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A pesquisa aborda o tema compras governamentais a partir da análise de conteúdo de Acórdãos do Tribunal de Contas da União emitidos para as universidades federais brasileiras entre 2017 e 2018, abrangendo a aquisição de material de consumo e bens permanentes. Esse conteúdo apresentou exigências para a gestão universitária sobre compras governamentais, licitação e procedimentos no pregão eletrônico. Foram selecionados 41 Acórdãos dentre mais de 49 mil emitidos nesse período. Na análise de conteúdo constatou-se que houve repetição de uma mesma recomendação de auditoria para diferentes universidades, fato que evidencia a necessidade de monitoramento para implantação de práticas em gestão da informação. Os resultados apontam para exigências de aprimoramento da gestão universitária, tais como a sistematização de conhecimentos tácitos em manuais sobre os procedimentos nas compras governamentais. A investigação aborda uma área considerada de baixa materialidade pela auditoria, mas de alto risco de responsabilização personalíssima para as autoridades competentes das universidades federais brasileiras.

A modalidade de ensino semipresencial tem sido uma tendência a curto prazo e a sua ampla possibilidade de aplicações tem despertado o interesse de pesquisadores. Diante disso, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de identificar quais são os fatores críticos de sucesso para a adoção de disciplinas semipresenciais em cursos presenciais, na perspectiva dos estudantes. A investigação se deu em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) privada do sul do Brasil, por meio da aplicação de questionários a 331 estudantes que cursam disciplinas na modalidade semipresencial. A análise foi realizada de forma qualitativa, por meio da análise de conteúdo, e quantitativa, com a comparação de variáveis categóricas por meio de cálculos das estatísticas da relação entre elas. Os resultados apontam para os seguintes fatores críticos de sucesso: em primeiro lugar, deve ser desenvolvida a competência digital dos professores, pois estes precisam estar bem preparados para ajudar a desenvolver a competência digital dos estudantes. A partir disso, outros fatores passam a ser determinantes, como a tecnologia, que deve possuir interface amigável, ser fácil de navegar, promover a interação e construção colaborativa do conhecimento. Além disso, as disciplinas devem ser estruturadas com a aplicação de metodologias ativas de ensino e aprendizagem e com a adoção de uma diversidade de atividades que possuam, principalmente, estímulos visuais. Todos os fatores levantados são interdependentes e necessitam de aperfeiçoamento contínuo. /// Blended learning has been a short term trend and its wide range of applications has aroused the interest of researchers. Therefore, this research aims to identify which are the critical success factors for adoption of blended learning subjects in traditional classroom courses, from the students' perspective. The investigation took place in a private Higher Education Institution, in south Brazil, through the application of questionnaires to 331 students taking courses in the blendend learning modality. The analysis was performed in a qualitative way, through content analysis, and quantitative way, with the comparison of categorical variables through calculations of the statistics of the relationship between them. The results point to the following critical success factors: first, teachers 'digital competence must be developed, as they need to be well prepared to help in the development of students' digital competence. From this, other factors become decisive, such as technology, which must have a friendly interface, be easy to navigate, promote interaction and collaborative construction of knowledge. In addition, the disciplines must be structured with the application of active learning methodologies and with the adoption of a variety of activities that have, mainly, visual stimulus. All the factors raised are interdependent and need continuous improvement.

portuguesDistance education, mediated by Information and Communication Technologies, is increasingly present in the Brazilian educational scenario due to legislation incentives. In this modality, assessment to ensure effective learning, taking into account the particularities of distance education, represents a challenge to education managers. The present research investigates the competences developed in two courses entirely lectured at distance in the Information Management degree of the Federal University of Parana (UFPR). For this purpose, bibliographic and documental methodology was used in order to construct two assessment rubrics in the platform Corubric, which may also be used as an instrument for research data collection. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression tests. The competences that were developed by the students and those that need improvement were discussed, as well as the topics that were more related to learning and how much they affected the results. It was concluded that the rubrics built from Corubric are instruments capable of generating information that may assist decision-making in the education field. EnglishDistance education, mediated by Information and Communication Technologies, is increasingly present in the Brazilian educational scenario due to legislation incentives. In this modality, assessment to ensure effective learning, considering the particularities of distance education, represents a challenge to education managers. This research investigates the competences developed in two entirely distance-lectured courses in the Information Management degree of the Federal University of Parana. For this purpose, the bibliographic and documental methodology was used to construct two assessment rubrics in the CoRubric platform, a data collection instrument for the research. Data are analyzed using statistical techniques. The results show the competences developed by students and those that need improvement, as well as the correlation between the characteristics of the courses and the learning and how much they affect the result. It concludes that the assessment rubrics constructed from CoRubric are capable of generating information for decision making in education.

