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Copyright of Arquitecturas del Sur is the property of Facultad de Arquitectura, Construccion y Diseno, Universidad del Bio-Bio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This manuscript presents an experimental and modeling approach in order to characterize the stiffness loss of bioabsorbable polymer filaments due to hydrolysis. In this regard, bioabsorbable suture yarns (poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid—PLGA) were chosen as a representative material for the present investigation. The observed mechanical response was characterized by means of a thermodynamically consistent constitutive variational framework. Usually, two different damage variables are assumed to take place in this class of materials: a hydrolytic damage (long-term degradation) and a strain-driven damage (short-term degradation). This work concerns the proposition of a constitutive model that only considers the hydrolytic damage, in which a specific strain energy and a proper dissipation damage potential were tailored to model the tested material. A nonlinear curve fitting procedure based on Particle Swarm Optimization was performed to identify the constitutive parameters. A set of numerical simulations demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed constitutive model to predict damage-induced creep and damage-induced stress relaxation, behaviors that can be used as design criteria in absorbable implants. The main achieved results show that the proposed constitutive approach leads to a simple but effective model capable to drive the first steps in the design of absorbable biomedical devices. The present variational framework can be extended to study the constitutive response of other bioabsorbable polymers, accounting for viscous and/or plastic behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most prominent bioresorbable materials, currently used in several medical applications (screws, craniofacial plates etc.). Looking to extend the knowledge about the thermomechanical behavior of bioresorbable medical materials, this research presents a series of experiments and results based on nonhomogeneous compression tests for the polymer PLGA 85/15. Instead of focusing on tensile and bending conditions for compression-molded products, such as usually presented in the literature, attention is given to compression tests and samples machined from injection-molded parts. Additionally, PLGA strain rate sensitivity, which is an issue less discussed in the literature, is analyzed. In the current study, this material is tested by observing the main features related to resorbable medical materials. The effects of a material heat treatment that are associated with PLGA shape-memory properties are investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was also employed in the thermal characterization. A finite element analysis of the compression testing provides a complementary overview of the mechanical behavior of PLGA 85/15. Results indicate that PLGA has a linear rate-insensitive response for small strains but presents a strong rate dependence for strains beyond the material yielding. PLGA shows a remarkable post-yielding strain-softening behavior, with a steep descent slope. Samples present significant mechanical changes after heat treatment at temperatures above T g , with reduction of 35% in the material elastic modulus and 30% in the upper-yielding stress and no significant changes for further heat-treatment procedures. DSC analysis confirmed the existence of significant residual stress in PLGA specimens. Mechanical deformation and manly heat treatment seem to reduce this residual stress caused by molecular orientation and rapid solidification. Finally, finite element simulations show that the limit of the homogeneity hypothesis is associated with the yield strain, after which highly non-uniform stresses develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petiveria alliacea is a perennial Amazonian shrub used in traditional medicine for many purposes worldwide, including as antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antifungal, and analgesic for pain relief. Herein, this review aimed to provide a concise overview of the phytochemistry and antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties reported in the literature for P. alliacea. The herb is rich in sulfur-containing compounds that possess a broad-spectrum of in vitro antimicrobial activity against pathogenic fungi and bacteria at low concentrations. P. alliacea also showed cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines through sophisticated machinery of cellular damage in vitro. Other compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and benzenoids are commonly identified in P. alliacea extracts, and they may also justify these activities. Despite the great pharmacological potential, clinical trials are required to ensure its effectiveness and safety. This review may raise new trends on the studies as well as contribute to the community by offering data for decision-making with regard to its use in treating diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chrysobalanus icaco is a medicinal plant commonly used to treat fungal infections in Brazilian Amazonian region. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. icaco (HECi) against oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. and to determine the pharmacognostic parameters of the herbal drug and the phytochemical characteristics of HECi. Materials and Methods: The pharmacognostic characterization was performed using pharmacopoeial techniques. Phytochemical screening, total flavonoid content, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis were used to investigate the chemical composition of the HECi. A broth microdilution method was used to determine the antifungal activity of the extract against 11 oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. Results: Herbal drug presented parameters which were within the limits set forth in current Brazilian legislation. A high amount of flavonoid content (132,959.33 ± 12,598.23 µg quercetin equivalent/g of extract) was found in HECi. Flavonoids such as myricetin and rutin were detected in the extract by HPLC analyses. HECi showed antifungal activity against oral isolates of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis (minimum inhibitory concentrations [MIC] 3.12 and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively), and C. albicans American American Type Culture Collection (MIC <1.56 mg/mL). Conclusion: HECi was shown to possess antifungal activity against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis, and these activities may be related to its chemical composition. The antifungal activity detected for C. icaco against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids in HECi, characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Administração is the property of Instituto de Administracao da FEA-USP and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Orbital Compartment Syndrome (OCS) represents a critical medical emergency characterized by heightened orbital pressure, jeopardizing blood flow and posing a risk to the optic nerve. Often stemming from surgical procedures such as craniotomies for arachnoid cyst resection, OCS necessitates swift diagnosis and intervention. We report the case of a 77-year-old female in São Paulo, Brazil, who underwent left pterional craniotomy for arachnoid cyst resection. Postoperatively, she manifested reduced visual acuity in the left eye, restricted ocular movement, and peripalpebral hematoma indicative of orbital compression syndrome. Computed tomography scans confirmed pneumocephalus and pneumo-orbital complications, prompting an immediate diagnosis of OCS. Immediate interventions, including lateral canthotomy and cantholysis, were employed, resulting in successful decompression and substantial symptom improvement within a 10-day period. This case underscores the significance of preoperative imaging, prompt diagnostic measures, and collaborative postoperative care in managing orbital complications following neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-commerce is growing rapidly in Brazil, led by information-intensive and transaction-intensive sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and retail/wholesale. However, Brazil's highly uneven income distribution is a major barrier for B2C diffusion. Government policies have emphasized promotional or enabling initiatives such as e-procurement, tax filings, and providing Internet access to social institutions. E-commerce legislation is just now being developed, and decisions on taxation are being negotiated in the context of international agreements. E-commerce raises issues for Brazil in terms of its relationship to the global economy. Although most online purchases involve imported goods, e-commerce also offers opportunities to participate in international value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1990s, Brazilian IT policy has changed substantially from greenhouse protectionism in selected segments of the market to a more liberal regime. This article analyses the impact of liberalization on IT equipment production, diffusion, employment, and foreign trade. There were both benefits and setbacks, depending on the aspect analyzed. Users benefited from greater access to imported equipment, which could eventually contribute to productivity growth in the overall economy.On the negative side, there was a loss of local linkages with internal sources of components, technology, and employment. The article concludes that the future of the Brazilian IT industry does not seem to be in commodity hardware production. Rather, it lies in design- and engineering-intensive applications. Such "production close to use" can spur domestic use as well as create business opportunities for domestically owned companies in markets not dominated by foreign multinationals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, a poor telecommunication infrastructure was considered an important barrier for e-business diffusion. However, from 1998, when the telecom system was privatized, to 2000, telecom investments boosted to an average of 1.36% of GNP a year, a percentage well above both Brazilian and Latin American historical levels. There is now idle capacity and telecommunication infrastructure is no longer considered a major barrier for e-commerce. Brazil's financial sector is the clear leader in adopting information technologies, and is widely considered the leading user of the Internet for marketing, online sales, and service and support. The sum of the survey results suggests that the financial sector has capitalized on its experience with IT in order to adopt e-commerce technologies and to integrate them with existing information systems. E-commerce in Brazil is strongly anchored in information intensive sectors little affected by foreign transactions. Local forces seem to play a more influential role due to Brazil's unique economic history and government policies. For e-commerce diffusion, a factor more important than the sector itself is the scale of information flow among various agents within the economy. Information-intensity is, in part, related to the size of the business. The larger the firm, the easier it obtains scale benefits of digital services. However, some activities demand more information exchange than others. Distribution and finance face similar driving forces for e-commerce diffusion, but are different from manufacturing. The manufacturing industry is driven to achieve, by cost reduction, through inventory reduction and improved logistics. But while productivity growth is the most important driving force for manufacturing, the finance and distribution sectors focus on opportunities to expand and improve their relationships with clients. The Internet is increasing the intensity of competition rather than the number of competitors. Whereas in the recent past e-commerce was dominated by new companies, nowadays-existing market leaders seem to