Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-05-07"
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- Development of a functional orange juice powder by spray dryingPublication . Barbosa, Joana Inês Bastos; Teixeira, Paula Cristina MaiaThe concept of functional food products has acquired a huge dimension with the enormous number of people concerned about consuming foods with health benefits. An innovative non-dairy functional food would be very attractive, not only to these consumers but also to specific niches in the market (e.g. lactose intolerants and vegetarians). The aim of this work was to develop a powdered functional orange juice. For this, cultures with probiotic characteristics were used and the necessary conditions to obtain the dried product by spray drying were defined. Two cultures were selected, a commercial probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v and an isolate from a food matrix, Pediococcus acidilactici HA-6111-2. Safety and the presence of some functional characteristics of P. acidilactici were investigated and compared with those of the commercial probiotic. None of the bacteria produced any of the virulence factors investigated; they did not exhibit significant resistance to antibiotics and reductions lower than one logarithmic cycle were observed after exposure to simulated gastro-intestinal tract conditions. It was also verified that both bacteria survived during the spray drying process and subsequent storage for 60 days. Powdered orange juice was initially obtained in a Büchi Mini Spray Dryer at constant feed temperature (ºC), flow rates of feed (mL/min), drying air (%) and compressed air (L/h) and varying inlet and outlet air temperatures (ºC) as well as the ratio of total soluble solids (orange juice): drying aid (10DE maltodextrin or gum Arabic). At selected inlet and outlet air temperatures of 120 ºC and 65 ºC, respectively, and ratio of soluble solids: drying aid of 0.5: 2, high drying yields and powders with low water activities (aw) were obtained. No cell inactivation was observed for each culture after incorporated into orange juice and spray dried. Their survival during storage at 4 ºC was higher than at room temperature under uncontrolled aw. Pediococcus acidilactici was more resistant than L. plantarum, especially during storage at 4 ºC, with logarithmic reductions lower than 1 log-unit during a period of at least seven months. To enhance survival of spray dried bacteria during storage, different pre-spray drying conditions were tested: i) different sugars were added to the culture media used (cell growth in the presence of lactose, followed by glucose resulted in the highest survival) and ii) cells were exposed to different sub-lethal stresses (only survival of L. plantarum cells during storage at room temperature was increased). For both cases, powders obtained were stored under different conditions of temperature, light exposure and aw. Generally, survival was enhanced at 4 °C, aw of 0.03 and absence of light. Cell viability during passage through simulated gastro-intestinal tract conditions was also investigated at the end of the storage at 4 ºC; the viability of both cultures was not enhanced by prior exposure to sub-lethal stresses. Survival of cultures in orange fruit powders obtained by spray-, freeze- and convective hot air drying was investigated during drying and subsequent storage. Cell inactivation was only observed during convective hot air drying (about 2 logarithmic cycle reduction). Minimal reductions were observed for P. acidilactici for most conditions of storage while for L. plantarum only during storage at 4 ºC. Taking into account the initial number of cells obtained after each drying process, the techniques which allowed survival of an increased number of cells after storage, were spray- and freeze drying. Better dissolution, color and vitamin C retention were also obtained when these techniques were used. Despite the scale-up and validation at industrial scale being still necessary, spray drying at pilot scale allowed producing a new functional orange juice powder with probiotic characteristics. The bacteria used demonstrated to be good candidates for the development of this product.
- Patentes sobre sementes geneticamente modificadas : consequências dos monopólios na produção de sementes e de proliferação de patentesPublication . Lind, Salomé Margarida; Santos, Ana Eduarda
- Go Natural case study : internationalization of the Healthy Food ConceptPublication . Cotrim, Marta Franco Rainha de Abreu; Celeste, Pedro Manuel Amador RodriguesGo Natural is a Portuguese Healthy Food Concept founded in 2004 by two entrepreneur siblings, Diogo and Joana Martorell. With a selective and distinctive offer of high-quality food, Go Natural managed to create a new niche segment: Healthy Food in Shopping Centres, in a time characterized by a market offer based on international fast-food chains and traditional Portuguese cuisine. This dissertation aims to evaluate a real challenge that Go Natural experienced in 2013. Being in the market for a decade, the company is facing a strategic decision that may influence its future grow: to internationalize or not to Brazil, a growing and potential market. After suffering with the effects of the economical crisis affecting Portugal and changing consumers’ eating-out habits, Go Natural performed a category extension project named Kitchen, in order to reach the new emerging Fast Casual segment that was attracting more and more consumers, downgrading from full-service restaurants. Go Natural’s goal is not only to re-conquer consumers by offering them an added-value, but at the same time stabilize the company’s growth and strengthen its position in the national market. The internationalization process requires an extensive analysis of the Brazilian partner, market and consumer, in order to evaluate if this is the right timing for Go Natural to go abroad. To address the key success factors and differentiation basis that sustained Go Natural through its tenyear existence is also another objective of this study. The Literature Review section of this dissertation approaches pertinent topics such as brand revitalizing strategies through product and brand extensions and the analytical aspects of the decision making for the successful internationalization process. The Go Natural case study intends to give an extensive perspective of the Portuguese and Brazilian fast-food market and related future challenges. The main conclusion from this study is that Go Natural is ready to go to Brazil, as it has gathered the required experience in Portugal, as well as a stable basis to continue on growing and is now ready to expand into a new market with an experienced partner.
