The effect of labeling strategies on the consumer’s purchase intention

As firms fight to mitigate the effects of uncertainty involved in the process of creating a new product, crowdsourcing offers a promising route as it constitutes one of the most efficient decision-making mechanisms, helping marketers to set apart their products from competitors. Innovation scholars identified the benefits of labelling products as crowdsourcing (user-designed) at the point of purchase. Evidence shows that consumers prefer products labeled as user-designed as opposed to company design, as they are associated with more innovation. Yet, little is known about consumer behavioural intentions when other labeling strategies, such as customer reviews, top sales and public figure endorsement, are presented to determine if any of these have a bigger impact, than crowdsourcing, in the consumer purchase intention. Our findings suggest that none of these labeling strategies is more efficient at the point of purchase, showing that the way the product is communicated to the broader market does not influence consumer´s behavioural intentions. Second, the results showed that the level of perceived user involvement associated to each strategy is also not enough to affect consumer´s behavior.Enquanto as empresas lutam para mitigar os efeitos da incerteza envolvidos no processo de criação de um novo produto, o crowdsourcing tem sido reconhecido como um caminho promissor, na medida que constitui um dos mecanismos de decisão mais eficientes, auxiliando os especialistas em marketing a distinguirem os seus produtos dos da concorrência. Os especialistas em inovação já começaram a estudar o efeito de rotular produtos como resultado de crowdsourcing (criado pelo consumidor) no ponto de venda. Foi já provado que os consumidores preferem produtos rotulados como criados pelo consumidor, por oposição aos rotulados como criados pelas empresas, na medida em que lhes atribuem maior inovação. Contudo, pouco se sabe ainda sobre as intenções comportamentais do consumidor quando outras estratégias de rotulagem, tais como comentários de consumidores, top de vendas ou recomendação por figura pública, são comparadas com o crowdsourcing, para determinar se alguma terá um maior impacto na intenção de compra do consumidor. Os resultados que alcançámos sugerem que nenhuma destas estratégias de rotulagem é mais eficaz que as outras no ponto de venda, demonstrando que a forma como o produto é comunicado ao mercado não influencia as intenções comportamentais do consumidor. Em segundo lugar os resultados demonstraram que o nível percepcionado de envolvimento do utilizador associado a cada estratégia também não é suficiente para afectar o comportamento do consumidor

Caracterização térmica e hídrica da cultura do feijão-de-vagem na região da Grande Florianópolis

The study aimed to determine the basal temperature, the heat units and the irrigation moment in snap beans growing, in order to provide optimal water supply. Two variety groups were used: "macarrão" and "manteiga", sowed at ten different periods spaced approximately 20 days. The experiment was designed in blocks (bands) with four replicates in each sowing period. Temperature, relative humidity and rain were measured. The matricial potential of the soil water was determined by tensiometers installed at 10 cm depth. Phenological observations and radicular and foliar sampling were made, and the foliar area index was estimated. The heat units were estimated through the Degree-Days method, in which the basal temperature was estimated by the interception of X axis. The results showed that the basal temperature between sowing and first harvest was 7.03 °C and 6.35 °C for "macarrão" and "manteiga", respectively. Their heat sums were 954 and 1015 Degree-Days, respectively. In relation to the irrigation moment it was observed that until the third trifoliate leaf appearance, matricial potential accused irrigation requirement at about -0.015 MPa, decreasing to -0.025 MPa at the beginning of flowering, and falling bellow -0.030 MPa during harvest.O estudo teve por objetivo determinar a temperatura basal, as somas térmicas e o momento de irrigação da cultura do feijão-de-vagem (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Foram realizados plantios em dez épocas, com intervalo de 20 dias entre épocas, sendo dois os grupos envolvidos: "macarrão" e "manteiga". O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em faixas, com quatro repetições dentro de cada época de plantio. Os elementos meteorológicos medidos foram temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar e precipitação pluvial. O potencial de água no solo foi medido por tensiômetros instalados à profundidade de 10 cm. Observações fenológicas foram feitas juntamente com amostragem do sistema radicular e de área foliar, estimando-se em seguida o índice de área foliar. As somas térmicas foram estimadas pelo método graus-dia, e a temperatura basal, pelo método de interceptação do eixo X. Os resultados mostraram que os valores de temperatura basal obtidos no período do plantio até a primeira colheita foram 7,03 °C e 6,35 °C em relação aos grupos "macarrão" e "manteiga", e as somas térmicas, 954 e 1015 graus dias, respectivamente. Com relação ao momento de irrigação, verificou-se que até o período da terceira folha trifoliolada o potencial matricial que acusava a necessidade de irrigação era cerca de -0,015 MPa, e caiu para -0,025 MPa no início do florescimento, e abaixo de -0,030 MPa no período da colheita

