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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the financial friction effect of non-performing loans (NPLs) on financial intermediation (FI) through empirical evidence from the Brazilian experience.

The authors develop a new variable, financial intermediation flow and a new indicator, FI, both measures of FI. To empirically test FI, the authors use a dynamic panel data framework that draws on 101 banks (December 2000 to December 2015).

An increase in NPL reduces FI. Thus, NPL amplifies financial friction in FI. This result holds in different time frames, such as the pre-crisis period, the crisis period and the post-crisis period.

The FI measure developed in this study offers the policymakers a possibility to monitor financial stability.

This study adds to this debate by proposing a measure of FI derived from financial flows. This measure allows one to estimate the role of NPL as a financial friction that can pose a threat to financial stability.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the classic (static) and dynamic sensory profile of different bottled mineral water samples, and to evaluate the consumer’s liking of the products.

Classic quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) were applied to four brands of bottled mineral water and the liking of the products was evaluated by consumers.

The dissolved mineral concentration is highly correlated to the liking and influences the sensory profile of the samples in a substantial way. The higher the mineral content, the lowest is the liking. Refreshing, residual plastic taste, musty, metallic taste, medicine taste and viscosity were relevant attributes to the samples differentiation through the static evaluation, while refreshing and viscosity were dominant in the dynamic monitoring. Some information might have been lost by the nature of the TDS method, based on dominance concept. Sweet taste contributed positively and musty taste negatively to the acceptance.

This paper demonstrated that TDS can be used as a complementary tool to the QDA, contributing to a deeper comprehension of the differences among samples, even in products with low differences, such as bottled mineral water.

The purpose of this paper is to carry out a systematic review of the state of the art of the environmental training theme and to propose a research agenda to shed light on this subject by suggesting new research in the area.

This is a systematic review of the state of the art of the environmental training theme.

The authors’ main contribution is the proposal of a research agenda with 11 recommendations for future research, such as conducting research in developed countries; research focusing only on environmental training; qualitative research using case studies; research that explores the co-evolution of environmental training practices with environmental management practices and with the maturity stage of environmental management in organizations; and research that addresses all aspects of environmental training phases proposed by ISO 10015: 2001.

This is the most recent research which conducts a systematic review of the state of the art on environmental training and proposes a research agenda with several suggestions that can guide researchers in human resources, environmental management, sustainability and supply chain management.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extract from jaboticaba skin against important foodborne bacteria and fungi and its stability.

Jaboticaba skin aqueous extract (at ratio of 10 g L-1) was tested against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Stability of the anti-staphylococcal activity, total phenolics, monomeric anthocyanins, tannins, phenolic acid content were measured and statistically correlated.

The residue extract inhibited L.monocytogenes, S.aureus, B.cereus and E.coli growth but was not effective against fungi and was stable to the thermal treatments, remaining with its inhibitory activity against S.aureus. When stored for 14 days at 25 °C with an incidence of light, there was a reduction in the antibacterial activity and in the phenolic compounds. The change in pH slightly changed polyphenolic content profile, and the exposure to papain and bromelain did not affect the antimicrobial activity. Results showed strong correlation between anti-staphylococcal activity, the presence of polyphenols and anthocyanins, meanwhile moderate correlation with phenolic acids content in the extract.

Biopreservatives are a great trend in food microbiology. The present work shows deeper information about the utilization of jaboticaba skin as antimicrobial agent and its stability, which is not found in the current literature.

The purpose of this paper is to study the immobilization of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL), in an organic matrix by a covalent cross-linking method to sense propylparaben (PP) present in aqueous solution.

PPL immobilization was performed by the covalent cross-linking method, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the presence of saturated glutaraldehyde vapor (GA). The preparation of the enzymatic membrane involves the incorporation of porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glycerol into a phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Characterization of this sensor was performed by impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of experimental conditions such as PPL activity, potential, scan rate, PP concentration, pH and presence of interfering elements were studied by cyclic voltammetry.

Under the optimal experimental conditions, a number of significant factors were optimized. The method exhibited good linearity in the range of 10^–14 to 10^–9 mol/L with a good correlation coefficient of 0.957, detection limit (LOD) of 3.66 × 10^–15 mol/L and high sensitivity of 1.086 mA mol⁻¹L. The authors also obtained a very good coverage rate of the surface equal to 91.44%, and hydrolytic activity of lipase is evaluated to 26.64 mmol min⁻¹. The stability and the interference were also evaluated. The equivalent circuit used to explain the electrochemical behavior of modified electrode is a Randle circuit.

The main application of biosensors is the detection of biomolecules that are either indicators of a disease. For example, electrochemical biosensing techniques can be used as clinical tools to detect breast tumors, because these compounds (PP) were found in breast tumors.

The result registered in this paper indicates that the developed sensor is an efficient, fast, simple and inexpensive analytical tool that can be used for the analysis of water containing PP.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pedagogical tools that can enhance transdisciplinarity in higher education and stimulate sustainability transitions, based on the case study of a partnership between the University of Brasilia and an ecovillage in Brazil.

A qualitative study was carried out, based on professors’ experience, students’ reports and registration data. Emergent themes were discussed based on the concepts of sustainability transitions, transdisciplinarity and active/experiential learning methods.

Undergraduate classes at the ecovillage have motivated students to work towards sustainability transitions by presenting them with new repertoires of sociotechnical configurations and social practices, by promoting a feeling of belonging and co-responsibility for the world and by a horizontal sharing of knowledge and affections that instigated reflections about their purposes in personal and professional life.

This experience demonstrates the potential of transdisciplinary pedagogical approaches to education for sustainability that promote collaboration with different stakeholders and the reflection on individual and collective motives and values – the inner dimension of sustainability.

It describes an innovative and transformative initiative in the heart of Latin America.