The employer branding practices in the attraction and retention of employees: the case of the Portuguese hotel industry

Employer branding is a concept that has become progressively a vital factor for the success of organisations and has captured significant attention in recent years, it is used to appeal to potential employees and at the same while engaging an organisation's current employees. It is a current and relevant tool for organisations that want to position themselves and gain name and prominence in the market. Employer Branding benefits organisations by making them attractive, reliable, and trustworthy and, subsequently, it contributes to talent attraction and retention. Therefore, this study aims to understand how the hotel sector uses Employer Branding practices in their working style, in order to provide greater attraction and retention of employees. With the lockdown, associated with the pandemic period, the hotel industry is facing unprecedented obstacles. As one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic crisis, the survival of hotel units depends on their ability to adapt to new challenges, namely in the human resources field. This study used a qualitative methodology, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven human resources managers from hotel units, two were males and eight were females, with an average age of thirty-eight years, from eleven hotel units or hotel groups. Data were analysed according to thematic analysis procedures. The main results suggest that hotel units are increasingly beginning to give more importance to employees and human resource management has been making progress regarding the existing concern for employees. Furthermore, it was possible to conclude that, in the hotels under study, and in order to face the problems and challenges in their daily management, these organisations are increasingly investing in attraction and retention practices. Finally, it was also possible to understand the changes that have occurred in the hotel units, both arising from the day-to-day management and those related to the changes required by the pandemic. Therefore, we can conclude that hotels need to reposition themselves in order to redefine strategies/practices to support their employees in becoming more attractive to work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Virtual learning environment 'School VIRTUS' and podcasting multimedia as resource in the teaching-learning process

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar los resultados de la propuesta y la utilización de Entorno Virtual de Aprendizaje «Escuela Virtus» (basada en el uso de blogs), así como las estructuras y estrategias de comunicación para su utilización en la enseñanza-aprendizaje en la formación inicial de profesorado. También tiene por objeto proponer el uso de lo Entorno Virtual de Aprendizaje en la conceptualización de una estrategia para el uso del Podcasting multimedia en la enseñanza de las Ciencias, para la escuela primaria, de acuerdo con los principios de la Teoría de la Flexibilidad Cognitiva (TFC). En la confluencia de medios se encontró la eficacia de la estructuración de un Entorno Virtual de Aprendizaje basado en blogs, actuando efectivamente como una herramienta para la difusión de ideas y productos para los estudiantes, y como ayuda en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje.O presente trabalho teve por objetivo apresentar os resultados provenientes da proposição e utilização do Ambiente Virtual de Estudo (AVE) «Escola VIRTUS» baseado na interface de Blogs, suas estruturas comunicacionais e estratégias de uso, em atividades de ensino-aprendizagem na formação inicial de professores no curso Normal Médio. Também objetivou-se propor a utilização do referido AVE na idealização de uma estratégia multimídia de uso do Podcasting no ensino de Ciências, destinada ao ensino fundamental, segundo os princípios da Teoria da Flexibilidade Cognitiva (TFC). Na confluência dos recursos apresentados verificamos a comprovada eficácia da estruturação de um ambiente Virtual de Estudo baseado na interface de Blog atuando eficientemente como ferramenta de divulgação das idéias e produções dos alunos, e como meio auxiliar no processo de ensino-aprendizagem

Biological interactions between nematophagous fungi, Esteya spp., and the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a quarantine organism in several countries and the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), a serious threat to pine forests worldwide. PWD results from complex interactions between the nematode, its insect vector, Monochamus spp., and host plants (conifers), being the nematode the common element in this interaction. The PWN is considered the sixth most economically important plant-parasitic nematode. In Europe, this pest was first reported in Portugal in 1999, in maritime pine, Pinus pinaster. Due to its economic importance and worldwide distribution, an enormous amount of effort is devoted to research on B. xylophilus and PWD. Scenarios strongly suggest that climate change is likely going to cause a spread of PWD and outbreaks in areas free of the disease. The urgent need for sustainable management strategies has led to an increasing interest in antagonists capable of suppressing the PWN. Nematophagous fungi belonging to the Esteya genus are reported as natural enemies of the PWN and promising biocontrol agents. There are currently two described species: E. vermicola and E. floridanum, the first of which is capable of mimicking volatile organic compounds produced naturally by Pinus spp. in order to attract PWN. However, few studies have been carried out on the development of Esteya spp. inside pine trees, and none using maritime pine, the main and most affected species in Portuguese forests and its largest carbon reservoir. It is therefore crucial to understand the plant-nematode-fungus interactions between P. pinaster, B. xylophilus and Esteya spp. In this sense, biological interactions between these two antagonists, the PWN and P. pinaster were investigated, namely fungus-fungus, fungus-nematode and fungus-tree, as well as feeding trials and chemotaxis assays, to determine the attractive power of both fungal species. These results will enlighten us on the most promising species for biocontrol and help us devise new ways to manage PWD

