The Impact of the Zika Epidemic on Women’s Reproductive Intentions and Behaviors in Brazil

This research brief reports on a focus group study that explores how and why the Zika virus affects reproductive processes in Brazil. The authors found that both reproductive intentions and behaviors changed as a result of the Zika epidemic among women from low and high socioeconomic status groups in two areas of Brazil. The authors argue that Brazilian health officials and policymakers should reduce barriers to contraceptive use, address longstanding disparities in reproductive health services that put low-income women at disproportionate risk of an unwanted pregnancy, legalize abortion, and show respect and support to women who actively pursue pregnancy during the Zika epidemic.Population Research Cente

Industrial network membership: Reducing psychic distance hazards in the internationalization of the firm

The network approach to internationalization of the firms has warranted the research focus of many international business scholars. Firms are increasingly involved in international business endeavors and arguably need to learn to adapt to idiosyncratic milieus they encounter in the foreign markets. This paper proposes a conceptual model suggesting that integration in networks strengthens corporate competitiveness in international markets. Network membership provides access to knowledge that facilitates adaptation to the various dimensions - economic, political, legal, cultural ? of the international business environments. Membership in social and business networks are likely to ease internationalization by reducing firms? perceived psychic distance.Networks, internationalization theories, psychic distance

Relato financeiro na Internet em Portugal

In the last decade, the advances in communication and information technologies dramatically changed the information flow and our notions of time and space. The Internet has been changing the information policy of companies world-wide. Basically in all developed countries, companies are increasingly using the Internet to provide their financial information. This research presents an empirical study aiming to analyze the organization and information provided on the financial report of the 250 most profitable companies in Portugal, particularly their financial statements published on the Internet. After the observation and in-depth analysis of the websites of the above-mentioned companies, for the year 2002, it was concluded that 119 companies (48%) had a webpage on the internet. In what concerns the disclosure of financial information, only 51 (43%) out of the 119 companies had some kind of financial information stated on their websites.Os grandes desenvolvimentos da última década nas tecnologias de informação e de comunicação alteraram por completo os fluxos de informação, assim como a noção de tempo e de espaço. A Internet está a alterar a política informativa das empresas em todo o mundo. Praticamente em todos os países desenvolvidos as empresas estão a utilizar, em maior ou menor escala, a Internet como meio de divulgação universal da sua informação financeira. No presente trabalho é apresentado um estudo empírico com o objectivo de analisar a situação actual do relato financeiro via Internet em Portugal, investigando a tendência das 250 empresas portuguesas, mais rentáveis, no que se refere à organização e à informação. Após observação e análise aprofundada dos websites das referidas empresas, no ano de 2002, constatou-se que: 119 empresas (48%) apresentavam página na Internet. No que respeita à divulgação da informação financeira, verificou-se que do total destas 119 empresas, apenas 51 delas (43%), divulgam algum tipo desta informação nos seus websites

A auditoria das empresas na nova economia: Relato financeiro na Internet em Portugal

Os grandes desenvolvimentos da última década nas tecnologias de informação e de comunicação alteraram por completo os fluxos de informação, assim como a noção de tempo e de espaço. O aparecimento da Internet, do correio electrónico e das novas linguagens informáticas contribuíram para a democratização do relatório financeiro electrónico. Neste trabalho é abordado o impacto nas organizações da revolução das tecnologias de informação e da Era da Informação em que vivemos. A Internet está a alterar a política informativa das empresas em todo o mundo. Praticamente em todos os países desenvolvidos as empresas estão a utilizar, em maior ou menor escala, a Internet como meio de divulgação universal da sua informação financeira. A interactividade que permite este meio de comunicação, as ferramentas multimédia que facilitam a sua compreensão, o seu processamento e a sua distribuição, para além da facilidade no acesso de um volume de informação, até agora impensável e a um custo reduzido, são algumas das suas principais vantagens. Por último, é apresentado um estudo empírico com o objectivo de analisar a situação actual do relato financeiro via Internet em Portugal, investigando a tendência das 250 empresas portuguesas, mais rentáveis, no que se refere à organização e à informação financeira divulgada nos seus websites

