bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cultural History of the Corset and Gendered Body in Social and Literary Landscapes
Authors: Erkal Melis Mulazimoglu
Published: October 2017

This study centers on the significance, uses and changes of the corset in the Western culture and literature through a study of body politics, culture and fashion. The emplacement of corsetry in the West as an undergarment goes back to 1600s. Research shows that the study of corsetry is important as the corset has been a permanent, pervasive, popular object preferred mostly by women from different classes, sometimes by men and even children since the Middle Ages. Moreover, it is important to notice how the corset has gone beyond its use value and has become first a symbol of rank and elegance, then of female oppression and victimization and finally a symbol of sexual empowerment and feminine rebellion in contemporary time. Popular critics of the field state that the corset today is far beyond its earlier restrictive usages and negative meanings as the garment today has become a favored item in fashion industry and preferred by celebrity icons all around the world. The corset at present is an outerwear, art object and ideological construct. So, what makes the corset so popular and everlasting? The study on corsetry yields to a critique of Western culture from socio-political perspective as well as through body politics and gender studies. In that respect, this work aims to explore how corsetry in past and contemporary time exists as an essential part of patriarchal ideology, influencing social and literary landscapes and borrowing from the beauty aesthetics, thus creating the idealized feminine of each century.
The Activity of Pyramid Schemes in Albania (1992 - 1997) and the Effects of Their Decline
Authors: Nexhipi Adelina , Nexhipi Erjon
Published: October 2017

Political transition in Albania during the last 10 years of the past century brought about the collapse of communist system and opened the way to democratic developments for the country. The transition towards democracy was accompanied with new social, economic and political events which brought with them a lot of issues however. The transition from a centralized economy to free market economy progressed rapidly, but these processes did not comply with the right banking legislation. The National Bank of Albania dominated the banking market;. This was one of the main reasons for the establishment and expansion of pyramid schemes in Albania. They operated largely from 1992 – 1997. This descriptive - analytical study reviews the activity of pyramid schemes in Albania, their expansion dimensions; the survey analyzes the reasons for their expansion, the attitude of the Government toward the event and the causes of their decline. In conducting this study, reports and analyses from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Bank of Albania, several media reports and studies from national and international researchers have been taken into consideration. Through this study we aim to explore the reasons for pyramid schemes’ expansion and the mutual relation between the financial and political crisis in Albania.
Identifying the Drivers of Food Security Based on Perception among Households in South Western Nigeria
Authors: FAWOLE Wasiu Olayinka , ÖZKAN Burhan
Published: October 2017

Food insecurity has been considered lately as one of the developmental challenges facing developing nations particularly the sub-Saharan Africa that if not curtailed may have embarrassing consequences not only to the affected area but to humanity in general due to instability that may occur. This study aimed to identify those factors that influence food security and how they did to guide the relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of food programmes. The study assessed food security of the households based on perception of heads/appointed representatives and logistic regression model to identify its drivers in respective households. The findings of the study revealed that majority of households investigated (60.2 percent) showed varying degrees of food insecurity and hunger while those living with moderate hunger were leading by 31.6 percent. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis results showed that eight of the ten explanatory variables such as income, access to credit and public health facilities among others as specified in the model significantly influenced the food security of the sampled households.
Public-Private Partnership in Building Sustainable Development of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodship
Authors: Huterska Agnieszka
Published: October 2017

The main purpose of the article is to present both the implemented and conducted projects within the framework of public-private partnership. It discusses the influence of the activities undertaken by the local authorities on both the natural environment and the economic aspects of human life. Potential effects of project implementation within the public-private partnership in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodship (province) on the development of the Voivodship are presented. Due to the difficult situation in the region, the citizens’ expectations to conduct investments and limited possibilities of increasing income, implementing projects within public-private partnership seems to be a favourable solution.
Big Data and the Demand for Court and Legal Services
Authors: Pérez Carmen Vargas , Figueroa Juan Luis Peñaloza
Published: October 2017

Law and Economics literature has dealt with the factors determining the demand side of justice for more than 40 years. Both theorists of economic analysis and applied researchers have focused on the different variables that influence demand, such as direct and indirect costs, the chances of winning, the chances to settle out of court and delay, among others, which in turn may be affected by the judges, lawyers and parties incentives. Many of these variables cannot be directly observed by the ordinary citizen. In this paper, we contribute to the Law and Economics literature by showing that Big Data must be considered a new way to approach demand for court and legal services as it introduces new criteria to take into account and a new way to make the decision of whether or not to proceed to trial.
The Atrides Saga and Power Play: The Dilemma Between Freedom and Death on the Theatrical Scene
Authors: Sgouridou Maria , Bitsakos Georgios
Published: October 2017