O uso da telepatologia como estratégia empresarial: Estudo de caso em organizações de saúde

O uso da telepatologia tem crescido nos últimos anos, possibilitando diversas vantagens na área de diagnóstico e ensino. A análise das diversas tecnologias, de suas consequências biomédicas e de seu custo social contribui para a melhor compreensão dos problemas identificados nos serviços de saúde. O objetivo geral desse trabalho é avaliar o uso da telepatologia como estratégia empresarial. Para tanto, foi verificada a percepção de telepatologistas e gestores de organizações de saúde acerca dos benefícios da telepatologia no âmbito organizacional e propor ações necessárias para melhorar o uso da telepatologia em organizações de saúde. A metodologia foi descritiva de caráter qualitativo e quantitativo. A pesquisa contou com um levantamento bibliográfico e posteriormente foi feita uma entrevista com gestores da empresa DIGITAL Medicine e também foram aplicados questionários online para grupos de patologistas buscando verificar o perfil e a percepção dos mesmos em relação ao uso da telepatologia e obtivemos 78 questionários respondidos. Foi realizada entrevista com gestores da empresa DIGITAL Medicine, buscando obter maior embasamento sobre questões ligadas à gestão de empresas que utilizam a telepatologia. Foi possível concluir que a telepatologia possui inúmeras vantagens, porém ainda são muitos os desafios a serem enfrentados. Observou-se que os gestores se mostram otimistas com relação ao uso da telepatologia e a percepção dos patologistas ainda não é majoritária em relação a esse tipo de ferramenta, principalmente pelo fato de que a maioria dos respondentes ainda não terem tido oportunidade de trabalhar com essa ferramenta.The use of telepathology has grown in recent years, enabling several advantages in the field of diagnosis and teaching. The analysis of the different technologies, their biomedical consequences and their social cost contributes to a better understanding of the problems identified in health services. The general objective of this work is to evaluate the use of telepathology as a business strategy. To this end, was verified the perception of telepathologists and managers of health organizations about the benefits of telepathology in the organizational scope and propose necessary actions to improve the use of telepathology in health organizations. The methodology was descriptive of a qualitative and quantitative character. The research included a bibliographic survey and later an interview was made with managers of the company DIGITAL Medicine and questionnaires were also applied to pathologists seeking to verify their profile and perception regarding the use of telepathology. It was possible to conclude that telepathology has numerous advantages, but there are still many challenges to be faced. It was observed that managers are optimistic about the use of telepathology and the perception of pathologists is still not majority in relation to this type of tool, mainly due to the fact that most respondents have not yet had the opportunity to work with this tool

The Potential of Esteya spp. for the Biocontrol of the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD) and a quarantine organism in many countries. Managing PWD involves strict regulations and heavy contingency plans, and present climate change scenarios predict a spread of the disease. The urgent need for sustainable management strategies has led to an increasing interest in promising biocontrol agents capable of suppressing the PWN, like endoparasitic nematophagous fungi of the Esteya genus. Here, we review different aspects of the biology and ecology of these nematophagous fungi and provide future prospects

Styles of leadership, fears of compassion, and competing to avoid inferiority.