With the recurrent challenge of scarcity of resources in the world, the construction industry has been giving more attention to sustainability over the last decades, given that this industr...

O sistema de informação proporciona um meio de comunicação e de troca de informações entre os diferentes públicos, tornando a geração e disseminação de informações um processo ágil e eficaz. As Universidades Federais do Brasil investem na informatização dos processos acadêmicos e administrativos buscando excelência nas atividades de gestão e sobretudo nas atividades de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Este artigo tem como objetivo aplicar o modelo de avaliação da satisfação, desenvolvido por Ainin, Bahri e Ahmad (2012), nos usuários do sistema acadêmico de uma Universidade. A metodologia empregada consistiu no envio de um questionário eletrônico para os alunos da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) e coleta de 1658 respostas que foram analisadas utilizando-se a modelagem de equações estruturais para identificar os fatores que contribuem com o processo investigado. O estudo observou todos os critérios estatísticos para validação, além de apresentar um bom nível de ajuste, mostrando-se estatisticamente adequado. O fator utilidade percebida teve maior impacto na determinação da satisfação dos usuários, seguido pela Qualidade do Serviço, Qualidade da Informação e Qualidade do Sistema.

Purpose In organizational contexts, learning fosters the creation of knowledge at the individual and collective levels. In Lean Office, processes are customer oriented through continuous improvement and elimination of waste. In addition, Lean Office can promote changes in the corporate environment and drive organizational learning. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the Lean Office factors that contribute to the organizational learning. Design/methodology/approach The method consists in a qualitative analysis of researches on Lean Office carried out in Brazil, based on the theoretical framework for analyzing organizational learning proposed by Argote and Miron-Spektor (2011). This framework defends the relevance of context and experience in knowledge conversion processes in organizations. Findings The study shows that Lean Office provides benefits for the learning process through Work Cells, Value Stream Mapping and Continuous Improvement. The effects of Lean Office are present in the organizational context, culture and behaviors, attitudes and skills of individuals. Practical implications This study brings for academics a discussion on Lean Office from the standpoint of elements pertaining to the organizational learning process. In this aspect, the study proposes treating the topic at a strategy level, striving to break out of the research boundaries that limit their scope to their operational results. For practitioners, the study introduces Lean Office factors that add positive results to the organizational learning process. Originality/value The paper presents a reflection of Lean Office in the field of organizational learning. In addition to the elimination of waste, the study investigates other functions in which Lean initiatives play a role, such as providing solutions for organizational problems and creating favorable learning contexts.

Analisar o processo de aprendizagem de e-inclusão da Terceira Idade na Universidade Federal do Paraná, atividade desenvolvida por membros do Grupo de Pesquisa em Ciência Informação e Tecnologia (GP-CIT) uma parceria entre dois programas extensionistas. Em seu sétimo ano, a Universidade Aberta da Maturidade (UAM) forma em média 70 pessoas a cada ano. A pesquisa utiliza dados de quatro anos de projeto, em cursos de dois meses de duração. O procedimento metodológico adotado é pesquisa-ação, de natureza aplicada e a análise dos dados quali-quantitativo, o qual conduziu a constatação que os idosos entravam com poucas noções de informática e ao final com um conhecimento mais amplo dos conteúdos. O projeto estimula o desenvolvimento de competências tecnológicas entre os participantes com ações educativas sobre as mídias e recursos disponíveis na internet. Promovendo meios para que se apropriem das tecnologias para usufruto pessoal e social.

