Mulheres em altos cargos de empresas familiares: experiências de sucessão e desafios sobre igualdade de género

Inicia-se este capítulo explorando a importância de se enunciar os preconceitos ou estereótipos de género que conduzem à instituição de “regimes normativos” presentes nas organizações que expressam, por isso, desigualdades de género incrustados nas suas estruturas, interações e culturas dominantes. Em seguida, faz-se uma breve revisitação do processo recente de qualificação do(a) fundador(a) à frente das empresas familiares, com enfoque na sucessão empresarial. Na secção três justifica-se metodologicamente as opções seguidas para a concretização dos objetivos deste estudo e que nortearam o desenho de pesquisa ancorado em quatro histórias de vida de gestoras de empresas familiares. Concretamente, serão usados os principais resultados do Relatório de Investigação “Mulheres na liderança de uma empresa familiar: o que muda?” (Pereira, 2021), ainda que, na sua discussão, sejam convocados, igualmente, os resultados obtidos no estudo conduzido por Marques (2018). Na conclusão apresenta-se uma síntese do conhecimento produzido, privilegiando-se uma relação de aprendizagem em co-autoria e em diálogo, pela mobilização comum de instrumentos de recolha da informação e sua ampliação às gestoras de empresas familiares

Occurrence and Treatment of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Present in Surface Water

Funding Information: This research was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the grants PTDC/EAM-AMB/30989/2017 and CEECIND/02912/2018, the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry—LAQV (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). iNOVA4Health (UIDB/04462/2020, UIDP/04462/2020) and LS4FUTURE Associated Laboratory (LA/P/0087/2020), a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior through national funds, is also acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the main threats to global health. The excessive use of several antibiotics has led to the widespread distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in various environment matrices, including surface water. In this study, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci, as well as total coliforms and Escherichia coli resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ampicillin, streptomycin, and imipenem, were monitored in several surface water sampling events. A hybrid reactor was used to test the efficiency of membrane filtration, direct photolysis (using UV-C light emitting diodes that emit light at 265 nm and UV-C low pressure mercury lamps that emit light at 254 nm), and the combination of both processes to ensure the retention and inactivation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (total coliforms and Escherichia coli) present in river water at occurrence levels. The membranes used (unmodified silicon carbide membranes and the same membrane modified with a photocatalytic layer) effectively retained the target bacteria. Direct photolysis using low-pressure mercury lamps and light-emitting diode panels (emitting at 265 nm) achieved extremely high levels of inactivation of the target bacteria. The combined treatment (unmodified and modified photocatalytic surfaces in combination with UV-C and UV-A light sources) successfully retained the bacteria and treated the feed after 1 h of treatment. The hybrid treatment proposed is a promising approach to use as point-of-use treatment by isolated populations or when conventional systems and electricity fail due to natural disasters or war. Furthermore, the effective treatment obtained when the combined system was used with UV-A light sources indicates that the process may be a promising approach to guarantee water disinfection using natural sunlight.publishersversionpublishe

Effects of the inoculation with soil microbiota onmaize grown in saline soils

food and energetic needs will thus increase dramatically, while conventional agriculture is, even actually, facing drastic reductions in production yields and/or severe increases in cost to compensate losses in productivity due to lower soil fertility

¿Cuántas medidas de presiones respiratorias son necesarias para obtener mediciones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejia?

