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Article
Publication date: 16 August 2013

Carlos L. Moreno and Ana M. Sarmento

The paper aims to present an experimental testing program regarding reinforced concrete slabs, with and without shear reinforcement, submitted to punching under both symmetric and…

513

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to present an experimental testing program regarding reinforced concrete slabs, with and without shear reinforcement, submitted to punching under both symmetric and eccentric loading. Comparisons between numerical simulations and experimental behaviour results are carried on. The capabilities and limitations of the numerical model to reproduce the brittle punching‐shear failure are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for a performance assessment of a numerical model, comparing FEM results with known experimental tests properly instrumented. Capability of DIANA software to simulate the punching behaviour of slabs is discussed.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the mechanical properties assigned to the element layer containing the bending reinforcement impose the load deflection stiffness behaviour. Good agreement was found between the predicted and the observed deformation behaviour. Nevertheless, the reproduction of the punching ultimate capacity is strongly dependent on the adopted value for the shear retention factor, which appears to be the major decisive parameter.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that the smeared crack model based on both the concept of strain decomposition (SD) and total strain with fixed orthogonal cracks approach (TSF) can correctly be used for the analysis of the behaviour of slabs submitted to punching shear.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

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Publication date: 8 March 2017

Ana Nunes de Almeida, Diana Carvalho and Ana Delicado

Inspired by the debates on participatory methods and drawing from research on “digital childhoods” in Portugal, this chapter aims to address the methodological innovations and…

Abstract

Inspired by the debates on participatory methods and drawing from research on “digital childhoods” in Portugal, this chapter aims to address the methodological innovations and challenges in collecting visual and digital data with children at their homes. As one of the stages of a research project on internet use, children were asked to take photos of their favorite objects at home and to collect screenshots of their most used webpages, followed by a conversation with the researcher. The use of photography allowed children greater expression and autonomy and gave researchers access to the children’s own perspectives on their home environment. It also provided unique information about the arrangement of digital objects at home and their different appropriations by girls and boys. Screenshots showed creative uses of the internet by children and gender differences. Ethical concerns were raised, due to the specific nature of working with children and with visual material (anonymization and dissemination). Entering the domestic setting provided a privileged access to children’s private sphere and to the in situ observation of their use of technology. However, the home is not a neutral place for a researcher and crossing the border into the private domain involves risks. These findings, illustrated by empirical examples from the research field, stress the importance of reflecting on and discussing the potentials, limitations, and ethical considerations of different methodologies, as well as their suitability to specific research objects, subjects, and contexts.

Details

Researching Children and Youth: Methodological Issues, Strategies, and Innovations
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-098-1

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Article
Publication date: 18 March 2019

Heloísa Alves de Figueiredo Sousa, Josemar Gonçalves de Oliveira Filho, Mariana Buranelo Egea, Edilsa Rosa da Silva, Dirceu Macagnan, Marcio Pires and José Peixoto

Banana is an important tropical fruit with high demand in the market. The ripe fruits are less resistant to transport making logistics difficult. Moreover, as a climacteric fruit…

558

Abstract

Purpose

Banana is an important tropical fruit with high demand in the market. The ripe fruits are less resistant to transport making logistics difficult. Moreover, as a climacteric fruit, it has a short post-harvest shelf life. Edible coatings/films, including active substances, have been used as an alternative for preserving fruits and vegetables during post-harvest period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incorporating clove essential oil on the properties of cassava starch films and their effect on the post-harvest quality of different banana varieties.

Design/methodology/approach

Cassava starch films incorporating clove essential oil were developed and the films were characterized with respect to moisture, thickness, solubility, water vapor permeability (WVP), biodegradability, color and in vitro antifungal activity. Cultivars such as Prata-Anã, Grand Nine, BRS Tropical and BRS Conquista were coated with cassava starch, cassava starch film with clove essential oil (CSEO) and polyvinyl polychloride (PVC). The quality of fruits was monitored during eight storage days using mass loss, total soluble solids content (TSS) and titratable acidity (TTA).