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) control programs have improved patient care all over the world. Our program was implemented in 1997 in a general intensive care unit (ICU) based upon surveillance of HAI with regular infection rates feedback to the ICU team and implementation of best practices such as hand hygiene (HH) and oral care for ventilated patients, optimal care, and early removal of invasive devices. Objective: To report our decreasing HAI rates in the past 22 years. Methods: Hospital Sao Francisco 20-bed ICU admits 120–140 surgical and clinical patients monthly, with 90% occupancy. The HAI infection control team implemented HAI surveillance and developed several protocols for HAI prevention. In the past 5 years, ICU personnel initiated the collection of several indicators using random direct observations of HH compliance, central venous catheter correct care, and appropriated oral care, among others. HAI definitions followed Brazilian Health Ministry HAI definitions and were expressed as infections per 1,000 patient days (total HAI rate) and device-related infections per 1,000 device days. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central-line–associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates are reported here. The study period spanned January 1997 to August 2019. Measurement of antibiotic utilization (ie, meropenem, vancomycin, and piperacillin-tazobactam) was calculated by dividing the of antibiotic consumed vials by the daily defined dose and patient days. Results: The total HAI, CAUTI, CLABSI, and VAP rates dropped 70%, 85%, 84%, and 87%, respectively, from 1997 to 2019 (Table 1). From 2009 to 2019, we detected decreases in hospital use of meropenem from 52 to 38, in vancomycin from 50 to 40, and in piperacillin-tazobactam from 144 to 88. Conclusions: HAI control programs can be effective in ICUs, with impressive results, but it requires time and considerable effort. Data on compliance with basic infection control measures should accompany HAI data and should be shared with the ICU team because ICU team participation is essential to keeping the program alive. Broad-spectrum antibiotics use also decreased, with potential benefits to the hospital flora.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

The Construction Industry is responsible for over 30% of the extraction of natural resources, as well as 25% of solid waste generated in the world. This happens because the construction sector mostly adopts a linear economic model of “take, make, dispose”, using materials to the construction of buildings and disposing them at the end of life, since they are assembled for one time use and don’t retain potential for reuse. Over the last decades, a paradigm shift has been occurring in the industry at large, with the adoption of a Circular Economy model, that aims at keeping the materials in a closed loop to retain their maximum value, therefore with a greater potential of reducing the waste generation and resources extraction for the Construction Industry. This article aims at finding the recent developments of how Circular Economy can be used inside the construction industry. To achieve this goal, a systematic literature review was conducted, including 45 articles that were divided into six areas of research: development of Circular Economy, reuse of materials, material stocks, Circular Economy in the built environment, LCA analysis and material passport. An analysis of the content of these articles was made and the knowledge gaps in this area were identified, as well as table with known Circular Economy practices for the Construction Industry was created divided by life cycle stages. Finally, a discussion of each area of research and their findings is made.

A aplicação dos princípios do Pensamento Enxuto (Lean Thinking) determina a estrutura e os processos nas organizações que, mediante a eliminação de desperdícios e iniciativas de melhoria contínua, buscam obter melhores níveis de produtividade e eficiência. Nesse cenário, os processos de gestão da informação e do conhecimento organizacional são relevantes, visto que o reconhecimento da importância estratégica da informação e a disseminação do conhecimento entre as diferentes funções da organização são fatores críticos para o alcance de desempenho superior. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é identificar que práticas do Pensamento Enxuto são fatores facilitadores para a criação e disseminação de conhecimento organizacional. Trata-se de uma pesquisa com base em uma revisão bibliográfica da produção científica desenvolvida no período de 2007 a 2016 sobre estudos que abordaram aspectos da gestão de conhecimento organizacional em contextos de aplicação dos princípios do Pensamento Enxuto, depositados nas bases de dados Scopus, Lista–Ebsco, Emerald, Web of Science e Science Direct. O método adotado é o PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews). A revisão de literatura evidenciou a existência das seguintes práticas do Pensamento Enxuto, em suas aplicações, que facilitam a criação e disseminação de conhecimento organizacional: estrutura organizacional, autonomia, mecanismos de integração, replicação de conhecimento, ambidesteridade contextual, aprendizagem e uso de ferramentas Lean. As características identificadas nestas práticas tornam possíveis todas as fases do processo de conversão de conhecimento (processo SECI) e estimulam redes de interações nas quais o conhecimento é criado, compartilhado e utilizado pelas pessoas nos ambientes organizacionais. Ainda se concluiu que a aplicação dos princípios do Pensamento Enxuto, via de regra, possibilita ganhos de eficiência e produtividade, que são auferidos pela eliminação de desperdícios nos processos de trabalho e que promove o desenvolvimento de um contexto adequado para a gestão do conhecimento organizacional.