INTRODUÇÃO: pressões inspiratórias (PImax) ou expiratórias (PEmax) máximas constituem um método simples e não-invasivo para avaliação da força de músculos respiratórios e auxiliam a identificação de fraqueza dos músculos respiratórios, presente em diversas doenças e situações clínicas, como a tetraplegia. OBJETIVO: avaliar o número de manobras necessárias para atingir as pressões máximas em pacientes com tetraplegia. MÉTODOS: oito pacientes com tetraplegia (sete homens), média de idade de 37,8±11,96 anos, com diagnóstico de lesão raquimedular cervical completa realizaram 10 medidas de PImax e PEmax nas posições sentada e deitada, totalizando 320 medidas. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: as medidas obtidas na primeira e décima medidas de PImax na posição sentada variaram de 74,1±15,1 a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O e de PEmax de 32,4±6,8 a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O; na posição deitada, de 76,5±18,6 a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) e de 32,5±5,8 a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Os resultados das 3 e 5 primeiras medidas com 10 medidas de PImax na posição sentada foram 81,1±19,5 cmH2O; 81,5±18,8 cmH2O e 83,0±18,9 cmH2O e de PEmax 35,0±8,2 cmH2O; 35,3±7,9 cmH2O e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. A PImax na posição deitada foi 90,3±17,8 cmH2O; 94,6±16,0 cmH2O e 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) e a PEmax 33,3±5,8 cmH2O; 35,6±5,4 cmH2O e 36,9±4,9 cmH2O). O maior valor foi observado a partir da sexta medida em 40% dos testes. CONCLUSÃO: Para obtenção de valores máximos de pressões respiratórias em pacientes com tetraplegia, é necessária a repetição de ao menos dez medidas em cada avaliação.INTRODUCTION: maximum inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) pressures are a simple non-invasive method for evaluation of respiratory muscle strength that helps in the identification of muscle weakness, usually present in several diseases and clinical situations, such as quadriplegia. Objective: to assess the number of maneuvers needed to achieve maximum pressures in patients with quadriplegia. METHODS: eight quadriplegic patients (seven men) with mean age range of 37.8±11.96 years old and diagnosed with complete spinal cord lesion were submitted to ten measurements of PImax and PEmax in both seated and supine positions, totalizing 320 measurements. Data were compared by using the Wilcoxon's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: the 1st and 10th measurements of PImax and PEmax for seated position ranged from 74.1±15.1 to 74.8±19.8 cmH2O and 32.4±6.8 to 32.4±9.0 cmH2O, respectively; whereas for supine position these measurements ranged from 76.5±18.6 to 91.1±13.3 cmH2O (p<0.05) and 32.5±5.8 to 32.9±5.1 cmH2O, respectively. The results regarding the 3rd and 5th measurements of PImax for seated position were 81.1±19.5 cmH2O, 81.5±18.8 cmH2O, and 83.0±18.9 cmH2O; whereas PEmax had 35.0±8.2 cmH2O; 35.3±7.9 cmH2O, and 36.8±8.0 cmH2O. PImax values for seated position were 90.3±17.8 cmH2O, 94.6±16.0 cmH2O, and 97.4±17.8 cmH2O (p<0.05), whereas PEmax resulted in 33.3±5.8 cmH2O, 35.6±5.4 cmH2O, and 36.9±4.9 cmH2O). The highest value occurred from the sixth measurement in 40% of the tests. CONCLUSION: as to obtain maximum values for respiratory pressures in quadriplegic patients, it is necessary to repeat each measurement at least ten times.INTRODUCCIÓN: las presiones inspiratorias (PImáx) y espiratorias (PEmáx) máximas constituyen un método simple y no invasivo para evaluar la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios, y ayudan a identificar la debilidad de los músculos respiratorios presente en diferentes enfermedades y situaciones clínicas, como la tetraplejía. Objetivo: evaluar el número de maniobras necesarias para llegar a las presiones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejía. MÉTODOS: fueron incluidos ocho pacientes con tetraplejía (siete hombres), con edad media de 37,8±11,96 años y diagnóstico de lesión cervical raquis medular completa, a lo que se le realizo diez mediciones de PImáx y PEmáx en posición sentado y acostado, totalizando 320 mediciones. Los datos fueron comparados por el test de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: las medidas obtenidas en la primera y decima medición en posición sentada variaron de 74,1±15,1 a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O para PImáx y de 32,4±6,8 a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O para PEmáx; y en posición acostada de 76,5±18,6 a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) y de 32,5±5,8 a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Los resultados en posición sentada de PImáx de las tres y cinco primeras mediciones de las diez mediciones fueron 81,1±19,5 cmH2O; 81,5±18,8 cmH2O y 83,0±18,9 cmH2O; y de PEmáx 35,0±8,2 cmH2O; 35,3±7,9 cmH2O e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. La PImáx en posición acostada fue de 90,3±17,8 cmH2O; 94,6±16,0 cmH2O y 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) y la PEmáx fue de 33,3±5,8 cmH2O; 35,6±5,4 cmH2O y 36,9±4,9 cmH2O. El mayor valor ocurrió a partir de la sexta medida en el 40% de los testes. CONCLUSIÓN: para obtener valores máximos de presiones respiratorias en pacientes con tetraplejía, es necesario repetir por lo menos diez veces las mediciones en cada evaluación

