Book review: seven steps to a comprehensive literature review: a multimodal and cultural approach by Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie and Rebecca Frels

In Seven Steps to a Comprehensive Literature Review: A Multimodal and Cultural Approach , Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie and Rebecca Frels offer a new guide on how to produce a comprehensive literature review through seven key steps that incorporate rigour, validity and reliability. Ana Raquel Nunes recommends this helpful, well-informed and well-organised book to those undertaking literature reviews as well as those reflecting on research methodologies more broadly

Modelo tumoral in vitro para a avaliação terapêutica de fármacos

The anticancer therapies used nowadays in the clinic display a low efficacy. The ability of cancer cells to develop resistance to drugs used in chemotherapy, contributes to the high mortality associated with this disease. The development of new drug formulations is crucial for improving patient survival rates. In vitro 2D cancer cell cultures have been the main model used, in a first phase, for the development of these new therapies. However, these cultures are unable to mimic the main characteristics of in vivo tumors, such as their drug resistance mechanisms. On the other hand, in vitro 3D cancer models, in particular the cancer cell spheroids, have a drug resistance profile similar to that found in human solid tumors, such as breast cancer. Due to that, these models have been used by researchers as a tool to study anticancer drugs. Nevertheless, the techniques and methods used to analyze the therapeutic efficacy of drugs in in vitro models are developed and standardized only for 2D cells in culture. In this way, the develop of 2D cell culture models that display a drug resistant profile similar to the spheroids can be advantageous since these models can be studied through established equipment, techniques and methodologies. Further investigations revealed that 2D cell cultures obtained by spheroid disintegration and maintained in culture medium supplemented with glutathione (GSH) had the same phenotype as the cells present in 3D spheroids. In the present work, the resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) of 2D cultures of MCF-7 obtained by disaggregation of spheroids and then cultured in culture medium supplemented with GSH was evaluated. The results obtained demonstrated that this model of cell culture presents a DOX resistance profile closer to that presented by spheroids. In fact, the 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) of DOX in 3D-derived MCF-7 cell cultures supplemented with GSH was about 8-times higher than that obtained for conventional 2D cell cultures. In this work it was also possible to demonstrate that the increase in resistance of spheroid-derived MCF-7 cells results from increased P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity and from the reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in these cells. In summary, 2D cell culture obtained from spheroid disaggregation represents an improvement for the future development of anticancer therapies, owing to its ability to present in the 2D model a drug resistance similar to that exhibited by 3D models.Na atualidade, as terapias anticancerígenas utilizadas na clínica apresentam uma baixa eficácia. Tal facto é explicado pela capacidade que as células cancerígenas têm em desenvolver resistência a fármacos anticancerígenos, o que contribui para a elevada taxa de mortalidade associada a esta doença. Os investigadores estão presentemente a desenvolver novos fármacos com atividade anticancerígena para melhorar a taxa de sobrevivência dos doentes que padecem desta patologia. As culturas de células cancerígenas in vitro em 2D têm sido o principal modelo utilizado numa primeira fase de desenvolvimento destas novas abordagens terapêuticas. No entanto, este tipo de modelo de cultura celulares não mimetiza as principais características dos tumores que afetam o ser humano, assim como os mecanismos de resistência a fármacos que os tumores apresentam. Por outro lado, os modelos in vitro 3D, nomeadamente os esferóides produzidos com células cancerígenas, apresentam um perfil de resistência a fármacos semelhante ao encontrado em tumores sólidos humanos (e.g. cancro de mama). Devido a esta característica, estes modelos têm sido usados pelos investigadores como ferramentas para a avaliação de fármacos anticancerígenos. No entanto, as técnicas e métodos utilizados para a análise da eficácia terapêutica de fármacos em modelos in vitro estão apenas desenvolvidos e padronizados para células cultivadas em 2D. Deste modo, o desenvolvimento de modelos de cultura de células 2D que apresentem um perfil de resistência a fármacos semelhante ao dos esferóides pode ser uma mais valia, uma vez que estes modelos podem ser estudados através de equipamentos, técnicas e metodologias já estabelecidas. Em estudos recentes foi demonstrado que as culturas celulares 2D obtidas por desagregação de esferóides e mantidas em meio de cultura suplementado com glutationa (GSH) apresentavam o mesmo fenótipo que as células presentes nos esferóides 3D. No presente trabalho, avaliou-se a resistência à doxorrubicina (DOX) de culturas 2D de MCF-7 obtidas por desagregação de esferóides em meio de cultura suplementado com GSH, assim como a cultura 2D convencional e em esferóides 3D. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que este modelo de cultura celular apresenta uma resistência à DOX próxima à determinada para os esferóides. De facto, a concentração inibitória de 50 % (IC50) da DOX em culturas de células MCF-7 derivadas de esferóides e que foram cultivadas em GSH foi cerca de 8 vezes mais elevada do que a obtida para as culturas de células 2D convencionais. Neste trabalho foi também demonstrado que o aumento da resistência das células MCF-7 derivadas de esferóides advém da maior atividade da glicoproteína-P (P-gp) e da redução dos níveis de espécies reativas de oxigénio (ROS) no citoplasma destas células. Em suma, a cultura de células em 2D obtidas a partir da desagregação de esferóides representa uma melhoria para o desenvolvimento futuro de terapias anticancerígenas, devido ao facto de exibirem uma resistência a fármacos semelhante à exibida pelas células cultivadas em modelos 3D

