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There are more and more people who are using technology on a daily basis to communicate and access information, including the elderly and people with disabilities. Assistive technologies, also called technical aids, are accessibility and inclusion resources that provide a greater degree of autonomy and assistance for people who have some degree of difficulty in using resources in their contact with real and virtual environments. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions about the heuristic assessment of accessibility in software by undertaking a systematic review of the literature that covers the last 5 years. This started off with a total of 8548 published papers that are indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Twelve relevant research questions were drawn up that were answered in accordance with the results found in the final set of articles. Two groups of keywords were created to assist in the search for papers and a filtering process was applied to the results of the searches. The research shows, by means of figures and tables, evidence about the growth of scientific papers in the area. The lead authors and journals that publish on evaluating the accessibility of software are listed, as are answers to the questions about which evaluative models, heuristics, metrics, limitations, assistive technologies and target audiences are most cited in published papers. This study also analyzes the co-citation of the references and couples bibliographic sources. The research showed evidence that there is no general consensus on the use of a single model to assess accessibility, but that the W3C WCAG guidelines are the sources most used to reference heuristics and metrics in studies of this type. It was also noticed that most studies do not focus on assistive technologies, but are widely used to support decisions on websites.

De plus en plus de personnes utilisent quotidiennement la technologie pour communiquer et accéder à l’information, y compris les personnes âgées et les personnes handicapées. Les technologies d’assistance, aussi appelées aides techniques, sont des ressources d’accessibilité et d’inclusion qui offrent un plus grand degré d’autonomie et d’aide aux personnes qui ont un certain degré de difficulté à utiliser les ressources dans leur contact avec des environnements réels et virtuels. Le but de cette étude est d’étudier les perceptions sur l’évaluation heuristique de l’accessibilité dans les logiciels en entreprenant une revue systématique de la littérature qui couvre les 5 dernières années. Cela a commencé avec un total de 8548 articles publiés qui sont indexés dans les bases de données Scopus et Web of Science. Douze questions de recherche pertinentes ont été rédigées et ont reçu une réponse conforme aux résultats trouvés dans la série finale d’articles. Deux groupes de mots-clés ont été créés pour faciliter la recherche d’articles et un processus de filtrage a été appliqué aux résultats des recherches. La recherche montre, au moyen de chiffres et de tableaux, des preuves de la croissance des articles scientifiques dans le domaine. Les auteurs principaux et les revues qui publient sur l’évaluation de l’accessibilité des logiciels sont énumérés, de même que les réponses aux questions sur les modèles d’évaluation, les heuristiques, les mesures, les limites, les technologies d’assistance et les publics cibles les plus cités dans les articles publiés. Cette étude analyse également la co-citation des références et des couples sources bibliographiques. La recherche a montré qu’il n’y a pas de consensus général sur l’utilisation d’un modèle unique pour évaluer l’accessibilité, mais que les directives WCAG du W3C sont les sources les plus utilisées pour référencer les heuristiques et les métriques dans les études de ce type. Il a également été remarqué que la plupart des études ne se concentrent pas sur les technologies d’assistance, mais sont largement utilisées pour appuyer les décisions sur les sites Web.

Cada vez son más las personas que utilizan la tecnología a diario para comunicarse y acceder a la información, incluidas las personas mayores y las personas con discapacidad. Las tecnologías de apoyo, también llamadas ayudas técnicas, son recursos de accesibilidad e inclusión que proporcionan un mayor grado de autonomía y asistencia a las personas que tienen algún grado de dificultad para utilizar los recursos en su contacto con entornos reales y virtuales. El objetivo de este estudio es investigar las percepciones sobre la evaluación heurística de la accesibilidad en el software mediante la realización de una revisión sistemática de la literatura que cubre los últimos 5 años. Esto comenzó con un total de 8548 artículos publicados que están indexados en las bases de datos Scopus y Web of Science. Se elaboraron doce preguntas de investigación relevantes que fueron respondidas de acuerdo con los resultados encontrados en el conjunto final de artículos. Se crearon dos grupos de palabras clave para ayudar en la búsqueda de artículos y se aplicó un proceso de filtrado a los resultados de las búsquedas. La investigación muestra, por medio de figuras y tablas, evidencia sobre el crecimiento de los artículos científicos en el área. Se enumeran los autores principales y las revistas que publican sobre la evaluación de la accesibilidad del software, al igual que las respuestas a las preguntas sobre qué modelos evaluativos, heurísticas, métricas, limitaciones, tecnologías de asistencia y audiencias objetivo son los más citados en los artículos publicados. Este estudio también analiza la co-citación de las referencias y fuentes bibliográficas de parejas. La investigación mostró evidencia de que no existe un consenso general sobre el uso de un modelo único para evaluar la accesibilidad, pero que las pautas WCAG del W3C son las fuentes más utilizadas para referenciar heurísticas y métricas en estudios de este tipo. También se observó que la mayoría de los estudios no se centran en las tecnologías de asistencia, sino que se utilizan ampliamente para apoyar las decisiones en los sitios web.

