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The aim was to analyze the relationship between the perceived exertion (PE) and different loads in strength exercises (SEs), in sedentary, active, and trained adult subjects. Thirty young men (18-34 years) were divided into 3 groups (experimental group [EG]): sedentary EG (SEG), physically active group (PAG), and the strength trained group (STG). Maximum strength was established using the 1 repetition maximum test (1RM). Using series of 12 repetitions, different loads were applied until the 4 ratings of PE (RPEs) (11, 13, 15, and 17) from 15 category Borg Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE 6-20). The pace of the repetitions and the intervals between the sets were controlled, the loads were blind, the order of the RPE randomized, whereas the PE was localized and determined after completion of the series. Strength correlations between the RPE and the %1RM, according to the EGs and SEs (0.826-0.922, p < 0.001), were observed. Similar behavior was seen in the SEs. Higher loads are related to higher RPEs and are differentiated between the EGs. The STG used higher %1RM when compared to the SEG, whereas the PAG, displayed an intermediary behavior in relation to the other groups. The use of PE represents a reliable instrument for the measurement of intensity in strength training.

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This article presents the state of the art of Lean principles applied in Emergency Departments through a systematic literature review. Our article extends previous work found in the literature to respond to the following questions: (i) What research problems in emergency departments can Lean principles help overcome? (ii) What Lean approaches and tools are used most often in this environment? (iii) What are the results and benefits obtained by these practices? and (iv) What research opportunities appear as gaps in the current state of the art on the subject? A six-step systematic review was performed following the guidance of the PRISMA method. The review analysis identified six main research problems where Lean was applied in Emergency Departments: (i) High Waiting Time and High Length of Hospital Stay; (ii) Health Safety; (iii) Process redesign; (iv) Management and Lessons Learned; (v) High Patient Flow; (vi) Cost Analysis. The six research problems’ main approaches identified were Lean Thinking, Multidisciplinary, Statistics, and Six Sigma. The leading Lean tools and methodologies were VSM, Teamwork, DMAIC, and Kaizen. The main benefits of applying Lean Principles were (a) reductions in waiting time, costs, length of hospital stay, patient flow, and procedure times; and (b) improvements in patient satisfaction, efficiency, productivity, standardization, relationships, safety, quality, and cost savings. Multidisciplinary integration of managers and work teams often yields good results. Finally, this study identifies knowledge gaps and new opportunities to study Lean best practices in healthcare organizations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the sugar formulation that maximizes the shelf life and critical moisture content of hard candy and to verify the relationship between the response variables. The method used was the mixture design of experiments. Experimental points were determined using a D‐optimal mixture design. Industrial‐scale tests were conducted using three commercial sugars commonly found in hard candies. The models were fitted to the experimental results and evaluated via an analysis of variance. There was a maximum point (58.17 d) for the accelerated shelf life model, which was 0.600, 0.200, and 0.200 for the mass fractions of sucrose, 40 DE corn syrup, and 20 DE high‐maltose corn syrup, respectively; the maximum critical moisture content (3.88%) was 0.593, 0.228, and 0.179, respectively. The optimum formulation resulted in a product whose estimated shelf life extended 7 months beyond the expiration date usually used in the industry. Practical Applications The results have implications for increasing the shelf life and agility in the development of new products. A practical and low‐cost method for determining the critical moisture content using accelerated tests in the confectionery industry is proposed. This study is a direct application of the mixture design of experiments on an industrial scale and provides significant results not found in the literature.

The purpose of this article is to analyze the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manufacturing, aiming to identify the main practices of sustainability, including the values and transparency, internal audience, environment, supplier relationships, customer and/or consumer relationships, and community relationships. In order to develop this research, a questionnaire was applied on the subject in question, through which the companies were classified as to their reality in relation to corporate social responsibility. Based on the analysis, it was observed that five of these companies obtained a score that indicates that the companies have already assimilated the associated concepts and are clear of the necessary commitments for a socially responsible action. However, given the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that there is a need to strengthen the actions to be taken with regard to corporate social responsibility, since no company has positioned itself in excellence. In addition, some suggestions for new research were identified and discussed in the analysis of the results. and preservation of the environment are also valued items by customers and should therefore be considered by companies in their production systems [11].Due to market competition and globalization, companies are crossing a wide range of changes in their business environment, adopting more ethical procedures of corporate social action to achieve long-term goals, rather than focusing on the short-term perspective of profit creation [6,12].According to [6,13], the basic purpose of business is to provide profit and figure out ways to maximize earnings. In addition, the authors report that ventures are required to bear some indirect costs that are not directly related to profitability, and which are pressured to commit to in order to survive in a competitive market, one of which is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).As said by [14], a CSR presents a win-win scenario, allowing companies to simultaneously increase their profitability and produce social benefits [15]. CSR practices the fostering of relationships of trust between stakeholders, and in addition, sustainability-based business models help companies to create an environment of trust for innovation, which leads to the development of long-term competitiveness [16].In spite of the positive arguments to adopt social responsibility practices, there are some who are against social responsibility. On the other hand, there are certification standards such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 26000, in which the CSR refers to good corporate governance, operating ethically and sustainability, and carrying out a set of voluntary commitments to manage its impact in the social, environmental, and economic fields, obtaining the maximum benefits for the whole society [17,18].The literature on sustainable business practices has focused on large companies, such as multinationals, whose individual impacts are significant [19,20]. However, although SMEs ...

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