The importance of Intermediaries organizations in international R&D cooperation: an empirical multivariate study across Europe

Despite the large number of publications related to business cooperation in R&D and the wide perception of the importance of intermediary institutions in the R&D cooperation process, empirical studies on its role are scarce, scattered and fragmented. Moreover, the academic work developed in this area is basically of a theoretical nature, whereas the international perspective of R&D cooperation is seldom approached. Departing from a unique database that includes 473 R&D cooperation projects developed within the 6th Framework Programme, involving firms and intermediaries from all European Union countries, this paper gauges the determinants of the importance attached to Intermediaries, through a direct survey to the organizations involved. Based on an estimation of the multivariate model, this study demonstrates that the importance given to Intermediaries depends more on project features than on the characteristics of the participating organizations. In particular, the nationality of participating organizations and the promoter emerged with a strong explanatory power: ceteris paribus, projects with at least one participant from the United Kingdom tend to assign greater importance to intermediaries in international R&D cooperation. Unambiguously, results evidence that the innovating capacity of an organization emerges (both positively and significantly) associated with a greater importance attached to Intermediaries.R&D Cooperation; Intermediaries; International projects; Europe

Efficacy and tolerability of airway stents

The function of airway stents is to keep the tubular structures open and stable. Their insertion is essentially indicated for intrinsic obstruction or extrinsic compression of the airway, fistulae or tracheobronchomalacia. The aim of this study was to determine the tolera bility and efficacy of airway stents in situations in which their insertion was vital. A retrospective study of airway stent insertion with rigid bronchoscopy (23 patients) was carried out over a two year period (2006-2007) at the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques Unit. We assessed indication, efficacy, tolerability, complications and exact insertion based on chest CT imaging. In all situations Dumon flexible silicon stents (Tracheobronxane were used, with the need for complementary techniques such as laser therapy and mechanical dilation having been previously evaluated by flexible bronchoscopy. The authors conclude that stent insertion has no complications and good tolerability in the majority of advanced stage oncological situations with indication for palliative management

Tecnologia seamless: perspetivas futuras

Cada vez mais, a velocidade e a flexibilidade se tornam fatores essenciais para a satisfação dos desejos e das necessidades dos consumidores. Para vencer a corrida contra o tempo e a necessidade de diferenciação, o design de moda busca cada vez mais alicerces nas tecnologias, sendo a Seamless uma das disponíveis e ainda com vasto potencial de expansão. A partir da compreensão do fenômeno da tecnologia seamless, este trabalho contempla a investigação com foco em vestuário exterior, através da apresentação e análise de dados primários.Every time more, the speed and flexibility become key factors for the desires satisfaction and needs of consumers. To win the race against time and the need for differentiation, fashion design aims more foundations in technology, being the Seamless one of the available technologies, yet with a vast potential of expansion. From the understanding of the seamless technology phenomenon, this communication includes the results o a research work with a focus on outwear, through the presentation and analysis of primary data

Tecnologia seamless: inovação em malhas

Nos últimos anos a moda transformou-se num importante fenômeno, no contexto sociocultural e econômico. No entanto, a idéia da roupa de malha ser um agente da moda tem recebido menos atenção. A conjugação entre o design de moda e o design de superfície, aliados à tecnologia seamless, constitui um caminho a ser explorado para a inovação no vestuário em malha.n recent years fashion has become an important phenomenon in the economic and social-cultural context. However, the idea of knitwear to be a fashion agent has received less attention. The conjugation between fashion design and surface design, allied to seamless technology, may constitute an approach to be explored for the purpose of innovation in knitted garments

Seamless technology applied to the fashion design

The seamless concept is rather new. Starting to be known in the 80’s, the resulting products made with this technology are capable to fulfill the consumers’ needs regarding functionality, performance and comfort. The products made with this technology that are more popular involve areas such as sports, health care, underwear and outerwear and less quantity exterior garment. From this study one understand that there is a significant design component to be further explored when it comes to integrating fashion in seamless garments, by inserting fashion trend elements that will give higher added value to these products

Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: a clinical case report

The eosinophilic pneumonias are a heterogeneous group of pulmonary disorders, which may compromise only the air ways, the pulmonary parenchyma, or both, characterised by alveolar eosinophils and infiltration of pulmonary tissue, with or without peripheral blood eosinophilia. Idiopathic Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia (ICEP), detailed description was by Carrington in 1969, is a rare eosinophilic lung disease, of unknown aetiology, characterised by peripheral blood eosinophilia, chest radiograph infiltrates and prompt response to corticosteroid therapy. ICEP most commonly affects women of middle age and usual symptoms are cough, dyspnea, fever and weight loss. The authors present a case of ICEP in a young woman, 21 years old, non-smoker and previously healthy

Assessing the conservation of Miombo timber species through an integrated index of anthropogenic and climatic threats

Aim: Angolan Miombo woodlands, rich in timber species of the Leguminosae family, go through one of the highest rates of deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents, on the basis of updated information of the distribution of Leguminosae timber species native to Angola, an integrated index framing the main threats for trees, which aims to support new conservation measures. Location: Sub-Saharan Africa, Republic of Angola. Methods: The current distribution areas of six Leguminosae timber species (i.e., Afzelia quanzensis, Brachystegia spiciformis, Guibourtia coleosperma, Isoberlinia angolensis, Julbernardia paniculata, and Pterocarpus angolensis) were predicted through ensemble modeling techniques. The level of threat to each species was analyzed, comparing the species potential distribution with a threat index map and with the protected areas. The threat index of anthropogenic and climatic factors encompasses the effects of population density, agriculture, proximity to roads, loss of tree cover, overexploitation, trends in wildfires, and predicted changes in temperature and precipitation. Results: Our results revealed that about 0.5% of Angola's area is classified as of “Very high” threat, 23.9% as “High” threat, and 66.5% as “Moderate” threat. Three of the studied species require special conservation efforts, namely B. spiciformis and I. angolensis, which have a large fraction of predicted distribution in areas of high threat, and G. coleosperma since it has a restricted distribution area and is one of the most valuable species in international markets. The priority areas for the conservation of Leguminosae timber species were found in Benguela and Huíla.Main conclusions: This study provides updated data that should be applied to inform policymakers, contributing to national conservation planning and protection of native flora in Angola. Moreover, it presents a methodological approach for the predictions of species distribution and for the creation of a threat index map that can be applied in other poorly surveyed tropical regions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing the Impact of Charcoal Production on Southern Angolan Miombo and Mopane Woodlands

About 80% of Angola’s forest surface is covered by Miombo and Mopane woodlands, which are explored for diverse activities such as fuelwood and food. This study aimed to assess the recovery dynamics of Miombo and Mopane woodlands after the selective cutting of tree species for charcoal production. For that, the structure and composition of plant communities in 37 plots, located in southwestern Angola, were characterized in fallows of different ages. Results showed that the diameter at breast height, basal area, biomass, and biovolume of trees all rose as the age of the fallow increased, and there were no significant differences in richness, diversity, or dominance of trees between adult–young classes or recent–older fallows. In Mopane, fallows took longer to regenerate, were more affected by environmental and anthropogenic factors, and also presented a higher species adaptation to disturbance. There were more sprouter and seeder trees in Miombo, and new kilns were more distant from roads and villages. Moreover, the selective removal of species deeply altered the community structure and dynamics, despite not directly affecting tree diversity. Thus, new management strategies are needed to ensure the survival of these woodlands such as expanding protected areas and increasing systematic research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of COVID-19 on children with autism spectrum disorder

Introduction. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience changing routines as a major challenge. For that reason, the need for adaptation during COVID-19 pandemic may have brought major problems to families with children with this pathology. Aim. To explore how children with ASD and their parents experienced the social isolation during COVID-19 outbreak period. Subjects and methods. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. We applied an anonymous questionnaire that included children's demographic and clinical characteristics, along with the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in different aspects of family's daily life. Results. Out of 99 questionnaires obtained, 43 were related to children with ASD and 56 to control group. Children with ASD predominantly had changes in behavior, while children from control group mostly found no changes. The majority of parents of ASD children reported a negative impact in emotion management against those in control group reporting mostly positive or no impact. Caregivers reported higher mean scores of anxiety levels in themselves than in their children. ASD children and their parents had higher levels of anxiety than healthy ones. In the group with ASD, children that did not maintain routines had higher mean levels of anxiety than children that maintained routines. Conclusion. Our results show a potential important psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic not only in children with neurodevelopmental disorders but in their caregivers as well. Physicians must be prepared for the post-pandemic surveillance of mental disorders among families