Bem-estar social na América Latina: entre Estado, partidos e modelos de desenvolvimento (1990-2015)

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciência PolíticaA presente tese versa sobre o cenário do bem-estar social na América Latina entre as décadas de 1990 e 2010. O processo histórico latino-americano herda uma desigualdade estrutural, resultando em regimes de bem-estar com diferentes enfoques e esquemas institucionais. O estudo do desenvolvimento tem na análise política do bem-estar social um elemento importante que tem sido amplamente discutido no caso da América Latina. Os modelos de desenvolvimento da região têm sido considerados como fatores relevantes no esforço empreendido pelos Estados nos setores da proteção social, educação e saúde. No entanto, importou também considerar os fatores de ordem político-institucional, advindos do processo democrático. Neste sentido, a presente descreve e analisa, numa perspetiva comparada, a evolução do bem-estar social, tido como processo institucional, em dois períodos políticos distintos e em oito casos: Argentina, Bolívia, Brasil, Chile, Colômbia, México, Uruguai e Venezuela. Os processos democráticos dos anos 1980 e 1990 e as alterações políticas e macroeconómicas advindas, apresentam-nos um cenário de rutura/continuidade nos modelos de bem-estar social da região. No entanto, observamos nos oito casos disparidades contínuas, exacerbadas pela presença de vulnerabilidades, quer sociais, quer na estrutura informal do mercado de trabalho, com claras consequências no esforço empreendido pelos Estados. No processo de democratização, os fatores de ordem política têm um papel nos ajustamentos macroeconómicos, ditados pelo controlo da inflação e da dívida pública, num esquema de continuidade com peso no legado de políticas. A maior fragmentação institucional promoveu um menor consenso, ditando esquemas de reação ou integração nos esquemas públicos. A “reviravolta ideológica” dos anos 2000 e 2010, é também analisada sob o ponto de vista da continuidade/rutura institucional, concluindo-se pelos seus efeitos residuais ou moderados nos casos em análise. Antes, a fragmentação política do processo de democratização demonstrou ser um fator relevante na consolidação destes regimes de bem-estar.The focus of this thesis is the welfare setting in Latin America between the 1990s and the 2010s. The Latin American historical process inherits structural inequalities, resulting in welfare regimes with different institutional approaches and schemes. The political analysis of social welfare has an important role in the comprehension of development. Furthermore, this field of study has been widely discussed in the Latin American case. The development models of the region have been considered as relevant factors in the effort undertaken by the States on sectors such as social protection, education and health. However, it is also important to consider the politico-institutional factors arising from the democratic process. In this sense, this work describes and analyzes, in a comparative perspective, the evolution of social well-being, seen as an institutional process, in two distinct political periods and between eight cases: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela. The democratic processes of the 1980s and 1990s, and the political and macroeconomic changes that followed, present us with a scenario of rupture/continuity in the region's social welfare models. However, in the eight cases, we observed continuous disparities, exacerbated by the presence of vulnerabilities, both social and provoked by the informal structure of the labor market, which has clear consequences in the effort undertaken by the States. In the democratization process, political factors play a role in macroeconomic adjustments, dictated by the control of inflation and public debt, in a continuity scheme with clear consequences in policy legacies. Greater institutional fragmentation promoted less consensus, dictating reaction or integration arrangements in public schemes. The “ideological turnaround” of the years 2000 and 2010 is also analyzed from the point of view of institutional continuity/rupture, concluding by its residual or moderate effects in the cases under analysis. Rather, the political fragmentation of the democratization process proved to be a relevant factor in the consolidation of these welfare regimes.N/

Career satisfaction of medical residents in Portugal

Introdução: A satisfação com a profissão médica tem sido apontada como um fator essencial para a qualidade assistencial, o bemestar dos doentes e a estabilidade dos sistemas de saúde. Estudos recentes têm vindo a enfatizar um crescente descontentamento dos médicos, principalmente como consequência das alterações das relações laborais. Objetivos: Avaliar a perceção dos médicos de formação específica em Portugal, sobre as expectativas e grau de satisfação com a profissão, especialidade e local de formação; razões da insatisfação e intenção de emigrar. Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal. A colheita de dados foi efetuada entre Maio e Agosto de 2014 através de um Inquérito online sobre a “Satisfação com a Especialidade”. Resultados: De uma população total de 5788 médicos, foram obtidas 804 respostas (12,25% do total de médicos internos). Desta amostra, 77% das respostas correspondem a internos dos três primeiros anos de formação. Verificou-se que 90% dos médicos se encontram satisfeitos com a especialidade, tendo-se encontrado também níveis elevados de satisfação com a profissão (85%) e local de formação (86%). Por outro lado, constatou-se que estes diminuíam com a progressão ao longo dos anos de internato. A avaliação global sobre o panorama da prática médica foi negativa e 65% dos médicos responderam que consideram emigrar após conclusão do internato. Conclusão: Os médicos internos em Portugal apresentam níveis positivos de satisfação com a sua profissão. No entanto, a sua opinião sobre o panorama da Medicina e os resultados relativos à intenção de emigrar alertam para a necessidade de tomada de medidas para inverter este cenário.Introduction: The satisfaction with the medical profession has been identified as an essential factor for the quality of care, the wellbeing of patients and the healthcare systems’ stability. Recent studies have emphasized a growing discontent of physicians, mainly as a result of changes in labor relations. Objectives: To assess the perception of Portuguese medical residents about: correspondence of residency with previous expectations; degree of satisfaction with the specialty, profession and place of training; reasons for dissatisfaction; opinion regarding clinical practice in Portugal and emigration intents. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study. Data collection was conducted through the “Satisfaction with Specialization Survey”, created in an online platform, designed for this purpose, between May and August 2014. Results: From a total population of 5788 medical residents, 804 (12.25 %) responses were obtained. From this sample, 77% of the responses were from residents in the first three years. Results showed that 90% of the residents are satisfied with their specialty, 85% with the medical profession and 86% with their place of training. Nevertheless, results showed a decrease in satisfaction over the final years of residency. The overall assessment of the clinical practice scenario in Portugal was negative and 65% of residents have plans to emigrate after completing their residency. Conclusion: Portuguese residents revealed high satisfaction levels regarding their profession. However, their views on Portuguese clinical practice and the results concerning the intent to emigrate highlight the need to take steps to reverse this scenario

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved