Construindo a gestão estratégica sustentável: um estudo sobre a empresa Mercur S.A.

The pressures for economic growth of organizations have been leading to society and companies to become aware that humanity lives in a world where natural resources are finite and that the impacts of this growth can cause damage for present and future generations. Thus, the present study aimed contributed with this discussion, under the perspective of sustainable development approach, evaluating how the organizational environment seeks to promote the confluence between enterprise strategies and sustainable strategic management. For this, it sought through a case study, qualitative and exploratory; retrieve the main theoretical approaches related to enterprise strategies and sustainable development. The results of the study allowed identifying that the development of organizational awareness of sustainability, contributed to the formulation process of sustainable business strategies.As pressões pelo crescimento econômico das organizações têm levado a sociedade e as empresas a se conscientizarem de que a humanidade vive em um mundo em que os recursos naturais são finitos e que os impactos desse crescimento podem acarretar danos para as gerações atuais e futuras. Sendo assim, o presente estudo buscou contribuir com essa discussão, sob a perspectiva da abordagem do desenvolvimento sustentável, avaliando a forma como o meio organizacional busca promover a confluência entre as estratégias empresariais e a gestão estratégica sustentável. Para isso, buscou-se, por meio de um estudo de caso, qualitativo e exploratório, resgatar as principais abordagens teóricas relacionadas com as estratégias empresariais e o desenvolvimento sustentável. Os resultados obtidos com o estudo possibilitaram identificar que o desenvolvimento da consciência organizacional sobre a sustentabilidade contribuiu para o processo de formulação de estratégias empresariais sustentáveis

In vivo antileishmanial efficacy of a naphthoquinone derivate incorporated into a Pluronic? F127-based polymeric micelle system against Leishmania amazonensis infection.

New therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis are desirable, since the treatment against disease presents problems, such as the toxicity, high cost and/or parasite resistance. As consequence, new antileishmanial compounds are necessary to be identified, as presenting high activity against Leishmania parasites, but low toxicity in mammalian hosts. Flau-A is a naphthoquinone derivative recently showed to presents an in vitro effective action against Leishmania amazonensis and L. infantum species. In the present work, the in vivo efficacy of Flau-A, which was incorporated into a Poloxamer 407-based micelle system, was evaluated in a murine model against L. amazonensis infection. Amphotericin B (AmB) and Ambisome? were used as controls. The animals were infected and later treated with the compounds. Thirty days after the treatment, parasitological and immunological parameters were evaluated. Results showed that AmB, Ambisome? , Flau-A or Flau-A/M-treated animals presented significantly lower average lesion diameter and parasite burden in tissue and organs evaluated, when compared to the control (saline and micelle) groups. Flau-A or Flau-A/M-treated mice were those presenting the most significant reductions in the parasite burden, when compared to the others. These animals developed also a more polarized antileishmanial Th1 immune response, which was based on significantly higher levels of IFN-?, IL-12, TNF-?, GM-CSF, and parasite-specific IgG2a isotype; associated with low levels of IL-4, IL10, and IgG1 antibody. The absence of toxicity was found in these animals, although mice receiving AmB have showed high levels of renal and hepatic damage markers. In conclusion, results suggested that the Flau-A/M compound may be considered as a possible therapeutic target to be evaluated against human leishmaniasis

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

El rol de las bibliotecas como mediadoras ante el impacto tecnológico en la conducta informativa de los usuarios