Determinants of general and specified resilience to extreme temperatures

Extreme temperatures impact human health and well-being. Yet, very little empirical evidence exists on what determines human resilience, both in general and in relation to specified extreme temperatures. This paper addresses this serious gap in knowledge by developing a quantitative measure of general resilience (i.e., the resilience of individuals to all daily life circumstances). This is complemented with qualitative elicitations of specified resilience (i.e., the resilience of individuals to a particular type of threat, stress, or event), which in this study are extreme heat and extreme cold. This research uses the “sense of coherence” (SOC) approach (i.e., Orientation to Life Questionnaire—SOC-13 scale) to develop a general resilience index (GRI) using a composite index approach and to develop assessments of heat-related resilience (HRR) and cold-related resilience (CRR) using primary data from mixed-method interviews with 52 older people living in Lisbon, Portugal. The findings show that most participants exhibited high levels of general resilience but low levels of specified resilience. In particular, resilience to cold was lower than resilience to heat. Sources of general and specified resilience were found to be dependent on cognitive, behavioral, and motivational factors in older people’s lives. The findings reveal that believing threats (e.g., extreme temperatures) are structured and ordered, perceiving that assets are available to respond to them, and feeling it is worth responding are sources of resilience. Concrete policy recommendations can be generated from this study by both central and local governments to strengthen resilience. These can take the form of programs, plans, and actions that support individuals and enable them to better deal with challenging life events such as extreme temperatures and to improve both general and specified resilience

Taking it to the extremes: understanding the role of assets in older people’s vulnerability, resilience and adaptation to extreme temperatures

The emerging risks and impacts of climate change and extreme weather are an increasingly important threat to human health. This poses many challenges and opportunities for individuals and wider society on how to adapt. In response to the presently limited understanding of what shapes human adaptation to extreme temperatures, this thesis critically reviews current literature on vulnerability, resilience and adaptation. It does so, by drawing upon and bringing together the health, environmental science, climate science and sociology literatures to develop a framework for understanding the role of assets in shaping vulnerability, resilience and adaptation, as well as the interactions between these concepts. This thesis contributes to these emerging bodies of research by offering an interdisciplinary exploration and analysis of the factors shaping both general (i.e. daily life circumstances) and specified (i.e. extremely hot and cold temperatures) vulnerability (Brooks, 2003) and resilience (Folke et al., 2010; Miller et al., 2010), as well as adaptation to extreme temperatures. To address this, empirical data was collected at the individual level using a multimethodological approach. Structured and semi-structured interviews were used to quantitatively and qualitatively implement general and specified measures of vulnerability and resilience. An asset-based approach is used to assess vulnerability and the ‘Sense of Coherence’ scale is used to explore resilience. The findings derive from an inter-seasonal study (heat in summer, cold in winter) with a diversity of older people living independently in the city of Lisbon (Portugal). The results indicate that: (1) both general asset portfolio and general vulnerability are threatened by extreme temperatures, which erode specified assets and increase specified vulnerability (older people manifested slightly higher vulnerability to heat than cold); (2) resilience to extreme temperatures was found to be lower than general resilience, with resilience to cold being lower than resilience to heat; (3) adaptation to both heat and cold events is occurring to different degrees, with inequalities, lack of agency and powerlessness constraining and limiting adaptation. Overall, assets were found to be a key determinant of vulnerability, resilience and adaptation. Vulnerability was found not to be a key determinant of resilience, and both vulnerability and resilience were found to be key determinants of adaptation. These findings raise important policy and practice implications, emphasizing opportunities for reducing the health impacts of temperature extremes amongst older people

