Drivers of Marketing Innovation in Portuguese Firms

This article aims at identifying and analyzing the drivers of innovation capacity of marketing in the context of Portuguese firms. From this standpoint, a theoretical framework is considered, which comprises the characterization of marketing innovation, as well as the determinants that underlie it. Based on the literature several research hypotheses are formulated, which are tested using secondary data provided by the “Observatório da Ciência e do Ensino Superior - OCES” - Observatory of Science and Higher Education, belonging to the “4º Inquérito Comunitário à Inovação – CIS 4”- 4th Community Innovation Survey-CIS, supervised by EUROSTAT. The method used is the logistic regression model. The results show that the variables included in the factor R&D pertaining to internal R&D activities, acquisition of machinery, equipment and software, acquisition of other external knowledge and performance of other procedures, and the factor marketing activities, influence the propensity of firms to innovate in marketing.innovation, marketing innovation, innovative capacity, Community Innovation Survey

Specific hygiene procedures and practices assessment : a cross-sectional study in fresh fishery product retailers of Lisbon’s traditional food markets

Research Areas: Food Science & TechnologyThis study aimed to assess the compliance of specific hand hygiene and food contact surfaces hygiene in fresh fishery product retailers (FFPR) and its relation to socio-demographic characteristics that might influence the observed procedures and practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted in traditional food markets’ FFPRs (N = 74) using interviews and audits for data collection purposes. Results revealed that women were overrepresented among FFPR managers; most were over 50 years of age and had a long working experience in fish retail activities, despite a low educational level. The majority had attended training courses in food hygiene, safety, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points-based procedures. Both documental assessment and hand hygiene procedures and practices verification revealed a low level of compliance. Many documents supporting hygiene practices were lacking. Several non-conforming requisites were identified related to the handwashing procedure and equipment and to glove wearing practices. A higher level of compliance was obtained in food contact surfaces hygiene procedures and practices verification, with complete hygiene procedures applied and proper cleaning of utensils and chemical products management in several cases. These findings reflect an ambiguous understanding and misconceptions related to hygiene procedures and practices, suggesting the need to improve and update FFPR food handler training regarding basic food hygiene and safety.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Editorial EJKM Volume 18 Issue 3: Advances in Health Knowledge Management: New Perspectives

Editorial EJKM Volume 18 Issue 3: Advances in Health Knowledge Management: New Perspectives by Maria Jose Sousa, Francesca Dal Mas and Renato Lopes Da Cost

EVOLUTION OF LIPOSOMAL CARRIERS INTENDED TO ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY: AN OVERVIEW

Most current anticancer agents present lack of specificity, leading to systemic toxicity and adverse effects, and limiting the maximum dose of drug. Liposomes quickly passed from a simple scientific curiosity to magic bullets†for the delivery of drugs. Liposomal formulations of anticancer drugs have been extensively evaluated, with notorious advances and the market introduction of some of them. In the last years the research under liposomes has been carried out to increase the circulation time and the specificity to cancer cells. The aim of this work was to make a review about the research carried out about the application of liposomes as carriers for anticancer drugs. Liposomal formulations of anticancer drugs have been extensively evaluated. However, many other liposome based carriers were studied, like immunoliposomes, thermossensitive liposomes, dual functional liposomes and crosslinked multifunctional liposomes, intended to increase drug specificity. Additionally, some special types of liposomes, like niosomes, transfersomes and ethosomes were also investigated as cytotoxic drug carriers

EVOLUTION OF LIPOSOMAL CARRIERS INTENDED TO ANTICANCER DRUG DELIVERY: AN OVERVIEW

Most current anticancer agents are present lack of specificity, leading to systemic toxicity and adverse effects, and limiting the maximum dose of drug. Liposomes quickly passed from a simple scientific curiosity to magic bullets†for the delivery of drugs. Liposomal formulations of anticancer drugs have been extensively evaluated, with notorious advances and the market introduction of some of them. In the last years, the research under liposomes has been carried out to increase the circulation time and the specificity to cancer cells. The aim of this work was to make a review about the research carried out about the application of liposomes as carriers for anticancer drugs. Liposomal formulations of anticancer drugs have been extensively evaluated. However, many other liposome based carriers were studied, like immuno liposomes, thermossensitive liposomes, dual functional liposomes and cross linked multifunctional liposomes, intended to increase drug specificity. Additionally, some special types of liposomes, like niosomes, transfersomes and ethosomes were also investigated as cytotoxic drug carriers

