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Global warming is a result of the increased emission of greenhouse gases. The consequences of this climate change threaten society, biodiversity, food and resource availability. The consequences include an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and cardiovascular mortality. In this position paper, we summarize the data from the main studies that assess the risks of a temperature increase or heat waves in CV events (CV mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and CV hospitalizations), as well as the data concerning air pollution as an enhancer of temperature-related CV risks. The data currently support global warming/heat waves (extreme temperatures) as cardiovascular threats. Achieving neutrality in emissions to prevent global warming is essential and it is likely to have an effect in the global health, including the cardiovascular health. Simultaneously, urgent steps are required to adapt the society and individuals to this new climatic context that is potentially harmful for cardiovascular health. Multidisciplinary teams should plan and intervene healthcare related to temperature changes and heat waves and advocate for a change in environmental health policy., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The retraction of health sciences publications is a growing concern. To understand the patterns in a particular country-context and design specific measures to address the problem, it is important to describe and characterize retractions. We aimed to assess the evolution of health science retractions in Brazil and Portugal and to describe their features. We conducted a cross-sectional study including all health sciences retracted articles with at least one author affiliated to a Portuguese or Brazilian institution identified through Retraction Watch database. A total of 182 retracted articles were identified. The number of retractions increased over time, but the proportion related to the whole of publications remained stable. A total of 50.0% and 60.8% of the Portuguese and Brazilian retracted articles, respectively, were published in first and second quartile journals. Scientific misconduct accounted for 60.1% and 55.9% of retractions in Brazil and Portugal. In both countries, the most frequent cause of misconduct was plagiarism. The time from publication to retraction decreases as the journal quartile increases. The retraction of health sciences articles did not decrease over time in Brazil and Portugal. There is a need to develop strategies aimed at preventing, monitoring and managing scientific misconduct according to the country context.

Pain is a common feature of most rheumatic diseases and it is often the main reason for the patient to seek for a clinical appointment. Chronic pain has a major impact on patient's quality of life, being frequently associated with functional incapacity, sleep and mood disorders. This leads to absenteeism and heavy consumption of health resources, both representing huge burdens on national economy. Managing musculoskeletal pain is pivotal but can be challenging. The use of the available pharmaceutical armamentarium should be parsimonious. Opioids are strong analgesic drugs that mostly act through their agonist action on µ-receptors in the central nervous system. Opioid-related side effects are not negligible and are mediated through both central and peripheral opioid receptors. The use of opioids is well established in the treatment of oncologic pain but their role in the management of musculoskeletal pain is still controversial. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, osteoporotic fractures, chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia represent diverse major rheumatic conditions that frequently lead to chronic pain. In order to standardize and optimize management of musculoskeletal chronic pain in these prevalent diseases, the Portuguese Rheumatology Society elaborated this position paper. The objectives were: a) to define the importance of pain assessment and classification; b) to guide patient selection, appropriate choice of opioids, their management, and raise awareness of their adverse effects; c) to review the existent data on possible indications of opioid therapy on rheumatic diseases.