Findings

Incorporation of clove essential oil significantly increased film thickness, reduced moisture content, solubility and WVP (p < 0.05) and did not affect the biodegradability and color of the films. The essential oil incorporated films showed antifungal activity against the fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum musae, but not against the yeast Saccharomyces bourladii. CSEO and PVC coating were more efficient in reducing the mass loss, SS content and TTA of the coated fruits in all varieties studied. Both CSEO and PVC coatings improve the quality attributes such as TSS and TTA and reduced mass loss, of the banana varieties such as Prata-Anã, Grand Nine, BRS Tropical and BRS Conquista during storage.

Originality/value

The active film with essential oil showed antifungal activity and essential oil can be incorporated into other food systems. This study approaches a new possibility of film coating with essential oil for a banana that showed minimum weight loss and satisfactory quality and increased shelf life. This film coating demonstrates biodegradable characteristics that could be eco-friendly and sustainable to consumers.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 49 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 November 2022

Ana Lúcia Lima Gadelha, Luis Borges Gouveia and Anabela Mesquita Sarmento

This article aims to identify management practices that evidence how internal control have been considered essential, from the edition of the State Constitutional Amendment no. 75…

1588

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to identify management practices that evidence how internal control have been considered essential, from the edition of the State Constitutional Amendment no. 75 of 2012, within the public administration of the executive branch of the State of Ceará, during the period 2012–2021.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relates the identified management practices to COSO (The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations) methodology “Internal Environment” component categories. The research is classified as basic, exploratory and bibliographic, on the theme of internal control in scientific articles published between 2015 and 2021, and documental, carried out through official documents, including the 27 Brazilian constitutions.

Findings

Existence of management practices that corroborate the essentiality of internal control in Ceará.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to evidencing the control practices implemented in Ceará, not evaluating them as to their quality.

Practical implications

Contributions on control on constitutional-legal bases for other Brazilian Federation States.

Social implications

Possibility of introducing the research theme into various branches of scientific knowledge, such as political science and contributing to public organizations to implement policies with the proper application of resources for the benefit of society.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is in demonstrating the essentiality of internal control in the State of Ceará, from the edition of management acts performed by the executive branch, based on Constitutional Amendment 75 of 2012, which did not become a dead letter of the law, enabling other states of the federation to do the same.

Details

Revista de Gestão, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1809-2276

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Publication date: 25 September 2020

Cibele Noronha de Carvalho and Maria Alice Nogueira

This work presents case studies done in children’s bedrooms in Brazilian houses from socially and economically privileged families. Faced by the increasing importance of this…

Abstract

This work presents case studies done in children’s bedrooms in Brazilian houses from socially and economically privileged families. Faced by the increasing importance of this room, a phenomenon called bedroom culture, the research analysed the materiality, and all the senses given to these spaces by parents and children. The procedures of investigation were home visits, interviews with the parents, and a video in which the child introduced their own bedroom. The authors identified: (i) furniture that gave the bedroom the aspect of a school annex; (ii) objects used as a support to remember previous generations; (iii) decorations representing a cosmopolitan ethos; and (iv) decorations pointing to a socialisation based on gender.

Details

Bringing Children Back into the Family: Relationality, Connectedness and Home
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83867-197-6

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Article
Publication date: 12 September 2023

Gustavo Silva, Leandro F. Pereira, José Crespo Carvalho, Rui Vinhas da Silva and Ana Simoes

This study aims to conduct a pertinent assessment of the concept of business competitiveness and how Portugal can progress in that field, for the sake of becoming a more…

215

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to conduct a pertinent assessment of the concept of business competitiveness and how Portugal can progress in that field, for the sake of becoming a more sustainable and wealth-creator economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was elaborated with 65 in-depth interviews with expert persons from the Portuguese business ecosystem, who were asked to reflect on the state of the economy and competitiveness of the country.

Findings

There is much room for improvement in almost all areas of activity, in particular by promoting an innovative, value-adding and exporting private sector and a lighter and more efficient public sector. The conclusions point to modernisation of the Portuguese economy as a way of making it more competitive in a highly competitive and demanding global scenario.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time that a reflection with experts of the local Portuguese economy has been carried out, especially after a difficult period of COVID.