Estudo do Sistema de Informação Contábil (SIC) como um dos principais sistemas das organizações e da crescente necessidade de gerenciar elementos intangíveis, que compõem o Capital Intelectual nas empresas. Objetiva identificar os pré-requisitos necessários para um SIC realizar a gestão do Capital Intelectual. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma indústria de bens de consumo de grande porte para diagnosticar como ocorre a gestão do seu Capital Intelectual e também como funciona o SIC, na percepção dos seus gestores (questionário e entrevista). Os resultados apontaram que a gestão do Capital Intelectual na empresa estudada ocorre informalmente. Também identificou-se a existência de um SIC que constitui-se do principal Sistema de Informação da organização e o mesmo não faz a gestão do Capital Intelectual, no entanto, tem condições de realizá-la. Assim, conclui-se que a existência dos seguintes pré-requisitos facilita a gestão do Capital Intelectual por este sistema: cultura para a gestão do valor total da empresa; existência de um sistema integrado de gestão; consolidação dos dados sob responsabilidade do SIC; SIC é o principal Sistema de Informação da organização; e existência de avaliação constante do sistema por seus usuários.

The various positive impacts that knowledge management (KM) offers to organisations that effectively apply it are fully consolidated in the literature. Nonetheless, even large enterprises, although usually abundant of human, financial and technological resources, are not always expressively successful on applying that concept. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) present numerous additional characteristics, challenges and obstacles to the implantation of KM. To contribute to change that reality, it is clear from the scientific perspective the importance of the effort to consolidate the state of art of knowledge on this field, especially because the last similar work dates to 2012 and significant research in different countries has been produced since then. In addition, just a few of previous works have their main goal like what is here presented. Thus, the present article is a systematic review of the literature of the relevant specificities of SMEs for KM in a global perspective.

Organizations have a constant need to be prepared to continue competing, which shows the search for alternatives for their stay in the market. It has become a common goal in today's business environment, to improve efficiency and restructure organization, turning it effective. In this context, information about costs has become increasingly important to support and justify the process of decision-making. This article is aimed at structuring a bibliography portfolio to treat the application of the ABC method in service and contribute to discussions within the scientific community. The methodology followed a three-stage procedure: Planning, execution and Synthesis. International databases were used to collect information (ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus). As a result, we obtained a bibliography portfolio of 21 articles (with scientific recognition) dealing with the proposed theme.

The increasing business competitiveness leads industries to differentiate themselves in terms of technology. The insertion of information systems in their structures figure as an element of competitive leverage and operational and financial performance increase. Industrial companies face, however, difficulties regarding the use of these systems in their environments, causing a scenario of low computerization. This scenario is observed in the clothing industries of the Ceara State, unit of analysis of this research, which seeks to investigate the critical factors for the use of information systems in these companies. The application of a survey instrument, along with interviews with industrialists and literature review were used as sources of information gathering to reach that goal. The research is structured based on existing theoretical models in the literature, which have different dimensions related to critical factors of information systems use. As conclusions, aspects of knowledge transfer between the user company and the software provider shows up as critical factors, as well as other environmental characteristics of the user firms.

The organizations with the aim of improving its process management and ensure accomplishing the mission, identified in information technology, alternative to the advancement of managerial informational systems. The present essay proposes a common ontology for the integration of multidimensional information to the Management Information Systems, conceptually relating different elements of composition. Methodologically the research is classified as a descriptive one, with a qualitative analysis approach of the data collected through non-participant observation of extranets and intranets, their organizations, focusing on flows and informational connections in the view of the user. The construction of data collection instruments considered four variables common to the Management Information Systems. In order to identify information flows at different levels of management systems, it was applied the Infomapping technique, aimed at convergence on a common element. The analyses were based on the interrelation of these variables, in the dynamics of information flows, identifying facilitators and connection breaks of the information flow and the dimensionality of the information. The essay results indicate an order of information flows, which make up the management systems, as well as the identification information as a common element connecting the systems involved, integrating and articulating in a multidimensional way, the different levels of an information system management.