- Contributo da disciplina de Educação Visual para a inclusão de alunos cegos e com baixa visãoPublication . Costa, Joana Margarida Figueiredo da; Dias, Paulo César AzevedoEste trabalho tem como principal objetivo descrever a experiência de estágio na disciplina de Educação Visual (3º ciclo), explorando as potencialidades das artes para promover a inclusão de alunos cegos e com baixa-visão no ambiente escolar. Este objetivo é concretizado ao longo da investigação-ação que pretende: sensibilizar para a diferença; valorizar o trabalho colaborativo entre alunos na construção de materiais pedagógicos inclusivos; aplicar estratégias e procedimentos conducentes à criação de um livro com ilustrações tácteis e ampliar o espólio de livros adaptados da Biblioteca Escolar. O projeto foi desenvolvido entre outubro de 2013 e junho de 2014, durante o estágio pedagógico supervisionado numa escola de referência para a educação de alunos cegos e com baixa-visão. A caracterização da escola e da turma foi essencial para o desenvolvimento de práticas apropriadas e contextualizadas, proporcionando aos alunos diversas experiências inovadoras e criativas. Aplicou-se a metodologia de investigação-ação privilegiando práticas teoricamente sustentadas e reflexivas, visando o desenvolvimento de competências inclusivas, promotoras do respeito e da sensibilização para o outro. Os resultados obtidos através deste estudo permitiram constatar uma diferença positiva, mesmo que ligeira, nas atitudes dos alunos normovisuais para com os seus colegas deficientes visuais, após a implementação da experiência pedagógica inclusiva. Foram também definidos, com base no investigado, um conjunto de pressupostos e procedimentos que visam e suportam a criação de um livro táctil e inclusivo. O livro produzido permitiu dar um pequeno contributo para o espólio de livros adaptados da Biblioteca Escolar. Este estudo permitiu reconhecer nas artes um papel importante na promoção de valores indispensáveis ao desenvolvimento de futuros cidadãos mais intervenientes, críticos, conscientes e solidários.
- The world of Sephora : managing strategies as a retailer and privatePublication . Barbas, Maria Potes Barroso Santa-Clara; Celeste, Pedro Manuel Amador RodriguesThe focus of this thesis is to study the cosmetics industry, understand consumers’ preferences over point of sales and brands, most important beauty brands’ attributes, as well as cosmetics consumption habits in the Portuguese market, addressing in detail the company Sephora. To do so, a Market Research was conducted through an online survey and by an in-depth interview. Sephora, a French chain of cosmetics, is owned by the Group LVMH Moet Hennessy and was founded in 1970. The company has been boosting its presence globaly, and is now present in 31 countries, with over 1700 stores worldwide. In 1993, Sephora launched its own private label, featuring make-up, skin care, beauty tools & accessories. The brand rapidly became the retailer best seller due to its product variety, quality, image and innovation, sold at affordable prices. In Portugal, the beauty market environment is still traditional. The main conclusions that can be taken from this dissertation are that women and men have considerable distinct cosmetics consumption routines, which are related to cultural and educational issues. The majority of consumers show preference in buying beauty products in perfumeries, and companies should consider e-commerce as an opportunity for an additional sales channel. Regarding cosmetics’ brands attributes, consumers show less preference for loyalty and higher importance is given to image, variety of products and quality. Sephora’s target, position and marketing mix elements are in consonance with consumers’ profiles and perceptions, although the brand could expand its portfolio regarding products that target men, a growing market segment.
- O pensamento Lean na Administração Pública Local : um estudo de casoPublication . Martins, Ana Judite Lopes; Melão, Nuno Filipe RosaO pensamento lean surgiu no setor industrial e alcançou uma enorme notoriedade mundial, sendo aplicado em todas as áreas de economia, desde organizações privadas ao setor público. A nível mundial foram realizados estudos em diversas organizações do setor público, administração central e autarquias (Estado do Iowa, Governo do Reino Unido, câmaras municipais da Escócia, Espanha, Dinamarca, Austrália, Brasil) que já implementaram esta filosofia de gestão de forma parcial ou integral. Em Portugal, não existem estudos de qualquer tentativa de implementação do pensamento lean seja numa câmara municipal ou administração central, exceto um estudo pioneiro realizado sobre a aplicação do pensamento lean no Sistema Judicial Português. Este estudo tem como principal objetivo, identificar como o pensamento lean pode ser aplicado na administração pública local, quais os benefícios e obstáculos. Para a concretização deste estudo, realizou-se uma pesquisa de revisão de literatura sobre o pensamento lean nos serviços e procedeu-se à análise documental da estrutura e regulamento dos serviços, das matrizes dos processos certificados com a norma ISO 9001:2008 por forma a entender o funcionamento atual da câmara municipal. Realizaram-se entrevistas e reuniões chave com o Sr. Presidente e decidiu-se o objeto de estudo. Realizou-se o diagnóstico e criou-se o mapa do estado atual dos processos de pedido de férias e de justificação de faltas. As conclusões obtidas evidenciaram que são diversos os fatores que influenciam a duração e o desperdício nos processos de pedido de férias e de justificação de faltas na Câmara Municipal de Seia, pelo que se sugeriu uma proposta de melhoria dos processos de pedido de férias e de justificação de faltas de acordo com a metodologia lean, e identificam-se possíveis oportunidades de investigação futura.