Supplier Base Reduction Process

Industries have been undergoing several trend changes in the past decades, two of which are relevant for this study: outsourcing and mergers and acquisitions. Outsourcing allows companies to focus on doing what they are best at; and mergers and acquisitions are a way of increasing presence in the market and achieving fast growth. Several companies in the world followed both of these trends, including Sandvik Mining and Construction (SMC), and one of the common consequences seen is the increase of the supplier base. The objectives of this thesis are to develop a framework for targeting suppliers to be eliminated and a process for eliminating such suppliers. It discusses supplier management in general, including selection and elimination of suppliers, as well as supplier base expansion. Several employees in SMC were interviewed, from sourcing to production and from operation level do middle management. A theoretical framework was developed and tested. In addition, a process for eliminating suppliers was created in the form of a flowchart. A sample of 200 suppliers was given and a test period of six months stipulated. Of those, 37% were targeted to be eliminated from the supplier base. However, this process has a high stakeholder involvement required, which impacted severely on the success of the project. Some cases seen are of suppliers labeled as “special”, resistance against the project by some employees or low priority of the project. Hence, it was determined that either the company is not ready to undertake such process, or that a stronger management involvement is necessary. By the time the thesis was published a rate of elimination of 3% was verified. /Kir1

Supplier Base Reduction Process

Industries have been undergoing several trend changes in the past decades, two of which are relevant for this study: outsourcing and mergers and acquisitions. Outsourcing allows companies to focus on doing what they are best at; and mergers and acquisitions are a way of increasing presence in the market and achieving fast growth. Several companies in the world followed both of these trends, including Sandvik Mining and Construction (SMC), and one of the common consequences seen is the increase of the supplier base. The objectives of this thesis are to develop a framework for targeting suppliers to be eliminated and a process for eliminating such suppliers. It discusses supplier management in general, including selection and elimination of suppliers, as well as supplier base expansion. Several employees in SMC were interviewed, from sourcing to production and from operation level do middle management. A theoretical framework was developed and tested. In addition, a process for eliminating suppliers was created in the form of a flowchart. A sample of 200 suppliers was given and a test period of six months stipulated. Of those, 37% were targeted to be eliminated from the supplier base. However, this process has a high stakeholder involvement required, which impacted severely on the success of the project. Some cases seen are of suppliers labeled as “special”, resistance against the project by some employees or low priority of the project. Hence, it was determined that either the company is not ready to undertake such process, or that a stronger management involvement is necessary. By the time the thesis was published a rate of elimination of 3% was verified. /Kir1

A formação inicial de professor: considerações sobre o programa de licenciaturas internacionais

Recently in Brazil, professor formation and incentives for teacher formation have been a recurrent subject. The International Program for Teaching Degrees (Programa de Licenciaturas Internacionais, PLI) has broadened the actions focused on teacher formation. This study reports the follow-up process of the students participating in the program and sought to analyze the insertion conditions to PLI and what were the learning opportunities for the teaching of Brazilian students. The qualitative research and content analysis allowed the systematization of data. The results indicate that: the major difficulty to implement the program was handling the contents of the specific areas; the teaching methodologies required the participation of students in the construction of knowledge; the study routine was intense; teaching with research is a reality; living “alone” created the opportunity for personal growth; the adaptation to the Portuguese culture was slow and difficult; and the course requires a full-time dedication. The professional learning resulted in obtaining a constant improvement attitude when seeking new knowledge and abilities to become a teacher.A formação de professores e as políticas de incentivo à formação docente têm sido recorrentes no contexto brasileiro. O Programa de Licenciaturas Internacionais (PLI) ampliou as ações voltadas para a formação do professor. Este estudo relata o processo de acompanhamento de estudantes inseridos nesse programa e buscou analisar as condições de inserção ao PLI e quais foram as oportunidades de aprendizagem para a docência dos estudantes brasileiros. A pesquisa qualitativa e a análise de conteúdo permitiram a sistematização dos dados. Os resultados indicam que: a maior dificuldade para a inserção ao programa foi o domínio dos conteúdos da área específica; as metodologias de ensino solicitaram a participação dos alunos na construção do conhecimento; a rotina de estudo foi intensa; o ensino com pesquisa é uma realidade; viver “sozinho” oportunizou um crescimento pessoal; a adaptação à cultura portuguesa foi lenta e difícil; e o curso requer dedicação em tempo integral. A aprendizagem profissional significou a aquisição de uma postura de aprimoramento constante em busca de novos conhecimentos e habilidades para a atuação docente

