Artificial Intelligence leadership : how trust and fairness perceptions impact turnover intentions through psychological safety

Artificial intelligence agent’s intervention in decision making at organizational environments has been increasing rapidly. These agents bring advantages in decision making due to their objectivity, efficiency, and superior capacity of information processing while lacking human weaknesses such as fatigue or self-interest. However, their perception by organizational employees might be less optimistic, as artificial intelligence leaders might be perceived as less fair and just. This dissertation intends to study the effects that this new type of leadership has on employees' turnover intentions, an important variable as high levels of voluntary turnover cause several losses for companies both in terms of cost increase and loss of talented human resources. Additionally, I propose the decrease in employee’s psychological safety to mediate this relationship. Finally, I propose a way to overcome this effect by manipulating the perceptions of trust and justice of these leaders, in order to try to counter the negative effect of non-human leadership. The results of this study revealed a significant effect of the leader agent on the employees' exit intentions as well as on their psychological safety, including as a mediator of the former. Regarding the moderation of trust and justice perceptions, the results showed that these testimonials have a direct effect on psychological safety, and an indirect one in turnover intentions through psychological safety.A intervenção de agentes de inteligência artificial na tomada de decisão em ambientes organizacionais tem aumentado rapidamente. Estes agentes trazem vantagens para a tomada de decisão devido à sua objetividade, eficiência e superior capacidade de processamento de informação, ao mesmo tempo que não possuem fragilidades humanas tais como fadiga ou interesses próprios. No entanto, a sua perceção por parte dos funcionários da organização pode ser menos otimista, pois os líderes de inteligência artificial podem ser vistos como menos justos e confiáveis. Esta dissertação pretende estudar os efeitos que este novo tipo de liderança tem sobre as intenções de saída dos funcionários, uma variável importante, já que altos níveis de rotatividade voluntária causam várias perdas para as empresas, tanto em termos de aumento de custos quanto de perda de recursos humanos talentosos. Além disso, proponho a diminuição da segurança psicológica dos funcionários para mediar esta relação. Por fim, proponho uma forma de superar esse efeito, manipulando as perceções de confiança e justiça desses líderes, a fim de tentar combater o efeito negativo de uma liderança não humana. Os resultados deste estudo revelaram um efeito significativo do agente de liderança nas intenções de saída dos funcionários e em sua segurança psicológica, inclusive como mediador do primeiro. No que se refere à moderação das perceções de confiança e justiça, os resultados mostraram que estes têm um efeito direto na segurança psicológica, e um efeito indireto nas intenções de saída através da segurança psicológica

Nrf2 activation by TUDCA in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder, mainly characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the cause of PD remains elusive, several lines of evidence implicate mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress as possible mechanisms by which cell death occurs in this disease. Under oxidative stress, the master regulator of cellular redox status, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), is responsible for activating the transcription of several cytoprotective enzymes, namely glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), being a promising target to limit reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated damage in PD. In this work, we aim to evaluate the ability of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) to modulate, not only the Nrf2 pathway and the expression of the Nrf2 stabilizer, DJ-1, but also the cellular redox status, in both animal and cellular models of PD, using twelve-week-old C57BL/6 male mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and the human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Our Western blot results, together with quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, demonstrate that TUDCA treatment increases DJ-1, Nrf2, Gpx1, HO-1 and SOD2 expression, in mice striatum and midbrain. Moreover, enzymatic assays also reveal that TUDCA treatment enhances Gpx biological activity, in mice. In SH-SY5Y cells, we demonstrate by immunocytochemistry that TUDCA induces Nrf2 nuclear translocation, with the consequent increase in HO-1 mRNA levels. Additionally, TUDCA also attenuates both MPP+-induced ROS production and lipid peroxidation, in this cell line. Together, our results suggest that TUDCA is a promising agent to limit ROS-mediated damage, in different models of PD acting, at least in part, through modulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, and therefore, should be considered a promising therapeutic agent to be implemented in PD

Bone pathology and cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease : new biomarkers and mediators of the bone-kidney-vessel axis

