Mobile CRM development for real estate agents

Purpose – Real estate agents are professionals who need up-to-date and accurate information about their clients in order to maintain profitable and long-lasting relationships with each of them. A satisfied customer can be very valuable and profitable in the long term. This research focuses on solving the problem of the lack of a mobile Customer Relationship Management (CRM) adapted to the needs of professionals. The importance of solving this problem is related to the importance of optimizing work and resources in a highly abundant information industry. Design/methodology/approach – It was developed of a CRM for mobile devices capable of managing information about the customers and business partners of each user, which provides a set of features well defined by the professionals. These features were collected through 15 face-to-face interviews and validated with six video conference interviews with industry specialists. For the development and evaluation of this artefact was followed the DSR methodology, corresponding each interview to an iteration of this model. Findings – From this research resulted a selection of functionalities considered essential to the real estate agent’s work. These features were successfully implemented in a mobile application that real estate agents appreciate for its simplicity and that they feel adds real value to their daily lives. Using this service, the productivity and performance of real estate agents might be improved. Originality/value – It was verified that the mobile CRM solution developed is a desired solution by real estate agents in terms of customer portfolio management, enhancing the evolution of their relationships and monitoring professional’s performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Evidence Associated with the Use of Oxazolidinones for the Treatment of Skin and Skin Structure Infections: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: Skin and skin structure infections are an increasing cause of hospitalization. Although mortality is relatively low, skin and skin structure infections are associated with prolonged hospital length of stay and high costs. Oxazolidinones have been suggested as a tool to treat infected patients in the ambulatory setting in order to decrease hospital length of stay. We wanted to address the evidence associated with the use of oxazolidinones in the treatment of skin and skin structure infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational retrospective study we analyzed the anonymized diagnosis related group coded information from the Portuguese database for hospital admissions, that included all adult patients with a diagnosis of oxazolidinone use and a SSSI, discharged between 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 5518 patients had a diagnosis of oxazolidinone treatment. We selected 483 of those who were also diagnosed with a skin and skin structure infections. Their mean age was 64.9 years and 62.7% were male. The median hospital length of stay was 27 days (Inter quartile range 13 - 56) and the mortality rate was 12.6%. The prevalence of secondary anemia and of thrombocytopenia in the whole group treated with oxazolidinones was 2.5% and 3%, respectively. DISCUSSION: Despite the high bioavailability of oxazolidinones, we were not able to find evidence that its use was associated with a decrease of mortality or hospital length of stay (due to early discharge) of patients with skin and skin structure infections. CONCLUSION: In this study we were not able to find evidence that oxazolidinones had any clinically significant benefit. A structured approach, including antibiotics with favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile as well as a carefully planned ambulatory follow up may be needed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of ActiGraph® cutoffs on time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activities in COPD

ActiGraphs® are often used to assess time in moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) in people with COPD. Different cutoffs can be used to quantify MVPA. If they yield similar or different MVPA results is yet unknown. There are no cutoffs specifically developed, nor validated, for COPD, but Troiano and Freedson cutoffs are the most used. Recently, Santos-Lozano proposed a cutoff specific for older people, that has been used in COPD. This study aimed to explore MVPA results quantified with different cutoffs in COPD. Participants wore the ActiGraph wGT3X for 7 days and data were included if they had used it for at least 8h (7am to 10pm) for 4 days (Choi algorithm for non-wear time). MVPA was estimated using the cutoffs from Troiano, Freedson and Santos-Lozano. Differences between cutoffs were explored with Friedman Test, followed by post-hoc comparisons. 107 people with COPD (79%♂; 68±8y; FEV1pp 49±17) were included. MVPA was affected by cutoffs (χ2(2)=194.56, p<0.001). Santos-Lozano cutoff yielded the highest MVPA estimates, followed by Freedson and Troiano cutoffs (median [Interquatile Range] = 57[30-90] vs 16[4-38] vs 8[2-22] (Fig.1). All cutoffs differed significantly from each other (p<0.001). The cutoff selection affects MVPA estimates in people with COPD and may mislead the classification of these patients as physically (in)active. Future studies should develop MVPA cutoffs adapted to people with COPD.CENTR(AR): pulmões em andamento by Programa de Parcerias para o Impacto, Portugal Inovação Social through Programa Operacional Inclusão Social e Emprego (POISE-03-4639-FSE-000597). Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/148738/2019), by Fundo Social Europeu through Programa Operacional Regional Centro, and by Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (COMPETE 2020 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007628; UIDB/04501/2020).publishe

Improving real estate CRM user experience and satisfaction: A user-centered design approach

Despite the growth in CRM installations, e-CRM projects still have a significant failure rate, even after substantial investments in CRM technology. High rates of failure mean that the current requirements for developing and designing CRM need to be analysed. It's not enough to just look at data related to a service's efficiency; it's also crucial to consider the impact on the user experience and their overall level of satisfaction. Given that CRM is a people-centric business strategy, it's pertinent to wonder how much progress may be made in a similarly people-centric field like Real Estate through the development and use of a user-centred design approach. This study aims to seamlessly integrate a mobile customer relationship management (m-CRM) system with an electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) system to increase customer loyalty, satisfaction, and performance through a user-friendly interface. User research, preliminary interviews, five usability interviews, and satisfaction surveys confirmed the functionality implemented and for each iteration, an expert was used to evaluate it. For this artifact's creation and assessment, the DSR technique was used, with each interview serving as a data point for the model. It was determined that the Desktop interface solution may improve this CRM’s ease of use and user satisfaction, thereby benefiting the real estate industry through strengthened connections and more straightforward oversight of professionals' performances.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