Thyestes’ myth is difficult to read: cruel, abominable, but also multidimensional. And this is why it is adaptable to multiple interpretations, highlighting the different aspects of tyranny within different political, socio-cultural and philosophical contexts during the centuries. Thyestes, the protagonist of the tragedy, serves, with his unique characteristics, as an example to the spectator in order to understand and improve his own situation, even his very existence. First, we will take a look upon the theatrical production by Petros Katsaitis, author of a tragedy based upon this myth in 1721. At that time, Greece does not yet exist as a national state, being under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Thus, Katsaitis highlights the complex historical reality in which he lives in person. The German author Christian Felix Weiße writes his Atreus und Thyest in 1766 in the philosophical context of Enlightenment, with a focus on the anthropological education of his audience. Ugo Foscolo, being between Italy and Greece, between Neoclassicism and Romanticism, in his Tieste (1797) recalls the memories of modernity’s Ancient Greek roots and re-elaborates the myth by reinvesting it with civil and political sense. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present three versions of an ancient Greek myth composed during the eighteenth-century in three different regions of Europe in order to highlight the potential impact of this tragedy on the viewer's reception and in relation to the historical-cultural and philosophical trends of the time.
Law Students’ Essay Writing Performance and their Writing Difficulties
Authors: Ka kan dee Maleerat
Published: October 2017

In this study, the researcher used a 5 scale scoring rubric employed by McCann (1989) and Nussbaum and Kardash (2005) as a tool to gauge the overall quality of 60 first year students’ writing tasks. The researcher also used a questionnaire to measure the level of students’ writing anxiety. Moreover, a semi structure interview is used to investigate the writing difficulties encountered by Thai EFL law students. The results of students’ writing tasks provided the valuable understandings that would assist Thai EFL teachers to understand their students’ weaknesses. Such valuable description can be used to help Thai EFL teachers improve their teaching activities to meet the demands of their students to develop their writing competences (Flower - Hayes, 1981; Leighton - Gierl; 2007). Knowledge about university students’ difficulties with writing is not sufficiently descriptive to effectively identify the right features of students’ problems with writing. There is a critical need to know more about the difficulties experienced by Law students, when they compose essays, in order to assess the overall quality of the Law students’ writing essays. A 5 scale scoring rubric employed by McCann (1989) and Nussbaum and Kardash (2005) was adopted to gauge the overall quality in this research study. Findings revealed that Law students’ writing tasks had weaknesses on various aspects, which lead to ineffective writing. Moreover, Law students experienced the high level of writing anxiety which prevent writing essays effectively.
The Importance of Nepotym and Corruption Management in Institutions and the Economy of the Country
Authors: Fetahu Driton
Published: October 2017

: Social, political and institutional factors play a major role in the country's economic development and economic growth in developing and developed countries. Corruption, which is a symptom of deep institutional weaknesses, is one of the factors responsible for reducing investment and spending (for education and health), increasing income inequality, decreasing foreign direct investment, and allocating resources. It tends to grow faster than the dynamics implemented to neutralize it. Systematically, it has caused many disturbing problems in all countries of the world. Based on a Transparency International report. Corruption is one of the greatest contemporary challenges of the world. It determines good governance, leads to inefficient resource allocation, disrupts the private and public sector, and often affects the poor. The people in the world carry the phenomena that society has so far encountered but has neglected. Nepotism usually means hiring close relatives, close friends, regardless of their merits and abilities. While corruption poses a permanent threat to both the economic system and the country's legal system. The purpose of this paper is; To assess the factors that have influenced the appearance and development of nepotism and corruption. Then, analyze the influence of nepotism and corruption in the country's economy. The impact of nepotism on employment and the advancement of relatives in the important sector of the country as well as the influence of corruption and nepotism in justice institutions. The research results will be useful for researchers who will be concerned with analyzing the influential factors of nepotism and corruption.
Analyzing and Selecting a Suitable Media for Online Marketing
Authors: TERZIU Hysni
Published: October 2017