Bats have long been recognized as important pest controllers. However, there are no studies evaluating the potential of bats in predating insect pests of Eucalyptus trees, one of the most planted trees worldwide. We evaluated the predation of 3 worldwide spread Eucalyptus pest, Ctenarytaina spatulata, C. eucalypti and Gonipterus platensis, in Portugal, and also the former main pest biological control agent, the parasitoid Anaphes nitens. We used molecular methods to identify 10 bat species from 356 droppings and used a specific PCR assay to detect the 4 target insects. We detected C. eucalypti in 3 droppings, C. spatulata in 4, G. platensis in 1, and none with A. nitens. Our results indicate that bats can potentially act as suppressing agents of the novel exotic prey in eucalypt plantations, but their importance seems low, likely as a result of their low use of eucalypt plantations as foraging grounds. Managing plantations to attract bats, would not only help in bat conservation, but could also increase natural pest control of eucalypt pests, leading to more sustainable forestry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis, among so many social, economic and health problems, also brought new opportunities. The potential of telemedicine to improve health outcomes had already been recognised in the last decades, but the pandemic crisis has accelerated the digital revolution. In 2020, a rapid increase in the use of remote consultations occurred due to the need to reduce attendance and overcrowding in outpatient clinics. However, the benefit of their use extends beyond the pandemic crisis, as an important tool to improve both the efficiency and capacity of future healthcare systems. This article reviews the literature regarding telemedicine and teleconsultation standards and recommendations, collects opinions of Portuguese experts in respiratory medicine and provides guidance in teleconsultation practices for Pulmonologists., (Copyright © 2022 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) is a tool to address social impacts from a life cycle perspective. This work presents the first S-LCA of the Portuguese pulp and paper sector. It presents the social risks and the positive social impacts of the sector, which have not been extensively covered in the scientific literature. Two different approaches were used to compile the social life cycle inventory based on input-output analysis. Approach 1 was based on impact analysis of changes in added value. Approach 2 was based on structural path analysis, supporting the disaggregation by production levels (or tiers). The functional unit was the production of 1 United States Dollar in the Portuguese pulp and paper sector. In the social life cycle impact assessment, the social risk assessment was conducted using the Social Hotspots Database. The positive impacts were addressed considering indicators of employment and remuneration, namely total employment, number of employees, labor compensation, and compensation of employees. Based on Approach 1, the results of the social risks showed the Portuguese pulp and paper industry, commerce and forestry sectors, and the Spanish forestry sector as the critical sectors. Based on Approach 2, Portugal and Spain continued to be the countries having the greatest social risks. Other contributions of countries were identified at different production levels, particularly China in tier 3. In both approaches, the stakeholder category 'worker' was the most critical. Regarding the positive social impacts, Approach 1 showed that Portugal and Spain contribute to the highest employment level linked to the pulp and paper, commerce, and forestry sectors. Approach 2 supported the differentiation of employment and remuneration at different production levels. Tier 2 (direct suppliers) presented the highest employment level and persons engaged and the lowest remuneration level. The results showed that Approach 1 provides a faster and more aggregated assessment of social risks and positive social impacts. Furthermore, Approach 2 allowed a more detailed evaluation, providing a better understanding of the social risks and positive social impacts on the supply chain. Thus, Approach 2 is encouraged for different applications since it produces a better understanding of where social risks and positive social impacts occur, providing better guidance for corrective measures and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rearrangements in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS (ROS1) genes characterise two distinct molecular subsets of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumours. Lorlatinib is a third-generation ALK/ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) shown to have systemic and intracranial activity in treatment-naive patients and in those who progressed on first- and second-generation TKIs. Despite being generally well tolerated, lorlatinib has a unique and challenging safety profile that includes hyperlipidaemia and central and peripheral nervous system adverse events (AEs). This article summarises a set of strategies designed to monitor and manage lorlatinib-related AEs that were agreed upon by a multidisciplinary panel of specialists in a meeting held in July 2020. Among the recommendations hereby described, special emphasis was placed on communication: prescribing physicians should inform patients and their families/caregivers about the likelihood and nature of lorlatinib AEs, encouraging them to report any symptoms, while at the same time reassuring them that most events are manageable and resolve spontaneously and have little to no interference with cancer treatment. Importantly, all patients should undergo a set of baseline assessments, including biochemical analysis, evaluation of cardiovascular risk, electrocardiogram (ECG), neurological evaluation and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, which should be repeated regularly during lorlatinib treatment. Supportive medications to treat or relieve lorlatinib AEs were also discussed, as were the conditions requiring specialist consultations and/or adjustments in lorlatinib therapy. The overall goal of this article is to serve as a practical guide for oncologists to systematically and effectively approach lorlatinib AEs., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to validate the Portuguese language version of the 10-item Cervantes Scale (CS-10), a self-reporting instrument that assesses menopausal symptoms, and to compare the results (both symptom severity and multigroup invariance) of middle-aged women who completed the questionnaire in paper-and-pencil format (PPF) or in the online format (OF)., Methods: A total of 292 women, aged 45 to 65 years, completed the questionnaires (PPF = 66; OF = 226). Construct (factorial and convergent) and external validity, as well as reliability and psychometric sensitivity were studied. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed to compare PPF with OF, regarding the measure's invariance., Results: The CS-10 showed good psychometric properties (ie, factor and external validity), as well as good sensitivity and reliability. The association with the Utian Quality of Life Scale (UQoLS) was significant and positive, though weak. The measured structure was invariant when comparing both subsamples (PPF and OF), evidencing an equivalent structure in both. No differences in reported symptoms were observed between the two subgroups., Conclusions: The Portuguese language version of the CS-10 rendered data with good psychometric properties in a sample of middle-aged Portuguese women. Therefore, it can be used in both clinical and community settings. The weak association between both instruments (UQoLS and CS-10) might be due to the different conceptualization of the quality of life construct: the CS-10 focuses on symptom severity, whereas the UQoLS assesses domains such as work-related or health-related behaviors.