There is general agreement that styles of leadership evolved from mammalian group living strategies that form social ranks. In both non-human primates and humans, different styles of hierarchical dominant-subordinate and leader-follower behavior can be observed. These can be described in terms of dimensions of antisocial (relatively self-focused, aggressive and threat-based) and prosocial (relatively empathic, caring, and supportive) interpersonal styles. The aim of this study was to explore how a set of established self-report questionnaires might relate to these two dimensions. Two hundred and nineteen students completed questionnaires assessing ruthless self-advancement, coalition building, and dominant leadership styles, as well as hypercompetitiveness, narcissism, striving to avoid inferiority, compassion focused and ego focused goals, fears of compassion, social safeness and attachment (in)security. A principal component analysis supported an antisocial leadership style factor which comprised of ruthless self-advancement, narcissism and hypercompetitiveness. This was significantly correlated with fears of compassion, ego focused goals, insecure striving (striving to avoid inferiority), fears of losing out, fears of being overlooked, fears of being rejected, and avoidant relating in close relationships. It was significantly negatively correlated with compassionate goals. As the results did not reveal a clear factor solution for a prosocial leadership style, we chose to use the coalition building leadership style variable. This showed the opposite pattern, being significantly negatively correlated with narcissism, hypercompetitiveness, fears of compassion, fears of active rejection, and avoidance in close relationships. It was significantly positively correlated with secure striving, compassionate goals, and social safeness. We also found that fears of compassion for others was a partial mediator of the relationship between insecure striving with antisocial leadership style. Moreover, lower fears of compassion for the self emerged as a key mediator for the relationship between non-avoidant attachment with coalition building leadership style and, secure non-striving with coalition building leadership style. While the motive to accumulate social power, resources and dominance may be linked to antisocial forms of leadership, the intensity of the drive may also be linked to unaddressed threats and fears of rejection and fears of compassion. Efforts to promote more ethical, moral and prosocial forms of leadership may falter if such fears are left unaddressed.This research was supported by a donation received by the Compassionate Mind Foundation charity (https://compassionatemind.co.uk/) from Slimming World

(Re) Apropriações Contemporâneas dos Legados Coloniais: Deambulações Introdutórias

(Re) Apropriações Contemporâneas dos Legados Coloniais

Profile and mobility of senior tourists during their stay in Algarve

Artigo financiado por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia e pelo FEDER, Programas Operacionais CRESC Algarve 2020 e Norte 2020, no âmbito do projeto ACCES4ALL – Acessibilidade para Todos no Turismo (SAICT-POL/23700/2016).A mobilidade dos turistas durante a sua estadia num destino turístico apresenta-se como um tópico de investigação cada vez mais importante, por todas as dinâmicas e atores que envolve. Neste sentido surge o presente artigo, que está inserido no Projeto de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT) “Acessibilidade para Todos no Turismo” (Acess4all) e que visa apresentar os resultados dos questionários aplicados no Aeroporto Internacional de Faro, a turistas seniores no seu dia de partida entre os meses de abril e setembro de 2018, com o objetivo de avaliar o seu perfil e caracterizar a sua mobilidade no seu país de origem e durante a sua estadia no Algarve. Os dados recolhidos permitiram validar 851 questionários. O perfil dos inquiridos aponta principalmente para pessoas com problemas de mobilidade a nível motor (61,6%), com necessidade de apoios técnicos para se deslocarem, nomeadamente bengala (31,3%), canadianas (16,2%), cadeira de rodas (12,3%) ou uma bengala tripé (12,3%). A pouca ou nenhuma utilização de transportes públicos no seu dia-a-dia está associada essencialmente à dificuldade em andar a pé (34,3%) ou a subir escadas (32,6%). Durante a sua estadia no Algarve os inquiridos demonstram utilizar quase em exclusivo os transportes de índole privada, como os serviços de táxi ou Uber (43,8%), transferes organizados entre o aeroporto e o alojamento (36,2%), entre o alojamento e o aeroporto (33,5%), assim como carros de aluguer (31,7%). Verifica-se uma procura diminuta ou quase nula de transportes públicos. As razões para a escolha de transportes organizados no dia de chegada e partida referem-se essencialmente a maior facilidade e rapidez do serviço (49,9%) e pelo facto de desconhecerem os transportes públicos no destino (38,3%).The mobility of tourists and residents in tourism destinations is an important topic of research, due to all the dynamics and actors evolved. This paper is part of the Scientific Research and Technological Development (IC&DT) Project “Accessibility for All in Tourism” (Acces4all). It aims to present the results of the questionnaires applied at Faro International Airport to senior tourists on their day of departure, between April and September 2018, in order to evaluate their profile and some of the main characteristics of their mobility in their home country and during their stay in the Algarve. The data collected allow the validation of 851 questionnaires. The respondents profile mainly points to people with mobility problems at the motor level (61.6%), who need technical support to move, namely cane (31.3%), crutches (16.2%), wheelchair (12.3%) or a tripod cane (12.3%). Little or no use of public transport in everyday life is mainly associated with difficulty walking (34.3%) or climbing stairs (32.6%). During their stay in the Algarve, respondents use almost exclusively private transport, such as taxi or Uber services (43.8%), organized transfers between the airport and accommodation (36.2%), between accommodation and the airport (33.5%), as well as rent-a-car services (31.7%). There is little or no demand for public transport. The reasons for choosing organized transport on the day of arrival and departure are mainly due to the ease and speed of the service (49.9%) and the lack of public transport at destination (38.3%).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Osmotic demyelination syndrome after primary hypoadrenocorticism crisis management