During the last years, the letter “E” has increased its importance not only in the world of information and communication technology (ICT), virtual businesses, and internet surfing but also in other sectors. It has become an important component for a considerable number of research fields such as in electronic marketing, electronic business, electronic finances, electronic trade, electronic distance learning, and electronic markets among others. The revolution in ICT has changed not only our lives but also the ways how people do business. Recently, it is noted that an increasing number of touristic operators use internet and other electronic media to achieve their marketing efforts by giving in this way priority to electronic marketing as a new philosophy and phenomena. Online marketing has as an aim to provide value to customers by using information technologies. It offers additions instruments to traditional marketing. Continues changes in online trade have a direct impact not only in instruments but also in the objectives and aims that require new tools and the usage of new strategies in order to be achieved. These factors (tools, objectives, aims and strategies) can be used to distinguish the instruments of online marketing from those of traditional marketing. To achieve this goal, traditional marketers use a variety of marketing variables including: price, advertising, distribution, product to satisfy actual and potential customers. Today, many organizations are spending more time and money to create online presence, creating of websites. In traditional marketing, the customer's role has been very passive, but today we can say that the world wide web uses the hypermedia concept which provides a more active role to the visitor of the web. Hypermedia means a variety of media content that can be accessed through hyperlinks and that can be used to conduct online marketing and to provide competitive advantages to the new economy. Studies suggest that technological advances have created new communication models and marketing channels that cause the greater impacts on marketing practices (e.g. the acceptance of electronic media as a living communication tool). This paper tries to present the concepts of Online Marketing and particular attention is provided to the manner on how to analyze which Kosovar or regional media on the Internet has greater visibility and what needs to be done to get the right attention of potential clients of our business.
Investigating the Attitude and Perception of Consumers Towards Purchasing Food Products from Supermarket Through Online Trading
Authors: ILBASMIS Eda , OZKAN Burhan , FAWOLE Wasiu O. , Karakaya Yesim
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study is to examine the attitudes and perception of consumers in Antalya province towards purchase of food productions from supermarket through online trading system and factors that influence such perception. To achieve the objective of this study, face to face interview were conducted with consumers in Antalya province and data collected were subsequently analysed using logistic regression. The scope of the research study covers that socio-demographic charateristics of consumers, internet access and usage status and supermarkets’ views on online trading services are some of the factors that drove the attitudes and perception of consumers towards food products purchase.
The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Paternal Sleep Problems Across the Perinatal Period in Hong Kong - a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Koh Yee Woen , Lee Antoinette Marie , Chan Chui Yi , Tang Catherine So-Kum , Yeung Jean Wei-Jun
Published: October 2017

Background: The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of sleep problems among the fathers from the antenatal to postpartum period as well as their risk factors with an aim to develop strategies to assist the fathers during the transition period. Methods: A consecutive sample of 540 Chinese expectant fathers were recruited. Expectant fathers were administered a set of questionnaires at first presentation (12 weeks gestation), 36 weeks pregnancy and 6 weeks after childbirth. Sleep problems was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleeping Quality Index (PSQI). Demographic and psychosocial risk factors were also assessed. Findings: An alarming 42.2%, 57.5% and 70.3% of the fathers were identified to have sleep problems at early, late pregnancy and six week postpartum respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that poor self-esteem and work family conflict were significant risk factors for sleep problems at early pregnancy and late pregnancy respectively, even after controlling for confounders. Poor social support and work family conflict significantly predicted sleep problems at six week postpartum. Discussions: The prevalence of sleeping problems among the fathers during perinatal period was alarmingly high and warrants serious attention. Given the potential adverse impact of sleep problems on fathers’ mental and physical health as well as caregiving abilities, findings from this study point to the need to equip fathers with psychosocial resources through perinatal psychoeducation, support group and counselling. Caution should be exercised in generalizing the results to fathers of other backgrounds as the sampling of the present study only include a certain area of Hong Kong.
Global Effects in Political Ideology-Case of Kosovo
Authors: Mexhuani Burim
Published: October 2017

: The paper examines the global effects on political ideologies in the case of Kosovo not only theoretical but also practical aspects. The ideological misunderstanding of political parties in Kosovo at a first reading creates the idea of a virus that has passed in many countries with consolidated democracy. In this logic, we can not claim something different to us, for how long, the claim to refer to different doctrines is viewed with much scepticism. To achieve the objectives of the paper, we have elaborated the global effects that have in the ideologies of political parties in Kosovo. The paper found that Integration into the European Communities over the years has become an indisputable priority for any government in Kosovo. The integration process changes in the government program of any political force, not just on paper. It was observed there exists International organizations such as the IMF strive, with a degree of success, to push and impose aspects of globalization in a particular direction, and such discourses, such as neoliberal economic discourse, are an important part of the strategy for to achieve this goal. The findings, therefore, suggest that through participation in democratic elections, they want to represent these interests to representatives and formal political institutions.
Influence of “third age” person’s education on cognitive aging and psychological well-being
Authors: Belovol Elena , Shurupova Elena
Published: October 2017

. Influence of standard regular education of elderly adults (aged 55+) on psychological well being and cognitive aging is studied. The hypothesis that education can slow-down the process of cognitive aging has been verified. By the example of longitudinal study, the dynamics of worry domains, their content as well as cognitive functioning improvement have been studied.
Instructional Design Model for Applying Flipped Learning in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Eltahir Mohd Elmagzoub A. Babiker
Published: October 2017

