The current study investigated the reliability of a new self-report questionnaire assessing stimuli that would likely elicit intimate partner violence. The Proximal Antecedents to Violent Episodes (PAVE) scale is a 30-item, Likert-type measure designed to assess situations that would reportedly precede the use of violence. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis on a clinical sample revealed 3 factors: Violence to Control, Violence Out of Jealousy, and Violence Following Verbal Abuse. In Study 2, the factor structure was replicated on a community sample using confirmatory factor analysis. In both studies, different types of batterers, on the basis of A. Holtzworth-Munroe and G. L. Stuart's (1994) typology, scored differently on the 3 factors in ways consistent with theory. Therefore, the PAVE shows promise as a reliable and valid tool to help to understand the context and function of intimate partner violence.

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Abstract:Benchmarking is a systematic process of measuring and comparing an organization's performance against that of other similar organizations in key business activities. The lessons learned from other companies can be used to establish improvement targets and to promote changes in the organization. The benchmarking process can create a fertile ground for ideas, but only in a receptive environment; companies that share good practices and compare their performance against others benefit most. Recently, industry groups in several different countries have initiated benchmarking programs focused mainly on construction performance measures. This paper describes the scope of these initiatives and discusses the lessons learned and improvement opportunities that were identified in their design and implementation. This investigation is focused on four initiatives, carried out in Brazil, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This paper concludes by recommending some further directions on this research topic.

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Abstract:The identification and characterization of particulate matter (PM) concentrations from construction site activities pose major challenges due to the diverse characteristics related to different aspects, such as concentration, particle size and particle composition. Moreover, the characterization of particulate matter is influenced by meteorological conditions, including temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind speed. This paper is part of a broader investigation that aims to develop a methodology for assessing the environmental impacts caused by the PM emissions that arise from construction activities. The objective of this paper is to identify and characterize the PM emissions on a construction site with different aerodynamic diameters (PM2.5, PM10, total suspended particulates (TSP)), based on an exploratory study. Initially, a protocol was developed to standardize the construction site selection criteria, laboratory procedures, field sample collection and laboratory analysis. This protocol was applied on a multifamily residential building construction site during three different construction phases (earthworks, superstructure and finishings) aimed at measuring and monitoring PM concentrations arising from construction activities. The particulate matter was characterized in different particle sizes. Results showed that the higher TSP OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2014, 6 7667 emissions arising from construction activities provoked environmental impacts. Some limitations to the results were identified, especially with regards the need for a detailed investigation about the influence of different construction phases on PM emissions. The findings provided significant knowledge about various situations, serving as a basis for improving the existing methodology for particulate material collection on construction sites and the development of future studies on the specific construction site phases.

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O objetivo do trabalho foi descrever os parâmetros hematológicos e as alterações histopatológicas em bijupirás infectados por Amyloodinium ocellatum. Um grupo de 27 peixes foi anestesiado para coleta de amostras de sangue e eutanasiados para coleta de muco e fragmentos de tecido cutâneo e branquial. Foram avaliadas a prevalência e a intensidade parasitária da infecção, assim como os valores de parâmetros hematológicos e alterações histopatológicas. A prevalência parasitária nas brânquias foi de 100% e no muco foi de 80,8% e as intensidades parasitárias médias foram de 683,5 nas brânquias, e 67,1 no muco cutâneo. Os valores médios dos parâmetros hematológicos foram: eritrócitos 4,3x10(6)µL; VG 26%; VGM 64,2fL; proteína plasmática 5,8mg/dL; trombócitos 5,2 x10³/µL e leucócitos 3,6 x10³/µL. Além disso, foram verificadas hiperplasia do epitélio respiratório acompanhada de fusão lamelar, descolamento do epitélio, dilatação do seio venoso, formação de aneurisma, ruptura do epitélio lamelar, hemorragia, necrose, reação inflamatória linfocítica. O parasito foi observado nas lamelas branquiais, o VMA variou do grau discreto ao severo e o IAH foi de 76,8. A pesquisa assume importância por se tratar dos primeiros estudos em Rachycentron canadum, um peixe que se destaca com potencial ao cultivo.