Esta presentación tiene como objetivo aportar algunos temas de reflexión sobre la responsabilidad que nos cabe como gestores de la información en la optimización del acceso a la misma, poniendo la atención en nuestro destinatario final: el usuario. Uno de los aspectos críticos a tener en cuenta en la planificación de los servicios de información es la alfabetización tecnológica de los usuarios; utilizamos esta denominación genérica como traducción del término "digital literacy", introducido en la literatura especializada en la década de 1990 para referirse a la habilidad de leer y comprender textos hipertextuales y multimediales. Esta problemática ha sido ampliamente discutida, especialmente a partir del surgimiento de Internet; Roger Chartier afirma que "la revolución del texto electrónico es y será también una revolución de la lectura", ya que lo que se ha modificado "son los modos de organización, estructuración y consulta de lo escrito". Este cambio en el acceso a la información ha alterado los hábitos, tanto en el lector común como en los investigadores de todos los campos de la ciencia. En algunas áreas, la adaptación ha sido rápida, aunque a veces un poco forzada. Los investigadores en ciencias sociales y humanidades están acostumbrándose a aprovechar los recursos electrónicos; sin embargo, según algunos estudios realizados en países avanzados tecnológicamente, los historiadores van a la zaga de otras especialidades. En la Biblioteca de la Academia Nacional de la Historia, una unidad de información especializada en historia argentina e iberoamericana, se accede a todo su acervo bibliográfico a través de bases de datos. Allí observamos que, efectivamente, se trata de una comunidad bastante conservadora en cuanto a sus métodos de investigación. López Yepes menciona esta característica: "El trabajo histórico está tradicionalmente ligado a la noción de documento como fuente, como testimonio fehaciente de prueba, de tal modo que el acceso a las mismas parece eficaz en la medida en que se alcanza la información en su estado más puro, más original y libre de intermediarios". Esto explicaría las resistencias al uso de información procedente de un recurso electrónico.Departamento de Bibliotecologí

El rol de las bibliotecas como mediadoras ante el impacto tecnológico en la conducta informativa de los usuarios

Esta presentación tiene como objetivo aportar algunos temas de reflexión sobre la responsabilidad que nos cabe como gestores de la información en la optimización del acceso a la misma, poniendo la atención en nuestro destinatario final: el usuario. Uno de los aspectos críticos a tener en cuenta en la planificación de los servicios de información es la alfabetización tecnológica de los usuarios; utilizamos esta denominación genérica como traducción del término "digital literacy", introducido en la literatura especializada en la década de 1990 para referirse a la habilidad de leer y comprender textos hipertextuales y multimediales. Esta problemática ha sido ampliamente discutida, especialmente a partir del surgimiento de Internet; Roger Chartier afirma que "la revolución del texto electrónico es y será también una revolución de la lectura", ya que lo que se ha modificado "son los modos de organización, estructuración y consulta de lo escrito". Este cambio en el acceso a la información ha alterado los hábitos, tanto en el lector común como en los investigadores de todos los campos de la ciencia. En algunas áreas, la adaptación ha sido rápida, aunque a veces un poco forzada. Los investigadores en ciencias sociales y humanidades están acostumbrándose a aprovechar los recursos electrónicos; sin embargo, según algunos estudios realizados en países avanzados tecnológicamente, los historiadores van a la zaga de otras especialidades. En la Biblioteca de la Academia Nacional de la Historia, una unidad de información especializada en historia argentina e iberoamericana, se accede a todo su acervo bibliográfico a través de bases de datos. Allí observamos que, efectivamente, se trata de una comunidad bastante conservadora en cuanto a sus métodos de investigación. López Yepes menciona esta característica: "El trabajo histórico está tradicionalmente ligado a la noción de documento como fuente, como testimonio fehaciente de prueba, de tal modo que el acceso a las mismas parece eficaz en la medida en que se alcanza la información en su estado más puro, más original y libre de intermediarios". Esto explicaría las resistencias al uso de información procedente de un recurso electrónico.Departamento de Bibliotecologí

The Effects of Touching Dolphins on Children's Acquisition of Attitude and Knowledge

(Statement of Responsibility) by Kara Antinarelli(Thesis) Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2004(Electronic Access) RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE(Bibliography) Includes bibliographical references.(Source of Description) This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.(Local) Faculty Sponsor: Harley, Heid