Green graphene-chitosan sorbent materials for mercury water remediation

The development of new graphene-based nanocomposites able to provide synergistic effects for the adsorption of toxic heavy metals in realistic conditions (environment) is of higher demand for future applications. This work explores the preparation of a green nanocomposite based on the self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) with chitosan (CH) for the remediation of Hg(II) in different water matrices, including ultrapure and natural waters (tap water, river water, and seawater). Starting at a concentration of 50 μg L-1, the results showed that GO-CH nanocomposite has an excellent adsorption capacity of Hg (II) using very small doses (10 mg L-1) in ultrapure water with a removal percentage (% R) of 97 % R after only two hours of contact time. In the case of tap water, the % R was 81.4% after four hours of contact time. In the case of river and seawater, the GO-CH nanocomposite showed a limited performance due the high complexity of the water matrices, leading to a residual removal of Hg(II). The obtained removal of Hg(II) at equilibrium in river and seawater for GO-CH was 13% R and 7% R, respectively. Our studies conducted with different mimicked sea waters revealed that the removal of mercury is not affected by the presence of NO3- and Na+ (>90% R of Hg(II)); however, in the presence of Cl-, the mercury removal was virtually nonexistent (1% R of Hg(II)), most likely because of the formation of very stable chloro-complexes of Hg(II) with less affinity towards GO-CH.publishe

Caloric restriction rescues yeast cells from alpha-synuclein toxicity through autophagic control of proteostasis

α-Synuclein (SNCA) is a presynaptic protein that is associated with the pathophysiology of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. SNCA is a naturally aggregation-prone protein, which may be degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and by lysosomal degradation pathways. Besides being a target of the proteolytic systems, SNCA can also alter the function of these pathways further, contributing to the progression of neurodegeneration. Deterioration of UPS and autophagy activities with aging further aggravates this toxic cycle. Caloric restriction (CR) is still the most effective non-genetic intervention promoting lifespan extension. It is known that CR-mediated lifespan extension is linked to the regulation of proteolytic systems, but the mechanisms underlying CR rescue of SNCA toxicity remain poorly understood. This study shows that CR balances UPS and autophagy activities during aging. CR enhances UPS activity, reversing the decline of the UPS activity promoted by SNCA, and keeps autophagy at homeostatic levels. Maintenance of autophagy at homeostatic levels appears to be relevant for UPS activity and for the mechanism underlying rescue of cells from SNCA-mediated toxicity by CR.BSM and HP are supported by fellowships from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) (SFRH/BPD/90533/2012 and SFRH/BD/133087/2017, respectively).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of maize and efficient rhizospheric microorganisms for the remediation of saline soils

