Corporate social responsibility communication and interaction processes within stakeholders relationships : case studies of active mines and mine brownfield rehabilitation in the portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Doutoramento em Sociologia Económica e das OrganizaçõesThis thesis deals with the relationships between mining companies and their key stakeholders, under the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility. The overall purpose has been to understand the interaction processes involved in the relationships between corporations and their stakeholders within corporate social responsibility communication, to contribute to the development of stakeholder management that promotes sustainability grounded on lasting relationships. A new interdisciplinary approach is put forward, by bringing together social organizational and marketing and economic theories. Based on literature review, it is demonstrated that Corporate Social Responsibility Communication and the Industrial Marketing Purchase Approach can jointly analyse stakeholder relationships. A theoretical framework has been developed via conceptual analysis, using the existing literature and a preliminary knowledge of the context. Further, the constructs have been conceptualized in each of the dimensions of the framework at early stages. Multiple case studies have been conducted. Selection of cases was determined by the context – active metal underground mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt and relevant mine brownfield redevelopment, also in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. On each case the key stakeholders have been identified, based on company information, either from interviews or from company reports. Cases analysis has been done applying within and cross case analysis. Qualitative research made it possible to cope with a complex context, to contact with participants in their setting, to gather data on their perception and to seek for causal associations. The development of a framework appropriate for the understanding of the development of long-term relationships in the mining sector and a new theoretical approach tested, are important theoretical contributions. The “real world” can take advantage of it by applying this approach to similar environments.Esta dissertação tem como foco as relações entre as empresas mineiras e o relacionamento com os seus stakeholders principais, no âmbito da Responsabilidade Social Empresarial. O objetivo geral foi compreender os processos de interação envolvidos nas relações entre as empresas e seus stakeholders, no âmbito da comunicação de responsabilidade social corporativa, que contribuem para o desenvolvimento de uma gestão de stakeholders que promova a sustentabilidade alicerçada em relacionamentos duradouros. Uma nova abordagem interdisciplinar é apresentada, reunindo teorias das ciências sociais e do marketing e da economia. Com base na revisão da literatura, é demonstrado que a Comunicação no âmbito da Responsabilidade Social Empresarial e a abordagem Industrial Marketing Purchase podem analisar conjuntamente os relacionamentos com os stakeholders. Foi desenvolvido um modelo teórico baseado em análise conceptual, utilizando a literatura existente e um conhecimento preliminar do contexto do sector mineiro. Além disso, os constructos foram definidos em cada uma das dimensões da estrutura na fase inicial. Vários estudos de caso foram realizados. A seleção dos casos foi determinada pelo contexto - minas subterrâneas ativas na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e reabilitação de minas abandonadas, também na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica. Em cada caso, foram identificados os principais stakeholders, com base em informações da empresa, através de entrevistas e em relatórios da empresa. O estudo dos casos foi realizado através dos métodos de análise within-case e cross-case. A análise qualitativa permitiu lidar com um contexto complexo, ter interações com os participantes no seu ambiente, reunir dados sobre sua perceção e procurar associações causais. O desenvolvimento de um modelo adequado para a compreensão do desenvolvimento de relacionamentos de longo prazo no sector mineiro e a testagem de uma nova abordagem teórica, são contributos teóricos importantes. O “mundo real” pode tirar vantagem disso aplicando essa abordagem em contextos similaresinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018) : Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology

Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.Peer reviewe

Correlation between work impairment, scores of rhinitis severity and asthma using the MASK-air (R) App

Background In allergic rhinitis, a relevant outcome providing information on the effectiveness of interventions is needed. In MASK-air (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for work is used as a relevant outcome. This study aimed to assess the performance of the work VAS work by comparing VAS work with other VAS measurements and symptom-medication scores obtained concurrently. Methods All consecutive MASK-air users in 23 countries from 1 June 2016 to 31 October 2018 were included (14 189 users; 205 904 days). Geolocalized users self-assessed daily symptom control using the touchscreen functionality on their smart phone to click on VAS scores (ranging from 0 to 100) for overall symptoms (global), nose, eyes, asthma and work. Two symptom-medication scores were used: the modified EAACI CSMS score and the MASK control score for rhinitis. To assess data quality, the intra-individual response variability (IRV) index was calculated. Results A strong correlation was observed between VAS work and other VAS. The highest levels for correlation with VAS work and variance explained in VAS work were found with VAS global, followed by VAS nose, eye and asthma. In comparison with VAS global, the mCSMS and MASK control score showed a lower correlation with VAS work. Results are unlikely to be explained by a low quality of data arising from repeated VAS measures. Conclusions VAS work correlates with other outcomes (VAS global, nose, eye and asthma) but less well with a symptom-medication score. VAS work should be considered as a potentially useful AR outcome in intervention studies.Peer reviewe

Adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis using mobile technology. The MASK Study

Background: Mobile technology may help to better understand the adherence to treatment. MASK-rhinitis (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a patient-centred ICT system. A mobile phone app (the Allergy Diary) central to MASK is available in 22 countries. Objectives: To assess the adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis patients using the Allergy Diary App. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on all users who filled in the Allergy Diary from 1 January 2016 to 1 August 2017. Secondary adherence was assessed by using the modified Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) and the Proportion of days covered (PDC) approach. Results: A total of 12 143 users were registered. A total of 6 949 users reported at least one VAS data recording. Among them, 1 887 users reported ≥7 VAS data. About 1 195 subjects were included in the analysis of adherence. One hundred and thirty-six (11.28%) users were adherent (MPR ≥70% and PDC ≤1.25), 51 (4.23%) were partly adherent (MPR ≥70% and PDC = 1.50) and 176 (14.60%) were switchers. On the other hand, 832 (69.05%) users were non-adherent to medications (MPR <70%). Of those, the largest group was non-adherent to medications and the time interval was increased in 442 (36.68%) users. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Adherence to treatment is low. The relative efficacy of continuous vs on-demand treatment for allergic rhinitis symptoms is still a matter of debate. This study shows an approach for measuring retrospective adherence based on a mobile app. This also represents a novel approach for analysing medication-taking behaviour in a real-world setting