O trabalho é composto por uma introdução teórica que conceitua engenharia de software, desenvolvimento de software, testes, defeitos escapados, experiência do usuário, usabilidade e acessibilidade. Com o objetivo de realizar uma pesquisa na área de testes voltados para a acessibilidade, foi proposta uma análise de projetos reais. Foram realizadas entrevistas com gerentes de projetos de software que já se encontram no mercado, extração de dados provenientes dos mesmos projetos, análise exploratória dos dados, testes de correlação e estruturação dos resultados encontrados. Ao fim da pesquisa, observou-se a relevância de alguns dados e a significância da relação entre eles. A partir dos resultados obtidos, conclui-se a relevância da construção de casos de testes para acessibilidade, bem como os fatores que contribuem para que as equipes deem a devida atenção aos testes de acessibilidade, como composição da equipe e colaborações externas.

The work consists of a theoretical introduction that conceptualizes software engineering, software development, testing, escaped defects, user experience, usability and accessibility. In order to conduct a research in the area of tests focused on accessibility, an analysis of real projects was proposed. Interviews were conducted with managers of software projects that are already in the market, extraction of data from the same projects, exploratory analysis of the data, correlation tests and structuring of the results found. At the end of the research, it was observed the relevance of some data and the significance of the relationship between them. From the results obtained, it is concluded the relevance of the construction of test cases for accessibility, as well as the factors that contribute to the teams to give due attention to accessibility tests, such as team composition and external collaborations.

Dos resultados obtidos em pesquisa de doutoramento (uma fotoetnografia urbana aplicada à moda), apresenta-se aqui um grupo urbano, formado por homens, entre 25 e 50 anos, com forte desejo de consumo, frequentadores das pool parties e after parties (festas eletrônicas voltadas ao público homossexual), que elabora seu léxico de moda por meio da escolha de vestuário e intervenções estéticas que projetam e emolduram seus corpos (re)desenhados. Convergem daí reflexões acerca de consumo e identidade (BAUMAN, 2008), corporalidade (LE BRETON, 2012, 2013, 2016) e capital simbólico (BOURDIEU, 1989, 2015). Os frequentadores de pool party traduzem seus ideais de consumo de moda no credo que sua musculatura — comprada, construída e padronizada — é sinônimo de sucesso e inserção social, portanto deve ser evidenciada. A seleção de fotografias, realizadas por este pesquisador, relata suas imersões nos seguinte locais: Brasília, Recife, São Paulo, João Pessoa, Natal, Tibau do Sul e Maceió, entre dezembro de 2020 e março de 2022. Os dados etnográficos apresentados corroboram, assim, a tese de que, diante das inúmeras pressões de consumo, o corpo masculino (coberto por tatuagens, lapidado em horas de academia, modulações hormonais e vultosos e invasivos procedimentos dermato-cosméticos, em diferentes graus) — antes mero coadjuvante do vestir — é (re)desenhado e elevado ao posto central de elemento de moda, gerando desejo de pertencimentocomparável ao provocado pelos tradicionais produtos de moda masculina.