SUMMARY The studies included in this thesis contributed to clarify the role of some non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as native vitamin D and serum magnesium, in hemodialysis patients. These biomarkers / mediators consolidate the existence of a strong interconnection between bone and cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease. Magnesium also appears to have an important role, until now underestimated, in the synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D. In some clinical situations, magnesium supplementation can reverse the resistance to therapy with native vitamin D, ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D, with a particularly positive impact on cardiovascular mortality. It is therefore essential to ensure adequate levels of magnesium in order to optimize the benefits of vitamin D supplementation in chronic kidney disease patients. We also proposed, for the first time, to evaluate the incidence of bone fractures in a large population of prevalent hemodialysis patients in Portugal and study their possible association with markers of bone disease and cardiovascular risk factors. Main results of the studies included in this thesis: - Deficiency of native vitamin D (calcidiol) and chronic kidney disease This study included 223 patients on hemodialysis who underwent two determinations, separated by 6 months of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 1,25(OH)2D. We found deficient levels (< 15 ng/mL) of 25(OH)D in 33.6% of the patients and insufficient levels (15 - 30 ng/mL) in 45.8% of the patients. We observed a positive association between 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels and a negative association between 25(OH)D levels and age, diabetes mellitus, and markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein. We also identified, for the first time, cardiovascular risk factors associated with insufficiency / deficiency in native vitamin D in hemodialysis patients. In the univariable analysis, serum 25(OH)D levels were negatively associated with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, with an elevated pulse pressure (≥ 65 mmHg) and with the presence of more vascular calcifications. In the multivariable analysis, low serum 25(OH)D levels were also independently associated with high BNP values, a pulse pressure ≥ 65 mmHg and a vascular calcification score ≥ 3. We demonstrated that baseline serum levels of 25(OH)D appear to be an excellent marker of global and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. In a 48-month prospective evaluation, we found that baseline serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in patients who died of all causes and in those who died of cardiovascular causes. Baseline serum 25(OH)D levels were also lower in patients who required hospitalization during the study. Considering these apparent protective effects of 25(OH)D on cardiovascular system dysfunction, we carried out a prospective study with a 5-year follow-up, on 97 hemodialysis patients, in which they were supplemented with oral cholecalciferol during hemodialysis sessions. Given the lack of specific recommendations regarding supplementation doses to be used in hemodialysis patients, we decided to transpose the proposals of the KDOQI guidelines for the pre-dialysis stage of chronic kidney disease to our population. We demonstrated a significant increase in serum 25(OH)D levels after 6 months (23.1 ± 13.2 vs. 39.9 ± 11.1 ng/mL; p 30 ng/mL) at the end of the study, compared to only 18% at the beginning of the study. Patients whose 25(OH)D levels did not increase were all diabetic and had hypomagnesemia (serum magnesium < 0.7 mmol/L). In clinical practice, we emphasize the importance of excluding magnesium deficiency in patients who, despite high doses, do not respond to native vitamin D supplementation. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus and intact parathormone (iPTH) were significantly reduced with supplementation. On the contrary, there was an increase in serum magnesium. We also demonstrated a reduction in the number of patients treated with active vitamin D, a decrease in doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, a reduction in C-reactive protein, and an increase in albuminemia. Finally, we found that supplementation with cholecalciferol was associated with a significant reduction in plasma BNP levels, pulse pressure, and left ventricular mass index. The supplementation was well tolerated, with no documented adverse effects (namely hypercalcemia greater than 10.5 mg/dL), and none of the patients achieved serum 25(OH)D levels considered toxic (> 100 ng/mL). These results demonstrated that long-term cholecalciferol supplementation in hemodialysis patients was safe, allowed correction of 25(OH)D deficiency, improved mineral metabolism control, attenuated the inflammatory state, and improved cardiac dysfunction. - Serum magnesium and chronic kidney disease In a 48-month prospective study, performed on 206 prevalent hemodialysis patients, we observed a mean pre-dialysis serum magnesium concentration of 1.36 ± 0.18 mmol/L and that none of the patients presented hypomagnesemia (magnesium < 0.7 mmol/L). In univariable analysis, pre-dialysis serum magnesium levels were negatively associated with age, diabetes mellitus, pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index and vascular calcifications. There was a positive association between serum magnesium and albumin. In multivariable analysis, lower magnesium concentrations were predictors of increased pulse pressure (≥ 65 mmHg) and left ventricular mass index (≥ 140 g/m2), and of a higher vascular calcification score (≥ 3). We also found that patients with serum magnesium < 1.15 mmol/L had lower survival at the end of the 48-month follow-up. Based on these results, we studied the effects of a phosphate binder with magnesium and low calcium concentration (calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate), for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, whose effects on the cardiovascular system remain to be determined. We evaluated, in a 48-month prospective study, the relationship between calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate therapy and markers of cardiovascular risk, already validated in this population of hemodialysis patients, such as pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index and cardiac valve calcifications. Forty patients were on calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate therapy, 52 patients were on sevelamer and 114 were not taking phosphate binders. Patients taking calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate had higher serum magnesium levels compared to the other two groups. At the end of the study, we found that patients who were on calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate showed a reduction in pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index, and aortic and mitral valve calcifications compared to patients who were not taking phosphate binders. Compared to patients on sevelamer, patients on calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate had a reduction in pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index, and aortic valve calcifications. In multivariable analysis, therapy with calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate was inversely associated with the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy and aortic valve calcifications. In this 48-month prospective study, we observed for the first time that the use of calcium acetate / magnesium carbonate in the control of hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients was associated with a reduction in pulse pressure and left ventricular mass index and stabilization of cardiac valvular calcifications. - Bone fractures: incidence and risk factors in chronic kidney disease We performed a retrospective analysis on 341 prevalent patients on hemodialysis since the beginning of the dialysis technique (median of 51 months). Fifty-seven episodes of fragility fractures were identified, with a median time on hemodialysis of 47 months, which corresponded to an incidence rate of 31 per 1,000 person-years. In univariable analysis, compared to patients without fractures, those who presented fractures were more frequently female and older patients, with longer hemodialysis vintage, diabetics, had a lower body mass index and lower albumin values. Patients who had fractures were less frequently receiving active vitamin D therapy and had a higher vascular calcification score. Therapy with phosphate binders or calcimimetics was not associated with the development of fractures. A significantly higher risk of fractures was also associated with higher bone alkaline phosphatase values and iPTH levels 800 pg/mL, compared to levels between 300 - 800 pg/mL. Analysis of long-term fracture-free survival demonstrated that patients with iPTH 800 pg/mL (HR: 3.48) had a significantly higher risk of fragility fractures. In multivariable analysis, age, female gender, longer time on dialysis, lower serum albumin levels and the presence of more vascular calcifications were independently associated with a higher risk of bone fractures. On the other hand, active vitamin D therapy was associated with a decreased risk. In this study, with a long follow-up, we observed that the incidence of fragility bone fractures in prevalent hemodialysis patients was high, and their risk appears to increase with age, female gender, presence of inflammation and more vascular calcifications. Bone disease associated with uremia also appeared to be an important factor in the development of fractures, as patients with lower or higher iPTH levels and increased bone alkaline phosphatase had a higher risk of fracture. On the other hand, active vitamin D therapy appeared to have a protective effect