Arte como auxílio no desenvolvimento cognitivo da pessoa cega

Falar da arte como auxílio no desenvolvimento cognitivo da pessoa cega, nos leva a refletir sobre a importânciae entender como ocorre esse processo. Para a realização dessa pesquisa optei pela pesquisa qualitativa, envolvendo análise dos conteúdos obtidos através de uma oficina realizada com pessoas cegas da Associação dos cegos do Piauí – ACEP. Percebemos que ao transmitir o ensino de artes a pessoa cega, o seu desenvolvimento cognitivo é ampliado de forma significativa o que a permite pintar e utilizar as cores mesmo sem vê-las, não negamos que existem dificuldades, pois também a encontramos mais percebemos que existe a possibilidade de superação.  A base bibliográfica do trabalho seguiu parâmetros de Masini (2007), Barbosa (2006) que relatam como arte pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento cognitivo da pessoa cega, e de como o sistema háptico pode ser ampliado através da arte. Este trabalho permitiu uma melhor compreensão do modo de como a arte pode ajudar no desenvolvimento cognitivo da pessoa cega. O resultado desse trabalho mostrou que a pessoa cega tem o seu desenvolvimento cognitivo ampliado a partir do momento que ela começa a conhecer as cores e através desse conhecimento ela consegue realizar a pintura de uma tela, ampliado o seu tato e consequentemente a sua sensibilidade em sentir as cores e fazer uso delas e que a pintura vai muito além da visão. A tabela Feelipa criada em 2009 pela designer portuguesa Filipa Nogueira Pires que a partir das formas geométricas, foi primordial para a realização desse trabalho.

Severe maternal morbidity (near miss) as a sentinel event of maternal death. An attempt to use routine data for surveillance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify all the records within the Brazilian Hospital Information System (HIS) that contained information suggestive of severe maternal morbidity (near miss); to describe the diagnoses and procedures used; to identify variables associated with maternal death.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A descriptive population study with data from the HIS and Mortality Information System (MIS) files of records of women during pregnancy, delivery and in the postpartum period in all the capital cities of the Brazilian states in 2002. Initially, records of women between 10 and 49 years of age were selected; next, those records with at least one criterion suggestive of near miss were selected. For the linkage of HIS with MIS and HIS with itself, a blocking strategy consisting of three independent steps was established. In the data analysis, near miss ratios were calculated with corresponding 95% confidence interval and the diagnoses and procedures were described; a multiple logistic regression model was adjusted. Primary and secondary diagnoses and the requested and performed procedures during hospitalization were the main outcome measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall maternal near miss ratio was 44.3/1,000 live births. Among the records indicating near miss, 154 maternal deaths were identified. The criteria of severity most frequently found were infection, preeclampsia and hemorrhage. Logistic regression analysis resulted in 12 variables, including four significant interactions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although some limitations, the perspective of routinely using this information system for surveillance of near miss and implementing measures to avoid maternal death is promising.</p