Muito tem-se falado sobre como atender necessidades de usuários e satisfazê-los (em um espectro mais amplo), ante a tamanha distribuição tecnológica, em um mundo altamente conectado e competitivo. De forma não equânime a tal fato, os estudos ainda não apontam a uma direção segura e eficiente de qual o melhor caminho a seguir. Em design, a hedonomia vem tomando forma como um tema emergente que busca o prazer do usuário nos artefatos. Ela aparece como um caminho para o estudo de formas de como promover satisfação ou prazer no relacionamento ou interação com a tecnologia. Neste espectro, o presente artigo se debruça sobre uma análise dos sentimentos de grupos distintos de usuários para o maior entendimento da hedonomia na presença da funcionalidade, da usabilidade, da segurança e da experiência prazerosa diante de serviços, no caso mais específico com alunos de graduação do ensino superior. Foram abordados três grupos distintos (ligados a áreas de Humanas, Saúde e Ciências Exatas) totalizando 73 entrevistados. As pesquisas se pautaram em entrevistas qualitativas, embasadas no maior entendimento do que é o prazer na perspectiva dos alunos de ensino superior e na análise da pirâmide das hierarquias da ergonomia para a hedonomia, sugerida por Hancock, Pepe e Murphy (2005). Chegou-se à conclusão de que o uso do serviço evoca sentimentos positivos e negativos e que a configuração da pirâmide da hedonomia deve ser questionada uma vez que há parâmetros situacionais, contextuais e de percepção, tornando-a dinâmica. Ao final do trabalho sugere-se um ciclo de valor diante da pirâmide e algumas reflexões do tema., Much has been said about how to meet users' needs and satisfy them (in a broader spectrum), in the face of such a great technological distribution in a highly connected and competitive world. In a non-equal way to this fact, the studies still don't point to a safe and efficient direction of which is the best way to follow. In design, hedonomy has been taking shape as an emerging theme that seeks the user's pleasure in artifacts. It appears as a way to study ways to promote satisfaction or pleasure in the relationship or interaction with technology. In this spectrum, this paper focuses on an analysis of the feelings of distinct groups of users for a better understanding of hedonomy in the presence of functionality, usability, security, and the pleasurable experience with services, in this case specifically with undergraduate students. Three distinct groups were approached (connected to the Humanities, Health, and Exact Sciences), totaling 73 interviewees. The research was based on qualitative interviews, based on a better understanding of what pleasure is from the perspective of higher education students and on the analysis of the pyramid of ergonomic hierarchies for hedonomics, suggested by Hancock, Pepe and Murphy (2005). The conclusion was reached that the use of the service evokes positive and negative feelings and that the configuration of the pyramid of hedonomy should be questioned since there are situational, contextual and perception parameters, making it dynamic. At the end of the paper a value cycle is suggested in view of the pyramid and some reflections on the theme.

As part of the final results obtained in a doctoral research (an urban photoethnography applied to fashion), an urban group is presented here, formed by men, between 25 and 50 years old, with a strong desire for consumption, frequenters of pool parties and after parties (electronic parties). aimed at the homosexual public), which elaborates its fashion lexicon through the choice of clothing and aesthetic interventions that project and frame their (re)designed bodies. From there, reflections on consumption and identity (BAUMAN, 2008), corporeality (LE BRETON, 2012, 2013, 2016) and symbolic capital (BOURDIEU, 1989, 2015) converge. Pool party goers translate their ideals of fashion consumption into the belief that their musculature — bought, built and standardized — is synonymous with success and social insertion, therefore it must be evidenced. The selection of photographs, carried out by this researcher, reports their immersions in the following places: Brasília, Recife, São Paulo, João Pessoa, Natal, Tibau do Sul and Maceió, between December 2020 and March 2022. The ethnographic data presented corroborate, thus, the thesis that, in face of the countless pressures of consumption, the male body (covered by tattoos, cut during gym hours, hormonal modulations and large and invasive dermato-cosmetic procedures, to different degrees) — before a mere adjunct to dressing — it is (re)designed and elevated to the central position of a fashion element, generating a desire for belonging comparable to thatprovoked by menswear products. Dos resultados obtidos em pesquisa de doutoramento (uma fotoetnografia urbana aplicada à moda), apresenta-se aqui um grupo urbano, formado por homens, entre 25 e 50 anos, com forte desejo de consumo, frequentadores das pool parties e after parties (festas eletrônicas voltadas ao público homossexual), que elabora seu léxico de moda por meio da escolha de vestuário e intervenções estéticas que projetam e emolduram seus corpos (re)desenhados. Convergem daí reflexões acerca de consumo e identidade (BAUMAN, 2008), corporalidade (LE BRETON, 2012, 2013, 2016) e capital simbólico (BOURDIEU, 1989, 2015). Os frequentadores de pool party traduzem seus ideais de consumo de moda no credo que sua musculatura — comprada, construída e padronizada — é sinônimo de sucesso e inserção social, portanto deve ser evidenciada. A seleção de fotografias, realizadas por este pesquisador, relata suas imersões nos seguinte locais: Brasília, Recife, São Paulo, João Pessoa, Natal, Tibau do Sul e Maceió, entre dezembro de 2020 e março de 2022. Os dados etnográficos apresentados corroboram, assim, a tese de que, diante das inúmeras pressões de consumo, o corpo masculino (coberto por tatuagens, lapidado em horas de academia, modulações hormonais e vultosos e invasivos procedimentos dermato-cosméticos, em diferentes graus) — antes mero coadjuvante do vestir — é (re)desenhado e elevado ao posto central de elemento de moda, gerando desejo de pertencimentocomparável ao provocado pelos tradicionais produtos de moda masculina.