Oxidized LDLs inhibit TLR-induced IL-10 production by monocytes : a new aspect of pathogen-accelerated atherosclerosis

It is widely accepted that oxidized low-density lipoproteins and local infections or endotoxins in circulation contribute to chronic inflammatory process at all stages of atherosclerosis. The hallmark cells of atherosclerotic lesions—monocytes and macrophages—are able to detect and integrate complex signals derived from lipoproteins and pathogens, and respond with a spectrum of immunoregulatory cytokines. In this study, we show strong inhibitory effect of oxLDLs on anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 production by monocytes responding to TLR2 and TLR4 ligands. In contrast, pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor secretion was even slightly increased, when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis—an oral pathogen associated with atherosclerosis. The oxLDLs modulatory activity may be explained by altered recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, which involves serum proteins, particularly vitronectin. We also suggest an interaction between vitronectin receptor, CD11b, and TLR2. The presented data support a novel pathway for pathogen-accelerated atherosclerosis, which relies on oxidized low-density lipoprotein-mediated modulation of anti-inflammatory response to TLR ligands. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10753-012-9472-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Da formação inicial ao desenvolvimento profissional docente: análises e reflexões sobre os processos formativos

Este artigo analisa os elementos constituintes da formação de professores e do desenvolvimento profissional docente. A reflexão parte da formação inicial e contínua e segue apresentando como o desenvolvimento profissional ocorre a partir desses processos formativos. Dessa forma, os objetivos deste estudo voltaram-se para distinguir os elementos constituintes da formação de professores em relação à formação inicial, à formação contínua e ao desenvolvimento profissional docente; identificar as necessidades específicas da formação inicial e do desenvolvimento profissional; assinalar as características essenciais de programas de desenvolvimento profissional eficazes. Os principais autores que sustentam as análises aqui propostas são Formosinho (2009), Marcelo (1999), Flores (2003), Day (2001) e Oliveira-Formosinho (2009). A pesquisa bibliográfica conduziu o desenvolvimento do estudo e a abordagem qualitativa possibilitou a análise do material coletado para analisar o objeto proposto. As análises indicam que a formação inicial é uma etapa que permite a constituição profissional do sujeito; a formação contínua é um processo permanente de estudo e entendimento da prática que possibilita compreender as diferentes situações que ocorrem em sala de aula; e o desenvolvimento profissional requer que a ação do professor ocorra para que a partir da experiência produza-se a análise e a reflexão advindos dessa prática possibilitando que o desempenho profissional docente se aprimore. Os resultados obtidos ampliaram a compreensão sobre a formação de professores, suas especificidades, os programas de desenvolvimento profissional docente e as possíveis dicotomias que incidem nesses programas

O desenvolvimento profissional docente em discussão

This collection is the result of theoretical considerations made in the education field with emphasis on the teacher’s professional development. The diversity of authors, which came from distinctive higher education institutions located in Brazil and some arising from international context, reveals a multiplicity of relations between the themes that blend the centrality of “Rede de Aprendizado em Foco”. The studies and researches are organized around three themes: teacher’s learning in initial training and professional integration; teacher learning’s evaluations process and policies; and teacher’s professional development. The professionality’s formation in a period of deep and complex transformations in the social and educational scenarios is projected as a big challenge, especially when it is understood that a person is not born as a teacher, but it is constituted as such by processes that occur over a long period. The contact with the professional practice stands as an essential element in the context of teacher training, which in the course of professional learning experience different stages of training. The one that should be highlighted would be the learning moments that involve teaching’s practices. Thus, the main point of this work was based on the reflection of the teacher’s formative processes from the initial training to the professional development going through the teaching practice, which is considered as the beginning of the relationship between theoretical and practical knowledge in the context of educational reality and reporting formative experiences that have contributed to this training.Esta coletânea é fruto de reflexões teóricas realizadas no campo da educação, com ênfase no desenvolvimento profissional docente. A diversidade de autores, oriundos de distintas Instituições de Ensino Superior localizadas no cenário brasileiro e alguns advindos do contexto internacional, revela uma multiplicidade de relações entre as temáticas que se entrecruzam na centralidade da Rede de Aprendizagem em Foco. Os estudos e pesquisas articulam-se em torno de três temáticas: aprendizagem docente na formação inicial e inserção profissional; políticas e processos de avaliação da aprendizagem docente; e, aprendizagem em serviço e desenvolvimento profissional docente. A constituição da profissionalidade, em tempos de profundas e complexas transformações nos cenários sociais e educacionais, projeta-se em um grande desafio, especialmente quando se insere a compreensão de que um sujeito não nasce professor, pelo contrário, se constitui como tal por meio de processos que ocorrem durante um longo período. O contato com a prática profissional se interpõe como um elemento primordial para a conjuntura de formação de professores que, no decorrer da aprendizagem profissional, vivenciam diferentes fases da formação, sendo que o que deve ter um destaque seriam os momentos de aprendizagem que envolvem as práticas docentes. Assim, o eixo articulador dessa obra se pautou na reflexão sobre os processos formativos do professor, desde a formação inicial até o desenvolvimento profissional, passando pela prática docente, considerado como o princípio da relação entre o conhecimento teórico e o conhecimento prático no contexto da realidade educativa e relatando experiências formativas que contribuíram com essa formação

Mulher, mãe, professora: Zélia Milléo Pavão e seu legado à educação paranaense

O presente artigo refere-se à biografia da professora Zélia Milléo Pavão, ilustre professora paranaense contumaz em sua dedicação como mãe, mulher e professora. A abordagem da referente pesquisa foi qualitativa e de cunho biográfico, no qual a expressão dada foi a ampliação de informações concedidas nas lembranças de uma entrevista inicial com a professora. Foram suas principais lembranças que direcionaram o texto e a garimpagem de informações. Os sujeitos de pesquisa foram ex-alunos da referida professora, lembrados durante a entrevista inicial. Todos os sujeitos de pesquisa convidados a participar manifestaram extrema satisfação por esse trabalho e sentiram-se prestigiados por participar da trajetória profissional de Zelia Milléo Pavão, conferindo-lhe respeito, admiração e, sobretudo, o reconhecimento pela exemplar professora, colega de departamento e defensora dos orientandos em seus trabalhos de pesquisa

B cell receptor accessory molecule CD79α : characterisation and expression analysis in a cartilaginous fish, the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)

Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Personalised randomised controlled trial designs-a new paradigm to define optimal treatments for carbapenem-resistant infections.

Antimicrobial resistance is impacting treatment decisions for, and patient outcomes from, bacterial infections worldwide, with particular threats from infections with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumanii, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Numerous areas of clinical uncertainty surround the treatment of these highly resistant infections, yet substantial obstacles exist to the design and conduct of treatment trials for carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections. These include the lack of a widely acceptable optimised standard of care and control regimens, varying antimicrobial susceptibilities and clinical contraindications making specific intervention regimens infeasible, and diagnostic and recruitment challenges. The current single comparator trials are not designed to answer the urgent public health question, identified as a high priority by WHO, of what are the best regimens out of the available options that will significantly reduce morbidity, costs, and mortality. This scenario has an analogy in network meta-analysis, which compares multiple treatments in an evidence synthesis to rank the best of a set of available treatments. To address these obstacles, we propose extending the network meta-analysis approach to individual randomisation of patients. We refer to this approach as a Personalised RAndomised Controlled Trial (PRACTical) design that compares multiple treatments in an evidence synthesis, to identify, overall, which is the best treatment out of a set of available treatments to recommend, or how these different treatments rank against each other. In this Personal View, we summarise the design principles of personalised randomised controlled trial designs. Specifically, of a network of different potential regimens for life-threatening carbapenem-resistant infections, each patient would be randomly assigned only to regimens considered clinically reasonable for that patient at that time, incorporating antimicrobial susceptibility, toxicity profile, pharmacometric properties, availability, and physician assessment. Analysis can use both direct and indirect comparisons across the network, analogous to network meta-analysis. This new trial design will maximise the relevance of the findings to each individual patient, and enable the top-ranked regimens from any personalised randomisation list to be identified, in terms of both efficacy and safety