Atividade leishmanicida de derivados de quinolinas: 4-aminoquinolinas complexadas a esteroide e amodiaquina

Current chemotherapy for leishmaniasis is far from ideal due to a number of problems such as high cost and high toxicity. Thus, there is an immediate need to obtain new drugs for the treatment the disease. In this context, quinoline derivatives have shown promising antileishmanial activity. In this study, we evaluated the activity of two distinct series of quinolines, six 4-aminoquinolines (4-AMQ) derivatives and their hybrids with steroid and nine amodiaquine (AQ) derivatives in different Leishmania species. Effect of the compounds was assayed against Leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes and mouse peritoneal macrophages. Results showed that the combination of 4-AMQ to the steroid resulted in a significant increase in activity mainly for L. major promastigotes and amastigotes forms. Compound 6 was the most active against L. major amastigotes with IC50 of 1.9 µM, being three times more effective than miltefosine. It was demonstrated in this work that the combination of two groups with large biological application as quinoline derivatives and steroids may be an interesting strategy for the rational development of new drugs. Regarding to the AQ derivatives, it was observed that all compounds were most active against Leishmania promastigote and amastigote forms. Among the nine compounds evaluated, six were more active against L. braziliensis amastigotes than the prototype AQ and miltefosine. Compound 8 with IC50 of 0.4 µM was about fourteen times more active than miltefosine. In general, the majority of 4-AMQ and AQ derivatives are more selective and specific for amastigotes of Leishmania sp, forms clinically relevant. Potential activity of the compounds evaluated can be considered an important advance in the study of this class of derivatives in order to develop new leishmanicidal drugs more effective, selective and nontoxic to the human host.A quimioterapia atual para as leishmanioses está longe do ideal devido a uma série de problemas como alto custo e elevada toxicidade. Assim, existe uma necessidade imediata de obtenção de novos fármacos para o tratamento da doença. Neste contexto, derivados de quinolina têm demonstrado atividade leishmanicida promissora. Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a atividade leishmanicida de duas séries distintas de quinolinas: seis compostos derivados de 4-aminoquinolinas (4-AMQ) e seus híbridos com esteroide e nove derivados da amodiaquina (AQ). O efeito dos compostos foi testado em promastigotas e amastigotas de Leishmania sp e em macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos. Os resultados mostraram que a conjugação de 4-AMQ ao esteroide resultou em aumento significativo da atividade principalmente para formas promastigotas e amastigotas de L. major. O composto 6 foi o mais ativo em amastigota de L. major (CI50 de 1,9 µM), sendo três vezes mais efetivo do que a miltefosina. Demonstrou-se neste trabalho que a conjugação de dois grupos de grande aplicação biológica, quinolina e esteroide, pode ser uma estratégia interessante para o desenvolvimento racional de novos fármacos. Em relação aos derivados da AQ, observou-se que a grande maioria dos compostos foram ativos em promastigotas e amastigotas de Leishmania sp. Dentre os nove compostos avaliados, seis foram mais ativos em amastigotas de L. braziliensis do que o protótipo AQ e miltefosina. O composto 8 (CI50 de 0,4 µM) foi cerca de quatorze vezes mais ativo em amastigota do que a miltefosina. A maioria dos derivados de 4-AMQ e AQ foram mais seletivos e específicos para amastigotas. A atividade em potencial dos compostos avaliados pode ser considerada um importante avanço no estudo desta classe de derivados, visando-se o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos leishmanicidas mais eficazes, seletivos e não tóxicos para o hospedeiro humano.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

Estudos in vitro, in vivo e in silico da atividade de derivados aminoquinolínicos em espécies de Leishmania relacionadas à Leishmaniose tegumentar americana