Resilience : conceptualisations and challenges for effective heatwave public health planning

Objectives This article examines diverse perspectives on heatwave resilience in public health planning, interviewing stakeholders from various sectors. It identifies challenges, including operational, political, economic, and cultural aspects, hindering effective strategies. The study advocates for a holistic approach to heatwave resilience, emphasising interdisciplinary research and collaboration for targeted interventions. Enhancing resilience is crucial to mitigating adverse health impacts and safeguarding vulnerable populations during heatwaves. Conceptualisations of resilience related to heatwave public health planning and heatwave resilience vary significantly. There is a need to unveil the multifaceted nature of resilience in the context of heatwaves and identify key challenges that hinder effective public health planning efforts. Study design Qualitative study to explore key stakeholders' conceptualisations of resilience and highlight challenges and opportunities needed for greater heatwave resilience and public health planning. Methods Interviews were conducted with a diverse group of key stakeholders involved in local, regional, and national heatwave planning, academics, civil sector and private sector representatives. Results The findings of this study highlight diverse conceptualisations of resilience. Conceptualisations of resilience mainly differ on the following: ‘whom’; ‘what’; ‘how’; ‘when’; and ‘why’. This analysis shows that the concept of resilience is well understood but has different functions. The analysis of challenges revealed several key problems, such as operational and technical; political and governance; organisational and institutional; economic; linguistic; cultural, social, and behavioural; and communication, information, and awareness. These significantly hinder effective heatwave public health planning strategies. Conclusions The study emphasises the need for a holistic and integrated approach to heatwave resilience. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing heatwave public health planning. This study provides valuable insights into the complexities of heatwave resilience, offering guidance for different sectors of society to develop targeted interventions and strategies. The development of new resilience interdisciplinary and intersectoral research, practice, and governance will prove crucial to ongoing efforts to strengthen national heatwave resilience public health planning. By fostering resilience, societies can mitigate the adverse impacts of heatwaves and safeguard the health and well-being of vulnerable populations

Mapping interactions between sustainable development and heatwave resilience

Urgent action is needed to ensure the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. Under climate change the intensity and frequency of heatwaves are projected to increase and urgent action is also needed to improve heatwave resilience now and in the future. Yet, it remains unclear how countries are planning and implementing policies and actions for this to happen. Interactions between the SDGs have been widely researched. However, little is known about the interactions between the SDGs and heatwave resilience. In response, this study focuses on mapping such interactions. This mixed methods study design with a diverse group of stakeholders from different sectors of society identified key interactions, sources of interactions and solutions for achieving both agendas. The analysis revealed that: (i) synergies largely outweigh trade-offs; (ii) a broad compatibility exists between the two agendas; (iii) no fundamental incompatibilities were found, and; (iv) the two agendas are not being consistently aligned. These findings are essential for parallel and effective achievement of both agendas and to enhance synergies and reduce trade-offs. A series of solutions were identified which can be implemented. Such integrated approaches would enhance success and overall performance by improving collaborations, using common language, regulation and planning, pooling resources, skills, inclusive information and translation to practice

Exploring the interactions between vulnerability, resilience and adaptation to extreme temperatures

Proposed ways of improving adaptation to climate change have most often been supported by narrowly framed and separate analysis. This article investigates how different levels of vulnerability and resilience interplay with adaptation to extreme temperatures, what is the nature of these relationships and whether lower vulnerability and higher resilience contribute to increased adaptation. This article explores the governance implications of a project that, unlike other, brings together vulnerability, resilience and adaptation assessments. The project has made significant advances in addressing the current deficit integrated assessments for shaping governance propositions. Such propositions argue that the diverse levels of vulnerability and resilience convey important bases for (1) targeting at-risk older individuals; (2) developing vulnerability reduction actions; (3) resilience building actions; and (4) understanding ‘success cases’ and learn from them for developing appropriate policy measures. Taken together, these propositions offer a social, psychological and health framework not simply for governing extreme temperatures but for governing responses to climate change at large