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia sobre Diagnóstico e Tratamento de Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia da Doença de Chagas

This guideline aimed to update the concepts and formulate the standards of conduct and scientific evidence that support them, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, with special emphasis on the rationality base that supported it.  Chagas disease in the 21st century maintains an epidemiological pattern of endemicity in 21 Latin American countries. Researchers and managers from endemic and non-endemic countries point to the need to adopt comprehensive public health policies to effectively control the interhuman transmission of T. cruzi infection, and to obtain an optimized level of care for already infected individuals, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic opportunistic opportunities.   Pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease were revisited after in-depth updating and the notion that necrosis and fibrosis are stimulated by tissue parasitic persistence and adverse immune reaction, as fundamental mechanisms, assisted by autonomic and microvascular disorders, was well established. Some of them have recently formed potential targets of therapies.  The natural history of the acute and chronic phases was reviewed, with enhancement for oral transmission, indeterminate form and chronic syndromes. Recent meta-analyses of observational studies have estimated the risk of evolution from acute and indeterminate forms and mortality after chronic cardiomyopathy. Therapeutic approaches applicable to individuals with Indeterminate form of Chagas disease were specifically addressed. All methods to detect structural and/or functional alterations with various cardiac imaging techniques were also reviewed, with recommendations for use in various clinical scenarios. Mortality risk stratification based on the Rassi score, with recent studies of its application, was complemented by methods that detect myocardial fibrosis.  The current methodology for etiological diagnosis and the consequent implications of trypanonomic treatment deserved a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Also the treatment of patients at risk or with heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, based on pharmacological and complementary resources, received special attention. Additional chapters supported the conducts applicable to several special contexts, including t. cruzi/HIV co-infection, risk during surgeries, in pregnant women, in the reactivation of infection after heart transplantation, and others.     Finally, two chapters of great social significance, addressing the structuring of specialized services to care for individuals with the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, and reviewing the concepts of severe heart disease and its medical-labor implications completed this guideline.Esta diretriz teve como objetivo principal atualizar os conceitos e formular as normas de conduta e evidências científicas que as suportam, quanto ao diagnóstico e tratamento da CDC, com especial ênfase na base de racionalidade que a embasou. A DC no século XXI mantém padrão epidemiológico de endemicidade em 21 países da América Latina. Investigadores e gestores de países endêmicos e não endêmicos indigitam a necessidade de se adotarem políticas abrangentes, de saúde pública, para controle eficaz da transmissão inter-humanos da infecção pelo T. cruzi, e obter-se nível otimizado de atendimento aos indivíduos já infectados, com foco em oportunização diagnóstica e terapêutica. Mecanismos patogênicos e fisiopatológicos da CDC foram revisitados após atualização aprofundada e ficou bem consolidada a noção de que necrose e fibrose sejam estimuladas pela persistência parasitária tissular e reação imune adversa, como mecanismos fundamentais, coadjuvados por distúrbios autonômicos e microvasculares. Alguns deles recentemente constituíram alvos potenciais de terapêuticas. A história natural das fases aguda e crônica foi revista, com realce para a transmissão oral, a forma indeterminada e as síndromes crônicas. Metanálises recentes de estudos observacionais estimaram o risco de evolução a partir das formas aguda e indeterminada e de mortalidade após instalação da cardiomiopatia crônica. Condutas terapêuticas aplicáveis aos indivíduos com a FIDC foram abordadas especificamente. Todos os métodos para detectar alterações estruturais e/ou funcionais com variadas técnicas de imageamento cardíaco também foram revisados, com recomendações de uso nos vários cenários clínicos. Estratificação de risco de mortalidade fundamentada no escore de Rassi, com estudos recentes de sua aplicação, foi complementada por métodos que detectam fibrose miocárdica. A metodologia atual para diagnóstico etiológico e as consequentes implicações do tratamento tripanossomicida mereceram enfoque abrangente e aprofundado. Também o tratamento de pacientes em risco ou com insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, baseado em recursos farmacológicos e complementares, recebeu especial atenção. Capítulos suplementares subsidiaram as condutas aplicáveis a diversos contextos especiais, entre eles o da co-infecção por T. cruzi/HIV, risco durante cirurgias, em grávidas, na reativação da infecção após transplante cardíacos, e outros.    Por fim, dois capítulos de grande significado social, abordando a estruturação de serviços especializados para atendimento aos indivíduos com a CDC, e revisando os conceitos de cardiopatia grave e suas implicações médico-trabalhistas completaram esta diretriz.&nbsp