The era of globalization, growth and development of information and communication technology (ICT) and its application to learning and teaching has influence on our modern generation students, making the teaching traditional methods are useless. Changing familiar instructing methods can be a challenge available for instructors as a way to ignite our students’ curiosity and make our teaching materials more engaging and effective. Recently, the flipped learning model has been recognized by educators as an effective instructional approach (Hwang, - Wang 2015), it is a pedagogical approach in which the typical lecture and activities elements of a course are reversed, where students individually watch online lectures prior to class and then engage in classroom learning activities interacting with peers and instructors. Flipped learning model helps instructor to focus more on student-centered learning, which includes any use of the technology to take advantage of learning in the classroom, so that the instructor can spend more time interacting with the students instead of lecturing. The purpose of this study is to suggest instructional design (ID) model for teaching undergraduate courses applying the flipped learning model. Research on ID models may be classiﬁed into three different types: model development, model validation, and model use. This study concerned the ﬁrst one of these, and it is based on the ADDIE, Dick and Carey model. The process begins with planning, followed by programming, then Coaching. Assessing and evaluating occur continually throughout the process and act as valuable mechanisms for monitoring progress and identifying achievement. At each stage of the process, instructors base their decisions on the requirements of the course curriculum, and, equally importantly, on their students’ needs.
The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Managers` Leadership Styles
Authors: Simic Jelena , Ristic Marija Runic , Milosevic Tamara Kezic , Ristic Dusan
Published: October 2017

This research study starts with the hypothesis that the personality traits of managers influence their leadership styles. Personality traits are taken from the model Big Five (McCrae and Costa) since it is one of the most dominant models of personality in modern psychology. Management styles (leadership) were investigated within the theories of transformational and transactional leadership, including laissez-faire style (Bruce Avolio & Bernard Bass). The research was conducted with 160 lower-level, middle-level and high-level managers in Serbia, employed in private and public sectors. From the questionnaire the NEO Personality Inventory (Serbian version, Kostić, P. 2002), and with the analysis of the main components, five dimensions of personality have been extracted: extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience. From the shorter version of Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, three factors of leadership have been extracted: transformational, transactional and laissez-faire. The relationship between the received factors was checked by Pearson`s correlation coefficient and by multiple regression analysis. The received information showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between personality traits and leadership styles, and the most dominant relationship is between the transformational leadership style and extraversion (in a positive sense) and neuroticism (in a negative sense).
African American Postmodern Supernaturalism
Authors: Vajić Nataša
Published: October 2017

African American postmodern supernaturalism is the last stage in the development of African American literature, but also contemporary world literature in general. By embracing one's own African elements and enriching postmodern literature, African American supernaturalism experimented with the syncretism of the past and the future, tradition and futurism. Seeking for a new kind of literary expressionism, the African American writer strives to preserve ancient cultural features by combining them into something completely new and what separates them from the rest of world literature.
Relationship between the Socioeconomicsocio-Educational Context and Thecognitive Performance from WISC-IV Indexes
Authors: Labin Agustina , Taborda Alejandra
Published: October 2017

Background: national and international studies attach particular importance to the average socio shared environment as an explanatory variable intellectual performance in psychometric test. Objetive: To analyze the relationship between maternal education, the number of books in the home, the initial school level and extracurricular activities such as measures of socioeconomic, educational and environmentally with cognitive production WISC-IV level. Method: We worked with 154 children as 6 to 12 who attend public schools in the city of San Luis (Argentina). A sociodemographic survey designed ad hoc and the Argentinian adapting Intelligence Scale for Children Wechsler were implemented. We used ANOVA and Student test to analyze the differences between the proposed variables and the WISC-IV. Results: We found associations between the ducational level of the mother and the production in verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and total IQ of their children. In addition, significant differences were found between the number of books available at home and the age of entry admission to initial school level with verbal comprehension, and total IQ; as well as perceptive reasoning and working memory and extracurricular activities, sports and/or language study, among other. Conclusion: the need to recognize the socio-environmental factors to develop a proper interpretation of the test production is ratified. In this context we propose an extended and integrated diagnostic destined to capture the complex plot by the combination of capacities from the stimulation provided by the environment and the development of specific abilities less influenced by environmental factors.
Student Experience of E-Learning Tools in HE: An Integrated Learning Framework
Authors: Dean Aftab , Lima Andy
Published: October 2017

