Cardiovascular diseases are a major public health problem. Different risk factors have been recognized as the main causes of the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Flaxseed is a source of dietary fiber, lignans, and alpha-linolenic acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolonged supplementation with flaxseed flour as preventive therapy on cardiovascular risk parameters in healthy Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into two groups after giving birth and during lactation period: the control group was fed with diet based on casein and the flaxseed group was fed with diet based on casein containing 25% of flaxseed flour. At weaning, 10 male offspring from each group continued to receive the same diets from their mothers during 250 days. The body weight, visceral fat mass, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, glucose and thickness of the aorta were analyzed. Results: The body weight, visceral fat mass, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, glucose and thickness of the aorta values were statistically lower when compared to control group. Conclusion: The data suggest that flaxseed flour supplementation in healthy wistar rats for a prolonged period may decrease the thickness of the aorta and may be used as a preventive measure in modulating some modifiable risk factors related to cardiovascular disease.

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son un problema de salud pública. Diferentes factores de riesgo han sido reconocidos como las principales causas del desarrollo y la progresión de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. La linaza es una fuente de fibra dietética, lignanos, y el ácido alfa-linolénico. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la suplementación prolongada con harina de linaza como tratamiento preventivo de los parámetros de riesgo cardiovascular en ratas Wistar saludables. Material y métodos: Ratas hembras Wistar fueron divididas en dos grupos después de dar a luz y durante el período de lactancia: el grupo de control fue alimentado con una dieta basada en caseína y el grupo de la linaza se alimentó con una dieta basada en caseína que contiene 25% de harina de linaza. Al destete, 10 ratas macho de la camada de cada grupo siguió recibiendo las mismas dietas de sus madres durante 250 días. El peso corporal, la masa grasa visceral, colesterol, triglicéridos, HDL, VLDL, la glucosa y el grosor de la aorta fueron analizado. Resultados: El peso corporal, la masa grasa visceral, colesterol, triglicéridos, HDL, VLDL, la glucosa y el grosor de la aorta esos valores fueron estadísticamente menor en comparación con el grupo control. Conclusión: Los datos sugieren que la suplementación con harina de linaza en ratas Wistar saludables durante un período prolongado puede disminuir el espesor de la aorta y puede ser utilizado como una medida preventiva en la modulación de algunos factores de riesgo modificables relacionados con la enfermedad cardiovascular.

A sociedade passou a exigir das universidades, além da formação de recursos humanos, atuação mais efetiva no processo de desenvolvimento econômico e social, reforçando a importância da contribuição da academia para o sistema de inovação. O presente artigo descreve uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada através de um estudo de caso único em uma universidade privada. Os resultados indicam que essa universidade está se adequando à nova realidade e vem realizando ações para internalizar conceitos como Inovação, Empreendedorismo e Universidade Empreendedora na comunidade acadêmica.

Society started to require from universities collaboration to foster its economic and social development, besides the development of human resources, reinforcing the academic contribution importance to the innovation system. This article describes a single case derived from qualitative data collected in a private university. Results show that this university is adapting to the new context and promoting activities to internalize, in the academic community, concepts as Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial University.

This case study researched organizational factors that affect the university-industry technology transfer (UITT) processes of a private university, chosen by its success and uniqueness in the Brazilian context. Stood out as factors: innovation among pillars of management; valuing of research and intellectual property; qualified students, teachers and managers; multidisciplinary research groups; stability of governing body; performance of the TTO, Technology Management Agency and Technology Park. Difficulties highlighted were: reconciliation of time between activities of professors-researchers, bureaucracy and centralization of administrative and legal support; valuation of research results; approach and negotiation with companies. Among suggestions are: granting greater independence to the structures in charge of UITT and making them self-sustainable; training agents in technology marketing, sale, and negotiation skills.

