Implementing for Success and Sustainability

Nurses, including those with additional education and training as professional development specialists, face challenges to implementing evidenced-based practice changes effectively and efficiently. Nurse bedside performance can drift away from evidence-based practice (EBP) and revert to methods previously taught when the strategy, planning and implementation lacks resources to support sustainable change. While knowledge and skills attainment are important, they do not ensure the successful transition in practice change at the point of care. An intervention has been developed that integrates several evidence-based implementation concepts and frameworks into a single framework named the Identify and DRIVE framework. Additionally, the Identify and DRIVE framework has been augmented with the development of specific tools to guide and support the essential elements required when planning for education and implementation of EBP change at the bedside. The Identify and DRIVE framework and tools have effectively identified and addressed gaps that previously led to struggling initiative implementations and threatened performance improvement success and sustainability. The formative and summative evaluations indicate successful user acceptance and affirm applicability to successful implementation of changes in professional practice

Which projects are selected for an innovation subsidy? The Portuguese case

Several empirical studies have analyzed which firm characteristics influence government evaluators in the decision to select specific firms to participate in Research and Develop- ment and Innovation subsidy programs. However, few authors have provided a precise analysis about the selection process of applications submitted for public support. The aim of the present article is to assess differences in investment project characteristics (expected impact) between firms with approved and non-approved applications and to understand which kinds of projects are selected for a subsidy. The analysis is focused on the case study of applications submitted to the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System (SI Innovation) between 2007 and 2013. The impact variables under study are those used in the selection procedure to grant the firm a subsidy, namely the expected impact on exports, value creation, productivity, patent application and qualified employment. Using a counterfactual analysis and Propensity Score Matching estimators, the results show that firms with approved applications are those that expect to invest more and forecast a higher increase in exports and productivity as the result of the investment project. However, these firms in comparison with the control group (those with non-approved applications) have investment projects with a lower contribution to growth and lower economic efficiency (return on investment in terms of productivity). The conclusions of this study could be useful for policy-makers since it provides evidence about firms’ strategic choice concerning investment projects submitted for an Innovation subsidy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

“Who Gets Public Support to Innovation? Evidence from the Portuguese Alentejo Region”

The aim of the study is to assess which factors influence the policymaking decisions to financially support an innovative investment project. Based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System in the Alentejo region, we estimated an econometric model based on firms’ and application’ characteristics, controlling for macroeconomic environment. The results indicate that the selection process is more focused on the expected project impact than on firms’ past performance. Furthermore, we found that government preference for promoting employment and exportation are shown to be higher than the impact on firm productivity

The Selection Process of Applications to the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System: Who Gets Financial Support?

Public policies to support entrepreneurship and innovation play a vital role when firms have difficulties in accessing external finance. However, some authors have found evidence of long-term inefficiency in subsidized firms (Bernini and Pelligrini, 2011; Cerqua and Pelligrini, 2014) and ineffectiveness of public funds (Jorge and Suárez, 2011). The aim of the paper is to assess the effectiveness in the selection process of applications to public financial support for stimulating innovation. Using a binary choice model, we investigate which factors influence the probability of obtaining public support for an innovative investment. The explanatory variables are connected to firm profile, the characteristics of the project and the macroeconomic environment. The analysis is based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation.Incentive System (PIIS) and on the applications managed by the Alentejo Regional Operational Program in the period 2007 – 2013. The results show that the selection process is more focused on the expected impact of the project than on the firm’s past performance. Factors that influence the credit risk and the decision to grant a bank loan do not seem to influence the government evaluator regarding the funding of some projects. Past activities in R&D do not significantly affect the probability of having an application approved under the PIIS, whereas an increase in the number of patents and the number of skilled jobs are both relevant factors. Nevertheless, some evidence of firms’ short-term inefficiency was found, in that receiving public financial support is linked to a smaller increase in productivity compared to non-approved firm applications. At the macroeconomic level, periods with a higher cost of capital in financial markets are linked to a greater probability of getting an application for public support approved, which could be associated with the effectiveness of public support in correcting market failings

Competition effect on innovation and productivity - The Portuguese case

The aim of the present paper is to assess the effect of competition on innovation (patent applications) and on productivity (Total Factor Productivity and Labour Productivity), using data from 654 Portuguese firms, according to 208 NACE 4-digits sectors, and over the period 2007 to 2015. For this purpose, two different methodological approaches were used, a Poisson regression model for the patent function and a log-log fixed effect model for the productivity function. The results reveal that, on average, competition has a negative, U-shaped form effect on innovation in the short term, and a positive effect in the medium-long term. Nevertheless, the model focusing only on manufacturing sectors shows some differences from the model considering all economic activities, namely a linear positive effect of competition on innovation. Concerning the effect of competition on productivity, a positive effect on Total Factor Productivity emerged from the analysis, while for labour productivity a negative one prevails

“Productivity and Employment in Firm’s Acess to Public Funding to Support Innovation”

Innovation is at the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy, in order to promote higher levels of employment and productivity. Special attention is given to increasing the effectiveness of innovation policy instruments, mainly as some authors found evidence that productivity could be negatively affected by subsidies. The aim of the study is to assess how the expected impact on firm productivity and employment is taken into account, when firms apply for public funding for innovation. The analysis is based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System in the Alentejo region. In order to understand which factors influence the public decision to financially support private investment, we estimated a logit model based on firms’ and applications’ characteristics, controlling for the macroeconomic environment. The results indicate that government preferences for promoting exports, exploiting firms R&D results and stimulating the level of qualified employment are shown to be more relevant than the impact on firm productivity. Furthermore, the cost to the government of new jobs created, measured at least by exemption of interest and financial charges on the loan, is almost twice as much for non-SMEs as for SMEs