Over the last decade the adoption of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), at University, has become an accepted norm of support for student learning. However, despite the major investment in VLE’s there is a major disparity between what universities are offering, on their online platforms, and how this material and activities are being utilised by students. This research provides empirical evidence of the passive use, both by tutors and students, of the VLE. The literature provides evidence of the inertia that still exists, within Higher Education (HE), among tutors, to fully embrace the spectrum of VLE engagement tools. The lack of transition, among many tutors, to utilise the VLE as a pedagogical engagement tool continues to impact the expectations of fee paying students in the UK, who no longer expect that a Socratic dialogue will suffice to catalyse their intellectual curiosity. Today’s generation of students have been exposed to a plethora of technologies that facilitates the acquisition of instant information and often through a multitude of sensory (visual, audio) formats. Furthermore, with the growth of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) that are freely available to students the expectations, of HE students, from universities is becoming more demanding. In light of this competitive virtual learning landscape the authors propose a learning framework. To enable universities to create a unique and effective learning experience, for their students, through prudent investment in VLE tools and a complimentary learning environments. Resulting in deeper learning and informed students prepared for seminars.
Compliance with International Education Standards of Accounting in European Union Countries, the Case of Albania as An Official Cand idate for Accession to The EU
Authors: ZENUNI Brisejda RAMAJ , MITI Mirela UJKANI
Published: October 2017

The accountancy profession is based on standards, rests on their adoption and successful implementation, and is governed by the overarching principle of serving the public interest. These are complex sets of variables made even more difficult with sovereign interests and multiple stakeholders playing out on a global stage. The Evaluation of the status of accountancy education with its components of qualification, education and training in selected countries and Ballcan compared with the requirements of the IES. Nevertheless, the capital markets, in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, are demanding a single set of high quality internationally accepted accountancy standards where transparency, comparability and reliability of financial information is paramount. The importance of adoption and implementation of IES and the use of benchmarking in identifying country accomplishments and gaps from these standards. To enhance comparability a distinction is made between the four competency sub-pillars of accountancy education: personal development, professional accountancy education, professional development, and competence requirements for auditors. Together the sub-pillars cover all IES in a comprehensive approach that strengthens the statistical analysis of the results. Country overviews contain information about the adoption and implementation of International Education Standards (IES). The discussion of the regions includes country information, regional characteristics, adoption and implementation of IES, and recognition of qualifications.
The importance of human resources to the innovative capacity of portuguese firms
Authors: Silva Armando
Published: October 2017

In this study I test the importance of several Human Resource variables to the innovation capacity of portuguese firms but also the effects that the innovation process generates on Human Resources. A branch of the innovation literature states that the ability of firms to innovate relies on an innovative capacity, which, in turn, depends on several factors, both internal and external to enterprises. One of those factors is the effort of firms to train their personnel specifically in order to enable them to innovate. The present test is applied to 4818 Portuguese enterprises for the period 2002-2004 through the use of the fourth Community Innovation Survey data. In order to evaluate the contribution of Human Resources to innovation I have estimated several knowledge Production Functions, mainly using probits and tobits. In that framework it is assumed that innovation depends on some inputs (as the training of personnel) and on information-flows from the existing knowledge stock (as clients). I have found significant the role of personnel training for the innovative process of Portuguese firms. Moreover, I also found that the lack of qualified personnel hinged critically more innovative performance of firms and, in addition, it is noticed that the improvement of productivuty (cost reduction) was the main effect of innovation in Portuguese firms.
Quem são os profissionais de recursos humanos em Portugal?
Authors: Almeida António José de
Published: October 2017

O campo da Gestão de Recursos Humanos só muito recentemente tem vindo a merecer a atenção dos investigadores em Portugal, sendo escassos os trabalhos sobre este domínio profissional. Contudo, tem-se constatado uma crescente visibilidade social deste campo, nem sempre acompanhada por idêntico aumento da credibilidade e reconhecimento dos seus profissionais. Por isso, discutir as dinâmicas de profissionalização e de afirmação social neste campo profissional surge, cada vez mais, como um objetivo de quem se dedica ao estudo dos processos de profissionalização, em geral, e da gestão de Recursos Humanos, em perticular. Assim, partindo da análise de uma série temporal de dados estatísticos não publicados, dos Quadros de Pessoal do Ministério do Trabalho e Solidariedade Social, procuramos analisar as tendências de evolução da composição sociográfica deste grupo profissional. Os resultados permitem constatar um acentuado crescimento quantitativo do grupo, em que a feminização é o elemento estruturante, e uma crescente valorização da formação académica de nível superior como condição de acesso ao campo profissional.
Determinantes da atratividade organizacional: o impacto da experiência profissional, da experiência de resposta a anúncios de emprego e da experiência em ir a entrevistas de emprego
Authors: Gomes Daniel Roque , Neves José Gonçalves das
Published: October 2017