be rapidly gaining business through the new channel. Strong links between users and producers of IT solutions facilitate technological leadership. The case study on the banking industry showed that internal technological capabilities were key for e-commerce leadership, since they enhanced the user-producer links providing capabilities that are flexible and tailored to specific needs. Legal protection is a more important barrier than expected. This includes lack of business laws for e-commerce and inadequate legal protection for Internet purchases, barriers affecting more than 40% of the surveyed Brazilian firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing uncertainties in international trade policies have raised concerns about the possible break of global supply chains. This paper reviews relevant studies shedding light on global supply chain resilience. We first summarise some key facts and current developments of globalisation. We then review mechanisms through which shocks are transmitted along the global supply chains. Finally, we discuss the production relocation or sale adjustment of firms in response to shocks for maintaining supply chain resilience, from which we obtain some hints on how the resilience can be improved. We also highlight some implications and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a newly collected dataset at the plant level from 2014 to 2018, we provide the first microscopic portrait of robotization in Germany and study the correlates of robot adoption. Our descriptive analysis uncovers five stylized facts: (1) Robot use is relatively rare. (2) The distribution of robots is highly skewed. (3) New robot adopters contribute substantially to the recent robotization. (4) Robot users are exceptional. (5) Heterogeneity in robot types matters. Our regression results further suggest plant size, high-skilled labor share, exporter status, and labor shortage to be strongly associated with the future probability of robot adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dados - Revista de Ciências Sociais is the property of DADOS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Estilos da Clínica is the property of FEUSP - Faculdade de Educacao da USP - Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Ceftazidime/avibactam-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) is a topic of great interest for epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutical reasons. However, data on its prevalence and burden on mortality in patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) are lacking. This study was aimed at identifying risk factors for mortality in patients suffering from ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp BSI. Methods: An observational retrospective study (January 2018–December 2022) was conducted at a tertiary hospital including all consecutive hospitalized adult patients with a ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp BSI. Data on baseline clinical features, management, and admission outcomes were analyzed. Results: Over the study period, among all the KPC-Kp BSI events recorded, 38 (10.5%) were caused by ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp strains, 37 events being finally included. The ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp strains revealed susceptibility restoration to at least one carbapenem in more than 60% of cases. In-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality rates were 22% and 16.2%, respectively. Non-survivors suffered from more baseline comorbidities and experienced a more severe ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp BSI presentation (i.e., both the Pitt Bacteremia and INCREMENT-CPE scores were significantly higher). Presenting with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, chronic kidney disease—KDIGO stage 3A or worse—having recently gone through renal replacement therapy, having suffered from an acute kidney injury following the ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp BSI, and being admitted for cardiac surgery were the strongest predictors of mortality. Conclusion: Ceftazidime/avibactam resistance in KPC-Kp BSI easily emerged in our highly KPC-Kp endemic area with remarkable mortality rates. Our findings might provide physicians possibly actionable information when managing patients with a ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-Kp BSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How did foreign assistance influence Brazil's path to attaining nuclear autonomy? To answer this question, a technopolitics hypothesis centred on the role played by national scientific and technological strategies will be discussed, focusing on two case studies: the history of the Thorium Group (1965-71) and the 1975 Brazil-West Germany nuclear agreement. In both instances, Brazilian policy-makers relied on imported technologies as shortcuts to implement nuclear projects without designing a coordinated plan that involved national scientific programmes and research centres. The Brazilian case highlights the limits of initiatives aimed at attaining nuclear autonomy that revolve only around foreign assistance without complementary investment in national scientific initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The relationship between superinfection by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and mortality among SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized patients is still unclear. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales are among the most frequently isolated species when it comes to hospital-acquired superinfections among SARS-CoV-2 patients. Methods: Herein, a retrospective study was carried out using data from adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The interaction between in-hospital mortality and rectal carriage and superinfection by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and/or carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii was assessed. Results: The incidence of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and/or carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii rectal carriage was 30%. Bloodstream infection and/or pneumonia due to KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and/or carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii occurred in 20% of patients. A higher Charlson comorbidity index (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24–1.59), being submitted to invasive mechanical ventilation/ECMO ≥ 96 h (OR 6.34, 95% CI 3.18–12.62), being treated with systemic corticosteroids (OR 4.67, 95% CI 2.43–9.05) and having lymphopenia at the time of admission (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40–0.72) were the features most strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Although KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and/or carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii rectal carriage, and/or bloodstream infection/pneumonia were diagnosed in a remarkable percentage of COVID-19 patients, their impact on in-hospital mortality was not significant. Further studies are needed to assess the burden of antimicrobial resistance as a legacy of COVID-19 in order to identify future prevention opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ocular toxoplasmosis is common across all regions of the world. Understanding of the epidemiology and approach to diagnosis and treatment have evolved recently. In November 2020, an international group of uveitis-specialised ophthalmologists formed the International Ocular Toxoplasmosis Study Group to define current practice. Methods 192 Study Group members from 48 countries completed a 36-item survey on clinical features, use of investigations, indications for treatment, systemic and intravitreal treatment with antiparasitic drugs and corticosteroids, and approach to follow-up and preventive therapy. Results For 77.1% of members, unilateral retinochoroiditis adjacent to a pigmented scar accounted for over 60% of presentations, but diverse atypical presentations were also reported. Common complications included persistent vitreous opacities, epiretinal membrane, cataract, and ocular hypertension or glaucoma. Most members used clinical examination with (56.8%) or without (35.9%) serology to diagnose typical disease but relied on intraocular fluid testing—usually PCR—in atypical cases (68.8%). 66.1% of members treated all non-pregnant patients, while 33.9% treated selected patients. Oral trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was first-line therapy for 66.7% of members, and 60.9% had experience using intravitreal clindamycin. Corticosteroid drugs were administered systemically by 97.4%; 24.7% also injected corticosteroid intravitreally, almost always in combination with an antimicrobial drug (72.3%). The majority of members followed up all (60.4%) or selected (35.9%) patients after resolution of acute disease, and prophylaxis against recurrence with trimethoprim– sulfamethoxazole was prescribed to selected patients by 69.8%. Conclusion Our report presents a current management approach for ocular toxoplasmosis, as practised by a large international group of uveitis-specialised ophthalmologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Pretexto is the property of Revista Pretexto and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on Akerlof and Kranton (2005) In Journal of Economic Perspectives, 19(1), 9-32, who argue that group identity and social norms influence individual preferences towards work effort, a model is developed to understand why firms create good job conditions, taking into account the cost of implementing them and their impact on wages and productivity. Then, using individual-level data from the Gallup World Poll for 18 Latin American countries, the main predictions of the model are tested using propensity score matching. We find a positive link between good job conditions and wages when there are several simultaneous signals of a good work environment. We conclude that there is a positive payoff of investing in good job conditions for both workers and firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors investigate how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may affect China's global image. They find evidence that international opinions on China are diverse but not polarized. They also find that the BRI has curried favor for China in the related countries. On average, the BRI increases the net public approval rating of the Chinese leadership in these countries by 15 percentage points. Interestingly, the BRI arouses approving foreign opinions more than quietens disapproving voices. Furthermore, there is tentative evidence suggesting that the BRI impacts China's global reputation through trade, infrastructure, debt, and people-people interactions. Lastly, respondents who are older, better educated, with a higher income, and living in urban areas viewed China more favorably after the launch of the BRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect diverse hosts, including dogs. Although T. gondii infection in dogs is usually subclinical, they are susceptible to infection and develop a specific immune response to the parasite. In 2018, the largest outbreak of human toxoplasmosis in the world occurred in Santa Maria, in southern Brazil; however, the impact of this outbreak on other hosts was not investigated at the time. Considering that dogs often share the same environmental sources of infection as humans, mainly water sources, and that in Brazil, the detection rates of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) in dogs is very high, this study investigated the frequency of anti-T. gondii IgG in dogs in Santa Maria before and after the outbreak. A total of 2.245 serum samples were analyzed, 1159 collected before the outbreak and 1086 collected after the outbreak. Serum samples were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The infection detection of T. gondii was 16% (185/1159) before the outbreak and 43% (466/1086) after the outbreak. These results showed the infection of