Details

Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal , vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1059-5422

Keywords

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Abstract

Details

Exploring Hope: Case Studies of Innovation, Change and Development in the Global South
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83549-736-4

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Article
Publication date: 24 May 2022

Ana Junça Silva and Neuza Coelho

The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations to adopt telework, many of the organizations without any prior preparation, influencing not only daily organizational routines but also…

1105

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations to adopt telework, many of the organizations without any prior preparation, influencing not only daily organizational routines but also workers' happiness. Happiness is important for organizations because happy and fulfilled workers are a key to achieving organizational success. Organizational culture is a critical factor to implement telework, because that may influence the workers' attitudes toward this model of work and workers' happiness. This study aimed to test the moderating role of organizational culture (clan, adhocracy, market and hierarchical) in the relationship between attitudes toward teleworking and happiness.

Design/methodology/approach

To meet the objectives, the authors collected data from 265 teleworkers.

Findings

The results revealed that only market culture moderated the relationship between attitudes toward teleworking and happiness, such that this relationship became stronger in the presence of a goal-oriented culture. No other dimension of organizational culture significantly moderated the relationship between telework and happiness.

Practical implications

These results prove to be fundamental for a better understanding of organizational and individual factors when organizations want to implement telework as a work arrangement.

Originality/value

Considering the mainstream literature in telework, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to date to integrate the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between telework and happiness.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 52 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Book part
Publication date: 4 October 2023

Natália Fernandes and Maria João Pereira

The neighbourhoods surrounding social housing are often characterised by poverty, high rates of unemployment, community violence and other social stress factors that are often…

Abstract

The neighbourhoods surrounding social housing are often characterised by poverty, high rates of unemployment, community violence and other social stress factors that are often linked with adverse childhood experiences, including diverse forms of family, community and institutional violence against children. Based on the sociology of childhood, which considers children as active subjects with rights and promotes a critical understanding of their participation in matters that concern them, this chapter reviews participatory research with children, highlighting the importance of hearing their voices, to sustain their key role in building knowledge about them and the contexts in which they live. In this case, children participated in research to provide a deeper understanding of their needs in their neighbourhood, the role of their families and communities and what they needed to improve the quality of their lives.

Details

Participatory Research on Child Maltreatment with Children and Adult Survivors
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-529-3

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Article
Publication date: 21 May 2024

Md Rabiul Islam, Sandra Maria Correio Loureiro, Inês Carvalho and Ana Ramires

This study proposes a conceptual model and aims (1) to understand how co-creation experience influences guest engagement, (2) to analyse the effect of satisfaction and affective…

219

Abstract

Purpose

This study proposes a conceptual model and aims (1) to understand how co-creation experience influences guest engagement, (2) to analyse the effect of satisfaction and affective image between co-creation experience and guest engagement, and (3) to analyse the effect of guest engagement on behavioural intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based online survey was conducted targeting U.S.-based hotel customers. Developed on Qualtrics and distributed via Mechanical Turk, the survey garnered 465 useable responses from individuals who had visited international chain hotels within the last year. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in IBM SPSS Amos.

Findings

The findings revealed significant direct effects of co-creation experience on affective image and guest satisfaction, with guest satisfaction notably influencing guest engagement, and guest engagement directly influencing behavioural intention. However, both co-creation experience and affective image showed minimal direct impact on guest engagement. The study also highlighted the importance of indirect effects and total effects in understanding the dynamics between the constructs analysed.

Research limitations/implications

The findings revealed significant direct effects of co-creation experience on affective image, with affective image notably influencing guest engagement, and guest engagement directly influencing behavioural intention. Although satisfaction had direct effects on guest engagement, co-creation experience showed minimal direct impact on guest satisfaction and on guest engagement.

Practical implications

This study advises managers to use co-creation primarily to enrich guest experiences and establish emotional connections rather than as a tool for directly enhancing engagement. It recommends that managers invest in strategies to enhance guest engagement beyond co-creation given the direct link between guest engagement and behavioural intentions, and the minimal direct impact between co-creation, guest engagement and satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that affective image is a pivotal mediator between co-creation experience and guest engagement. The findings provide valuable implications for hospitality practitioners in designing and managing co-creation experiences, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive affective image in the value co-creation process to attain positive behavioural outcomes.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

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