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tion of the aerobic training intensity (5)(6) and performance prediction of long distance events (2) . However, the determination of the anaerobic threshold using the blood lactate concentration needs specific equipment and has a financial acquisition and operational cost, which is not possible for most swimming teams in Brazil. Moreover, it consists of an invasive test which requires care with hygiene and safety (2) , limiting thus, its use in most clubs and fitness centers. Therefore, many researchers try to make less costly and of easy application assessment protocols available, which also precisely and reliably evaluate and monitor training (1)(2)(6)(7) .Olbrecht et al. (6) have developed the T-30 test, which consists in moving the longest distance in 30 minutes at regular rhythm from beginning to end of the test. The mean velocity of the T-30 test (VT-30) has been highly correlated with the anaerobic velocity threshold (6,(8)(9)(10)(11) and with swimming performance (12) , which is non-invasive and of easy application.Nevertheless, the swimming mechanics also plays a crucial role in the myriad of determinant factors of swimming performance and should be considered in the assessments. It has been demonstrated that the dislocation velocity in swimming is the product of the stroke rate (SR) by the stroke length (SL) and variations in the swimming velocity by training and lack of training mainly occur by modifications in SR and SL (13)(14) . For this reason, these variables have been the aim of studies on elite swimming (13,15) , educational status (16) , disabled subjects (17) and for technical analysis between swimmers and triathletes (18) .Costill et al. (7) presented the stroke index (SI) as the product of the swimming velocity by the distance completed per stroke cycle, and found significant correlations among oxygen uptake (VO 2 ), swimming velocity and this variable. These authors demonstrate that the swimmer's energy cost in crawl depends on the technique of his/her stroke. Keskinen and Komi (19) demonstrated that the relationship between SR and SL is influenced by the increase of the effort intensity. When the swimming velocity is lower than the anaerobic threshold intensity, the swimmers are able to control the velocity and simultaneously keep the stroke length steady. However, when the effort is performed at intensities above the anaerobic threshold, a progressive reduction in SL is observed, this fact being relied on the development of local muscle fatigue. Dekerle et al. (8) highlighted that the swimmer should be able to choose the SR corresponding to the lowest energy cost during his event, suggesting hence a relationship between physiological and technical parameters in swimming. Langeani et al. (20) demonstrated the occurrence of increase and sudden decrease of SR and SL, respectively, following the lactacidemia behavior in progressive exercise.Thus, it was shown that dynamic lactate balance may be observed during extensive exercise at intensities corresponding to the Lan (6,21) ; hence, this ...

A indústria têxtil brasileira tem enfrentado forte competição por parte de produtos importados a baixos preços da China e de outros países do Extremo Oriente. Para que possam manter a sua habilidade de competir no mercado local, as empresas têxteis brasileiras têm procurado adotar uma estratégia defensiva por meio da busca da diferenciação em seus produtos. Isso vem sendo obtido por meio do desenvolvimento de novos produtos de maior qualidade e de menor custo como decorrência da utilização de novas tecnologias em equipamentos de fabricação. De maneira geral, essas novas tecnologias têm sido transferidas para as empresas brasileiras por fabricantes internacionais de equipamentos têxteis. Assim, este artigo objetiva contribuir para aumentar a competitividade das indústrias têxteis brasileiras para enfrentar as difíceis condições atuais do mercado local por meio da adição de conhecimentos teóricos e de direcionamentos práticos que permitam a elas incrementar a efetividade de seus processos de transferência de tecnologia (TT). Para essa finalidade, realizou-se uma avaliação exploratória de quatro empresas produtoras de tecidos, nas quais tais projetos internacionais de TT tenham sido recentemente efetivados, utilizando-se como framework o modelo Stage-gate de transferência de tecnologia proposto por Jagoda, Maheshwari e Lonseth (2010). Como resultado dessa análise, foi possível identificar similaridades e dissimilaridades entre as práticas de transferência de tecnologia empregadas pelas quatro empresas avaliadas, bem como demonstrar que a utilização de um processo de TT, usando como referencial um modelo Stage-gate, poderia ser empregado para implementar melhorias significativas nas práticas de TT das empresas têxteis brasileiras e, com isso, auxiliá-las no seu árduo esforço para competir eficazmente contra as importações de baixo custo.

PurposeIndustrial growth has positively influenced the economic development but has also generated adverse effects on the environment. To minimize the environmental burdens resulting from industrial activity, new practices and management tools have been developed, including the concept of ecoefficiency which has aided the response to manufacturing environmental issues. However, traditional ecoefficiency measurement involves the use of multiple indicators that are individually evaluated over time to verify if the ecoefficiency is improving or worsening. This practice is procedurally difficult because ecoefficiency indicators can vary in opposite directions. To assess this issue, this paper suggests a procedure to appraise the ecoefficiency level of a manufacturing process by means of a conceptual proposal of a single measure that could reflect the process’ global progress, even if the selected ecoefficiency indexes move in opposite ways.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed concepts were developed through a theoretical approach to gauge the ecoefficiency level of a single piece of equipment, which was then expanded to the whole production process area. This work can be categorized as a conceptual paper using literature review and theoretical developments as basic tools to support the concepts proposed. Complementarily, one practical example is presented to illustrate the application of the suggested procedure to a real‐life situation.FindingsInitially the paper proposed a manner to evaluate the ecoefficiency level of a single machine combining the selected ecoefficiency indicators into a single index. Next, this concept was extended to consider the whole production process area by merging the ecoefficiency level of each equipment existing in a given production area with another single quantity named ecoefficiency level of the manufacturing process under consideration. The concepts developed were applied to a case study to show its use in a real‐life scenario.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the suggested technique could in principle be used in most common manufacturing situations, its widespread utilization cannot be assured based on the developments made in this paper. This could be a possible limitation to the concepts suggested. However, additional empirical research considering other types of production conditions could resolve this problem.Practical implicationsFor the practitioners and managers dealing with environmental matters in manufacturing, this paper makes a relevant contribution because it permits the utilization of a single measure to appraise the ecoefficiency level in a single piece of equipment or in the entire production process, allowing challenging areas and the associated actions required to improve them to be identified.Originality/valueAlthough the integration of environmental pressures into a single environmental performance measure has been a major challenge, this paper conceptualizes the ecoefficiency level of a production process by suggesting of a single measure that could r...