dogs with T. gondii and the high frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies in dogs after the outbreak in humans in 2018, reinforcing water as a possible source of infection and the importance of including toxoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orbital lymphomas are rare conditions, and most non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the orbit are extranodal lymphomas of B cells of the marginal zone of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (MALT). In this report, we describe a case of MALT-type marginal zone B lymphoma in the orbital region. A female patient, 45 years old, searched for ophthalmological care, complaining, for 15 years, of low visual acuity (VA) associated with nonpulsatile bilateral proptosis, VA of 20/30 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye, without other changes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbits showed solid expansive lesions in both orbital spaces, with biopsy and immunohistochemical study of the left orbit, showing lymphoproliferative syndrome, favoring B lymphoma of the MALT-type marginal zone. Thus, in view of the nonspecific initial presentation of MALT lymphoma, the use of imaging tests, as well as microsurgical biopsy, is essential for early diagnosis and surgical planning and constitutes the gold standard for adequate diagnostic elucidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine if and how deeper economic integration with high‐income nations impacts industrial performance. We exploit Poland's accession to the EU in 2004 as a source of variation in the degree of market integration with Germany. Using data on Polish manufacturing firms in the period 1995–2013, we find that EU accession was followed by significant within‐firm growth in output and productivity, notably in industries in which Germany was more specialized at the moment of accession. Increased flows of German investment to these sectors played an important role in shaping these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Idéias is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Compolítica is the property of Revista Compolítica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper uses municipal‐level data from South Africa for the period 1996–2011 to estimate the medium to long‐run effects of trade liberalisation on local labour markets. It finds that local labour markets that were more exposed to tariff cuts tended to experience slower growth in employment and income per capita than less exposed regions. The longer‐term effects of trade liberalisation on regional earnings are stronger than the medium‐term effects and tend to be more pronounced among municipalities that included the former homelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we look at the state of Portuguese research in economics, with an emphasis on the 2000–2019 period. For this purpose we use three distinct data sets, namely on publications, citations, and the situation of economics researchers in Portuguese universities. Over the last 20 years, the number of publications in international journals that show affiliations to Portuguese institutions as well as publications by Portuguese authors with foreign affiliations increased considerably. However, after peaking in 2013, the number of publications has since decreased. This may be partly due to the 2010–2014 financial crisis that imposed several restrictions on Portuguese universities, but other factors may also have contributed to the decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a brief approach to the economic theory of the labor market is made. Those who are in the best position in the social system often do not question this ideology that praises them, but blame others for social problems (such as unemployment and income concentration). After a bibliographic review of several works by authors, it is important to expand the study of inequality generated by the "invisible hand" as well as the discussion of factors that are routinely forgotten, such as the social division of labor and the structure of the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arquivos de Ciências da Saúde da UNIPAR is the property of Associacao Paranaense de Ensino e Cultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A large number of epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of fruits, vegetables, and beverages rich in (poly)phenols promote numerous health benefits from cardiovascular to neurological diseases. Evidence on (poly)phenols has been applied mainly to flavonoids, yet the role of phenolic acids has been largely overlooked. Such phenolics present in food combine with those resulting from gut microbiota catabolism of flavonoids and chlorogenic acids and those produced by endogenous pathways, resulting in large concentrations of low molecular weight phenolic metabolites in human circulation. Independently of the origin, in human intervention studies using diets rich in (poly)phenols, a total of 137 low molecular weight phenolic metabolites have been detected and quantified in human circulation with largely unknown biological function. In this review, we will pinpoint two main aspects of the low molecular weight phenolic metabolites: (i) the microbiota responsible for their generation, and (ii) the analysis (quali‐ and quantitative) in human circulation and their respective pharmacokinetics. In doing so, we aim to drive scientific advances regarding the ubiquitous roles of low molecular weight phenolic metabolites using physiologically relevant concentrations and under (patho)physiologically relevant conditions in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of O Ideário Patrimonial is the property of Centro Transdisciplinar das Arqueologias do Instituto Politecnico de Tomar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease, but disease-modifying or preventive treatments are lacking. Physical activity is a modifiable factor that decreases the PD risk and improves motor symptoms in PD. Understanding which dimensions of gait