O tema da gestão da inovação e transferência de tecnologia (TT) no contexto de interação universidade-empresa é relativamente novo no Brasil e emergente em âmbito internacional (REISMAN, 2005), assim, seus dados e teorias ainda se apresentam de modo fragmentado. Considerando essa fragilidade, este estudo objetivou identificar e analisar pesquisas recentes publicadas no Brasil sobre o tema, buscando contribuir para a consolidação desse corpo teórico. O trabalho, de cunho exploratório, revisou as pesquisas publicadas em periódicos nacionais entre 2005 e 2009, sob uma abordagem qualitativa. Os objetivos, métodos e principais resultados desses estudos foram sintetizados e discutidos. A análise coletiva desses trabalhos sugere que a cooperação universidade-empresa (U-E) gera inovações, aprendizados e benefícios mútuos. Esta aponta ainda existir muito espaço para ampliar a transferência de tecnologia U-E. O estudo identificou os métodos usados nas pesquisas; motivadores, facilitadores e obstáculos ao processo; elementos das estruturas universitárias, bem como políticas das IES e do governo intervenientes no processo; características de empresas geradas a partir de spillovers acadêmicos; o papel social exercido pelas IES; diferentes formas de TT na interação U-E; lacunas de pesquisas e sugestões para a realização de estudos futuros.

Innovation management and technology transfer (TT) in the context of university-industry interaction is a relatively new topic in Brazil and an emerging field internationally (REISMAN, 2005); thus, the data and theories related to it are still presented in a fragmented way. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and analyze recent studies published in Brazil on the subject seeking to contribute to the consolidation of this theoretical framework. This exploratory study reviewed articles published in national journals between 2005 and 2009 using a qualitative approach. The goals, methods, and main results of these studies were summarized and discussed. The collective analysis of the studies suggests that university-industry (U-I) cooperation generates innovation, learning, and mutual benefits. It also indicates that there is still plenty of room for growth in U-I technology transfer. The literature review identified methods used in the studies, motivators, facilitators, and constraints of the process, structural characteristics and policies of universities, as well as government policies that affect the process, characteristics of firms created from academic spillovers, the social role played by universities, different forms of TT, research gaps, and suggestions for future studies.

In this study we investigate the consumer's willingness to try innovative food products in the context of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre in Brazil and Cirencester in England, UK. Innovation in the food industry is an important source of differentiation and a value-adding opportunity for managers to develop new products. Therefore, the adoption or rejection of innovative food products becomes strategic from a market point-of-view. Using the Domain Specific Innovativeness [DSI] scale and the Food Neophobia Scale [FNS], two surveys were carried out in Brazilian and British universities with 279 and 101 respondents, respectively. Consumers were not the most inclined to adopt innovations, but they were not afraid of new foods either, especially in the UK. Managers in the food industry could be missing out on opportunities to innovate more. The results provide strategic and unique information about consumers for the food industry, aiming at supporting the development of innovative food products.

No âmbito das cadeias agroindustriais, a evolução da demanda de produtos alimentares aponta para exigências crescentes tanto no que se refere à diferenciação de produtos quanto nas questões de segurança alimentar. Neste cenário, uma maior articulação entre os elos destas cadeias é vital para o desenvolvimento de novos mercados e para o atendimento da demanda daqueles já existentes. O presente trabalho trata especificamente da cadeia da carne bovina do Rio Grande do Sul, e tem por objetivo estudar novas formas de organização que estão sendo nela estabelecidas. Busca analisar se a forma de relacionamento dos parceiros configura a estruturação de uma cadeia de suprimentos na carne bovina. Os resultados revelam que, em função do objetivo de obter um produto diferenciado - carne de novilho, houve a necessidade de estabelecer relações de parceria entre os agentes da cadeia. No entanto ainda prevalece o comportamento oportunista nas relações dos diversos elos, e considera-se uma maior estruturação conforme o conceito de Gerenciamento de Cadeia de Suprimento, no sentido strictu, muito difícil a curto prazo.

In the field of agri-industrial chain, the increase in the demand of food items points out an increase in the demand for not only a differentiation of products but also for food safety. In this respect, the coordination of those chains is crucial not only for the development of new markets but also for the maintainance of the existing ones. The present work analyzes the beef chain in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, where the agents, moved by the necessity for alternatives to the present predominant relationship which is of permanent conflict between each participant of the chain. This way, new forms of organization are being implemented, based on the concept of supply chain management, involving producers, agribusiness, distribution and commercialization. The results of this research points out to an effective change in the relationship between each agent of the chain, and three types of initiatives were identified: those conducted by the producers, those coordinated by the slaughterhouses, and those organized by the supermarket chains. Although the present characteristics can be observed in the three types, the objective that has mobilized the agents to form an organization like a supply chain is the search for improved competitiveness of the participants of the chain. Such competitiveness is understood by the participants as the striking advances in the quality control of the raw material, in the standardization of the product flow, norms and practices existing along the chain.