Organizational resilience factors of startups: An exploratory case study

In an increasingly competitive environment subject to uncontrollable risks, the continuity of organizations can be severely threatened, and the decision-making process takes place under circumstances of great uncertainty. Therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies and competencies that allow the business to thrive. Startups, particularly technology-based ones, are an essential source of innovation. However, several studies indicate that approximately 60% of Startups fail in the first five years of business. To succeed, startups need to develop skills that allow them to rapidly evaluate their decisions and options, and to identify what is vital for the survival of their business. Thus, organizational resilience becomes of paramount importance to those companies. The term resilience is used in different areas of knowledge, but all the definitions share common ground regarding the concept: it describes the ability of an element to return to its normal state after a period of stress and crisis. The main objective of this exploratory research developed in Portugal is to identify the resilience factors of technological Startups. It is also intended to contribute to the design and development of instruments which promote organizational resilience in technological ecosystems. The current research follows the case study methodology based on a sample of 10 technological startups collected from the Startup Leiria ecosystem (Portugal). The Startup Leiria is an incubator of startup ventures which makes it a prime source of data and knowledge. The main findings point out the necessity to develop agility skills in Startup ecosystems. It was concluded that resilient organizations are characterized by having the ability to anticipate, respond, adapt, and recover from a disruptive event. The uniqueness of this study concerns its contribution to stimulate data-driven discussions regarding the necessity to implement programs for the reskilling of Startups in the context of their ecosystems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A dive into the bath: embedded 3D bioprinting of freeform in vitro models

Designing functional, vascularized, human scale in vitro models with biomimetic architectures and multiple cell types is a highly promising strategy for both a better understanding of natural tissue/organ development stages to inspire regenerative medicine, and to test novel therapeutics on personalized microphysiological systems. Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is an effective biofabrication technology to engineer living constructs with predefined geometries and cell patterns. However, bioprinting high-resolution multilayered structures with mechanically weak hydrogel bioinks is challenging. The advent of embedded 3D bioprinting systems in recent years offered new avenues to explore this technology for in vitro modeling. By providing a stable, cell-friendly and perfusable environment to hold the bioink during and after printing, it allows to recapitulate native tissues’ architecture and function in a well-controlled manner. Besides enabling freeform bioprinting of constructs with complex spatial organization, support baths can further provide functional housing systems for their long-term in vitro maintenance and screening. This minireview summarizes the recent advances in this field and discuss the enormous potential of embedded 3D bioprinting technologies as alternatives for the automated fabrication of more biomimetic in vitro models.The authors acknowledge the financial support from Project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER 000021 supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Union Framework Program for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020, under European Research Council Grant Agreement 772817 and 101069302, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for the for Contract 2020.03410.CEECIND (to R. M. A. D.) and Wi-Pi project 2022.05526.PTDC. The schematics of the Table of Contents graphic was created with BioRender.com

Association between physical activity levels and polypharmacy in hypertensive patients

Background: exercise reduces medication usage in hypertensive people. However, different domains of physical activity (PA) have not been studied in order to analyze their relationship with the use of multiple medications, known as polypharmacy. Purpose: To examine the association between PA in different domains (leisure-time, locomotion and occupational) and polypharmacy in hypertensive patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 190 hypertensive patients. Polypharmacy was defined as simultaneous use of three or more drugs. The PA domains were the independent variables: Locomotion PA (LPA), Leisure Time PA (LTPA) and Occupational PA (OPA). The multiple logistic regression was performed to analyze the associations. The Mann Whitney test determined whether medications usage differ according to each domain of PA. Results: The total number of drugs used ranged from 0 to 7, which represents an average of 2.35 (±1.6) drugs per person. Scores of LTPA (OR: 3.25; CI95%:1.61-6.54) and LPA (OR: 2.15; CI95%:1.09-4.25) were inversely associated with polypharmacy in hypertensive patients, in the multiple logistic regression analysis (controlled by BMI, chronic diseases, smoking, alcohol consumption and skin color). Conclusions: lower PA in leisure time and locomotion were associated with polypharmacy in hypertensive peopleIntrodução: o exercício reduz o uso de medicamentos em indivíduos hipertensos. Contudo, diferentes domínios de atividade física (AF) não têm sido estudados no intuito de analisar suas relações com o uso de múltiplos medicamentos, conhecido como polifarmácia. Objetivo: analisar a associação entre AF em diferentes domínios (tempo livre, locomoção e ocupação) e polifarmácia em indivíduos hipertensos. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com 190 hipertensos. Polifarmácia foi definida como o uso simultâneo de três ou mais drogas. As variáveis independentes foram os domínios de AF: Locomoção (AFL); Tempo Livre (AFTL) e Ocupacional (AFO). A regressão logística múltipla foi empregada para analisar as associações. O teste de Mann Whitney foi empregado para comparar se a média de medicamentos usados diferia entre domínios de AF. Resultados: o número total de drogas usadas variou de 0 a 7, com média de 2.35 (±1.6) por pessoa. Escores de AFTL (OR: 3.25; IC95%: 1.61-6.54) e AFL (OR: 2.15; IC95%: 1.09-4.25) foram inversamente associadas à polifarmácia em hipertensos (controlado por IMC, número de doenças crônicas, fumo, consumo de álcool e cor da pele). Conclusão: menor AF no tempo livre e de locomoção foi associada à polifarmácia em indivíduos hipertenso

Experimental Study based on the Implementation of a Regulatory Framework for the Improvement of Cyber Resilience in SMEs

