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1 – 5 of 5Barbara de Lima Voss, David Bernard Carter and Bruno Meirelles Salotti
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in…
Abstract
We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in the construction of hegemonies in SEA research in Brazil. In particular, we examine the role of hegemony in relation to the co-option of SEA literature and sustainability in the Brazilian context by the logic of development for economic growth in emerging economies. The methodological approach adopts a post-structural perspective that reflects Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study employs a hermeneutical, rhetorical approach to understand and classify 352 Brazilian research articles on SEA. We employ Brown and Fraser’s (2006) categorizations of SEA literature to help in our analysis: the business case, the stakeholder–accountability approach, and the critical case. We argue that the business case is prominent in Brazilian studies. Second-stage analysis suggests that the major themes under discussion include measurement, consulting, and descriptive approach. We argue that these themes illustrate the degree of influence of the hegemonic politics relevant to emerging economics, as these themes predominantly concern economic growth and a capitalist context. This paper discusses trends and practices in the Brazilian literature on SEA and argues that the focus means that SEA avoids critical debates of the role of capitalist logics in an emerging economy concerning sustainability. We urge the Brazilian academy to understand the implications of its reifying agenda and engage, counter-hegemonically, in a social and political agenda beyond the hegemonic support of a particular set of capitalist interests.
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Camila Cristina Avelar de Sousa, Luccas de Jesus Pereira dos Santos, Mauricio Costa Alves da Silva and Carlos Pasqualin Cavalheiro
Meat is a crucial source of protein and other nutrients for human health. However, excessive consumption of meat products is not advisable due to their elevated sodium and animal…
Abstract
Purpose
Meat is a crucial source of protein and other nutrients for human health. However, excessive consumption of meat products is not advisable due to their elevated sodium and animal fat levels. Hence, there is a strong recommendation for reducing sodium and fat content in meat products. This study aims to delve into the current sodium, total and saturated fat content of meat products in the Brazilian market.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,600 products underwent analysis.
Findings
The highest sodium concentrations were identified in jerked beef (5.48 g/100 g), charqui (5.21 g/100 g) and salted pork meat (2.58 g/100 g). In contrast, the highest total and saturated fat levels were observed in bacon (35.33 and 12.50 g/100 g), salami (26.00 and 9.25 g/100 g) and pork coppa (22.00 and 9.75 g/100 g). Most meat products were categorized as medium in terms of sodium (77.75%), total fat (52.93%) and saturated fat (48.25%). However, many meat products exhibited high total and saturated fat levels.
Originality/value
This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the sodium, total fat and saturated fat content listed on the labels of many meat products in Brazil.
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Lorena G. Barberia, Gilmar Masiero, Iana Alves de Lima, Luciana Santana and Tatiane C. Moraes de Sousa
Governments faced formidable challenges in coordinating public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to enhance the understanding of effective organizational…
Abstract
Purpose
Governments faced formidable challenges in coordinating public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to enhance the understanding of effective organizational leadership during crises by investigating the factors influencing the turnover of health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
Using primary data encompassing all appointments and dismissals of federal and state health secretaries, this paper conducted a quantitative analysis of the relational and reputational factors that contributed to leader turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper also examined whether leaders’ management and public health experience increase the duration of tenure.
Findings
States encountered significant challenges in retaining experienced and effective leadership during the health emergency, primarily due to political conflicts in policymaking and, to a lesser extent, allegations of corruption. Furthermore, leaders with expertise in public health were found to be less likely to be removed from office. However, managerial experience did not prolong the tenure of state health secretaries during the emergency.
Research limitations/implications
Since most health leaders have public health and management experience, the contributions of each factor to the duration of a secretary’s tenure are difficult to separate and analyze separately.
Practical implications
This study provides empirical insights into what factors drive health leader turnover during major health emergencies.
Social implications
During major health emergencies, health leaders often strongly disagree with elected officials on the response. This paper test how crisis leadership theories help explain state health leaders’ duration in one of the world’s largest public health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper find that policy disagreements contributed to significant turnover.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first that are aware of that uses novel primary data on public health executive leader characteristics and turnover causes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides empirical evidence contributing to the crisis leadership literature by examining health leader turnover in one of the world’s largest public health systems.
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Marília Gonçalves Cattelan, Maurício Bonatto Machado de Castilhos, Priscila Juliana Pinsetta Sales and Fernando Leite Hoffmann
This paper aims to evaluate in vitro antibacterial activity of oregano essential oil against foodborne pathogens as a starting point for the use of spice as a natural preservative…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate in vitro antibacterial activity of oregano essential oil against foodborne pathogens as a starting point for the use of spice as a natural preservative in food.
Design/methodology/approach
Disc and well‐diffusion assays were performed to investigate antibacterial activity of oregano essential oil against six bacteria strains: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Three concentrations of oregano essential oil were employed: 1.0 percent, 2.0 percent and 5.0 percent. Bacterial growth inhibition was determinate as the diameter of the inhibition zones.
Findings
Oregano essential oil showed antibacterial activity against spoilage microorganisms, at different concentrations, except for P. aeruginosa. There was a significant difference between methodologies only for the microorganism S. aureus. The results provided evidence of the existence of significant differences among the concentrations of oregano essential oil for each microorganism evaluated.
Research limitations/implications
Although the research for this paper involved only oregano essential oil, it provided a starting‐point for further investigations concerning spices as natural preservatives for food systems.
Practical implications
Disc and well‐assays were found to be simple and reproducible practical methods. Other spices, their essential oil and extracts might be researched against other micro‐organisms. Furthermore, in situ studies need to be performed to evaluate possible interactions between essential oils and compounds naturally present in food against microbial strains.
Social implications
The imminent adoption of measures to reduce the use of additives in foods and the reduction on using such compounds.
Originality/value
This study provides insights that suggest a promising exploratory development of food natural preservative against spoilage microorganisms in food systems by the use of oregano essential oil.
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Vitor William Batista Martins, Rosley Anholon, Vasco Sanchez-Rodrigues, Walter Leal Filho and Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas
Confronting globalization, logistics systems need to achieve greater efficiency in processes to be competitive. Competitiveness is not related only to economic aspects; companies…
Abstract
Purpose
Confronting globalization, logistics systems need to achieve greater efficiency in processes to be competitive. Competitiveness is not related only to economic aspects; companies need to perform their activities aligned to the triple bottom line concept. In this context, the main objective of this research is to analyze how Brazilian professionals think about sustainable logistics through an exploratory study.
Design/methodology/approach
A set of 33 indicators, compiled from a literature review, was used to develop a research instrument applied in a survey of 50 professionals working with logistics processes in Brazilian companies. First, the Cronbach's alpha was run to verify the questionnaire reliability. Respondents were grouped through cluster hierarchical analysis, and their answers were analyzed through TOPSIS technique.
Findings
The results from the sample analysis showed that Brazilian professionals think in the three dimensions of TBL when considering sustainable logistics systems; however, social aspects are relegated to a second level of importance when compared with environmental and economic indicators. In addition, it is possible to highlight that most important environmental aspects are directly related to economic objectives.
Originality/value
There are few studies examining sustainable logistics system in Brazilian companies that consider the purpose mentioned by evidencing originality in the same way as this current study. The results presented here can contribute to amplifying debates in the theme.
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