Deepens the theoretical issues related to the Information and Knowledge Engineering with emphasis on reflection about its importance in the field of scientific research and social contribution to the development of the country. The paper presents these theoretical concepts: Information Engineering as the creation process and systematization of a volume of value-added data to a particular business. The Knowledge Engineering as the organized information that will facilitate recovery, capturing and processing in the form of a specialized knowledge; and the Strategic Competitive Intelligence as the understanding of a lack in the knowledge of the phenomena, identification of trends, risk mapping and discovery of opportunities related to the decision-making process in organizations. A systematic literature review is the method used in this study. Concludes that the information engineering (IE) and the knowledge engineering (KE) are revolutionaries in terms of information management in modern organizations. Active in the process of analysing large volumes of information they will have the power to reduce the cost by understanding the strategic business planning, data and modelling of processes, regardless of technology which will guide decision-making in any type of business.

The recognition of Intellectual Capital as a source of competitive advantage and differentiation element for organizations requires an application of new management strategies that include this feature. Considering the importance of the Accounting Information System (AIS) in organizations, the research has the main objective to investigate the contributions of accounting as Management Information System in management of Intellectual Capital in an organization. Therefore, it was adopted a single case study as research strategy, applied in a Brazilian industry of consumption goods, on the market for over 85 years. The results obtained in the documentary analysis, questionnaires, interviews and literature show that the Accounting Management Information System (AMIS) contributes to the management of Intellectual Capital. In the investigated organization, AMIS is widely used and shows similarities with the specifications found in the literature, possessing the ability of adaptation to receive indicators or variables that enable the management of Intellectual Capital. It was found that the incorporation of the variables of Intellectual Capital in AMIS could be accomplished by adopting the method proposed by Lopez-Ruiz and Nevado-Pena, that uses both traditional financial indicators and indicators of Intellectual Capital, not conflicting with the traditional AMIS, but complementing it. Inserting variables of Intellectual Capital in AMIS also allows uniformity of understanding on the subject by all company managers.

Aims: A cross-sectional study was carried out with the objective of identifying nutrition habits and housing conditions as risk factors for respiratory problems in schoolchildren in Lisbon. Material and methods: Between October and December 2008, parents of 900 students of the elementary schools of Lisbon were invited to answer a questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Program (ISAAC). The response rate was 40 %. Logistic regression was used in the analysis of results. Results: The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and wheeze was 5.6 %, 43.0 % and 43.3 %, respectively. Risk factors independently associated with asthma were wheezing attacks, and dry cough at night not related to common cold in the last 12 months. Wheezing crises were found to affect children daily activities. Risk factors for wheeze were hay fever and the presence of a pet at home. A risk factor for rhinitis was cough at night. The frequent consumption of egg was also associated with increased risk of rhinitis. Conclusion: Contrarily to asthma, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and wheeze increased in comparison with previous ISAAC studies. Wheezing attacks were associated with asthma and hay fever was identified as a risk factor of manifesting wheezing symptoms. Having pets at home was pointed out as a significant risk factor for rhinitis, but not smoking exposure, mould, plush toys, diet (except egg consumption), breastfeeding or other conditions. Resumo: Objectivos: Com o objectivo de identificar hábitos alimentares e características habitacionais como factores de risco para a prevalência de problemas respiratórios na população escolar do 1.° ciclo da cidade de Lisboa foi realizado um estudo transversal. Material e métodos: De Outubro a Dezembro de 2008, os pais de 900 alunos das escolas do 1° ciclo de Lisboa foram convidados a responder a um questionário similar ao do Programa Internacional de Estudo de Asma e Alergias na Infância (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Program [ISAAC]). A taxa de resposta foi de 40 %. Aos resultados foi aplicada análise de regressão logística. Resultados: A prevalência de asma, rinite alérgica e sibilância foi de 5,6 %, 43,0 % e 43,3 %, respectivamente. Os factores de risco independentemente associados à asma foram a sibilância e a tosse seca à noite, não relacionadas com sintomas de constipação comum nos últimos 12 meses. As crises de pieira foram consideradas susceptíveis de afectar as actividades diárias das crianças. Os factores de risco para sibilância foram a febre dos fenos e a presença de um animal de estimação em casa. A tosse durante a noite foi identificada como um factor de risco para a rinite. O consumo frequente de ovo foi também associado a um maior risco de manifestar rinite. Conclusões: Ao contrário da asma, a prevalência de rinite alérgica e sibilância aumentou em comparação com estudos anteriores ISAAC. Os ataques de pieira foram associados com os episódios asmáticos, e a febre dos fenos foi identificada como um factor de risco para a pieira. Ter animais de estimação em casa foi apontado como um factor de risco para a rinite, enquanto a exposição ao fumo, mofo, artigos de peluche, alimentação (excepto o consumo de ovos), amamentação ou outros parâmetros não representaram um factor de risco para a doença. Keywords: Asthma, Rhinitis, Wheeze, Questionnaire, Children, Palavras-chave: Asma, Rinite, Pieira, Inquéritos, Crianças