Background: Primary hypoadrenocorticism is a rare condition resulting from immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortices. It can also occur due to necrosis, neoplasms, infarctions, and granulomas. The clinical and laboratory changes are due to deficient secretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which leads to electrolyte disorders associated with hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. These disorders can cause hypotension, hypovolemia and shock, putting a patient’s life at risk if inadequate hydroelectrolytic supplementation and hormone replacement is provided. Nevertheless, rapid sodium chloride supplementation is contraindicated due to the risk of central pontine myelinolysis induction. The present study aims to describe a thalamic osmotic demyelination syndrome after management of a primary hypoadrenocorticism crisis in a 2-year-old, female West White Highland Terrier. Case: The patient had a presumptive diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism already receiving oral prednisolone and gastrointestinal protectants in the last 2 days. After prednisolone dose reduction the dog presented a severe primary hypoadrenocorticism crisis treated with intravenous sodium chloride 0.9% solution along with supportive therapy. Four days after being discharged from the hospital, the patient showed severe neurological impairment and went back to the clinic where a neurological examination revealed mental depression, drowsiness, ambulatory tetraparesis and proprioceptive deficit of the 4 limbs, postural deficits, and cranial nerves with decreased response. Due to these clinical signs, a magnetic resonance imaging was performed. It showed 2 intra-axial circular lesions, symmetrically distributed in both thalamus sides, with approximately 0.8 cm in diameter each without any other anatomical changes on magnetic resonance imaging. The images were compatible with metabolic lesions, suggesting demyelination. Furthermore, liquor analysis did not show relevant abnormalities, except for a slight increase in density and pH at the upper limit of the reference range. After treatment, the patient had a good neurological evolution secondary to standard primary hypoadrenocorticism treatment, without sequelae. Discussion: In the present case report, primary hypoadrenocorticism gastrointestinal signs seemed to be triggered by a food indiscretion episode, not responsive to the symptomatic therapies employed. The patient´s breed and age (young West White Highland Terrier bitch) is in accordance with the demographic profile of patients affected by the disease, where young females are frequently more affected. Regarding the probable thalamic osmotic demyelination syndrome documented in this case, is important to notice that myelinolysis or demyelination is an exceedingly rare noninflammatory neurological disorder, initially called central pontine myelinolysis, which can occur after rapid correction of hyponatremia. It has already been observed in dogs after correction of hyponatremia of different origins, including hypoadrenocorticism and parasitic gastrointestinal disorders. Currently, the terms “osmotic myelinolysis” or “osmotic demyelination syndrome” are considered more suitable when compared to the term “central pontine myelinolysis” since it has been demonstrated in dogs and humans the occurrence of demyelination secondary to the rapid correction of hyponatremia in distinct regions of the central nervous system including pons, basal nuclei, striatum, thalamus, cortex, hypoppocampus, and cerebelum. The present case report emphasizes the difficulties for hormonal confirmation of primary hypoadrenocorticism in a patient already on corticosteroid treatment, as well as proposes that the current term osmotic demyelination syndrome replace the term “central pontine myelinolysis” in veterinary literature related to the management of hypoadrenocorticism crisis