Atrair colaboradores a uma organização é uma fase crítica de qualquer processo de recrutamento, à qual muitos gestores de Recursos Humanos dedicam um esforço considerável. Diversos investigadores na área de recrutamento atribuem um papel fundamental à perceção de atratividade organizacional para a eficácia na fase de atração de colaboradores. Não obstante, poucos estudos averiguaram o impacto da experiência profissional, da experiência de resposta a anúncios de emprego e da experiência em ir a entrevistas de emprego na determinação da perceção de atratividade organizacional. O presente estudo propõe que a relação preditiva entre as características da função e os atributos da organização junto da atratividade organizacional é moderada pela experiência profissional, pela experiência de resposta a anúncios de emprego e pela experiência a ir a entrevistas de emprego. A amostra deste estudo é composta por 227 participantes, contendo 72 profissionais de Marketing e 155 sujeitos oriundos de cursos superiores de Marketing de duas instituições de ensino superior. Cada participante recebeu uma adaptação de um anúncio de emprego que descrevia uma função e uma organização, sendo-lhes solicitadas respostas a um questionário que continha as medidas para as variáveis do estudo. Os principais resultados evidenciaram que a experiência profissional, a experiência de resposta a anúncios de emprego e a experiência em entrevistas de emprego são fatores moderadores de algumas relações entre as características das funções e os atributos organizacionais com a atratividade organizacional. A importância e as implicações dos resultados observados são discutidos para a prática do recrutamento de colaboradores, sendo apontadas recomendações para atrair diferentes perfis de candidatos.
O diagnóstico de necessidades e a avaliação da formação dois exemplos práticos em PME de elevada tecnologia
Authors: Veloso Ana , Malheiro João , Lima José
Published: October 2017

O diagnóstico de necessidades de formação e a avaliação da formação são duas das mais importantes e complexas etapas do ciclo de formação. A sua complexidade decorre da exigência de se desenhar os processos e os instrumentos à medida de cada organização, integrando nestes as diferenças intrínsecas às características da organização, dos colaboradores (potenciais formados) e das aprendizagens pretendidas. Definir com rigor as necessidades de formação e avaliar o seu impacto contribui para a eficiência da formação, sendo fundamentais para garantir o seu sucesso (Brown, 2002). São apresentados dois casos de duas PME de elevada tecnologia portuguesas. São descritos os processos desenvolvidos e os instrumentos desenhados, as dificuldades encontradas e as soluções adotadas
O empreendedorismo social na economia social
Authors: Santos Lara
Published: October 2017

A contribuição das organizações não lucrativas na economia social é bem documentada, em contraste ao papel e ao impacto de empreendedorismo social na economia social. Esta comunicação, com base na capacidade dinâmica da orientação estratégica individual empreendedora, debate e clarifica, através de exemplos nacionais e internacionais, o papel do empreendedorismo social na economia social.
People-management competencies: a competitive advantage
Authors: Correia Anabela Gomes , González Fernández Luis
Published: October 2017

This study puts forward a model for the analysis of the possible relationships between organisational variables and competences in 8 Portuguese organisations operating in four different sectors: two hospitals, two banks, two public administrations and two industrial companies. The organisational variables were defined as activity sector, organisation type and professional group. The competences were grouped into technical and generic domains. We were able to show that there is a general tendency, particular in the public organisations, to preferentially value technical competences. The most highly valued generic competences were motivation and teamwork, the least valued being language and computer skills. We conclude, in a general manner, that, by not attributing value to the generic competences, the organisations that participated in this study and the public ones in particular, showed low levels of openness, flexibility and adaptation to the wider world, a fact which may negatively affect future performance.
Transição da formação para o trabalho: o estudo de um modelo sociocognitivo
Authors: Vieira Diana , Coimbra Joaquim Luís
Published: October 2017

A transição da formação para o trabalho consiste num fenómeno multifacetado e prolongado no tempo, no qual jogam um papel primordial fatores associados aos indivíduos e aos seus contextos, tanto proximais como distais. Procurando sistematizar vários dos aspetos envolvidos na inserção profissional, é proposto um modelo organizador e explicativo da transição da formação para o trabalho, numa perspetiva sociocognitiva. Esta perspetiva preconiza uma interação multidirecional entre as características da pessoa, o seu contexto e o seu comportamento como forma de compreensão do funcionamento humano, destacando a importância da autoeficácia enquanto variável auto referente primordial para a agência pessoal. A apresentação deste modelo é seguida da análise de dados provenientes de dois estudos longitudinais nos quais o modelo foi testado. Termina-se com uma breve reflexão sobre as implicações para intervenção na área do desenvolvimento da carreira (ou vocacional).
Práticas organizacionais amigas da família: qual o papel da confiança organizacional na sua adesão?
Authors: Lima José , Ruivo Sara , Silva Isabel
Published: October 2017