REVISTA DAS REVISTAS

Resumo de artigos, publicados em periódicos internacionais, nos anos de 1916 a 1920

Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First Six Months of Life

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Infections with Avian Pathogenic and Fecal Escherichia coli Strains Display Similar Lung Histopathology and Macrophage Apoptosis

The purpose of this study was to compare histopathological changes in the lungs of chickens infected with avian pathogenic (APEC) and avian fecal (Afecal) Escherichia coli strains, and to analyze how the interaction of the bacteria with avian macrophages relates to the outcome of the infection. Chickens were infected intratracheally with three APEC strains, MT78, IMT5155, and UEL17, and one non-pathogenic Afecal strain, IMT5104. The pathogenicity of the strains was assessed by isolating bacteria from lungs, kidneys, and spleens at 24 h post-infection (p.i.). Lungs were examined for histopathological changes at 12, 18, and 24 h p.i. Serial lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) for detection of apoptotic cells, and an anti-O2 antibody for detection of MT78 and IMT5155. UEL17 and IMT5104 did not cause systemic infections and the extents of lung colonization were two orders of magnitude lower than for the septicemic strains MT78 and IMT5155, yet all four strains caused the same extent of inflammation in the lungs. The inflammation was localized; there were some congested areas next to unaffected areas. Only the inflamed regions became labeled with anti-O2 antibody. TUNEL labeling revealed the presence of apoptotic cells at 12 h p.i in the inflamed regions only, and before any necrotic foci could be seen. The TUNEL-positive cells were very likely dying heterophils, as evidenced by the purulent inflammation. Some of the dying cells observed in avian lungs in situ may also be macrophages, since all four avian E. coli induced caspase 3/7 activation in monolayers of HD11 avian macrophages. In summary, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fecal strains of avian E. coli produce focal infections in the avian lung, and these are accompanied by inflammation and cell death in the infected areas

Assessment of groundwater contamination in an agricultural peri-urban area (NW Portugal): an integrated approach

The excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers in agriculture has generated a decrease in groundwater and surface water quality in many regions of the EU, constituting a hazard for human health and the environment. Besides, on-site sewage disposal is an important source of groundwater contamination in urban and peri-urban areas. The assessment of groundwater vulnerability to contamination is an important tool to fulfil the demands of EU Directives. The purpose of this study is to assess the groundwater vulnerability to contamination related mainly to agricultural activities in a peri-urban area (Vila do Conde, NW Portugal). The hydrogeological framework is characterised mainly by fissured granitic basement and sedimentary cover. Water samples were collected and analysed for temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, phosphate, nitrate and nitrite. An evaluation of groundwater vulnerability to contamination was applied (GOD-S, Pesticide DRASTIC-Fm, SINTACS and SI) and the potential nitrate contamination risk was assessed, both on a hydrogeological GIS-based mapping. A principal component analysis was performed to characterised patterns of relationship among groundwater contamination, vulnerability, and the hydrogeological setting assessed. Levels of nitrate above legislation limits were detected in 75 % of the samples analysed. Alluvia units showed the highest nitrate concentrations and also the highest vulnerability and risk. Nitrate contamination is a serious problem affecting groundwater, particularly shallow aquifers, especially due to agriculture activities, livestock and cesspools. GIS-based cartography provided an accurate way to improve knowledge on water circulation models and global functioning of local aquifer systems. Finally, this study highlights the adequacy of an integrated approach, combining hydrogeochemical data, vulnerability assessments and multivariate analysis, to understand groundwater processes in peri-urban areas

Functional status and impact of the disease in people with COPD according to symptoms’ burden

Background: COPD is a heterogeneous disease. Better understanding of its trajectory, especially considering symptoms level, may help improving disease management. We described the evolution of functional status and impact of the disease in people with COPD according to symptoms level. Methods: People with COPD were assessed monthly for 6 months. Participants were grouped by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria in low (GOLD A & C) or high (GOLD B & D) symptom burden, based on the baseline values in the modified medical research council dyspnoea scale. Quadriceps muscle strength (QMS)–handheld dynamometry, 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1STS) and COPD assessment test (CAT) were collected. Differences within/between groups over time were explored with (non-)parametric mixed ANOVAs and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons. Results: 87 people (85%♂, 68±9y, FEV1 51±20pp, 54% high symptoms) participated. People with low symptoms presented higher 1STS (p=0.01) and lower CAT (p<0.01). Improvements in 1STS and CAT over time (p<0.01) were found regardless of group allocation (Fig. 1). There were no group*time interaction or other significant differences. Conclusion: The pattern of progression in functional status and impact of the disease seems similar in people with COPD independently of symptoms’ burden, with improvements in CAT and 1STS over time. Reasons for this finding must be explored.publishe