IMPRESSÕES DE PRÁTICA REFLEXIVA DA EDUCAÇÃO INCLUSIVA: um olhar sobre a EJA.

Este trabalho apresenta o relato de uma experiência na EJA de pessoas com deficiência e suas implicações no desenvolvimento. Para isso, aborda também alguns autores que têm oferecido análises críticas sobre o modo como interpretamos as deficiências e a escolarização de pessoas com deficiência. Essa experiência desponta novo olhar, captado em uma escola pública com atendimento para necessidades especiais, e em modalidade de EJA (Educação de Jovens e Adultos), por meio das impressões de uma residente do curso de Pedagogia da UNIFESP (Universidade Federal de São Paulo).Este artículo presenta un relato de una experiencia en la EJA de personas con discapacidad y sus implicaciones para el desarrollo. Para ello, también se dirige a algunos autores que han ofrecido análisis críticos sobre cómo interpretamos la discapacidad y la escolarización de las personas con discapacidad. Esta experiencia revela una nueva perspectiva, plasmada en una escuela pública con atención a necesidades especiales, y en la forma de EJA (Educación de Jóvenes y Adultos), a través de las impresiones de un residente del curso de Pedagogía de la UNIFESP (Universidad Federal de São Paulo).Não recebi financiament

o caso da Boca do Lobo nos países nórdicos

Com a crise económica que se vive hoje em dia, com a luta constante pela sobrevivência no mercado e com a competitividade no tecido empresarial, a maioria das empresas optou pela internacionalização. Assim, com o intuito de analisar os desafios inerentes à comercialização e produção na internacionalização de uma marca, pretendo neste artigo analisar os países nórdicos, com especial destaque para a Finlândia. Internacionalizar significa exportar um produto/serviço, mas também, adquirir uma estratégia operacional sustentada na criação de valores e no relacionamento económico permanente com o exterior, independentemente da forma de estratégia escolhida pela empresa. Esta pode trazer benefícios (ou não) para uma empresa. Contudo, a internacionalização não traz apenas benefícios, pois existem vários desafios inerentes, a que o setor empresarial tem de estar atento e adaptar-se. O mercado internacional é muito exigente e experiente e as empresas nacionais vão ter que se ajustar, de forma a competir, com as empresas que estão voltadas para os conhecimentos mais aprofundados e integrados. É essencial aprender a pensar globalmente, mas também agindo localmente. De forma a colmatar esta lacuna, as empresas nacionais vão ser obrigadas a apostar em diferentes formas de competitividade, tais como a diferenciação, cultura, inovação, eficiência de custos e, em particular, a sua dimensão crítica. Este último aspeto, a dimensão critica, é o mais utilizado em projetos conjuntos de cooperação internacional. Isto é, os promotores agregam-se em complementaridade de competências e criação de sinergias, de forma a potenciar e aumentar a competitividade. Quanto aos incentivos fiscais à internacionalização, estes surgem como um dos instrumentos privilegiados de apoio ao investimento, numa estratégia de internacionalização sólida e planeada. A internacionalização inclui o capital para investir, a demonstração do interesse estratégico da economia portuguesa, a viabilidade técnica e a económico-financeira, com o intuito de não se localizarem em zonas fracas ou em países, territórios e regiões com regimes de tributação privilegiada, e ainda, não implicarem ema diminuição de postos de trabalho em Portugal

