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The purpose of this paper is to investigate a new sampling methodology previously proposed for systems with a known lifetime distribution: the Predetermined Sampling Intervals (PSI) method.

The methodology is defined on basis of system hazard cumulative rate, and is compared with other approaches, particularly those whose parameters may change in real time, taking into account current sample information.

For different lifetime distributions, the results obtained for adjusted average time to signal (AATS) using a control chart for the sample mean are presented and analysed. They demonstrate the high degree of statistical performance of this sampling procedure, particularly when used in systems with an increasing failure rate distribution.

This PSI method is important from a quality and reliability management point of view.

This methodology involves a process by which sampling instants are obtained at the beginning of the process to be controlled. Also this new approach allows for statistical comparison with other sampling schemes, which is a novel feature.

The purpose of this paper is to measure the performance of a sampling method through the average number of samples drawn in control.

Matching the adjusted average time to signal (AATS) of sampling methods, using as a reference the AATS of one of them the paper obtains the design parameters of the others. Thus, it will be possible to obtain, in control, the average number of samples required, so that the AATS of the mentioned sampling methods may be equal to the AATS of the method that the paper uses as the reference.

A more robust performance measure to compare sampling methods because in many cases the period of time where the process is in control is greater than the out of control period. With this performance measure the paper compares different sampling methods through the average total cost per cycle, in systems with Weibull lifetime distributions: three systems with an increasing hazard rate (shape parameter β=2, 4 and 7) and one system with a decreasing failure rate (β=0, 8).

In a usual production cycle where the in control period is much larger than the out of control period, particularly if the sampling costs and false alarms costs are high in relation to malfunction costs, the paper thinks that this methodology allows us a more careful choice of the appropriate sampling method.

To compare the statistical performance between different sampling methods using the average number of samples need to be inspected when the process is in control. Particularly, the paper compares the statistical and economic performance between different sampling methods in contexts not previously considered in literature. The paper presents an approximation for the average time between the instant that failure occurs and the first sample with the process out of control, as well.

This conceptual paper examines and evaluates patronage and clientage as a system of interrelated dyadic exchanges between unequals through which goods and services circulate, flowing both up and down through stratified societies. The parties involved may be in different places socially and geographically.

Data are presented for Brazil from the period of the Old Republic beginning in the 1890s, through the end of the Military Dictatorship in mid-1980s, and finally to the present, ending with today’s conditional cash transfer programs. The data are examined against the background of a 15th century book, O Livro da Virtuosa Bemfeituria (The Book of the Virtuous Benefits), written by a Portuguese Prince influential in the expansion and discoveries as a guide for princes and great lords that is used in the paper very much in the way that Adam Smith’s writings are used for most economic behavior today.

There are striking parallels over this long historical period in the behaviors referred to as patronage and clientage that may be conceptualized as an older (traditional) way of ordering the flow of goods and services (distributing them), alternative and parallel to market mechanisms that have, and continue to operate in Brazilian society.

Patronage and clientage are often-misunderstood behaviors, sometimes referred to as corrupt, that alternatively may be explained and understood as part of a still viable and operational socio-cultural system that goes back to a period before the colonization of Brazil.

Friction stir welding lap joints of aluminum alloy AA6082-T6 were joined using two distinct configurations. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of the welding line direction on the fatigue life of the specimens. For that purpose, specimens with the welding line parallel to the loading direction and with the welding line perpendicular to the loading direction were designed and manufactured. Fatigue tests were performed under constant amplitude load and stress ratio of R=0.1. As shown in previous studies, the hook defect plays a decisive role in the mechanical behavior of the joint, in particular when submitted to fatigue. The specimen geometry with the welding line parallel to the loading direction showed a superior fatigue behavior: for a given number of cycles to rupture, the level of stress is approximately twice as high as for the perpendicular configuration.

Two finite element models were created in order to study the behavior of the welded zone and, in particular, to compare influence of the hook defect in both configurations.

The specimen geometry with the welding line parallel to the loading direction showed a superior fatigue behavior: for a given number of cycles to rupture, the level of stress is approximately twice as high as for the perpendicular configuration.

The main objective of this work is to study the effect of the welding line direction on the fatigue life of the specimens. For that purpose, specimens with the welding line parallel to the loading direction and with the welding line perpendicular to the loading direction were designed and manufactured. Fatigue tests were performed under constant amplitude load and stress ratio of R=0.1. As shown in previous studies, the hook defect plays a decisive role in the mechanical behavior of the joint, in particular when submitted to fatigue.