Leishmaniasis represents a major global public health problem with serious limitations in current chemotherapy, such as limited number of drugs, low efficacy, high cost, increasing parasitic resistance and toxicity. The objective of the present study was to evaluate a series of ten 4-aminoquinolines derivatives (AMQs) on Leishmania species related to tegumentary leishmaniasis. It was also evaluated the possible mechanisms of action of a compound with promising leishmanicidal activity, identifying the target organelles and the type of death triggered in the parasite, as well as to its leishmanicidal effect in vivo. Among the evaluated compounds, the AMQ-j derivative was the most active, with expressive activity on L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis (IC50 less than 6.0 μg/mL and 2.5 μg/mL against intracellular promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively) for both evaluated species. Furthermore, AMQ-j showed low toxicity for murine macrophages (CC50> 40.0 μg/mL) being more destructive to the intracellular parasites (selectivity index > 12.0). Preliminary studies about the mode of action showed that AMQ-j compound induced marked effects on the parasite mitochondria, characterized by mitochondrial membrane potential collapse (ΔΨm), organelle swelling, increased of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production and lipidic bodies accumulation in the cytoplasm. The treatment with AMQ-j induced in the promastigote forms a series of biochemical and cellular alterations which suggest apoptosis-like death, including reduction of cellular volume, phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, maintenance of plasma membrane integrity and drastic changes in the cell nucleus evidenced by chromatin disorganization and DNA fragmentation. The effect of AMQ-j in promastigote forms is also associated with the induction of death by autophagy evidenced by the increase of autophagic vacuoles, presence of multivesicular bodies inside vacuoles, cytoplasmic vesicles and accumulation of acidic compartments in the promastigote cytoplasm. The compound also induced DNA fragmentation of intracellular amastigotes selectively, without inducing host cell fragmentation. In silico studies suggest that this compound is a potential inhibitor of key redox enzyme trypanothione reductase (TryR). In vivo studies in murine infection model of L. amazonensis demonstrated the efficacy of AMQ-j by the intralesional route, reducing lesion size and parasite load, without induction of hepatic, cardiac and renal toxicity. The in silico prediction studies on pharmacokinetic properties (ADMET) and physico-chemical characteristics (Lipinsky's rule) suggest that AMQ-j can be used orally. Taken together, the results suggest that the leishmanicidal effect of the compound is associated with multiple targets and triggers parasite death through different pathways, including apoptosis and autophagy. The in vivo effect indicates that studies with this compound should be continued in order to better establish its leishmanicidal effect.As leishmanioses representam um grande problema de saúde pública mundial com sérias limitações na quimioterapia atual, como: número limitado de fármacos, baixa eficácia, custo elevado, crescente resistência parasitária e toxicidade. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a atividade de uma série de dez derivados de 4- aminoquinolinas em espécies de Leishmania relacionadas a leishmaniose tegumentar. Avaliar os possíveis mecanismos de ação do composto com atividade antileishmanial promissora, identificando as organelas alvo e os processos de morte celular desencadeados no parasito, bem como a sua eficácia in vivo. Dentre os compostos avaliados, o derivado AMQ-j foi o mais ativo, com atividade expressiva em L. amazonensis e L. braziliensis (CI50 menor que 6.0 μg/mL e 2,5 μg/mL em promastigotas e amastigotas intracelulares, respectivamente) para ambas as espécies avaliadas. O composto AMQ-j apresentou baixa toxicidade para macrófagos murinos (CC50> 40.0 μg/mL), sendo mais tóxico para amastigotas intracelulares (Índice de Seletividade>12,0). Os resultados preliminares acerca do modo de ação apontam que o composto AMQ-j induziu drásticos efeitos na mitocôndria do parasito e caracterizado pelo colapso do potencial de membrana mitocondrial (ΔΨm), inchaço da organela, aumento na produção de Espécies Reativas do Oxigênio (EROS) e acúmulo de corpúsculos lipídicos (CLs) no citoplasma. O tratamento com AMQ-j induziu nas formas promastigotas uma série de alterações bioquímicas e celulares sugestivas de morte por apoptose-like como redução do volume celular, exposição de fosfatidilserina no folheto externo da membrana plasmática, manutenção da integridade da membrana plasmática e alterações drásticas no núcleo celular evidenciadas por meio da desorganização da cromatina e fragmentação do DNA. O efeito do composto em promastigotas está também associado à indução de morte por autofagia evidenciada pelo aumento de vacúolos autofágicos, presença de corpos multivesiculares dentro de vacúolos, vesículas citoplasmáticas e acúmulo de compartimentos acídicos no citoplasma dos promastigotas. O composto também induziu fragmentação do DNA dos amastigotas intracelulares de modo seletivo, sem induzir fragmentação da célula hospedeira. Estudos in silico sugerem que AMQ-j é um potencial inibidor da tripanotiona redutase (TryR), enzima fundamental na defesa antioxidante do parasito. Estudos in vivo em modelo murino de infecção com L. amazonensis demonstraram a eficácia do AMQ-j pela via intralesional na redução do tamanho da lesão e da carga parasitária, sem indução de toxicidade hepática, cardíaca e renal. Os estudos de predição in silico relacionados a propriedades farmacocinéticas (ADMET) e características físico-químicas (regra de Lipinsky) sugerem que AMQ-j pode ser utilizado pela via oral. O efeito leishmanicida do composto está associado a múltiplos alvos, desencadeando a morte do parasito por diferentes vias, como apoptose e autofagia. O efeito in vivo do composto aponta para a necessidade da continuidade dos estudos no intuito de melhor estabelecer o seu efeito leishmanicida