Tornar-se mãe de criança com câncer: construindo a parentalidade

The present study, which was conducted using the Interpretive Interactionism method, had the objective of understanding the experience of becoming a mother of a child with cancer. Seven mothers, whose children were undergoing cancer treatment, took part in semi-structured interviews. The results showed that mothers' role are built in a process that implies the interaction between two themes: LIVING THE TIME OF THE ILLNESS, in which mothers concentrates in themselves, continuously permeated by the uncertainties inherent in the disease, and the need to remove the threats of the child's death; and LIVING A TIME OF STRUGGLE FOR THE CHILDREN'S LIFE, which represents the dimension of mothers' behavior in developing their new role. The articulated theme and the epiphanies allowed identifying the connection between parenthood and temporality, in which the time comes into the dimensions of the development of the mother's role.Este estudio, guiado por el Interaccionismo Interpretativo, tuvo como objetivo comprender la experiencia de ser madre de un niño con cáncer. Siete madres cuyos hijos se encontraban en tratamiento de cáncer participaron de entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los resultados revelaron que el papel de madre es construido en una conjugación entre dos temas: VIVIR EL TIEMPO DE LA ENFERMEDAD, que representa una inspección de la madre consigo misma y vivir una situación de incertidumbre inherente a la enfermedad y la necesidad de alejar la amenaza de la muerte; VIVIR EL TIEMPO DE LUCHA POR LA VIDA DEL NIÑO, que representa la dimensión de los comportamientos de la madre para construir su papel. Los temas articulados a las epifanías permitieron identificar una interrelación entre el parentesco y la temporalidad, en la cual el tiempo se manifiesta en las dimensiones de la construcción del papel de madre.Este estudo, guiado pelo Interacionismo Interpretativo, teve como objetivo compreender a experiência de tornar-se mãe de uma criança com câncer. Sete mães, cujos filhos se encontravam em tratamento de câncer, participaram de entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os resultados revelaram que o papel de mãe é construído numa conjugação entre dois temas: VIVER O TEMPO DA DOENÇA, representando um olhar da mãe para si, vivendo uma situação de incertezas inerentes à doença e necessidade de afastar a ameaça de morte; VIVER O TEMPO DE LUTA PELA VIDA DA CRIANÇA, representando a dimensão dos comportamentos da mãe ao construir seu papel. Os temas articulados às epifanias permitiram identificar inter-relação entre a parentalidade e a temporalidade, na qual o tempo está manifestado nas dimensões da construção do papel da mãe

Immature Personality Disorder: Contribution to the Definition of this Personality

In clinical practice, psychiatrists, psychologists and other professionals claim, when appropriate, that an individual has an immature personality. Consulting the ICD-10 or the DSM-5, we found that IPD is not specifically referenced in the DSM-5 and, although it is referenced in the ICD-10, which includes, in Other Personality Disorders (F60.8), the “eccentric, haltlose type, immature, narcissistic, passive-aggressive and psychoneurotic personality (disorder)”, there is no explanation of the criteria of any of the personality disorder (PD) included in F60.8. This paper describes the case studies of two patients and aims to help to fill a gap in the major classifications of mental disorders. Empirical studies are needed to better define the diagnostic criteria and the fundamental diagnostic criteria for a better structuring of immature personality disorder.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

(Re)imagining human-yeasts relations via art-science collaboration

More-than-human beings are largely de-animated in Western cultures and perceived as the backdrop for human activities. At the same time, with the modern modes of consumption and production, customers often do not know how specific products have been created and which more-than-human beings have been involved in manufacturing particular consumables. As a partial response to such alienation, this text presents the book, Yeasts as We Do Not Know Them, as a means to learn about human-yeast interactions and the ways these fungal microbes are used to manufacture different products and substances. The book, therefore, (re)imagines yeasts as omnipresent, diverse, and symbiotic. Conceiving symbiosis as a set of interspecies relations, including mutualistic, pathogenic, and commensal ones, the project, Yeasts as We Do Not Know Them, as this article argues, maps diverse interspecies interactions and, by doing so, helps to navigate through material systems, thus invoking trans- corporeal ethics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio