Revisiting small and medium-sized enterprises' innovation and resilience during COVID-19: the tourism sector

Every day, companies are exposed to various risks arising from their environment, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the most affected. This study emphasizes innovation and resilience as the starting points to understand how they are influenced by external factors which are independent of the managers' will. To date, we have seen several extreme factors that have conditioned businesses and entrepreneurs of this type of companies, such as the Financial Crisis of 2008. However, last year we saw the beginning of a Worldwide Pandemic: COVID-19 Pandemic. Thus, this research seeks to understand the extent to which this pandemic influenced the resilience and innovation of SMEs in the Tourism area. Thus, eight hypotheses were raised based on four independent variables: Access to Finance, Risk Taking, Working Conditions, and Personal Network. The study of these variables was developed from an online questionnaire and in-depth interviews. After analyzing the results, it is possible to infer that the COVID-19 Pandemic resulted in consequences never observed in previous crises, to such an extent that the study showed that: 1) a company's Network positively influence its resilience; 2) Risk-Taking influences innovation and resilience of these SMEs.Diariamente, as empresas estão expostas a vários riscos provenientes do ambiente onde estão inseridas, sendo as Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs) as mais afetadas. Este estudo enfatiza a inovação e a resiliência como os pontos de partida para perceber de que maneira são estas influenciadas por fatores externos e independentes da vontade dos gestores. Até hoje, assistimos a vários fatores extremos que condicionaram negócios e empresários deste tipo de empresas, como por exemplo a Crise Financeira de 2008. Contudo, no final de 2019 observámos o início de uma Pandemia Mundial - COVID-19, cujas consequências se fizeram sentir a partir de 2020. Desta forma, esta investigação procura compreender em que medida esta pandemia influenciou a resiliência e a inovação das PME na área do Turismo. Desta forma, foram levantadas oito hipóteses com base em quatro variáveis independentes: "Access to Finance", "Risk Taking", "Working Conditions" e "Personal Network". O estudo destas variáveis foi desenvolvido a partir de um questionário "online" e de entrevistas em profundidade. Após a análise dos resultados, é possível inferir que a Pandemia da COVID-19 resultou em consequências nunca observadas em crises anteriores, pelo que o estudo mostrou que: 1) as "Personal Network" de uma empresa influenciam positivamente a sua resiliência; 2) "Risk Taking" influencia a inovação e a resiliência destas PMEs

Long-term effects of psychotherapy on moderate depression: a comparative study of narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy

Background: In a previous clinical controlled trial (Lopes et al., 2014), narrative therapy (NT) showed promising results in ameliorating depressive symptoms with comparable outcomes to cognitivebehavioral therapy (CBT) when patients completed treatment. This paper aims to assess depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in this clinical sample at follow-up. Methods: Using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 Interpersonal Relations Scale, naturalistic prospective follow-up assessment was conducted at 21 and 31 months after the last treatment session. Results: At follow-up, patients kept improving in terms of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. The odds that a patient maintained recovery from depressive symptoms at follow-up were five times higher than the odds that a patient maintained recovery from interpersonal problems. In the same way, the odds of a patient never recovering from interpersonal problems were five times higher than the odds of never recovering from depressive symptoms. Limitations: The study did not control for the natural course of depression or treatment continuation. Conclusions: For depressed patients with greater interpersonal disabilities, longer treatment plans and alternative continuation treatments should be considered.The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) supported this article through the Research Project "Ambivalence and Unsuccessful Psychotherapy" [PTDC/PSI-PCL/121525/2010], coordinated by M. Goncalves, and through a doctoral grant to R. Lopes [SFRH/BD/47343/2008].The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Sessão V - Ensino Superior

A Sessão V concentrou-se no sistema de ensino a jusante do secundário, nomeadamente o politécnico e universitário. Pretendeu-se aqui também suscitar uma ampla participação de todas as forças vivas que compõem estes sistemas, focalizada nas consequências para os seus projectos educativos do grau de maturidade do desenvolvimento dos três valores nos seus estudantes

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

A igualdade substancial das partes à luz do processo declarativo

Dissertação de Mestrado Em Direito, apresentada à Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbr

Características clínicas e laboratoriais da meningite asséptica associada à vacina tríplice viral

Objetivos. Descrever os achados epidemiológicos, clínicos e liquóricos dos casos de meningite asséptica associada à vacina tríplice viral (sarampo, caxumba e rubéola), ocorridos no Estado da Bahia após campanha de vacinação em massa promovida pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil em agosto de 1997, e comparar esses casos aos de meningite asséptica não associada à vacina ocorridos no mesmo ano. Métodos. Entre março e outubro de 1997, foi realizado acompanhamento prospectivo de todos os indivíduos com idade de 1 a 12 anos admitidos no Hospital Couto Maia com diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial de meningite asséptica. A população do estudo foi dividida em dois grupos, representando indivíduos vacinados e não vacinados. Foram coletadas informações demográficas, clínicas e laboratoriais para ambos os grupos. Resultados. No mês de setembro, logo após a campanha de vacinação, 74 casos de meningite asséptica foram atendidos no Hospital Couto Maia, em comparação com a média mensal de 7,5 casos. Verificamos maior freqüência de rigidez de nuca e níveis mais altos de celularidade liquórica nas crianças cuja meningite foi associada à vacina. Por outro lado, houve maior número de casos com comprometimento encefálico no grupo de meningites não associadas à vacinação. Conclusões. Embora a meningite pós-vacinal tenha curso mais benigno, seu tratamento continua gerando custos com exames complementares e internações. As campanhas de vacinação em larga escala devem utilizar vacinas contendo cepas menos reatogênicas

Randomized, phase 1/2, double-blind pioglitazone repositioning trial combined with antifungals for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis – PIO study

Background: Cryptococcosis affects more than 220,000 patients/year, with high mortality even when the standard treatment [amphotericin B (AMB), 5-flucytosin (5-FC) and fluconazole] is used. AMB presents high toxicity and 5-FC is not currently available in Brazil. In a pre-clinical study, pioglitazone (PIO - an antidiabetic drug) decreased AMB toxicity and lead to an increased mice survival, reduced morbidity and fungal burden in brain and lungs. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PIO combined with standard antifungal treatment for human cryptococcosis. Methods: A phase 1/2, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial will be performed with patients from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They will be divided into three groups (placebo, PIO 15 mg/day or PIO 45 mg/day) and will receive an additional pill during the induction phase of cryptococcosis’ treatment. Our hypothesis is that treated patients will have increased survival, so the primary outcome will be the mortality rate. Patients will be monitored for survival, side effects, fungal burden and inflammatory mediators in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The follow up will occur for up 60 days. Conclusions: We expect that PIO will be an adequate adjuvant to the standard cryptococcosis’ treatment. Trial registration: ICTRP/WHO (and International Clinical Trial Registry Plataform (ICTRP/WHO) (http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=RBR-9fv3f4), RBR-9fv3f4 (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-9fv3f4). UTN Number: U1111-1226-1535. Ethical approvement number: CAAE 17377019.0.0000.5149

Practical guide for the use of biological therapies in rheumatoid arthritis - Update of December 2011

The authors review the practical aspects of biologi -cal therapy use for rheumatoid arthritis patients, commenting safety issues before and after treatment initiation and the best treatment strategies to optimize efficacy.publishersversionpublishe

Saúde da família: limites e possibilidades para uma abordagem integral de atenção primária à saúde no Brasil Family health: limits and possibilities for an integral primary care approach to health care in Brazil

O artigo analisa a implementação da Estratégia Saúde da Família (SF) e discute suas potencialidades em orientar a organização do SUS no Brasil, a partir da análise da integração da SF à rede assistencial e atuação intersetorial, aspectos cruciais de uma atenção primária abrangente. Foram realizados quatro estudos de caso de municípios com elevada cobertura por SF (Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis e Vitória) tendo como fontes: entrevistas semi-estruturadas com gestores e inquéritos com profissionais de saúde e de famílias cadastradas. A análise da integração destacou a posição da Estratégia SF na rede assistencial, os mecanismos de integração e a disponibilidade de informações para continuidade da atenção. A intersetorialidade foi pesquisada quanto aos campos de atuação, abrangência, setores envolvidos, presença de colegiados, e iniciativas das equipes. Os resultados apontam avanços na integração da SF à rede assistencial, propiciando o fortalecimento dos serviços básicos como serviços de procura regular e porta de entrada preferencial, todavia permanecem dificuldades de acesso à atenção especializada. As iniciativas intersetoriais foram mais abrangentes quando definidas como politica integrada do governo municipal para a construção de interfaces e cooperação entre os diversos setores.<br>The article analyzes the implementation of the Family Health Strategy (FH) and discusses its potential to guide the organization of the Unified Health System in Brazil, based on the integration of FH to the health care network and intersectorial action, crucial aspects of a comprehensive primary health care. Four case studies were carried out in cities with high FH coverage (Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis e Vitória), using as sources: semi-structured interviews with managers and surveys with health care professionals and registered families. The integration analysis highlighted the position of FH Strategy in the health services network, the integration mechanisms and the availability of information for continuity of care. Intersectoriality was researched in relation to the fields of action, scope, sectors involved, presence of forums, and team initiatives. The results point to advances in the integration of FH to the health care network, strengthening basic services as services that are regularly sought and used as a preferential first contact services, although there are still problems in the access to specialized care. The intersectorial initiatives were broader when defined as integrated municipal government policy for the construction of interfaces and cooperation between the diverse sectors