Soil salinity is a serious problem causing loss of fertility, as plants facing salt stress suffer alterations in physiology that adversely affects its growth. This work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combinations of microorganisms for the recovery of crop productivity in soils affected by different levels of salinity (0, 2.5 and 5 gNaCl.kg-1). The strategy relied on the culture in greenhouse conditions of a high value food and energetic crop (maize) inoculated with soil plant growth promoting microbiota – an arbuscular mychorrizal fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis), a rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas reactans) and a bacterial endophyte (Pantoea ananatis). Plant biomass was assessed at harvest and differences between treatments were analysed. As the work also aimed to relate the effects of bioinoculation to alterations in plant response to salt stress, further parameters were assessed. Elevated salt levels induce ionic stress, with consequent nutrient imbalance; therefore, levels of Na, K and Ca were determined in plant tissues. As salt is also a major stress to soil organisms, rhizosphere samples were analysed to follow up of microbiota survival by molecular biology techniques (DGGE), assessing the effect of soil salinity at the different tested levels on the inoculated soil microorganisms persistence and relationship with the existing community. The collected information allowed understanding the effects of the applied biologically based treatments in the quality of the tested saline soils, on the dynamics of the present microbiota and on maize growth, focusing on the further development of cropping strategies for saline soils, grounded on sustainable agriculture practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In situ effect of a proanthocyanidin mouthrinse on dentin subjected to erosion

Proanthocyanidin has been shown to be efficient in inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases. Objective: The aim of this in situ study was to evaluate the protective effect of Proanthocyanidin-based mouthrinses either with naturally acidic or with a neutral pH applied on dentin subjected to erosion. Methodology: Eight volunteers wore one palatal device in two phases (7 days washout) with 16 samples per group (n=8). The groups under study were: First Phase/ G1 – 10% proanthocyanidin mouthrinse (pH 7.0, Experimental group 1 – Purified Grape Seeds Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins), G2 – 10% proanthocyanidin mouthrinse (pH 3.0, Experimental group 2 – Purified Grape Seeds Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins). Second Phase/ G3 – 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthrinse (pH 7.0, Positive control group), G4 – no previous treatment (Negative control group). Each device was subjected to 3 erosive cycles (5 minutes) per day for 5 days. Treatments with different mouthrinses were applied once after the second erosive challenge (5 minutes). Profilometry was used to quantify dentin loss (µm). Results: Data were analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA followed by Fisher’s test (p&lt;0.05). G1 (1.17±0.69) and G3 (1.22±0.25) showed significantly lower wear values with no statistical difference between them. G2 (2.99±1.15) and G4 (2.29±1.13) presented higher wear values with no significant differences between them. Conclusion: The 10% proanthocyanidin mouthrinse (pH 7.0) could be a good strategy to reduce dentin wear progression

Incursões sobre o tratamento temático da informação: estudo da política de indexação em bibliotecas universitárias goianas

Analisa o uso da política de indexação nas bibliotecas universitárias da cidade de Goiânia – Goiás. Constitui estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, realizado mediante pesquisa com uso de questionário online, encaminhado aos bibliotecários do contexto investigado. Os resultados indicam que a indexação é conduzida na maior parte das unidades de acordo com regras e critérios específicos, apesar de não existir uma política formalmente estabelecida. Sobressai a forma de tratamento temático via indexação seletiva, tanto derivativa quanto atributiva, em linguagem natural e feita manualmente. Conclui-se que a política de indexação vigora informalmente nas bibliotecas goianas, uma vez que a padronização e a coerência na atribuição de termos são observadas, mas sem registro e formalização do processo decisório em um documento oficialmente instituído

Anti-inflamatório choline based ionic liquids: Insights into their lipophilicity, solubility and toxicity parameters

The impact on in vivo efficacy and safety of two novel ionic liquids based on the association of choline with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ketoprofen and naproxen forming IL-APIs, was evaluated. Their lipophilicity, solubility and toxicity were assessed aiming the illustration of the pharmaceutical profile and potential toxic impact. Partition coefficientwas determined usingmicelles of hexadecylphosphocholine and UV–Vis derivative spectroscopy. Additionally, solubility in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 wasmeasured using amodified shake flaskmethod and UV–Vis spectroscopy as detection technique. Ultimately, toxicity was considered resorting to a fully automated cytochrome c oxidase assay based onmicrofluidics. The obtained results demonstrated that the IL-APIs' drug format has the ability to interact with biological membranes and also improves solubility up to 58 times. Moreover, it was evidenced that, although being a nutrient, choline influences the IL-APIs' toxicity. The studied anti-inflammatory IL-APIs exhibited promising properties regarding their incorporation in pharmaceutical formulations