O aumento das exigências laborais associadas às alterações demográficas da força de trabalho (ex., casais de dupla carreira, famílias monoparentais) promove aquilo a que comummente na literatura é designado por conflito trabalho-família. Muitas organizações, numa tentativa de diminuição desse conflito, têm disponibilizado práticas organizacionais “amigas” da família, como são exemplos, teletrabalho ou horários de trabalho flexível. Porém, existe certa evidência de que a disponibilização destas práticas não traduz necessariamente à sua adesão por parte dos colaboradores, tendo a literatura sugerido a identificação de fatores que podem mediar essa relação (i.e., entre a disponibilização de práticas e a sua adesão). A presente investigação pretende dar contributos a este nível, nomeadamente, através do estudo do papel da confiança organizacional nessa relação. A recolha de dados está a ser concretizada em três empresas, do setor das tecnologias de informação e da construção civil, através de escalas de autorrelato aos colaboradores. Perspetiva-se uma amostra de 200 colaboradores. Espera-se que os resultados deste estudo possam dar contributos a nível teórico, na relação da confiança organizacional com outras variáveis e na identificação do seu papel na relação entre a disponibilização e utilização das práticas amigas da família. A nível prático prevê-se a identificação de algumas estratégias para o aumento da eficácia das intervenções a este nível, nomeadamente, no apoio à tomada de decisão na sua implementação.
A área de educação e formação de GRH em Portugal
Authors: Meirinhos Viviana , Braga Joana , Correia José Alberto
Published: October 2017

O atual paradigma educativo, formativo e profissionalizante tem colocado à Europa novos desafios, os quais têm requerido à maioria dos países fortes esforços políticos e operacionais. Nos inúmeros instrumentos que têm sido criados em Portugal (por exemplo, CNAEF, 2005; CNQ, 2007), a área de Gestão de Recursos Humanos/ Gestão de Pessoas evidencia um forte défice de indicadores. De facto, a não maturidade e multireferencialidade deste domínio de conhecimento remete-o para um processo contínuo, quer a nível nacional como internacional, de configuração, transformação e reconfiguração dos seus conteúdos, contexto(s) e identidade(s), o que fundamenta a sua insipiência nos instrumentos políticos de formação. Tal situação é materializada pela própria CNAEF, que, “apesar de constituir um excelente instrumento de trabalho, não permite a correspondência perfeitamente ajustada entre as áreas de formação e o domínio profissional da Gestão das Pessoas” (IQF:2006). Este trabalho - enquadrado numa investigação, que tem como objetivo contribuir para o desenvolvimento de indicadores para a área de educação e formação de Gestão de Recursos Humanos/ Gestão de Pessoas - analisa e discute a delimitação epistemológica da área educativa e formativa de Gestão de Recursos Humanos, bem como algumas das problemáticas técnicas, científicas e pedagógicas que configuraram a oferta educativa deste domínio no ensino superior português.
Coaching: reflexões em torno da sobrevivência de uma prática
Authors: Vieira Diana
Published: October 2017

O coaching é uma prática que se tem desenvolvido exponencialmente nos últimos anos mas que, tal como qualquer outro modo de intervir, corre o risco de sucumbir caso não se consubstancie rapidamente num corpo de investigação empírica. Parafraseando Kurt Levin, não há nada mais prático do que uma boa teoria, isto é, a intervenção assente em resultados de investigações orientadas pela teoria possui uma probabilidade muito maior de ser útil do que uma prática baseada em “modas” ou em tendências pouco sustentáveis do ponto de vista teórico-empírico. Este trabalho pretende refletir sobre a necessidade e as vantagens de uma prática de coaching ancorada em evidências empíricas teoricamente fundamentadas.
Effectiveness of Implicit Beamforming with Large Number of Antennas Using Calibration Technique in Multi-User MIMO System
Authors: Nishimori Kentaro , Hiraguri Takefumi , Mitsui Tsutomu , Yamada Hiroyoshi
Published: October 2017

This paper examines the effectiveness of implicit beamforming (IBF), which enables transmission without channel state information (CSI) feedback in multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems with a large number of antennas. First, we explain why CSI feedback from terminal stations to the base station produces a very large overhead. A calibration technique is then introduced, which compensates for the difference between the complex amplitudes of the transmitters and receivers to facilitate CSI-feedback-free beamforming; this technique is called IBF. The efficacy of this calibration technique is demonstrated by measuring the amplitude and phase errors obtained using a 16-element array testbed and by performing a channel capacity evaluation. Finally, the throughput under IEEE802.11ac-based massive MIMO transmission, both with and without CSI feedback, is obtained in terms of the medium access control efficiency.
Doing Good Again? A Multilevel Institutional Perspective on Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Philanthropic Strategy
Authors: Liu Wei , Wei Qiao , Huang Song-Qin , Tsai Sang-Bing
Published: October 2017