SISPRENATAL as a tool for evaluating quality of prenatal care

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate coverage by the Prenatal and Birth Humanization Program, according to its minimal requirements and process indicators, by comparing information from prenatal booklets to SISPRENATAL (System to Accompany the Prenatal and Birth Humanization Program). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with prenatal data from 1,489 women in the postpartum period after birth in the Brazilian Unified Health System, between November 2008 to October 2009 in São Carlos municipality, Southeastern Brazil. Data were collected from the prenatal booklet and afterwards from the SISPRENATAL. Information from both sources was compared using the McNemar &#935;2 test for related samples. RESULTS: Prenatal coverage in relation to the number of live births was 97.1% according to the prenatal booklet and 92.8% according to SISPRENATAL. There were statistical significant differences between both sources of information for all the minimum requirements of the Prenatal and Birth Humanization Program, and also the process indicators. Except for the first prenatal visit, the prenatal booklet always had greater frequencies than SISPRENATAL. The proportion of women with six or more prenatal visits and all basic exams was 72.5%, according to the prenatal booklet and 39.4% by the official system. These differences remained for the five health regions in the municipality. CONCLUSIONS: SISPRENATAL was not a reliable source for evaluating the available information on care during pregnancy. There was high adherence to the Prenatal and Birth Humanization Program, but documentation of information was insufficient for all the minimum requirements and process indicators. Ten years after the start of the program, municipalities should provide adequate quality of care and build health professional capacity for proper documentation of health information.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a cobertura do Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento segundo o cumprimento dos seus requisitos mínimos e indicadores de processo, comparando as informações do cartão da gestante com os do Susprenatal. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com dados do pré-natal de 1.489 puérperas internadas para parto pelo Sistema Único de Saúde entre novembro de 2008 e outubro de 2009 no município de São Carlos, SP. Os dados foram coletados no cartão da gestante e depois no Sistema de Acompanhamento do Programa de Humanização no Pré-Natal e Nascimento (Sisprenatal). As informações das duas fontes foram comparadas utilizando o teste de &#935;2 de McNemar para amostras relacionadas. RESULTADOS: A cobertura de pré-natal em relação ao número de nascidos vivos foi de 97,1% de acordo com o cartão de pré-natal e de 92,8% segundo o Sisprenatal. Houve diferença significativa entre as fontes de informação para todos os requisitos mínimos do Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento, e também na comparação dos indicadores de processo. Com exceção da primeira consulta de pré-natal, o cartão de pré-natal sempre apresentou registro de informações superior ao do Sisprenatal. A proporção de mulheres com seis ou mais consultas de pré-natal e com todos os exames básicos foi de 72,5% pelo cartão de pré-natal e de 39,4% pelo sistema oficial. Essas diferenças mantiveram-se para as cinco áreas regionais de saúde do município. CONCLUSÕES: O Sisprenatal não foi uma fonte segura para avaliação da informação disponível sobre acompanhamento na gestação. Houve grande adesão ao Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento, mas a documentação da informação foi insuficiente quanto a todos os requisitos mínimos e indicadores de processo. Após dez anos da criação do programa, cabe agora aos municípios adequar a qualidade da assistência e capacitar seus profissionais para a correta documentação de informação em saúde.OBJETIVO: Evaluar la cobertura del Programa de Humanización del Prenatal y Nacimiento según el cumplimiento de sus requisitos mínimos e indicadores de proceso, comparando las informaciones de la tarjeta de la gestante con los del Sisprenatal. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con datos del prenatal de 1.489 puérperas internadas para parto por el Sistema Único de Salud entre noviembre de 2088 y octubre de 2009 en el municipio de Sao Carlos, Sureste de Brasil. Los datos fueron colectados en la tarjeta de la gestante y después en el Sistema de Acompañamiento del Programa de Humanización en el Prenatal y Nacimiento (Sisprenatal). Las informaciones de las dos fuentes fueron comparadas utilizando la prueba de c2 de McNemar para muestras relacionadas. RESULTADOS: La cobertura de prenatal con relación al número de nacidos vivos fue de 97,1% de acuerdo con la tarjeta de prenatal y de 92,8% según el Sisprenatal. Hubo diferencia significativa entre las fuentes de información para todos los requisitos mínimos del Programa de Humanización del Prenatal y Nacimiento, y también en la comparación de los indicadores de proceso. Con excepción de la primera consulta de prenatal, la tarjeta de prenatal siempre presentó registro de informaciones superior al del Sisprenatal. La proporción de mujeres con seis o más consultas de prenatal y con todos los exámenes básicos fue de 72,5% por la tarjeta de prenatal y de 39,4% por el sistema oficial. Estas diferencias se mantuvieron para las cinco áreas regionales de salud del municipio. CONCLUSIONES: El Sisprenatal no fue una fuente segura para evaluación de la información disponible sobre acompañamiento en la gestación. Hubo gran adhesión al Programa de Humanización del Prenatal y Nacimiento, pero la documentación de la información fue insuficiente con respecto a todos los requisitos mínimos e indicadores de proceso. Posterior a diez años de la creación del programa, le corresponde ahora a los municipios adecuar la calidad de la asistencia y capacitar sus profesionales para la correcta documentación de información en salud.85486

Migration & Self-Rated Health: Comparing Occupational Cohorts in California & Spain (MICASA and ITSAL Projects)