Entrevista: Impérios, historiografia, ciências sociais: uma entrevista com Sanjay Subrahmanyam

Esta entrevista coletiva do Grupo de Investigação “Impérios, Colonialismo e Sociedades Pós-Coloniais” do Instituto de Ciências Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa realizou-se no ics em 2016. Em primeiro lugar, procurou-se compreender o lugar do império português, e dos impérios ibéricos na investigação de Sanjay Subrahmanyam, mas também as potencialidades de internacionalização de temas relativos ao império português, bem como da própria historiografia portuguesa. A história global, as histórias conectadas, a micro-história, a etno-história, as possibilidades e os limites da comparação, e até mesmo a relação entre historiador e cidadão, e entre passado e presente, foram outros dos muitos problemas abordados.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

NMR metabolomics to study the metabolic response of human osteoblasts to non-poled and poled poly (L-lactic) acid

Untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was employed, for the first time to our knowledge, to characterize the metabolome of human osteoblast (HOb) cells and extracts in the presence of non-poled or negatively poled poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). The metabolic response of these cells to this polymer, extensively used in bone regeneration strategies, may potentially translate into useful markers indicative of in vivo biomaterial performance. We present preliminary results of multivariate and univariate analysis of NMR spectra, which have shown the complementarity of lysed cells and extracts in terms of information on cell metabolome, and unveil that, irrespective of poling state, PLLA-grown cells seem to experience enhanced oxidative stress and activated energy metabolism, at the cost of storage lipids and glucose. Possible changes in protein and nucleic acid metabolisms were also suggested, as well as enhanced membrane biosynthesis. Therefore, the presence of PLLA seems to trigger cell catabolism and anti-oxidative protective mechanisms in HOb cells, while directing them towards cellular growth. This was not sufficient, however, to lead to a visible cell proliferation enhancement in the presence of PLLA, although a qualitative tendency for negatively poled PLLA to be more effective in sustaining cell growth than non-poled PLLA was suggested. These preliminary results indicate the potential of NMR metabolomics in enlightening cell metabolism in response to biomaterials and their properties, justifying further studies of the fine effects of poled PLLA on these and other cells of significance in tissue regeneration strategies.publishe

Cocaine: an updated overview on chemistry, detection, biokinetics, and pharmacotoxicological aspects including abuse pattern.

Cocaine is one of the most consumed stimulants throughout the world, as official sources report. It is a naturally occurring sympathomimetic tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of , which has been used by South American locals for millennia. Cocaine can usually be found in two forms, cocaine hydrochloride, a white powder, or 'crack' cocaine, the free base. While the first is commonly administered by insufflation ('snorting') or intravenously, the second is adapted for inhalation (smoking). Cocaine can exert local anaesthetic action by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, thus halting electrical impulse propagation; cocaine also impacts neurotransmission by hindering monoamine reuptake, particularly dopamine, from the synaptic cleft. The excess of available dopamine for postsynaptic activation mediates the pleasurable effects reported by users and contributes to the addictive potential and toxic effects of the drug. Cocaine is metabolised (mostly hepatically) into two main metabolites, ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine. Other metabolites include, for example, norcocaine and cocaethylene, both displaying pharmacological action, and the last one constituting a biomarker for co-consumption of cocaine with alcohol. This review provides a brief overview of cocaine's prevalence and patterns of use, its physical-chemical properties and methods for analysis, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and multi-level toxicity

Cocaine: An Updated Overview on Chemistry, Detection, Biokinetics, and Pharmacotoxicological Aspects including Abuse Pattern

Cocaine is one of the most consumed stimulants throughout the world, as official sources report. It is a naturally occurring sympathomimetic tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca, which has been used by South American locals for millennia. Cocaine can usually be found in two forms, cocaine hydrochloride, a white powder, or ‘crack’ cocaine, the free base. While the first is commonly administered by insufflation (‘snorting’) or intravenously, the second is adapted for inhalation (smoking). Cocaine can exert local anaesthetic action by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, thus halting electrical impulse propagation; cocaine also impacts neurotransmission by hindering monoamine reuptake, particularly dopamine, from the synaptic cleft. The excess of available dopamine for postsynaptic activation mediates the pleasurable effects reported by users and contributes to the addictive potential and toxic effects of the drug. Cocaine is metabolised (mostly hepatically) into two main metabolites, ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine. Other metabolites include, for example, norcocaine and cocaethylene, both displaying pharmacological action, and the last one constituting a biomarker for co-consumption of cocaine with alcohol. This review provides a brief overview of cocaine’s prevalence and patterns of use, its physical-chemical properties and methods for analysis, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and multi-level toxicity

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiva

Resumos concluídos - Saúde Coletiv