Laudos periciais contábeis: etapas para elaboração

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, apresentado para obtenção do grau de Bacharel, no Curso de Ciências Contábeis da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, UNESC.Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar as etapas para elaboração dos Laudos Periciais Contábeis. Devido aos processos existentes na esfera judicial, a Perícia é um recurso utilizado pelos magistrados para buscar informações e esclarecimentos referentes à matéria em questão. Quando o assunto for de cunho contábil, o juiz nomeia um perito contador para realizar a perícia contábil. A apresentação de todas as informações e provas encontradas pelo perito é inserida no Laudo Pericial Contábil. Para o alcance dos objetivos da pesquisa utilizou-se da metodologia bibliográfica e descritiva importantes para atingir o objetivo geral da pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que as etapas para elaboração do laudo pericial contábil são: estrutura, prólogo de encaminhamento, abertura, considerações preliminares, quesitos, respostas, conclusão, assinatura do perito, anexos, pareceres e apresentação. Diante do exposto, os profissionais de contabilidade que atuam como Perito devem respeitar as normas existentes para a elaboração de seus trabalhos, pois este servirá para orientação dos juízes frente ao processo

O jornalismo televisivo no interior gaúcho: olhares para o jornal do almoço e para o Jornal NT SUL

The telejournalism practiced by television stations in Rio Grande do Sul has been going through processes of restructuring and reduction of regional news spaces. Even the broadcaster RBS TV, which still somewhat met this demand, stopped producing considerably regional content from the Covid pandemic19. On the other hand, TV Cachoeira can be considered an example of typically local journalism production. The study aims to discuss the importance of regional television journalism in Rio Grande do Sul, analyze the reduction of regional production on RBS TV and reflect on the experience of TV Cachoeira. The analysis will be deepened in the programs “Jornal do Almoço”, on RBS TV, and “Jornal NT SUL”, on TV Cachoeira, with the observation of five editions of the two news programs during a week. As findings, it is noteworthy that while RBS TV is reducing content for the public in the interior, TV Cachoeira fulfills the objective of taking journalistic information to its local viewers.O telejornalismo praticado pelas emissoras de televisão no Rio Grande do Sul vem passando por processos de reestruturação e diminuição dos espaços regionais de notícias. Até mesmo a emissora RBS TV, que ainda atendia de certa forma esta demanda, deixou de produzir consideravelmente conteúdos regionais a partir da pandemia de Covid19. Por outro lado, a TV Cachoeira pode ser considerada um exemplo de produção de jornalismo tipicamente local. O estudo tem por objetivo problematizar a importância do jornalismo regional televisivo do Rio Grande do Sul, analisar a redução da produção regional na RBS TV e refletir sobre a experiência da TV Cachoeira.  A análise será aprofundada nos programas “Jornal do Almoço”, da RBS TV, e “Jornal NT SUL”, da TV Cachoeira, com a observação de cinco edições dos dois noticiários durante uma semana. Como constatações, cabe ressaltar que enquanto a RBS TV está diminuindo o conteúdo para o público do interior, a TV Cachoeira cumpre com o objetivo de levar informação jornalística ao seu telespectador local.&nbsp

Differential physical and mental benefits of physiotherapy program among patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls suggesting different physical characteristics and needs

In contrast to several other severe illnesses marked by inflammation and autoimmunity that now have potent and efficient treatments and even cures, schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disease still associated with poor outcome, incapacity, and social burden. Even after decades of research on the brain and behavior, this illness is still associated with profound effects on both mental health and physical health, with recent studies showing that treatment is more efficient when associating drugs with psychological and physical treatments. Most of the studies measured the effects of physical intervention compared with usual care and demonstrated a positive effect as an add-on treatment. What remains unclear is the different effects of the same intervention in normal subjects in a sample of patients with the illness. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical intervention over motor functional capacity and mental health in patients with SCZ compared with healthy controls (HC). The outcomes were (a) functional capacity [by 6-min walk test (6MWT)], (b) body flexibility index (Wells’ bench), (c) disease severity [by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)], (d) quality of life [by 36-ItemShort Form(SF-36) questionnaire], and (e) physical activity [Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ)]. The intervention was associated with significant decrease of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, disease severity, and improvement in daily life activities. Unexpectedly, it was observed that schizophrenics, compared with matched HC, were at a lower level of performance in the beginning, remained below HC over the studied time despite similar physical intervention, and had different changes. The intervention had lower effects over physical capacity and better effects over quality of life and disease severity. The results confirm previous studies comparing patients receiving physical intervention but suggest that they may receive different types of intervention, suited for their different baseline fitness, motivation, and capacity to engage in physical effort over sustained time. Additionally, they point to extended time of intervention of multidisciplinary treatment (physical and psychological–cognitive techniques) to improve outcomes in SCZ

Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Fabricated via Bioextrusion for Tissue Engineering Applications

The most promising approach in Tissue Engineering involves the seeding of porous, biocompatible/biodegradable scaffolds, with donor cells to promote tissue regeneration. Additive biomanufacturing processes are increasingly recognized as ideal techniques to produce 3D structures with optimal pore size and spatial distribution, providing an adequate mechanical support for tissue regeneration while shaping in-growing tissues. This paper presents a novel extrusion-based system to produce 3D scaffolds with controlled internal/external geometry for TE applications.The BioExtruder is a low-cost system that uses a proper fabrication code based on the ISO programming language enabling the fabrication of multimaterial scaffolds. Poly(ε-caprolactone) was the material chosen to produce porous scaffolds, made by layers of directionally aligned microfilaments. Chemical, morphological, and in vitro biological evaluation performed on the polymeric constructs revealed a high potential of the BioExtruder to produce 3D scaffolds with regular and reproducible macropore architecture, without inducing relevant chemical and biocompatibility alterations of the material