In 2006, elementary schools of inner-city Lis- bon, Portugal were given questionnaires to identify respi- ratory problems. In 1,175 children aged 5-10 years, 27.7% reported rhinitis, 2.5% reported hay fever and 25.9% reported asthma symptoms. April and August were the months with higher incidence of rhinitis, with a consider- able difference nonetheless (10.5% and 2.3%, respec- tively.). The former trends are addressed here by using meteorological data, PM2.5, and its elemental speciation. Mann-Whitney U-tests were applied to the data sets. Sig- nificantly higher values were found for humidity, K ? , NH4 ? , Sb and Zn in April, and for temperature, Cl - ,M g 2? and Na ? in August. Commuter and heavy-duty traffic may

The organizations with the aim of improving its process management and ensure accomplishing the mission, identified in information technology, alternative to the advancement of managerial informational systems. The present essay proposes a common ontology for the integration of multidimensional information to the Management Information Systems, conceptually relating different elements of composition. Methodologically the research is classified as a descriptive one, with a qualitative analysis approach of the data collected through non-participant observation of extranets and intranets, their organizations, focusing on flows and informational connections in the view of the user. The construction of data collection instruments considered four variables common to the Management Information Systems. In order to identify information flows at different levels of management systems, it was applied the Infomapping technique, aimed at convergence on a common element. The analyses were based on the interrelation of these variables, in the dynamics of information flows, identifying facilitators and connection breaks of the information flow and the dimensionality of the information. The essay results indicate an order of information flows, which make up the management systems, as well as the identification information as a common element connecting the systems involved, integrating and articulating in a multidimensional way, the different levels of an information system management.

Mass and elemental concentrations in PM10 and PM2.5 — airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm and 2.5 μm, respectively — have been evaluated in mainland Portugal since 1993. The data herein refer to areas generally impacted by emissions from electrical power plants, either coal- or oil-fired, which are mostly large, state-of-the-art facilities. Background areas have been sampled as well, and results from one of them are given for comparison. Through the country, lead levels are well below the European enacted values, particularly since unleaded fuels became mandatory in the late 1990s. Nickel appears especially concentrated in PM2.5 and, apart from extreme cases (rural sites, coal-fired plants), its levels are not significantly different from place to place. Highest values for arsenic and mercury have been found in the vicinity of the coal-fired plants. Cadmium data, if only available for metropolitan Lisbon, seems to confirm the trend for anthropogenic elements appearing mainly in fine particulates.

In the present study, selenium contents for some selected food items commonly consumed in Portugal are presented. Food items, i.e., meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, cereals, fruits and vegetables were sampled from two representative markets of two different regions of Portugal territory. The selenium concentrations in the various food items have been determined by using nuclear activation analysis (NAA) in both versions instrumental (INAA) and replicate sample (RSINAA) through the short-lived nuclide 77mSe that features a half-life time of 17.5 s. The highest values were found for meat, fish and eggs (87.6–737 μg kg−1); lower values were obtained for vegetables and fruits (1.7–24.9 μg kg−1).

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) are commonly used to yield multielemental data in atmospheric studies. In this work the quality assurance of the analytical data is discussed based on two studies. The first is a precision study, involving sampling and analysis of air particulate matter in the size ranges of the aerodynamic diameter (AD)

In construction, the project area is responsible for the design of Product Development and faces increasing complexity needed to make the product building, having advanced design solutions and managing the interrelationship between different agents. This work is exploratory and analyzes the Lean Thinking (LT) applied to projects as a philosophy that has been studied by academia and applied by companies to improve their processes, optimize flows and increase the quality of their products. The research begins on a scientific literature search and has as result a proposed checklist with application of Lean Project Delivery System - LPDS - already tested and validated in an Architecture office. The instrument allows for quick analysis of the situation of the office applications of the concepts of LT on the product development. The expectation is that the main bottlenecks in the production of architectural design and building itself are showed, wholly or partially, ensuring a downsizing of the time and work involved.

An aerosol monitoring of a rural and an urban area was accomplished in the frame of an international project promoted by the IAEA. The Gent PM10 air sampler equipped with Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) stacked filter units (SFU) was used for air particulate matter sampling. Filter loads were measured by gravimetry and elemental concentration analysis carried out with both PIXE and INAA techniques. In this work we report the results obtained in a rural area located at 30 km east of Oporto, near a coal fired power plant. The samples were collected from September 1995 to August 1996 on a twice a week basis. The use of complementary analytical techniques allowed to determine concentrations for 23 elements. Time variations for both total particulate mass and elemental concentrations are presented. Enrichment factors were calculated for the fine (PM PM > 2 μm) fractions. Principal Components Analysis was applied to infer particulate mass emission sources. Another Gent air sampler was installed at the same sampling site but under different working conditions. Time averages obtained with the two systems are also compared. The results obtained with the two collectors operating under different conditions suggest that the statistical distribution of pollutants can be accounted by taking the average of a week and therefore a weekly monitoring of airborne particulate matter is proposed. A factor related to the coal fired power plant emissions has been identified. Since the power plant is going to be converted from coal to natural gas combustion, the results now obtained are important for a future comparison.

Apresentam-se as inovações tecnológicas incorporadas pela Indústria da Construção Civil ao Projeto de Edificações, visando às novas perspectivas de mercado de modo a oferecer maior produtividade, flexibilidade e qualidade nas construções. Observa-se que mudou o perfil do profissional, as ferramentas, técnicas e processos de trabalho para quem atua em projetos. O objetivo deste artigo é propor uma listagem dessas inovações tecnológicas encontradas no setor de projetos de edificações. Parte-se de uma revisão bibliográfica que oferecerá ao profissional do setor de projeto uma ferramenta de avaliação de seus conhecimentos sobre o novo na área em que atua. Há uma tendência na idealização de um projeto mais holístico e integrado, abrangendo todas as fases do ciclo de vida da construção, desde concepção até a manutenção e demolição. Palavras-chave: Inovações tecnológicas, projetos de edificações, tecnologia da informação.

Continued innovation in products, processes, services, technology and on the company management, is essential to maintaining and achieve more competitiveness in organizations. To execute innovation projects, many companies seek external financial resources through development agencies. Taking into consideration few theoretical approaches on this topic, the Information Engineering presents itself as an element that can contribute for this process. Therefore, this study aims to find out how the information engineering can support and improve the process of funds obtainment to innovation purposes in organizations. This is an exploratory study through a systematic literature review method, which addresses three main steps: planning, processing and divulgation. The results show that the ability to manage information has a positive and direct influence on the performance of organizational innovation. Therefore, it is possible to realize that as the more information is structured and implemented more are the chances of successful in the innovation processes including funding source obtainment.

The civil construction industry hasn’t been able to keep up with the other economical sectors that already use new information and communication technologies – NICT – and through the internet compete globally, with more competitive advantages in costs, delivery time reduction and access to new products and process technologies. This article presents some practical recommendations about how to use the NICT to collect the right information, since knowledge is available in the right time and place. Using the data from the research Evaluation check-list for innovations on construction sites (1997), the analysis focus is all kinds of internal communications that exist in a construction site. The internet is rarely used by the enterprises, even tough it became an important technology on information selection and its application on internal communication is being widely studied. Keywords: civil construction, internet, new technologies

Under contract with the IAEA, the epiphytic lichen Evernia prunastri was collected to prepare a multielement lichen reference material for quality assurance of environmental studies. An inter-comparison run on trace and minor elements in this candidate research material (IAEA-336) was organized in which six analytical groups of the National Institute of Engineering and Industrial Technology (INETI) took part. INAA, PIXE, XRF, AAS, and ICP-ES were applied. The results obtained by different methods are compared, and their complementarity is discussed. As a quality control, the IAEA cabbage research material (IAEA-359) was analyzed. The results agree quite well with the estimated values given by the IAEA.