Resource Configurations, Generic Strategies, and Firm Performance: Exploring the Parallels Between Resource-Based and Competitive Strategy Theories in a New Industry

Purpose – This paper, anchored in the resource-based view of the firm, attempts to develop linkages between firm-level resources, Porter’s competitive strategy space and firm performance and explores them in the context of a new industry – the marketing technology industry. Design/methodology/approach – In the marketing technology industry the authors classify resource configurations (generalists, specialists, innovators) which group firms with distinctive competences on similar resource dimensions. They then map these firm-level resource configurations onto their respective optimal strategies in the industry’s competitive strategy space. Findings – The major findings are: some firms that are close together in strategy space vary in performance; some firms that are close together in strategy space belong to quite different resource configurations; firms that belong to the same resource configuration (i.e. are close together in resource space and distant from others) vary in performance; given the origin (i.e. resource configuration) of a new entrant there exists an optimal strategy that can be theoretically defined; and corresponding to each resource configuration there seems to exist a unique optimal region in strategy space. Originality/value – It is one of few attempts to empirically explore the parallels between firm level resource-based and industry level competitive strategies

Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae, Myoforceps aristatus (Dillwyn, 1817): distribution and new record localities at Ilha Grande Bay, Brazil

In many intertidal rocky shores at Ilha Grande Bay, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the vermetid gastropod Petaloconchus varians is the dominant organism, forming a well-developed and complex structure, where different groups of organisms live, including the invasive bivalve Myoforceps aristatus. The present paper describes the distribution and new record localities of M. aristatus at Ilha Grande Bay

O SISTEMA AGRÃCOLA DE PRODUÇÃO INTEGRADA E O SISTEMA DE INFORMAÇÃO

This article introduces the Integrated Agricultural Production System – IAPS - focusing mainly on the role of information systems necessary for its implementation, as well as the impact it will have for the sustainable development and health quality of the food, produced and offered. Some aspects as traceability and identification, sustainable agriculture, information integration, Codex Alimentarius, among others are all considered. Bibliographical and documental researches were conducted in academic data banks and also participation in international congresses and seminars related to the theme. The conclusions indicate the importance of IAPS’s development in Brazil, as well as the difficulties of developing and implementing this system. It was also concluded that IAPS, which was considerably applied to Fruit Integrated Production, enables the sustainable development, health product quality increment using less chemical products.sustainable agriculture, fruit growing, integrated agricultural production system, traceability, Codex Alimentarius.,

Visceral leishmaniasis : retrospective study on factors associated with lethality

INTRODUÇÃO: A leishmaniose visceral é um problema de saúde pública, com grau de letalidade alcançando 10%. Para o tratamento medicamentoso, é recomendado o antimoniato de metilglucamina. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o uso de medicamento em casos de leishmaniose visceral atendidos no Serviço de Infectologia do Núcleo de Hospital Universitário de Campo Grande Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. MÉTODOS: Para coleta de dados, foram pesquisados prontuários de 76 pacientes com diagnóstico de leishmaniose visceral atendidos pelo Serviço de Infectologia do Hospital Universitário de Campo Grande. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados prontuários de 76 (28,9%) pacientes (56 homens e 20 mulheres) apresentavam comorbidades. Como droga de 1ª escolha, 88,2% dos pacientes utilizaram o antimoniato-N-metil glucamina com evolução para óbito de 18,4%. A análise de sobrevida mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa em pacientes com e sem comorbidades (p< 0,0001) e com comorbidade que fizeram uso de Glucantime® (p <0,0009). A letalidade de 18,4% sinaliza ineficiência das medidas de assistência a saúde adotadas. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que o prognóstico da doença torna-se ruim quando associado à presença de comorbidades e que o tratamento deve ser criterioso, para minimizar a letalidade._________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis is a public health problem, with lethality reaching 10%. The recommended drug treatment is methylglucamine antimoniate. This study aimed to evaluate drug use for cases of visceral leishmaniasis treated at the Infectology Clinic of the Campo Grande University Hospital Center, State of Mato Grosso do Sul. METHODS: To collect data, we examined the medical records of 76 patients with a diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis treated at this Infectology Clinic. RESULTS: The medical files of 76 patients (56 men and 20 women; 28.9%) showed comorbidities. The first choice drug for 88.2% of the patients was N-methylglucamine antimoniate, with a fatal outcome for 18.4%. Survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference between patients with and without comorbidities (p <0.0001) and with comorbidities who used Glucantime® (p < 0.0009). The fatality rate of 18.4% indicates the low efficiency of the healthcare measures used. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the prognosis becomes poor when associated with the presence of comorbidities, and that the treatment needs to be carefully administered to minimize mortality

Perfil do paciente com câncer gástrico do Instituto Nacional do Câncer

Objective: Search and analyze the profile of patients with gastric cancer enrolled in the National Cancer Institute, José de Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), and the most prevalent nursing diagnoses.Methodology: A sectional study developed at the Cancer Hospital I - INCA, approved by CEP-INCA, with a sample of secondary data from 649 patients admitted from October 1, 2015 to April 18, 2018. Data were analyzed by R® software - version 3.4 .4. In the Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. The level of significance of 5% was adopted.Results: The average age was 62.74 years, ranging from 21 years to 96 years. 35.29% of patients had advanced disease. Low adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent (42.52%). Signal ring cells were present in 32.05% of the patients. The diffuse type was highlighted (17.72%). There was predominance of involvement of the middle third of the stomach (29.74%). Hypothesis tests have shown that the staging versus death and color versus death variables maintain a relationship of dependence. The variables age versus death and age versus the presence of the Sinete ring present a distinct distribution among them, which means that the first variable can influence the second. The most prevalent nursing diagnoses were present in 100% of the sample and were in congruence with the profile of the clientele identified.Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of a population is of great value to guide the health policies of a country, to the internal institutional planning and to guide the assistance actions of the multiprofessional teams.Objetivo: Levantar y analizar el perfil de los pacientes con cáncer gástrico matriculados en el Instituto Nacional del Cáncer José de Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), y los diagnósticos de Enfermería más prevalentes.Metodología: Estudio seccional desarrollado en el Hospital de Cáncer I - INCA aprobado por el CEP-INCA, con muestra de datos secundarios de 649 pacientes admitidos entre el 1 de octubre de 2015 al 18 de abril de 2018. Los datos fueron analizados por el software R® - versión 3.4.4. En las pruebas Chi-cuadrado, Kruskal-Wallis y Wilcoxon. Se adoptó el nivel de significancia del 5%.Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 62.74 años, variando de 21 años hasta 96 años. 35.29% de los pacientes presentaban enfermedad avanzada. El adenocarcinoma poco diferenciado fue el más prevalente (42.52%). Había células en anillo de sello en el 32.05% de los pacientes. Se destacó el tipo difuso (17.72%). Hubo predominio del compromiso del tercio medio del estómago (29.74%). Las pruebas de hipótesis demostraron que las variables de estadificación frente a la muerte y el color frente a la defunción mantienen una relación de dependencia. Las variables edad versus óbito y edad versus presencia de anillo de Sinete tienen distribución diferente entre sí, lo que significa que la primera variable puede influenciar la segunda. Los diagnósticos de enfermería más prevalentes estuvieron presentes en el 100% de la muestra y se encontraban en congruencia con el perfil de la clientela identificada.Conclusión: El perfil epidemiológico de una población es de gran valor para orientar las políticas de salud de un país, para la planificación interna institucional y para orientar las acciones asistenciales de los equipos multiprofesionales.Objetivo: Levantar e analisar o perfil dos pacientes com câncer gástrico matriculados no Instituto Nacional de Câncer José de Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), e os diagnósticos de Enfermagem mais prevalentes.Metodologia: Estudo seccional desenvolvido no Hospital de Câncer I – INCA aprovado pelo CEP-INCA, com amostra de dados secundários de 649 pacientes admitidos entre 01 de outubro de 2015 à 18 de abril de 2018. Os dados foram analisados pelo software R® – versão 3.4.4. Nos testes Qui-quadrado, Kruskal-Wallis e Wilcoxon. Foi adotado o nível de significância de 5%.Resultados: A média de idade foi de 62.74 anos, variando de 21 anos até 96 anos. 35.29% dos pacientes apresentavam doença avançada. O adenocarcinoma pouco diferenciado foi o mais prevalente (42.52%). Havia células em anel de sinete em 32.05% dos pacientes. Destacou-se o tipo difuso (17.72%). Houve predomínio do comprometimento do terço médio do estômago (29.74%). Os testes de hipóteses demostraram que as variáveis estadiamento versus óbito e cor versus óbito mantêm uma relação de dependência. As variáveis idade versus óbito e idade versus presença de anel de Sinete tem distribuição diferentes entre si, o que significa que a primeira variável pode influenciar a segunda. Os diagnósticos de enfermagem mais prevalentes estiveram presentes em 100% da amostra e encontravam-se em congruência com o perfil da clientela identificada.Conclusão: O perfil epidemiológico de uma população é de grande valia para orientar as políticas de saúde de um país, para o planejamento interno institucional e para nortear as ações assistenciais das equipes multiprofissionais

Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of buchenavia tetraphylla (aubl.) R. A. Howard (combretaceae: combretoideae)

This study evaluated the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities and phytochemical constituents of hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions from Buchenavia tetraphylla leaves. Cyclohexane (BTCF), ethyl acetate (BTEF), and n-butanol-soluble (BTSBF) and non-soluble (BTNBF) fractions were obtained from a liquid-liquid partition of hydroalcoholic extract (BTHE) from B. tetraphylla leaves. The hemolytic activity of active fractions was checked. The BTHE inhibited the growth of Micrococcus luteus (MIC: 0.10 mg/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 0.20 mg/mL), Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC: 0.39 mg/mL), Proteus vulgaris, and Staphylococcus aureus(MIC: 0.78 mg/mL for both). The more active fractions were BTCF and BTBSF. BTCF showed better potential to inhibit M. luteus (0.10 mg/mL), P. aeruginosa (0.20 mg/mL), S. enteritidis (0.39 mg/mL), and S. aureus (1.56 mg/mL). BTBSF showed the best results for M. luteus (0.10 mg/mL), M. smegmatis, B. subtilis (0.39 mg/mL for both), and P. vulgaris (0.10 mg/mL). The HC50 were greater than observed MIC: 20.30, 4.70 and 2.53 mg/mL, respectively, to BTBF, BTHE and BTCF, which. The phytochemical analysis detected the presence of flavanoids, triterpene, carbohydrate, and tannin. Our work showed for the first time the broad-spread antimicrobial activity of B. tetraphylla, which has nonhemolytic action, creating a new perspective on the interesting association of traditional and scientific knowledge

Gamification: a new multimodal approach to education

Objective. This article intends to present the concept of Gamification as a multimodal alternative for education, considering it a relatively recent initiative. It is a phenomenon still in its infancy, lacking in more studies and discussions, but not less interesting, since it proposes a new approach to education and many other segments of contemporary human knowledge. Method. The research shows that in Higher Education, as in other areas, its use is still incipient, because the controversy surrounding the theme is still considerable, however, it joins efforts with other proposals of the same magnitude, in an attempt to sublimate some of the learning problems of the individuals, leading them to the engagement and motivation in the educational environment. It is not a revolution, or a proposal to abandon pre-existing concepts and procedures, but an attempt to compose with what already exists and to take advantage of the benefits of evolution through which humanity passes, so that learning becomes increasingly more natural in the eyes of individuals. Results. Challenges will have to be transposed, and may be of a technological, financial, procedural, educational or structural nature. With more studies, research, and evaluation of the results, it is possible to evaluate if the initiative is consistent and if it has come to stay

Características morfológicas e estudo da vascularização do corpo lúteo cíclico de cabras ao longo do ciclo estral

Corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland that regulates either the estrous cycle and pregnancy. It presents extreme dependency on the adequate blood supply. This work aims to evaluate goat corpus luteum (CL) vascular density (VD) over the estrous cycle. For that purpose, 20 females were submitted to estrus synchronization/ovulation treatment using a medroxyprogesterone intra-vaginal sponge as well as intramuscular (IM) application of cloprostenol and equine chorionic gonadotrophine (eCG). After sponge removal, estrus was identified at about 72hs. Once treatment was over, female goats were then subdivided into 4 groups (n=5 each) and slaughtered on days 2, 12, 16 and 22 after ovulation (p.o). Ovaries were collected, withdrawn and weighted. CL and ovaries had size and area recorded. Blood samples were collected and the plasma progesterone (P4) was measured through RIA commercial kits. The VD was 24.42±6.66, 36.26±5.61, 8.59±2.2 and 3.97±1.12 vessels/mm² for days 2, 12, 16 and 22 p.o, respectively. Progesterone plasma concentrations were 0.49±0.08, 2.63±0.66, 0.61±0.14 and 0.22±0.04ng/ml for days 2, 12, 16 e 22 p.o, respectively. Studied parameters were affected by the estrous cycle phase. Values greater than 12 p.o were observed. In the present work we observed that ovulation occurred predominantly in the right ovary (70% of the animals), which in turn presented bigger measures than the contra lateral one. There is a meaningful relationship between the weight and size of the ovary and these of CL (r=0.87, r=0.70, respectively, p<0.05). It is possible to conclude that morphology of goat's ovaries and plasma progesterone concentration changed according to estrous cycle stages. We propose these parameters can be used as indicators of CL functional activity.O corpo lúteo é uma glândula endócrina temporária que regula tanto o ciclo estral quanto a prenhez, apresentando extrema dependência de aporte sanguíneo adequado. Objetivaram-se avaliar mudanças morfométricas dos ovários e densidade vascular (DV) dos corpos lúteos (CL) de cabras ao longo do ciclo estral (AOLC). Vinte animais foram submetidos ao tratamento para indução/sincronização do estro, usando esponjas intravaginais commedroxiprogesterona, associadas a aplicações intramusculares de cloprostenol e gonadotrofina coriônica eqüina. Após remoção das esponjas, o estro foi identificado em aproximadamente de 72h. Concluído o tratamento, as cabras foram subdivididas em 4 grupos (n=5 cada) para abate nos dias 2, 12, 16 e 22 após ovulação (p.o.). Posteriormente, foram retirados os ovários e realizadas as mensurações de peso, tamanho e área do órgão e dos CL. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas e a progesterona sérica (P4) mensurada utilizando-se RIA convencional. A DV média dos CL AOLC foi 24,42±6,66; 36,26±5,61; 8,59±2,2 e 3,97±1,12 vasos/mm2 para os dias 2, 12, 16 e 22 p.o., respectivamente. A concentração média de P4 foi de 0,49±0,08; 2,63±0,66; 0,61±0,14 e 0,22±0,04ng/ml para os dias 2, 12, 16 e 22 p.o., respectivamente. Os parâmetros em estudo também se mostraram afetados pela fase do ciclo estral, sendo observados os maiores (p < 0,05) valores no dia 12 p.o. Neste experimento, a ovulação ocorreu predominantemente no ovário direito (70% dos animais), o qual apresentou medidas maiores que o contralateral. Observou-se ainda alta correlação significativa entre o peso do ovário e o do CL (r=0,87; p<0,05) e entre o tamanho destes órgãos (r=0,70; p<0,05). Conclui-se que, a morfologia dos ovários de cabras e a concentração sérica de progesterona variam em função da fase do ciclo estral e podem ser utilizadas como parâmetro na avaliação funcional do órgão

Anti-PGL1 salivary IgA/IgM, serum IgG/IgM, and nasal Mycobacterium leprae DNA in individuals with household contact with leprosy

Objectives: Leprosy household contacts represent a group at high risk of developing the disease. the aim of this study was to detect Mycobacterium leprae subclinical infection in this group through serological and molecular parameters.Methods: Serum anti-PGL1 IgG/IgM and salivary anti-PGL1 IgA/IgM was investigated using an ELISA, and nasal carriage of M. leprae DNA was detected by PCR, in leprosy household contacts of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) household leprosy patients (n = 135), their index cases (n = 30), and in persons living in a low endemic city (n = 17).Results: Salivary anti-PGL1 IgA and IgM and serum anti-PGL1 IgG showed good correlation comparing contacts and index cases (p 0.05). A high frequency of anti-PGL1 IgM positivity was found in IgG-negative samples (p < 0.0001). for IgG-positive samples, IgM antibodies were also positive in most of the samples. None of the 17 volunteers living in a low endemic city presented seropositivity for IgG; however, two of them showed positivity for anti-PGL1 IgM. M. leprae DNA was found in the nasal swabs of nine out of the 85 MB household leprosy contacts (10.6%) and in three out of the 50 PB household leprosy contacts (6.0%).Conclusion: We strongly suggest that serum IgG/IgM and salivary anti-PGL1 IgA/IgM measurements are used to follow leprosy household contacts. (C) 2013 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Ceara, Fac Pharm, Dept Clin Anal & Toxicol, BR-60430370 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Fac Pharm, Dept Pharm, BR-60430370 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Pediat Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Fac Med, Dept Pathol, BR-60430370 Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Pediat Infect Dis, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 472.471/2007-4Web of Scienc