Mesquite (Prosopis L.) is considered an invasive browse species in most of the American Southwest. Mechanical intervention removes yields an excess of organic debris. Anecdotal evidence in the past has supported using such browse as feed for livestock. Thus, our objectives were to (1) determine the nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of silage produced with mesquite biomass, and (2) evaluate solvent treatment of mesquite biomass prior to ensiling. In Experiment 1, we evaluated mesquite inclusion rate (0, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 g kg−1 DM), length of fermentation (28, 56, or 84 d), and silage inoculant. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of mesquite pre-treatment with acid (H2SO4) or alkali (NaOH) solutions. Concentrations of NDF, ADF, and ADL, as well as IVTD, decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing mesquite inclusion. However, 250 g mesquite kg−1 DM did not differ from grass silage. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of inoculation, though increasing length of incubation did increase (p < 0.05) VFA production and decrease (p < 0.05) silage pH. Solvent treatment did not improve ensiling properties. Results are interpreted to mean that mesquite biomass may be effectively incorporated into silage at levels up to 250 g kg−1.

Assistive Technologies (ATs) have great potential for healthy aging at home. Its activity reaches several sectors and it focuses on the progressive demand for improvements and new solutions. In this sense, this article aims to understand the studies direction related to ATs development, focusing on the elderly and domestic environment, in the last five years. For this, a systematic literature review was carried out in four stages according to the PRISMA recommendations. Scopus, SciELO and Google Scholar were used as databases, based on pre-defined terms, with publications in English and Portuguese and the period from 2015 to 2019. 36 studies were chosen for this review, observing the development of technologies related to physical and digital artifacts, ambient assisted living, wearable and immersive products, in addition to the services implementation for home environment. From the totality of studies, it was noticeable the valuation of issues related to privacy, cost and customization, in addition to the emergence of new action contexts when compared to the related works.

This paper presents a reviewed investigation of the aesthetical and functional features of tactical knives, that is, those strategically designed for risk operations, as in the activities of policemen, fire-fighters, rescuers, campers, divers or hunters. These products had their development minimally registered in formal science, as the knowledge about the design and about the evaluation of tactical knives is almost exclusively in the handcraft and industry environments. Companies do not reveal their design processes, and the craftsmen who do it, do not have any way for scientific proof to the achieved results from decades of work: it was a process of trials and mistakes, until they reached quality levels adequate to users. In this project, there is an investigation of possible formal guidelines of ergonomics and usability of tactical knives which could be registered and tested for production of such itens, in the future, searching to scientifically register this research line and its relevance to security industry. Since the time of the realization of this course completion project, in 2012, until the current year, there was no academic production that defined, classified or tried tactical knives, under the vision of any quality analysis discipline.

Inmetro team realized a preliminary analysis of a kid stroller because of an accident report registered in their ombudsman. It was noticed that all the safety and registering requirements of the product were fulfilled and yet, the product reproved obtaining a high risk grade. The team of LaCA²I (Laboratory of Concept and Analysis of Artefacts with Intelligence) from UFPE (Federal University of Pernambuco) was then contacted to perform a technical study of the problem, by identifying a possible review of the standards/regulations used for the strollers design. The study was built inside a deductive research approach. The paper presents guidelines, instructions, requirements and appointmens to the product design, based on the body of knowledge of User Experience, more specifically, the disciplines of Ergonomics, Usability and Accessibility, complemented by topics of Aesthetics and Emotional Design. The results demonstrate preliminary data and their applications on a pilot test of this evaluation group with the flaw product, suggesting itens from the studied themes to the ABNT NBR 14289:2010 standard: Safety of kid strollers.

