The effect of green human resources management practices on employees’ affective commitment and work engagement: The moderating role of employees’ biospheric value

Organizational Sustainability is an increasingly important movement in the business world because of its social impact and also for the obligations imposed by state agendas and programs by global entities, such as the United Nations. At the forefront of such a movement is the Human Resources function, given its boundary activities with several critical internal and external stakeholders. The term Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) has been used to describe people management with a focus on green issues. The main objective of this research was to explore the relationship between personal values associated with sustainable behaviors (altruistic, biospheric, egoistic, and hedonic values), organizational outcomes such as engagement and commitment, and GHRM. A questionnaire was prepared and used to collect 532 responses from employees from various organizations. Results show that of the four personal values only the biospheric one moderates the relationship between GHRM practices and affective commitment so that the relationship between HRM and affective commitment is stronger when biospheric values score higher. This is an important finding, as it shows that when people value the biosphere, the effect of GHRM practices on affective commitment and work engagement is stronger than when people value other matters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Complementarity of conventional and molecular methods in the assessment of fungal contamination caused by Aspergillus fumigatus complex in one Portuguese composting plant

The handling of waste and compost that occurs frequently in composting plants (compost turning, shredding, and screening) has been shown to be responsible for the release of dust and air borne microorganisms and their compounds in the air. Thermophilic fungi, such as A. fumigatus, have been reported and this kind of contamination in composting facilities has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms among compost workers. This study intended to characterize fungal contamination in a totally indoor composting plant located in Portugal. Besides conventional methods, molecular biology was also applied to overcome eventual limitations

Major roads have a negative impact on the Tawny Owl Strix aluco and the Little Owl Athene noctua populations

The increasing road networks threaten ecosystems by direct effects such as increased mortality due to collision with vehicles and by various indirect effects leading to road avoidance. We censused Tawny Owls Strix aluco and Little Owls Athene noctua in 2005, 2007 and 2009 in a rural landscape in Southern Portugal in order to study the effects of roads and habitat characteristics on Tawny Owl density and Little Owl presence. The presence of both owl species in the 70 census locations was coherent among years. Our results showed that Tawny Owl density near major roads was lower, with the negative effects extending possibly up to 2 km. The probability of Little Owl presence was also negatively affected by the proximity to major roads. The negative effects of roads were significant even considering habitat preferences and spatial autocorrelation, which had the most marked effect on the density or presence of both owls. The reduced occupancy by Tawny Owls and Little Owls of habitats near major roads may be caused by several factors, including increased mortality, disturbance caused by high traffic density, and increased fragmentation. Traffic noise in particular may affect intra-specific communication and hunting efficiency. Consequently, habitat near roads may represent lower-quality territories for owls

Prevalence of Aspergillus section Fumigati in portuguese slaughterhouses: a fungal and mycotoxin concern

Within the Aspergillus genus, Aspergillus fumigatus species is one of the most ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and is considered the section of species with higher clinical relevance. This section is the most common cause of invasive aspergillosis and a major source of infection-related mortality in immunocompromised patients. One of the most abundant metabolites produced by this fungus is the metabolite gliotoxin, which exhibits a diverse array of biologic effects on the immune system. The aim of the present work was to determine the prevalence of Aspergillus section Fumigati by cultural and molecular methods in poultry; swine/bovine; and large animal (bovine and horses) slaughterhouses. Air samples were collected through an impaction method, while surface samples were collected by the swabbing method and subject to further macro and microscopic observations. In addition, we collected air samples using the impinger method in order to perform real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) amplification of genes from A. fumigatus complex. Aspergillus section Fumigati was present only in Stacker, Bleeding and Evisceration air collected from the Poultry Slaughterhouse (10 – 30 CFU.m3), and in air from the Gut Room collected in the Bovine Slaughterhouse (10 CFU.m3). Molecular tools amplified successfully DNA from the A. fumigatus complex in six sampling sites where the presence of this fungal species was not identified by conventional methods. Besides suggesting A. fumigatus complex as an indicator of harmful fungal contamination in this occupational setting, this study also indicates that conventional and molecular tools should be used as a combined strategy to ensure a proper characterization of fungal occupational exposure. Moreover, in the considered slaughterhouses, fungal contamination results pinpoint to co-exposure to other mycotoxins. In fact, occupational exposure to aflatoxin B1 has already been detected in Poultry Slaughterhouse. Therefore, there is a need for considering possible interactions between mycotoxins and fungi and this should be taken into account in the risk assessment process.N/