A aplicação da NCP 27 no poder local: o caso do distrito do Porto

O Sistema de Normalização Contabilística para as Administrações Públicas é uma referência da contabilidade pública em Portugal nos últimos 20 anos. A aplicação da Estrutura Concetual e das 27 normas de contabilidade pública resultaram na harmonização da prestação de contas das administrações públicas. Este estudo debruça se na norma de contabilidade pública 27 e pretende evidenciar de que forma a sua implementação dos municípios do Distrito do Porto, tem vindo a contribuir para uma gestão eficiente dos recursos. As questões de investigação a que se pretende dar resposta: As autarquias do Distrito do Porto apresentam no seu relatório de gestão o nível de implementação da NCP 27? E os responsáveis pela contabilidade das autarquias do Distrito do Porto consideram que a NCP 27 contribui para uma gestão mais eficiente dos recursos? Foi utilizada uma metodologia qualitativa, que consistiu na análise comparativa, no período 2020 a 2022, da informação contida nos relatórios de gestão dos municípios e, foram realizadas entrevistas aos responsáveis da contabilidade. A técnica de triangulação dos dados possibilitou a obtenção de um conjunto de resultados nomeadamente, informações quanto ao nível de implementação da NCP 27 presentes nos relatórios de gestão e a opinião dos entrevistados quanto ao uso da NCP 27 nas autarquias. Como principais conclusões e dada a sua complexidade, a implementação desta norma requer um elevado grau de preparação da administração local, ao nível da qualificação dos recursos humanos e de sistemas de informação ágeis. Verificou-se que as autarquias não estavam e ainda não estão preparadas. Entre o disposto na NCP 27 e o que é apresentado e divulgado nos relatórios de gestão dos municípios do Distrito do Porto resulta que ainda há um longo caminho a percorrer. Uma das limitações encontradas foi a impossibilidade de aceder à totalidade dos documentos disponibilizados pelos municípios.The Accounting Standardisation System for Public Administrations has been a reference in public accounting in Portugal for the last 20 years. The application of the Conceptual Framework and of the 27 public accounting standards resulted in the harmonisation of general government accounts. This study focuses on public accounting standard 27 and aims to show how its implementation in the municipalities of the Porto district has contributed to the efficient management of resources. The research questions to be answered are as follows: Do the municipalities of the Porto District present the level of implementation of NCP 27 in their accounts? And, do those responsible for accounting in the municipalities of the Porto District think that NCP 27 contributes to a more efficient management of resources? A qualitative methodology was used, which consisted of a comparative analysis of the information contained in the municipalities' management reports from 2020 to 2022 and interviews with the accounting managers. The data triangulation technique made it possible to obtain a set of results, namely information on the level of implementation of NCP 27 in management reports and the interviewees' opinions on the use of NCP 27 in municipalities. As main conclusions and given its complexity, the implementation of this standard requires a high degree of preparation on the part of the local administration, in terms of the qualification of human resources and agile information systems. It turned out that the municipalities weren't and still aren't prepared. Between the requirements of NCP 27 and what is presented and disclosed in the management reports of the municipalities in the district of Porto, it can be seen that there is still a long way to go. One of the limitations was the impossibility of accessing all the documents made available by the municipalities

Comunicação interna como factor de motivação dos colaboradores no contexto laboral : estudo de caso realizado durante o estágio no Grupo Mota-Engil

Actualmente, o impacto da comunicação no sector empresarial é fundamental e decisivo, pelo que qualquer organização deve usá-la enquanto uma importante ferramenta de desenvolvimento, tornando-a cada vez mais competitiva e funcional, através de uma boa comunicação interna, mobilizadora do capital humano. Com o objectivo de perspectivar a comunicação interna da empresa e o papel que desempenha na motivação dos colaboradores em contexto laboral, a presente investigação, realizada durante um estágio no Grupo Mota-Engil, conduziu á obtenção de dados que permitem entender, como o desafio de uma comunicação interna bem estruturada e alicerçada num modelo sustentado de liderança, se reflecte e interage com a motivação e satisfação dos colaboradores e no desenvolvimento das organizações.Nowadays, the impact of communication inside companies is crucial and decisive, so any organization should use it as an important development tool, making it increasingly competitive and functional, through a good internal communication, mobilizing human capital. In order to foresee the company´s internal communication and the role it plays on employees motivation, this research, result of an internship on Mota-Engil Group, had lead to data acquisition needed to understand how the challenge of a well-structured internal communication, based on a sustainable leadership model, reflect and interact with employees’ motivation and satisfaction, and with the companies’ development