This study investigates the relationship between corporate environmental responsibility and corporate philanthropy. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2008 to 2013, this paper examines the role of corporate environmental responsibility in corporate philanthropy and the moderating influence of the institutional environment using multilevel analysis. The results show that corporate eco-friendly events are positively associated with corporate philanthropic strategy to a significant degree. Provincial-level government intervention positively moderate the positive relationship between eco-friendly events and corporate philanthropy and government corruption is negatively moderate the relationship. All these results are robust according to robustness checks. These findings provide a new perspective on corporate philanthropic strategy as a means to obtain critical resources from the government in order to compensate for the loss made on environmental responsibility. Moreover, the institutional environment is proved here to play an important role in corporate philanthropic strategy.
Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility
Authors: Joseph Dana , Whirledge Shannon
Published: October 2017

An organism’s reproductive fitness is sensitive to the environment, integrating cues of resource availability, ecological factors, and hazards within its habitat. Events that challenge the environment of an organism activate the central stress response system, which is primarily mediated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The regulatory functions of the HPA axis govern the cardiovascular and metabolic system, immune functions, behavior, and reproduction. Activation of the HPA axis by various stressors primarily inhibits reproductive function and is able to alter fetal development, imparting a biological record of stress experienced in utero. Clinical studies and experimental data indicate that stress signaling can mediate these effects through direct actions in the brain, gonads, and embryonic tissues. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which stress activation of the HPA axis impacts fertility and fetal development.
The MEK Inhibitors Trametinib and Cobimetinib Induce a Type I Interferon Response in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Lulli Daniela , Carbone Maria , Pastore Saveria
Published: October 2017

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK) 1 and 2 have crucial roles in tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, and protection from apoptosis, and their inhibition is therefore an attractive therapeutic strategy in cancer. Orally available and highly selective MEK inhibitors have been developed and assessed in numerous clinical trials, either alone or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or other targeted agents. Of note, a complex picture of class-specific adverse effects associates with these drugs, frequently including inflammatory skin rash. Here, we investigated the response of normal human keratinocytes to the MEK inhibitors trametinib and cobimetinib, alone and in combination with the v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) inhibitors dabrafenib and vemurafenib, in terms of signal transduction and de novo gene expression. MEK inhibitors triggered enhanced expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and up-regulated the keratinocyte-specific type I interferon κ (IFN-κ), the anti-viral effectors interferon-induced tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) 1 and 2, and the pro-inflammatory chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and the C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), both at the mRNA and protein level. Impairment of IRF1 expression, or abrogation of STAT1 phosphorylation due to IFN-κ gene silencing, suppressed anti-viral and pro-inflammatory gene expression. These data suggest that, similar to what we observed for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blockade, MEK inhibition activates a type I interferon response, which is now recognized as an effective anti-cancer response, in human epidermal keratinocytes.
Asymmetrical Competition between Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Coexisting in Breeding Sites
Authors: Santana-Martínez Juan , Molina Jorge , Dussán Jenny
Published: October 2017

Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are mosquito vectors for several tropical diseases that represent a current public health problem. The ecological requirements for each species are different, however, both species show high biological adaptability, which promotes their coexistence in the same breeding sites. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of larval association between Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus under different laboratory conditions of food supply and temperature, and under field simulated conditions like peridomestic containers. Our findings showed that under field simulated conditions there was no asymmetrical competition in mixed cultures with the different Cx. quinquefasciatus/Ae. aegypti ratios tested. However, under laboratory conditions in which different doses of food supply were evaluated, it was observed that competition between the two species takes place. Larval coexistence under food scarcity conditions (0.95 mg/larva) showed that Ae. aegypti had a greater adult emergence than Cx. quinquefasciatus and was capable of depriving Cx. quinquefasciatus of the food needed to complete metamorphosis. In an intermediate dose of food (1.9 mg/larva), the dry weight of Cx. quinquefasciatus adults decreased, and their larval development time increased when Cx. quinquefasciatus/Ae. aegypti ratio was low. Also, a temperature effect was assessed demonstrating that Cx. quinquefasciatus was more vulnerable to changes in temperature. We suggest that Ae. aegypti is more successful in exploiting microhabitats when food is scarce, due to its scrape active feeding habitats and fast larval development times. Therefore, in conditions of food paucity both species will compete, and Ae. aegypti larvae will prevail.