Análise de perda de carga de escoamentos bifásicos carregados com partículas

Particle-laden flows over smooth surfaces are of great interest to many industries. With the technology advancement, especially in the oil and gas industries, the interest in understanding the behavior of this type of flow inside pipes has generated several researches. Thus, in the present work, the construction of an experimental apparatus formed by smooth stainless steel pipes with a diameter of 50.8 mm and a total length of 88 meters was needed. It was used for later analysis of the load loss of a liquid-solid biphasic flow long the same construction, measurements of the pressure were taken from sockets located every 2 meters along the apparatus. For these measurements were used Silicon Carbide particles of 150 μm in diameter, three different concentrations ranging from 0.45% to 1.4% by mass, in addition to the variation of liquid flow. An empirical correlation has been developed for critical velocity analysis, which is the speed at which the particles settle to the bottom of the pipeline.Escoamentos bifásicos carregados com partículas sobre superfícies lisas são de grande interesse para diversas indústrias. Com o avanço da tecnologia e principalmente das indústrias de óleo e gás o interesse pelo correto entendimento do comportamento desse tipo de escoamento no interior de tubulações tem gerado diversas pesquisas. Assim, no presente trabalho, foi realizada a construção de um aparato experimental formado por tubulações lisas de aço inox de 50,8 mm de diâmetro e com comprimento total de 88 metros, para posterior análise da perda de carga de um escoamento bifásico líquido-sólido, ao longo das mesmas, através de medições realizadas a partir de tomadas de pressão localizadas de 2 em 2 metros ao longo do aparato. Para essas medições foram utilizadas partículas de Carboneto de Silício de 150 µm de diâmetro, três concentrações diferentes variando de 0,45% a 1,4% em massa, além da variação da vazão de líquido. Além disso, realizou-se o desenvolvimento de uma correlação empírica para a análise da velocidade crítica, a qual é a velocidade abaixo da qual as partículas se depositam na parte inferior da tubulação

Poultry production chain: where is the highest occupational threat?

Introduction: Poultry farmers are occupationally exposed to many respiratory hazards, being the two most reported the fungal burden and particles. Besides poultries, we also must consider poultry slaughterhouses, since it may confine the same exposure risks. Objective: In this study, we aimed to access fungal and particles’ exposure in seven poultries with floor-housed operations and in one poultry slaughterhouse to assess and compare occupational exposure to both risk factors in the two occupational settings.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ocjena izloženosti kompleksu Penicillium glabrum u proizvodnji pluta s pomoću komplementarnih metoda

Cork oak is the second most dominant forest species in Portugal and makes this country the world leader in cork export. Occupational exposure to Chrysonilia sitophila and the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry is common, and the latter fungus is associated with suberosis. However, as conventional methods seem to underestimate its presence in occupational environments, the aim of our study was to see whether information obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular-based method, can complement conventional findings and give a better insight into occupational exposure of cork industry workers. We assessed fungal contamination with the P. glabrum complex in three cork manufacturing plants in the outskirts of Lisbon using both conventional and molecular methods. Conventional culturing failed to detect the fungus at six sampling sites in which PCR did detect it. This confirms our assumption that the use of complementing methods can provide information for a more accurate assessment of occupational exposure to the P. glabrum complex in cork industry.Hrast plutnjak druga je vrsta po učestalosti u portugalskim šumama, zbog čega je ta zemlja najveći izvoznik pluta na svijetu. Profesionalna je izloženost plijesnima Chrysonilia sitophila i Penicillium glabrum česta u proizvodnji pluta, a potonja vrsta povezana je s plućnom bolesti suberozom. Međutim, prilikom procjene izloženosti konvencionalnim se metodama često podcjenjuje prisutnost te vrste u radnom okolišu. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja bio provjeriti pretpostavku da polimerazna lančana reakcija (PCR) kao molekulska metoda dopunjuje nalaze konvencionalnih metoda i time daje bolji uvid u profesionalnu izloženost radnika u proizvodnji pluta. U tu smo svrhu istražili onečišćenje kompleksom P. glabrum u trima tvornicama pluta u okolici Lisabona oslanjajući se na konvencionalne i molekulske metode. PCR je otkrio prisutnost plijesni u šest uzoraka, u kojih konvencionalne metode nisu otkrile njihovu prisutnost. To potvrđuje našu pretpostavku da se primjenom komplementarnih metoda može steći bolji uvid i napraviti točnija procjena profesionalne izloženosti kompleksu P. glabrum u proizvodnji pluta