performance correlate with physical activity in PD can have important pathophysiological and therapeutic implications. Clinical/demographic data together with physical activity levels were collected from thirty-nine PD patients. Gait analysis was performed wearing seven inertial measurement units on the lower body, reconstructing the subjects' lower body motion using 3D kinematic biomechanical models. Higher physical activity scores were significantly correlated with MDS-UPDRS part III scores (r = − 0.58, p value = 9.2 × 10−5), age (r = − 0.39, p value = 1.5 × 10−2) and quality-of-life (r = − 0.47, p value = 5.9 × 10−3). Physical activity was negatively associated with MDS-UPDRS part III scores after adjusting for age and disease duration (β = − 0.08530, p value = 0.0010). The effect of physical activity on quality-of-life was mediated by the MDS-UPDRS part III (62.10%, 95% CI = 0.0758–1.78, p value = 0.022). The level of physical activity was correlated primarily with spatiotemporal performance. While spatiotemporal performance displays the strongest association with physical activity, other quality-of-movement dimensions of clinical relevance (e.g., smoothness, rhythmicity) fail to do so. Interventions targeting these ought to be leveraged for performance enhancement in PD through neuroprotective and brain network connectivity strengthening. It remains to be ascertained to which extent these are amenable to modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Estratégia & Negócios is the property of Revista Eletronica de Estrategia & Negocios and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Received wisdom suggests that most exporters sell most of their output domestically. We show, however, that the distribution of export intensity varies substantially across countries and is often bimodal, displaying "twin peaks"—that is, large shares of both low- and high-intensity exporters coexisting alongside each other within a country. We reconcile this new stylized fact with an otherwise standard model of trade in which firms face firm-destination-specific revenue shifters that follow a lognormal distribution with sufficiently high dispersion. We structurally estimate the model and show that differences in countries' size relative to the rest of the world can account for most of the observed cross-country variation in the distribution of export intensity in our data. While policies that incentivize firms to export a high share of their output account for a substantial share of the variation in the dispersion of firm-destination revenue shifters, they cannot fully account for the widespread prevalence of twin peaks around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Exacta is the property of Exacta - Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nova Economia is the property of Nova Economia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We provide a rationale for the mixed relationship between product market competition and unionized wage, and more importantly, for a generally unexplained empirical evidence of a positive relationship between product market competition and unionized wage. We show that a higher product market competition decreases (increases) unionized wage if the external scale economies are weak (strong). However, a higher product market competition may decrease or increase the unionized wage if the external scale economies are moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dilemas: Revista de Estudos de Conflito e Controle Social is the property of Dilemas: Revista de Estudos de Conflito e Controle Social and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The aim of this article was to analyze how the presence of the elements that constitute organizational links are related to sensemaking in a cooperative system of medical work. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis was conducted following interviews with the managers of the cooperative, which is a member of the Brazilian cooperative system and one of the largest in the world. This analysis enabled the systematization of the categories that were identified through the coding of responses, aided by Atlas.ti 8.0 software. Findings: After the analysis, it was possible to resize the constitutive elements identified in the specialized literature into three categories: identification, cooperation and recognition. The proposed resizing does not preclude the presence of the constitutive elements identified in the analysis, but it evidences the presence of these elements in a contextualized manner, suggesting a model of an organic organizational link that is dependent on the relationship between subject–object (organization), in which the different perceptions of meanings affect identification, and this can strengthen or weaken the link in a constant process of resignification. Originality/value: With regard to its theoretical relevance, the work helps to bring concepts related to organizational links and sensemaking closer together as a process in the realm of intersubjectivity. This provides evidence of the presence of constituent elements of ties in a contextualized manner, demonstrating that the interpretation of managers aids sensemaking in a process of circularity and resignification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduces the articles featured in the April 2001 issue of the periodical 'The Information Society,' which are devoted to impacts of economic liberalization on information technology production and use. 'Liberalization and the Computer Industry,' by Kenneth Kraemer and Jason Dedrick; 'Brazil Meets the Global Challenge,' by Paulo Bastos Tigre and Antonio Jose Junqueira Botelho. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Direito Internacional Econômico e Tributário (RDIET) is the property of Revista de Direito Internacional Economico e Tributario (RDIET) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Avaliação Psicológica is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Avaliacao Psicologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)