Brazilian Higher Education has been increasing mainly with the participation of Private Institutions. Recent data show the high degree of dropout and abandonment by the student, which interferes affects both the personal, professional and emotional bias of the student, as well as the organizational and financial issues of the institution. Knowing what interferes with student satisfaction is one of the ways to reduce the dropout rate, as well as make the student more engaged in their academic choice. Given this, the present study made a survey of the sectors that should be studied analyzed and interviewed 44 undergraduate students, from the areas of ‘Health’, ‘Human’ and ‘Exact’. It is noteworthy that several factors interfere with student satisfaction. In this sense, the research had as its main result the category ‘Academic’, mainly with regard to the ‘quality of education’ and with the ‘teacher’, but also the ‘service’, the ‘physical structure’ and the ‘relationship’ with the student. As a main result, the ‘Academic’ and ‘Teaching’ sectors were the main points considered for the satisfaction of the higher education student and the evaluations are spontaneous and influenced by the context. La educación superior brasileña se ha incrementado principalmente con la participación de instituciones privadas. Los datos recientes demuestran el alto grado de abandono y abandono por parte del alumno, que afecta tanto el sesgo personal, profesional y emocional del alumno, como los problemas organizativos y financieros de la institución. Saber qué interfiere con la satisfacción de los estudiantes es una forma de reducir las tasas de deserción escolar, así como lograr que los estudiantes se involucren más en su elección académica. Ante esto, el presente estudio realizó una encuesta de los sectores que deberían ser analizados y entrevistó a 44 estudiantes universitarios de las áreas de ‘Salud’, ‘Humanos’ y ‘Exactos’. Se enfatiza que varios factores interfieren con la satisfacción del estudiante. En este sentido, la investigación tuvo como resultado principal la categoría ‘Académica’, especialmente con respecto a la ‘calidad de la enseñanza’ y el ‘maestro’, pero también el ‘servicio’, la ‘estructura física’ y la ‘relación’ con el alumno. Como resultado principal, los sectores ‘Académico’ y ‘Docente’ fueron los puntos principales considerados para la satisfacción del estudiante de educación superior y las evaluaciones son espontáneas e influenciadas por el contexto. O Ensino Superior Brasileiro vem aumentando, principalmente, com a participação de Instituições Privadas. Dados recentes do MEC demonstram o alto grau de desistência e abandono, por parte do aluno, de sua graduação, o que afeta tanto o viés pessoal, profissional e emocional do discente, quanto nas questões organizacionais e financeiras da Instituição. Saber o que interfere na satisfação do estudante é uma das formas de atuação para reduzir a taxa de evasão, bem como fazer com que o aluno se engaje mais na sua escolha acadêmica. Diante disso, o presente estudo fez um levantamento dos setores que deveriam ser analisados e entrevistou 44 alunos de graduação, das áreas de ‘Saúde’, ‘Humanas’ e ‘Exatas’. Salienta-se que vários fatores interferem na satisfação do educando. Neste sentido, a pesquisa teve como resultado principal a categoria ‘Acadêmica’, principalmente no que diz respeito à ‘qualidade de ensino’ e com o ‘docente’, mas também se tem destaque para o ‘serviço’, a ‘estrutura física’ e o ‘relacionamento’ com o aluno. Como resultado principal o setor ‘Acadêmico’ e ‘Docente’ foram os pontos tidos como principais para a satisfação do aluno do ensino superior e que as avaliações são espontâneas e sofrem influência do contexto.

O desenvolvimento de aplicativos acessiveis e um grande desafio ainda nos dias atuais, apesar dos exponenciais avancos tecnologicos. Problemas de dificuldade de navegacao pelos usuarios com deficiencia visual sao cada vez mais importantes para designers e desenvolvedores. Este artigo descreve elementos teoricos utilizados na confeccao do Controle Facil, um aplicativo de gerenciamento financeiro desenvolvido tendo como um de seus objetivos a acessibilidade para pessoas com deficiencia visual. Descrevemos seu processo de desenvolvimento, prototipos com niveis diferentes de complexidade e avaliacao realizada com usuarios, onde foi possivel validar uma serie de requisitos para aplicacoes e construir um guia para desenvolvimento de aplicativos acessiveis para smartphones.