Argamassas térmicas sustentáveis: O contributo dos materiais de mudança de fase

As argamassas com incorporação de materiais de mudança de fase (PCM) possuem a capacidade de regular a temperatura no interior dos edifícios, contribuindo desta forma para o aumento do nível de conforto e diminuindo o recurso a equipamentos de climatização. Este estudo teve como principal objetivo o desenvolvimento de argamassas com integração de microcápsulas de PCM, devendo estas apresentar um compromisso entre a sua aparência estética, características físicas e mecânicas.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Use of phase change materials microcapsules in aerial lime and gypsum mortars

Presently, the concerns related to the buildings energy consumption are greater, emerging in this way the need to incorporate materials in the construction products which aim the improvement of the energetic efficiency of buildings. Therefore, the application of phase change materials appears as a possible solution in an attempt to solve, or at least minimize, the massive energetic consumption related with buildings. This analysis aims the understanding of the influence of microcapsules of phase change materials (PCM) on lime and gypsum mortars, which should present a compromise between workability, mechanical resistance and aesthetical appearance.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Financial capability as a function of financial literacy, financial advice, and financial satisfaction

There is no substantial evidence that exists in the literature to establish the link between financial advice and financial capability fully establishes, even though 'getting help' is identified as an important aspect of financial capability. This study sets out to fulfil a couple of objectives. Its primary goal is to investigate the effects that a combination of financial literacy elements (financial attitude, financial knowledge, and financial behaviour), financial advice as well as financial satisfaction have on individuals' financial capability, and secondly, to test and prescribe the improved scale of financial capability measurement. This research has been administered in Spain at an individual level. Hierarchical regression method along with Z-test were used. Regressions' outcomes reveal that financial constructs positively impact the individuals' financial capability. From the viewpoint of policymakers, it is vital to fully comprehend the significant factors influencing financial capability to plan better strategies to empower the citizens with adequate skills, abilities, and behaviour so to succeed in dealing with financial matters in daily basis. The originality and value added to the present study is two-fold. Firstly, it comprehensively examines the wide-ranging financial indicators seen as critical in determining financial capability, which remain yet not quite covered in other studies. Second. both indicators used to measure the financial capability revealed no substantial differences, therefore an improved composite scale is prescribed as useful in measuring financial capability in future research.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Faculty of Management and Economics [IGA/FaME/2021/005

Rare primary dyslipidaemias associated with low LDL and HDL cholesterol values in Portugal

Dyslipidaemia represents a group of disorders of lipid metabolism, characterized by either an increase or decrease in lipid particles, usually associated with triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and/or HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). Most hyperlipidaemias and HDL deficiencies confer an increased cardiovascular risk, while hypolipidaemia, such as abeta or hypobetalipoproteinemia, may present different manifestations ranging from poor weight progression to neurological manifestations. The aim of this study is to present 7 cases with rare dyslipidaemias associated with low LDL or low HDL cholesterol values, referred to our laboratory for the genetic identification of the cause of the dyslipidaemia. Lipid profile was determined for each individual in an automated equipment Integra Cobas (Roche). Molecular analysis was performed by NGS with a target panel of 57 genes involved in lipid metabolism (Sure select QXT, Agilent) and samples were run in a NextSEQ Sequencer (Illumina). Only genes associated to rare forms of low HDL-c or LDL-c were analysed for this work, namely: ABCA1, APOA1, LCAT, SCARB1, APOB, PCSK9, MTTP, SAR1B, and ANGPTL3. All rare variants (MAF<5%) found in these genes were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This study includes 7 index cases (IC), with the following clinical diagnoses: Fish Eye Disease (1), Hypoalphalipoproteinemia (1) and Abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) / Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) (5). We have identified one IC with a compound heterozygosity in LCAT causing Fish Eye Disease and one IC with a variant in ABCA1 in homozygosity causing Tangier disease. We found variants causing homozygous FHBL in 2 IC, one of whom has an undescribed pathogenic variant in homozygosity in APOB (c.12087+1G>A) and the other is a possible compound heterozygous for APOB variants c.2604+1G>A and c.4651C>T/p.(Gln1551*). In two patients only a variant in heterozygosity (c.3365delG/p.(Gly1122Vfs*62) and c.11095A>T/p.(Arg3699*)). In the remaining patient, no variants were identified. NGS proved to be a fundamental key for genetic testing of rare lipid disorders, allowing us to find the genetic cause of disease in 6/7 patients with low HDL-c and LDL-c. Patients with these rare conditions should be identified as early as possible in order to minimize or prevent clinical manifestations. The unsolved case is still under investigation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