Stress state has a major influence on different phenomena, namely those involving diffusion and plastic deformation (like crack closure and high‐temperature fatigue crack growth, void formation or ductile fracture). The isolation of plane stress and plane strain states is crucial in fundamental studies of material behavior. The isolation of plane stress state is achieved with thin specimens, whilst the isolation of plane strain state is usually done increasing the thickness or introducing lateral grooves. The purpose of this paper is to propose a specimen geometry able to isolate the plane strain state, based on the standard M(T) geometry.

A numerical study was carried out aiming at obtaining a stress triaxiality parameter, h, as a function of different geometrical features of the specimen, such as the notch radius, notch depth and specimen thickness.

Results show that a pure plane strain state is achievable (i.e. 97 percent of specimen thickness has h>0.97) if a specimen with optimized geometrical features is used, which corresponds to a notch radius of 0.5 mm, a notch depth of 1 mm and a total specimen thickness of 12.56 mm.

This type of specimen geometry is a simple and efficient alternative to other common approaches used to obtain pure plain strain conditions for experimental purposes.

The second decade of the twenty-first century finds Brazil racked by a series of scandals that are extreme even by world standards. This chapter presents an explanation for one of the behaviors that have produced these scandals. Specifically, it is the offering of bribes to public officials by individuals or companies that stand to benefit from contracts to perform public services and, furthermore, the paying of kickbacks to the officials if the contract is awarded. I liken this behavior to the making of vows to the saints in the “popular” or “folk” form of Catholicism – and other popular religions that accept its basic premises – and the fulfillment of the promise if and when the otherworldly being provides what the petitioner requested. Part 1 of the chapter examines an election for mayor of the city of Fortaleza in 2012 in which the office was “bought” for what seemed to be an exorbitant amount of money. I hypothesize that this is to be explained by the anticipation of the city receiving government contracts to build a soccer stadium, a rail system, and other projects related to the 2014 World Cup. In Part 2, I examine Brazil’s religions beginning with popular Catholicism, to show that the normative way of gaining something desired from a supernatural – be it the restoration of health or the recovery of a lost item – is to offer it something it values and then fulfilling the promise if and when the petitioner receives what was requested. I contend that this important religious pattern continues to provide the template for the secular behavior that is being judged to be corrupt by standards other than those found in the religiously based worldview of many Brazilians.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a minimum set of indicators to be measured by industrial companies to represent the triple bottom line (TBL) approach.

The research is both descriptive and quantitative. Three hypotheses establish associations among the degrees of use of TBL indicators and their different degrees of use in firms. The authors used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the scale and structural equation modelling to represent the final measurement model. The survey gathered 149 industrial companies.

The results pointed out that there are positive associations among the degree of use of environmental indicators and social indicators, economic, environmental and social indicators have different degrees of use in firms, a positive association between the degree of use of environmental and social indicators and the use of economic indicators was not confirmed. The findings suggest how to measure sustainable performance for industrial companies and highlight the differences in the degree of use for the three dimensions of TBL.

The limitations refer to the non-probabilistic sample, applied in a specific context, industrial companies.

This set of indicators is intended to be used by industrial companies as a reliable instrument to sustainable performance assessment of the current stage of the TBL deployment and provide alternative approaches to address specific issues related to the environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The results offer tangible results for measuring and reporting firm’s social and environmental performance.

This paper intends to offer an integrated and consistent way of measuring sustainability in industrial companies.

This study aims to analyse the political connections of Portuguese companies through the members of the board of directors, exploring how these connections influence, in particular, the composition and characteristics of the boards.

The research used a strategy based on analysing the financial statements and curriculum vitae of the directors of Portuguese companies listed on Euronext Lisbon from 2014 to 2019. The political connections of board members were examined, considering the variables identified in the existing literature.

The results indicate that companies with political connections maintain these relationships for long periods and have a greater number of members on the board of directors compared to companies without such connections. Directors with political experience tend to occupy non-executive positions, suggesting that companies may value political contacts more than the management skills of these directors. It was also found that there are politically connected directors who belong to multiple boards and that women appointed to the board are less likely to have a political background, reflecting male dominance in Portuguese politics.

The main limitations of this study include the small number of listed companies in the sample, which may affect the statistical robustness of the results, as well as the use of secondary sources, which may not capture all relevant policy linkages. In addition, the results are specific to the Portuguese context and may not be generalisable to other countries or other regions of the world.

This study contributes to the understanding of political connections in Portuguese companies, offering valuable insights into how these connections influence board composition and can impact corporate strategy and governance. The findings of this study can be especially useful for business leaders looking to optimise the formation of their boards of directors.