Accessing occupational exposure to fungi in a cork industry

In this study we aimed to access fungal exposure in workers from one cork industry through the mycological analysis of their nasal exudate and the environmental fungal contamination of their surroundings as well. Nasal mucous samples from 127 workers were taken with sterilized cotton swabs.The fungal species identified in the collected nose swabs were shown to be correlated with the results obtained in the environment. Eighty workers (63.0%) presented contamination of their nose nostril with Chrysonilia sitophila, which number of colonies was countless. Within the Aspergillus genus, the complexes Fumigati, Circumdati, Versicolores and Candidi were isolated. No azole-resistant Aspergillus isolates grew in the selective media used (screened itraconazole and voriconazole resistance).This approach allowed us to estimate the risk associated with these tasks performance. Moreover, the cork industry is related to high dust contamination and this can promote exposure to fungi since dust particles can act as carriers of fungi to the worker’s nose. Assessment by molecular tools will ensure the specific targeting of DNA from P. glabrum complex in workers nose

CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA ATIVIDADE DE MONITORIA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA DISCIPLINA DE QUÍMICA GERAL TEÓRICA I NO PERÍODO LETIVO DE 2016.2

O alarmante número de reprovações que vem sendo observado no decorrer dos anos de existência de curso de Licenciatura em Química para as disciplinas de Química Geral Teórica, chama a atenção dos docentes e da direção da Faculdade de Química I. A disciplina Química Geral Teórica I é ofertada no 1° nível da matriz curricular do curso. A referida componente é de formação básica preparatória necessárias ao bom desempenho dos discentes nas demais disciplinas de Química do Curso, e o que se tem observado e que talvez por déficit na aprendizagem na área de Química na educação básica, estes discentes vêm apresentando um péssimo desempenho nas disciplinas de Química Geral. Diante do exposto acima, a Faculdade de Química, entende que a monitoria pode ser uma alternativa para diminuição dos indicies de reprovação na referida componente curricular. A Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDB), trata a importância da atividade de monitoria, a mesma prever que os discentes da educação superior poderão ser aproveitados em atividades de ensino dentro da própria instituição (Brasil, 1996, Art. 84). No âmbito da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, o programa de monitoria está vinculado a Pró-Reitora de Ensino de Graduação (PROEG) a qual oferta bolsas de monitoria via edital especifico. Com base no que preconiza os editais da PROEG com respeito a seleção de monitores, entendemos que o monitor deve dar suporte as atividades desenvolvidas em sala de aula pelo Professor responsável pela disciplina auxiliando os discentes com dificuldades de compreensão do conteúdo ministrado em sala. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo mostrar os resultados obtidos na turma de Química Geral Teórica I no período de 2016.2, que foi assistido pelo programa de monitoria da Unifesspa em comparação com a mesma disciplina ministrada em 2015 sem assistência do programa de monitoria

Projeto Action Girls: Desenvolver o potencial das raparigas e mulheres no desporto

1st International Meeting on Sport, Education and Communities: Beyond the Field organizado pelo Observatório de Desporto, Educação, Comunidades (ODEC), 1-2 junho, 202