Browsing by Author "Silva, Vítor"
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- B Impact Assessment as a Sustainable Tool: Analysis of the Certification ModelPublication . Silva, Vítor; Lima, Vanda; Sá, José Carlos; Fonseca, Luís; Santos, GilbertoCurrently, certification is an essential tool for a company’s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly of the United Nations, namely: environment, community, workers, customers, and governance. Nevertheless, it is essential that academic research should empirically assess the B Corp model’s reliability for its validation and legitimization. In this study, we address the results of the B Impact Assessment of 2262 companies certified by B Corp from the beginning of 2017 to March 2021. The main objective is to analyze the B Impact Assessment, verifying the robustness and consistency of the model to measure and improve the economic, social, and environmental impact of companies. We analyzed the construct’s validity through a confirmatory factorial analysis using AMOS statistical software. The results allowed us to identify some weaknesses and limitations of the B Impact Assessment. This certification system reflects an unadjusted model where the main assessment indicators have problems with regard to the measurement scale. The governance and customer indicators are the most vulnerable. The findings also allow us to state that there are apparently no minimum values established for each of the parameters evaluated, which may cause imbalances in the sustainable development process of B Corp companies. This research contributes to enhancing B Impact Assessment as a sustainability tool, highlighting areas for improvement concerning the indicators’ measurement scales and the assessment process, including the monitoring of evaluators.
- B Impact Assessment as a Sustainable Tool: Analysis of the Certification ModelPublication . Silva, Vítor; Lima, Vanda; Sá, José Carlos; Fonseca, Luís; Santos, GilbertoCurrently, certification is an essential tool for a company’s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly of the United Nations, namely: environment, community, workers, customers, and governance. Nevertheless, it is essential that academic research should empirically assess the B Corp model’s reliability for its validation and legitimization. In this study, we address the results of the B Impact Assessment of 2262 companies certified by B Corp from the beginning of 2017 to March 2021. The main objective is to analyze the B Impact Assessment, verifying the robustness and consistency of the model to measure and improve the economic, social, and environmental impact of companies. We analyzed the construct’s validity through a confirmatory factorial analysis using AMOS statistical software. The results allowed us to identify some weaknesses and limitations of the B Impact Assessment. This certification system reflects an unadjusted model where the main assessment indicators have problems with regard to the measurement scale. The governance and customer indicators are the most vulnerable. The findings also allow us to state that there are apparently no minimum values established for each of the parameters evaluated, which may cause imbalances in the sustainable development process of B Corp companies. This research contributes to enhancing B Impact Assessment as a sustainability tool, highlighting areas for improvement concerning the indicators’ measurement scales and the assessment process, including the monitoring of evaluators.
- Effects of radiofrequencies in magnetic resonance imaging - a short reviewPublication . Silva, VítorNowadays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging is widely accepted and is becoming an increasingly useful imaging technique. For its functioning, in magnetic resonance equipments there are three main sources of electromagnetic fields: static magnetic fields, time-varying gradient fields and radiofrequencies fields. All of these fields have effects both on patients and workers. The main effect of radiofrequencies fields is heat deposition on human body, which causes tissue heating. There are international guidelines that establish occupational limits for its exposure. A good knowledge of radiofrequencies implications and its safety aspects is vital for better practices in magnetic resonance imaging.
- Envelhecimento ativo: otimizando oportunidadesPublication . Silva, Vítor; Sousa, SusanaO aumento da globalização e dos avanços tecnológicos trouxeram uma economia global e uma interdependência social e política. No final do século XX, os maiores problemas de saúde pública que passaram para este século estão associados às múltiplas consequências do rápido crescimento e envelhecimento da população. O aumento da esperança de vida faz com que a população idosa também cresça, aumentando a importância dada a doenças não transmissíveis e lesões. Existem comportamentos que podem ter um papel positivo na prevenção dessas doenças e lesões, tais como, o exercício físico, dieta e outros hábitos saudáveis. O envelhecimento ativo é uma abordagem para otimizar oportunidades de melhoria da qualidade de vida à medida que as pessoas envelhecem. Permite uma melhor capacitação, tornando as pessoas conscientes do seu potencial ao longo da vida. Este trabalho visa sensibilizar para diferentes metodologias e ferramentas que poderão ser usadas para otimizar e melhorar a qualidade de vida do idoso através de um envelhecimento ativo, propondo algumas estratégias e intervenções futuras. Materiais e Métodos. Foi realizado um estudo holístico baseado em diversa bibliografia acerca de envelhecimento ativo, analisando possíveis metodologias e ferramentas que poderão ser usadas. A literatura foi examinada usando diferentes motores de busca, como a MetaLib da Exlibris, entre outras bases de dados. Resultados. Muitos estudos demonstraram através da otimização do envelhecimento ativo é possível aumentar a segurança e saúde das populações. É necessário criar e promover a educação, atividade física, dieta e relações saudáveis, apoios/cuidados sociais e de saúde adequados, de modo a que as pessoas estejam conscientes que poderão estar ativas ao longo do processo do envelhecimento. Discussão/Conclusão. A solidão, dietas incorretas, a falta de exercício físico e outros hábitos comportamentais são a maior causa para o aparecimento de doenças e lesões. O incentivo para uma abordagem pró-ativa para o envelhecimento é multidimensional, complexo e diverso. Após a reforma, as pessoas deverão continuar a ter uma vida ativa, autónoma e independente, mantendo e desenvolvendo relacionamentos porque a interdependência e a solidariedade entre gerações revelam-se essenciais para o envelhecimento ativo.
- Simulation-Based Decision Support System to Improve Material Flow of a Textile CompanyPublication . Silva, Vítor; Pinto Ferreira, Luís; Silva, Francisco J. G.; Tjahjono, Benny; Ávila, PauloTo remain competitive, companies must continuously improve the processes at hand, be they administrative, production, or logistics. The objective of the study described in this paper was to develop a decision-making tool based on a simulation model to support the production of knits and damask fabrics. The tool was used to test different control strategies for material flow, from the raw material warehouse to the finished product warehouse, and thus can also be used to evaluate the impacts of these strategies on the productivity. The data upon which the decision support tool was built were collected from five sectors of the plant: the raw material warehouse, knit production, damask production, finishing work, and the finished product warehouse. The decision support tool met the objectives of the project, with all five strategies developed showing positive results. Knit and damask production rates increased by up to 8% and 44%, respectively, and a reduction of 75% was observed in the waiting time on the point of entry to the finishing work area, compared to the company’s existing system.
- ÚmeroPublication . Silva, VítorPara o estudo radiológico do úmero, existem pontos anatómicos de interesse perfeitamente palpáveis em pacientes normais que devem ser tidos em conta. Extremidade proximal - a cabeça do úmero é perfeitamente palpável e a extremidade distal - epicôndilos lateral e medial. Para radiografar o úmero em duas projeções distintas, ambas as extremidades devem ser visualizadas.