M: Urban regeneration project of a former military park in Lentate sul Seveso

The increasing number of abandoned buildings and disused spaces in our cities represents an opportunity to counter the waste of resources. The former military park requalification project described in this chapter shows a model of sustainable urban transformation based on building recovery and community involvement. The project proposes the realisation of student residences integrated with multifunctional spaces for local communities aimed at enhancing the territory’s resources and history, as well as enabling educational and economic development. It follows the principles of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, starting with moving innovative processes out of big cities and into smaller places. The project was conceived by a team of researchers from the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the municipality of Lentate sul Seveso, owner of the properties subjected to requalification, engaging the participation of the local administration, the major stakeholder, namely Polo Formativo Legno Arredo school, and actors from the corporate sector. The partnership between Municipality and University represents a significant connection in the development of the territory. Service and Spatial Design has a key role in responding to the need to rethink public space according to new forms of social engagement and interaction

Antileishmanial activity of some Brazilian plants, with particular reference to Casearia sylvestris

Leishmaniasis is a complex of diseases caused by Leishmania protozoa which treatment is restricted to a limited number of drugs that exhibit high toxicity, collateral effects and are often costly. There are a variety of tropical plants distributed in Brazil, and for many poor people the therapy for several diseases is based mainly on the use of traditional herbal remedies. In this work, the cytotoxic activity of 17 plant methanol extracts was evaluated on several Leishmania species and murine macrophages. Among them, the extract of Casearia sylvestris, Piptocarpha macropoda, Trembleya parviflora, Samanea tubulosa and Plectranthus neochilus showed a promissing leishmanicidal activity, exhibiting IC50 values below of 20 &#181;g/mL against at least one species of Leishmania. Casearia sylvestris showed the most expressive activity against all promastigote forms of Leishmania species (IC50 values of 5.4 &#181;g/mL, 5.0 &#181;g/mL, 8.5 &#181;g/mL and 7.7 &#181;g/mL for L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. chagasi and L. major, respectively), being more effective than the reference drug miltefosine. In spite of the cytotoxic effect on macrophages (CC50 value of 5.2 &#181;g/mL), C. sylvestris exhibited a strong inhibition against intracellular amastigotes of L. braziliensis (IC50 value of 1.3 &#181;g/mL). Further studies, including bio-guided fractionation will be conducted to identify the active compounds