Currently, applying regulations oriented to cybersecurity, cyber resilience is relevant to face the high rates of cyberattacks, which have caused an interruption in the operational processes of organizations, generating an economic loss, and affecting the continuity of their business processes on the web. In this scenario, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the most affected due to their weak technological infrastructure. Given this, this experimental study was developed to implement a regulatory framework for the improvement of cyber resilience; the criteria anticipate, resist, recover and evolve presented significant statistical values of improvement after the application of the experiment. This research contributes to counteract the refusal to use information technologies for business development; Improvement actions were carried out to face threats and computer vulnerabilities to which organizations are exposed when carrying out operations in cyberspace

Factors associated with leisure-time physical activity among patients undergoing hemodialysis

Background End-stage renal disease patients are characterized by low levels of physical activity, especially during leisure time. However, the recognition of variables associated with patterns of physical activity in this population has been little explored. Thus, the objective was to assess factors associated with levels of physical activity during leisure time among patients on haemodialysis. Methods Ninety-eight patients (51.6 ± 15.7 years, 57 M/41 F) from two dialysis centres in São Paulo, Brazil participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into those who never exercised during leisure-time (inactive) and those who exercised at least once a week (active). The independent factors assessed were: socio-demographic data, comorbidities, personal barriers to exercise and physical activity records from childhood to adulthood (tracking of physical activity). Results Only 27 % of patients were engaged in PA during their leisure time at least once a week. Patients who engaged in regular physical activity during adulthood before the initiation of the hemodialysis treatment (adjusted OR: 7.24 95 % IC: 1.99; 26.50), those who developed the renal disease through diseases other than diabetes or hypertension (adjusted OR: 4.82; 95 % IC: 1.48; 15.68), and those who had no cardiovascular diseases (adjusted OR: 11.33; 95 % IC: 1.23; 103.8) where more likely to be active during their leisure-time. Conclusion Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus as well as the level of physical activity prior to end-stage renal disease could predict leisure-time physical activity among patients receiving hemodialysis therapy

Lewis Score - Prognostic value in patients with isolated small bowel Crohn's disease

Background and aims: Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) allows mapping of small bowel inflammation in Crohn’s disease (CD). We aimed to assess the prognostic value of the severity of inflammatory lesions, quantified by the Lewis score (LS), in patients with isolated small bowel CD. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in which 53 patients with isolated small bowel CD were submitted to SBCE at the time of diagnosis. The Lewis score was calculated and patients had at least 12 months of follow-up after diagnosis. As adverse events we defined disease flare requiring systemic corticosteroid therapy, hospitalization and/or surgery during follow-up. We compared the incidence of adverse events in 2 patient subgroups, i.e. those with moderate or severe inflammatory activity (LS =790) and those with mild inflammatory activity (135 = LS < 790). Results: The LS was =790 in 22 patients (41.5%), while 58.5% presented with LS between 135 and 790. Patients with a higher LS were more frequently smokers (p = 0.01), males (p = 0017) and under immunosuppressive therapy (p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, moderate to severe disease at SBCE was independently associated with corticosteroid therapy during follow-up, with a relative risk (RR) of 5 (p = 0.011; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5–17.8), and for hospitalization, with an RR of 13.7 (p = 0 .028; 95% CI 1.3–141.9). Conclusion: In patients with moderate to severe inflammatory activity there were higher prevalences of corticosteroid therapy demand and hospitalization during follow-up. Thus, stratifying the degree of small bowel inflammatory activity with SBCE and LS calculation at the time of diagnosis provided relevant prognostic value in patients with isolated small bowel CD

Writing 3D In vitro models of human tendon within a biomimetic fibrillar support platform

Tendinopathies are poorly understood diseases for which treatment remains challenging. Relevant in vitro models to study human tendon physiology and pathophysiology are therefore highly needed. Here we propose the automated 3D writing of tendon microphysiological systems (MPSs) embedded in a biomimetic fibrillar support platform based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) self-assembly. Tendon decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) was used to formulate bioinks that closely recapitulate the biochemical signature of tendon niche. A monoculture system recreating the cellular patterns and phenotype of the tendon core was first developed and characterized. This system was then incorporated with a vascular compartment to study the crosstalk between the two cell populations. The combined biophysical and biochemical cues of the printed pattern and dECM hydrogel were revealed to be effective in inducing human-adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) differentiation toward the tenogenic lineage. In the multicellular system, chemotactic effects promoted endothelial cells migration toward the direction of the tendon core compartment, while the established cellular crosstalk boosted hASCs tenogenesis, emulating the tendon development stages. Overall, the proposed concept is a promising strategy for the automated fabrication of humanized organotypic tendon-on-chip models that will be a valuable new tool for the study of tendon physiology and pathogenesis mechanisms and for testing new tendinopathy treatments.The authors thank Hospital da Prelada (Porto, Portugal) for providing adipose tissue samples. The authors acknowledge the financial support from Project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER 000021 supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Union Framework Program for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020, under the Twinning Grant Agreement 810850-Achilles, and European Research Council Grant Agreement 772817 and 101069302, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the Ph.D. grant PD/BD/129403/2017 (to S.M.B.) financed through the doctoral program in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells (TERM&SC), for Contract 2020.03410.CEECIND and 2022.05526.PTDC (to R.M.A.D.). The authors acknowledge Doctor Alberto Pardo for performing the rheology measurements of the PL bioink. The schematics in Figures 1, 2A, 4A, and 6A and Table of Contents graphic were created with BioRender.com