Simple Summary While there have been international studies on hemp as a livestock feed source, information is limited in the U.S.A. Hempseed meal, the byproduct of oil production, is relatively unexplored. Our research focused on determining variability among hemp seed meal sources and batches within sources, through chemical analysis and in vitro digestibility of samples. Our research found nutritive value variability among batches, but not sources, of hempseed meal. In vitro digestibility only slightly decreased when hempseed meal was included at increasing percentages as a protein replacement in the ration. These data indicate that hempseed meal may be an effective source of crude protein for inclusion in ruminant livestock rations. Abstract Hempseed meal (HSM) is left after oil extraction of hemp and may act as a protein source in livestock. The first phase of this research evaluated variation in nutritive value and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of HSM from various sources in North America; the second phase utilized IVDMD to evaluate the efficacy of hempseed meal as an ingredient in ruminant feed. In phase one, the source had no contribution to variance for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), or crude protein (CP) (p ≥ 0.20). However, batch within source contributed to variation for NDF (50%), ADF (37%), ADL (13%), and CP (31%; p ≤ 0.01). Irrespective of differences in nutritive value, there was no contribution to variation (p = 0.23) of any measured response on in vitro true digestibility (53.0%). In phase two, two experiments evaluated HSM IVDMD as (1) a concentrate replacement or (2) a protein replacement in rations at varying rates. In the first experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of HSM. In the second experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.01) as HSM inclusion increased. Although IVDMD decreased as HSM inclusion increased, values still met the digestibility threshold for ruminant rations, indicating that HSM has potential as an alternative protein ingredient.

A equipe do Inmetro realizou uma análise preliminar em um carrinho para criança devido a um relato de acidente registrado na sua Ouvidoria. Foram constatados que todos os requisitos de segurança e de registro do produto foram cumpridos e a avaliação de risco do produto obteve nível de risco grave. Foi então estabelecido o contato à equipe do Laboratório de Concepção e Análise de Artefatos Inteligentes - LaCA2I da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco – UFPE para estudo técnico do problema e identificação de possível revisão de normas/regulamentos no que tange ao design. O estudo foi desenvolvido segundo abordagem dedutiva de pesquisa. O artigo apresenta diretrizes, guias, requisitos e apontamentos de design de produto, baseados no corpo de conhecimento da Experiência do Usuário, mais especificamente, nas disciplinas de Ergonomia, Usabilidade e Acessibilidade, complementadas por tópicos de estética e Design Emocional. Nos resultados, são demonstrados dados preliminares de sua aplicação num teste piloto desse conjunto de avaliações com o modelo problemático, sugestões de itens dos temas estudados para a norma ABNT NBR 14389:2010: Segurança de carrinhos para crianças.

Society has been experiencing a great technological advance in the most diverse areas and, clearly, the development of accessibility for software and applications does not seem to follow this speed. In fact, systems sometimes do not embrace people with some kind of disability, and this is a problem that should be on the agenda of every designer and system designer when thinking about user experience. Chatbots are conversational interfaces on which users communicate with a robotic entity through text, either designed with artificial intelligence or not. However, how does a blind user interact with Chatbots? How should this interaction be carried on? What to expect when users’ needs are challenged by physical barriers worse than what affects the common user? This article aims to present a systematic review of the existing literature on Chatbots, conversational interfaces and the inclusion of accessibility in these interfaces.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior As diversas problemáticas acerca da segurança do trabalho, vivenciadas atualmente, dão margem para muitos questionamentos, os quais algumas vezes permanecem sem respostas. A competição acirrada, a globalização, as menores distâncias entre os mercados e a rápida aceleração nos processos produtivos evidenciam uma realidade que ainda está sendo assimilada pouco a pouco pelos trabalhadores de uma maneira geral, e com uma maior morosidade para aqueles que não têm livre e irrestrito acesso às informações. Tal aceleração traz consigo uma gama de especificidades com as quais o ser-humano ainda não se acostumou por completo, isto é, ainda está em um processo de adaptação em que o fator cognitivo é muito presente e que muitas vezes fere princípios de ergonomia, segurança entre outros que desconsideram as capacidades e as limitações humanas. Dentro das organizações a realidade não é diferente, e as tecnologias que são apresentadas aos funcionários, muitas vezes sem uma preparação, tornam-se mais inimigos do que aliados na árdua luta com a competitividade. O presente estudo realizado no Brasil e em Portugal leva em consideração tais aspectos em suas mais amplas dimensões, trazendo ao conhecimento comum problemáticas e soluções presentes no mundo real ligados ao tema. Este, como um instrumento em prol da ciência e da atividade laboral mais digna e segura, desenvolveu o modelo PROTEGER, o qual apresenta uma metodologia baseada na norma certificadora OHSAS 18001 - Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Services (Serviços de Avaliação em Saúde e Segurança Ocupacional) e nos estudos de Checkland sobre problemas não estruturados ou os chamados soft problems . O modelo desenvolvido versa em sua plenitude acerca das questões relativas à segurança do trabalho (ST) e tem como principal objetivo servir de modelo para implementação e/ou melhoria de um sistema de gestão nesta área, os chamados SGST. Uma vasta revisão na literatura acerca de sistemas de gestão, ergonomia, competitividade, certificações, etc, além da análise e avaliação de artigos na área e outros recursos que aliados às experiências, entrevistas e aprendizagem recolhida com o estudo em Portugal, conferem a tese um embasamento prático-teórico para sua validação como uma ferramenta prática em prol da qualidade de vida dentro de empresas, bem como para futuros trabalhos e estudos na área