La economía solidaria: una conexión con el desarrollo territorial de Niterói y São Gonçalo (Río de Janeiro, Brasil)

This article presents the results of an investigation made in ventures located in Niterói and São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, in atention to a solicitation of Brazilian Education Ministry and Universidade Federal Fluminense. The research purpose is to go to the field and verify how work practiced in the associations/cooperatives involves the principles of Solidarity Economics (EcoSol). Beyond that, the research also observed how local communities relate from this “other” economy that proposes developing new human relations. In this context, the main diffi - culties faced by this ventures concerning legalization, public policies and financial profits are also reported. The investigation made possible a deeper look on the differences from Solidarity Economics theoretical principles and the way they are lived. That is because, of course, there is still a strong influence of capitalism, once that this ventures are inserted into a society ruled by the capitalist system. But even with the difficulties and limitations already referred, the associations/cooperatives can put into practice some of the Ecosol´s concepts. The investigation also revealed the positive and satisfactory side of those who begin to use the Ecosol´s principles, many times without knowing deeply what this economy is. The enthusiasm and the will to develop the Ecosol seen in these ventures lead us to report the story of these people that, despite the difficulties, fight to put into practice this “other” economy.Key words: collectivity, community, development, solidarity-based economy, ventures.Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación hecha en emprendimientos sitos en Niterói y São Gonçalo, Río de Janeiro, Brasil, en atención a una solicitación del Ministerio de la Educación brasileño a la Universidad Federal Fluminense. El objetivo de la pesquisa fue ir a campo y verificar como el trabajo practicado en las asociaciones/ cooperativas envuelve los principios de la Economía Solidaria (EcoSol). Además de eso, la encuesta también observó como las comunidades locales se relacionan a partir de esa “otra” economía que propone desarrollar nuevas relaciones humanas. En ese contexto, son también relatadas las principales dificultades enfrentadas por eses emprendimientos cuanto a la legalización, a las políticas públicas y a los lucros financieros. La investigación posibilitó una mirada más profundizada sobre la diferencia de los principios teóricos de la Economía Solidaria y el modo como ellos son vividos. Se notó que ningún de los emprendimientos visitados pone en práctica todos los principios teóricos de la EcoSol. Eso porque aún hay, es claro, una fuerte influencia del capitalismo, una vez que eses emprendimientos están inseridos en una sociedad regida por el sistema capitalista. Pero mismo con las dificultades y limitaciones ya referidas, las asociaciones/cooperativas logran colocar en práctica algunos conceptos de la EcoSol. La investigación también reveló el lado positivo y satisfactorio de aquellos que comienzan a utilizar los principios de la EcoSol, muchas veces sin conocer o estudiar profundamente lo que sea esa economía. El entusiasmo y la voluntad de desarrollar la EcoSol vistos en eses emprendimientos nos ha llevado a relatar la historia de esas personas que, a pesar de las dificultades, luchan para poner en práctica esa “otra” economía.Palabras clave: colectividad, comunidad, desarrollo, economía solidaria, emprendimientos