Para tanto, utilizou-se, como metodologia, a análise de documentos, de fontes escritas e orais, além da observação in loco nas escolas em que os estudantes realizaram os estágios. Participaram quatro professores orientadores de estágio e quatro estagiários. Os resultados revelam que o estágio vem sendo realizado numa concepção de racionalidade técnica e, para a sua superação, é preciso que seja tratado como elemento articulador que perpassa as diferentes disciplinas que compõem a matriz curricular, e que ocorram reflexões coletivas para estudo, planejamento, execução e avaliação das ações.Este artículo trata de la investigación acerca de la formación inicial de maestros, enfocada en la Pasantía Curricular Supervisada (PCS). El objetivo fue investigar el proceso de pasantía y buscar nuevas alternativas de actuación del docente recién graduado por la tendencia de la investigación. En este texto, se presenta un recorte de investigación que trata del modelo actual de práctica de la PCS y presenta una propuesta de alteración por la tendencia de la investigación. Para tanto, se ha utilizado como metodología el análisis de documentos, fuentes escritas y orales, además de la observación in loco en las escuelas en las que los estudiantes realizaron sus pasantías. Participaron cuatro profesores orientadores de pasantía y cuatro pasantes. Los resultados revelan que la pasantía es realizada en una concepción de racionalidad técnica y, para su superación, es necesario que sea tratada como un elemento articulador que permea las diferentes asignaturas que componen la matriz curricular, y que ocurran reflexiones colectivas para estudio, planeamiento, ejecución y evaluación de las acciones.This article reports of the research about the initial formation of teachers, focusing on the Supervised Curricular Internship (SCI). The main goal was to investigate the internship process and search for new alternatives of action for the recently graduated teacher. In this paper, we present a framed research about the current SCI model and proposes an alteration through research bias. For this purpose, we accessed action research methodology, analyzing written documents, oral sources and on-site observation in schools where teaching students perform internships. Four teachers and four interns took part on the research. The results show that the internship has taken place in a technical rationality conception. For its overcoming, internship has to be treated as an articulating element that crosses the different disciplines that are part of the curricular matrix. It’s also necessary that collective reflections are made about study, planning, implementation and evaluation of actions.Apoio financeiro do CIEC (Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho; UI 317 da FCT, Portugal) através do Projeto Estratégico UID/CED/00317/2013, financiado através dos Fundos Nacionais da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular analysis of HBV genotypes and subgenotypes in the Central-East region of Tunisia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Tunisia, country of intermediate endemicity for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, most molecular studies on the virus have been carried out in the North of the country and little is known about other regions. The aim of this study was to determine HBV genotype and subgenotypes in Central-East Tunisia. A total of 217 HBs antigen positive patients were enrolled and determination of genotype was investigated in 130 patients with detectable HBV DNA. HBV genotyping methods were: PCR-RFLP on the pre-S region, a PCR using type-specific primers in the S region (TSP-PCR) and partial sequencing in the pre-S region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three genotypes (D, B and A) were detected by the PCR-RFLP method and two (D and A) with the TSP-PCR method, the concordance between the two methods was 93%. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 32 strains, retrieved the same genotype (D and A) for samples with concordant results and genotype D for samples with discordant results. The sequences of discordant genotypes had a restriction site in the pre-S gene which led to erroneous result by the PCR-RFLP method. Thus, prevalence of genotype D and A was 96% and 4%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed the predominance of two subgenotypes D1 (55%) and D7 (41%). Only one strain clustered with D3 subgenotype (3%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Predominance of subgenotype D7 appears to occur in northern regions of Africa with transition to subgenotype D1 in the East of the continent. HBV genetic variability may lead to wrong results in rapid genotyping methods and sequence analysis is needed to clarify atypical results.</p