In the oil industry, the acoustic sounding method is a well-known technique for taking the depth measurements of particular attributes of an oil well or borehole. The method involves sending a short, sharp, clear, loud bang sound down a borehole, normally between the inside wall of the borehole casing, commonly referred to as the annulus and the outside of the production tubing string, and recording the echoes generated. One device for generating the sound needed in the acoustic sounding method is an air or gas pressurized chamber which is discharged at or near the wellhead of the borehole. The sound being generated by this device, commonly known as an acoustic generator, comes from the energy released by the equilibration of the different gas pressures. The current invention is an acoustic generator with an improved microphone and microphone unit design for more efficient and effective echo detection.

Early weaning of pigs has become a prominent part of today's swine production in order to maximize utilization of facilities and sows. Problems of nutrition and management of the early weaned pig, however, negates a portion of this benefit. Milk production peaks at 3 to 4 weeks of lactation; therefore, little dry feed is consumed by pigs prior to 4 weeks of age. Weaning at four weeks or younger forces the pig to consume solid food consisting primarily of grain and vegetable protein rather than milk. The change of diet, coupled with the stress of weaning and change of environment following weaning, has led to what is known as the post-weaning check period. This period of 7 to 10 days is characterized by low feed intake, little gain in weight and poor feed conversion. To complicate the problem, the pig's poor condition may increase the susceptability to low grade infections leading to scours and, in extreme cases, death. Any practice that overcomes this check period would improve the efficiency of producing pork. Since the acceptance of early weaning, new management techniques and housing have been developed to reduce the stress of weaning and improve the nursery environment. The check period, however, still exists, implicating nutrition as the major problem. Feed ingredients added to starter diets to increase feed intake or improve the quality of dietary protein have helped little. These observations suggest a problem with the young pig's ability to digest and utilize diets consisting mainly of grain and vegetable protein during the first 7 to 10 days post-weaning. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of age and diet on the development of digestive function in the young pig.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1969.

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My attention has been called to an article by Mr. Theodore Schroeder in the January issue of this magazine, by way of "reply" to my paper in the July, 1917, issue, entitled "Psychological Tests for the Authorship of the Book of Mormon." Had my argument solely consisted of the disjuncta membra which he has torn bleeding from the body of it, it would indeed have deserved contempt. To anyone who has read the emasculated and perverted version all I need to say is, go back and read, for the second or first time, the argument which I really did make. And let him note that the theme is not the authorship of the Book of Mormon (which must by a variety of proofs be awarded, at least in the main, to Joseph Smith) but the contribution which certain psychological tests make to the settlement of the question. Readers who carefully ponder the array of correspondences which I put upon exhibit will not have difficulty in perceiving their collective weight. But Mr. Schroeder speaks with such confidence about my mental peculiarities (as though these had any bearings upon the data presented), and with such authority about Mormon literature, that I must add a few words of warning. Unfortunately in his "psychoanalysis" of my humble self he has discovered, as Josh Billings would say, "much that ain't so." He