International migration is a growing global phenomenon.  The magnitude of the global population living outside their countries of origin substantiates the value of considering potential public health issues and their population-wide burden.  As migration has yet to be generally accepted as an exposure in and of itself, and encompasses a wide range of experiences and health effects, a measure of overall health is well suited for this research. This study compares self-rated health between two independently collected occupational cohorts as part of the ITSAL study in Spain and the MICASA study in Mendota, California, USA.  We observed greater gender balance in the MICASA sample than the ITSAL sample, where there was a substantial male majority.  Mexican-born workers in the MICASA sample tended to be older, less educated, and more likely to work in agriculture than their Moroccan-born counterparts in the ITSAL study.  We also observed a higher prevalence of poor self-rated health in the MICASA sample compared to the ITSAL sample.  Differences may be due to sampling and data collection issues, cultural issues and the subjectivity of self-rated health as an outcome, as well as actual health differences.  Further research is needed to determine common and distinct migration-related public health issues.L'immigration internationale est un phénomène mondial en plein essor. Le pourcentage élevé de personnes dans le monde vivant dans un pays autre que son pays d'origine justifie l'intérêt de prendre en compte les problèmes de santé publique potentiels et le fardeau que cela implique à l'échelle de la population. Alors que l'immigration n'est pas encore généralement reconnue comme une exposition en soi, et englobe un large éventail d'expériences et d'effets sur la santé, une évaluation de la santé globale est tout à fait appropriée pour cette étude. Cette étude compare la santé auto-évaluée de deux cohortes professionnelles, les donnés ayant été recueillies indépendamment dans le cadre de l'étude ITSAL en Espagne et de l'étude MICASA à Mendota, en Californie. Nous avons observé un plus grand équilibre entre les sexes dans l'échantillon MICASA que dans l'échantillon ITSAL, dans lequel il y avait une majorité considérable d'hommes. Les ouvriers de l'échantillon MICASA nés au Mexique avaient tendance à être plus âgés, à avoir un niveau d'instruction moindre, et à être plus susceptibles de travailler dans l'agriculture que leurs homologues nés au Maroc de l'étude ITSAL. Nous avons également observé une plus forte prévalence de mauvaise santé auto-évaluée dans l'échantillon MICASA que dans l'échantillon ITSAL. Les différences peuvent être dues aux méthodes d'échantillonnage et de recueil des données, à des aspects culturels et à la subjectivité des résultats de la santé auto-déclarée, ainsi qu'à de réelles différences en matière de santé. D'autres études sont nécessaires pour déterminer les problèmes de santé publique liées à l'immigration communs et distincts.La migración internacional es un fenómeno creciente a nivel mundial. La magnitud de la población mundial que vive fuera de su país de origen justifica el valor del estudio de los problemas potenciales para la salud pública y la carga que supone para la población en general. Debido a que todavía no se ha aceptado de forma generalizada que la migración supone una exposición por sí misma y al hecho de que abarca una amplia gama de experiencias y efectos para la salud, una medición de la salud en general parece apropiada para este estudio. En este trabajo se compara la autoevaluación de la salud entre dos cohortes ocupacionales analizadas independientemente como parte del estudio ITSAL en España y el estudio MICASA en Mendota (California, Estados Unidos.). Hemos observado un mayor equilibrio entre sexos en la muestra de MICASA que en la de ITSAL, donde había una importante mayoría masculina. Los trabajadores de origen mexicano de la muestra de MICASA tendían a ser mayores, con menor nivel educativo y con mayor probabilidad de trabajar en la agricultura que los colegas de origen marroquí del estudio ITSAL. Asimismo, hemos observado una mayor prevalencia de salud deficiente en la muestra de MICASA en comparación con la muestra de ITSAL. Las diferencias pueden deberse a problemas de muestreo y de recopilación de datos, a aspectos culturales y a la subjetividad de los resultados de la autoevaluación de la salud, así como a verdaderas diferencias de salud. Asimismo, es necesario realizar otros estudios para determinar qué aspectos de salud pública relacionados con la migración se comparten y cuáles son diferentes

Gestão democrática na mesorregião Oeste Maranhense: enfoques e destaques nas leis dos Sistemas Municipais de Educação

O presente artigo analisa questões referentes aos Sistemas Municipais de Educação (SME) na Mesorregião Oeste Maranhense, em especial o princípio da gestão democrática nos municípios que institucionalizaram os seus SME. As questões e inferências aqui apresentadas decorrem de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental realizada no pós-doutoramento do Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação da Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (Ufopa). Discorre-se sobre alguns aspectos e questões teóricas e legais que fundamentam a concepção de sistema educacional e a gestão democrática como premissas que orientam a criação dos SME. Infere-se que, embora os municípios gozem da prerrogativa de criarem seus SME, na mesorregião Oeste Maranhense, apenas 8 dos 52 institucionalizaram seus sistemas com base em leis específicas, abstendo-se dos dispositivos legais que dispõem sobre a definição e normatização de legislação específica e diretrizes educacionais que possibilitem a ampliação e fortalecimento dos espaços e mecanismos de participação, consolidando a gestão democrática da educação municipal