Copyright of Tourism Review is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited 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 visual investigation begins with an image from the photographic album of a border delimitation mission on the Angolan/Congolese (DRC) frontier. The image shows a lunch at the Portuguese camp on October 5, 1914. Sitting at the table are six white men - three commanding officers for, each colonial ppwer, Portugal and Belgium. Standing at the the back of the construction that serves as a dining room, is a black servant. His head, merged into the background, is invisible. From the original glass negative, it was possible to retrieve this man's features. The image was printed, cut up and reworked in various manners including collage, drawing and photography, originating the short animation O Festim (the Feast, 2021) and a web-based experiment, Daemonicycles. The work intends to reflect upon history and colonialism, considering power dynamics, cosmology and culture and the enduring phantoms that haunt us still today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is known and Objective Biopharmaceuticals are an important class of drugs for the treatment of autoimmune/inflammatory and oncologic diseases. With patent expiries, biotechnological manufacturers can now develop biosimilar drugs. Due to timeliness of introducing new and more complex biosimilars, the Portuguese Association of Hospital Pharmacists gathered to develop a common positioning on the use of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies. Main issues The European pathway to biosimilar approval was developed to improve affordability and access to biological therapies, but it remains a work in progress because unresolved issues remain. Due to the present reality of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies, hospital pharmacists must play an important role in ensuring the safe, effective and cost-effective use of biosimilars in health systems; and educating healthcare administrators, providers, legislators, policymakers, payors and patients about these products. What is new and conclusion The conclusions presented in this work focused on the proposal for optimal biosimilar prescription criteria, the preparation of original biologics and biosimilars in the pharmacy, the management and selection of suppliers, extrapolation issues, the specific role of pharmacovigilance and risk management for the optimal use of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Géneros: Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies is the property of Generos: Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies 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.)

The aim of this paper was to assess the validity and reliability of the touch-screen standard Portuguese version of the following patient-reported outcomes (PROs), compared with paper format, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life scale (ASQoL), Short-Form 36 (SF-36), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and visual analogue scales (VAS) measuring pain and burden of disease. Adult patients with RA and spondyloarthritis attending the Portuguese Institute of Rheumatology were recruited from March 2013 to January 2014. Patients filled the paper and touch-screen formats of the standard Portuguese versions of the PROs. Two groups of VAS were used, RA and psoriatic arthritis (Global VAS) and another specific for spondyloarthrites (Spa-VAS). Paper questionnaires were filled 15 min before touch-screen formats. Agreement between formats (validity) was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while internal consistency of scales (reliability) was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Overall, 134 patients were included with a mean age of 51 years, 74.6 % female and 57.5 % presenting RA. BASDAI, BASFI, HAQ and ASQoL showed high ICC between paper and touch-screen formats (0.977, 0.958, 0.974 and 0.940, respectively). ICC for Global VAS ranged from 0.906 to 0.921, while Spa-VAS ranged from 0.867 to 0.943. The mean ICC for all SF-36 domains was 0.889 (ICC for each domain ranged from 0.781 to 0.944). Touch-screen standard Portuguese formats of these PROs may be valid and reliable tools for PRO measurement in rheumatology.

Soil microbial communities, which play a key role in the provision of essential ecosystem services, are significantly influenced by several physical and chemical soil properties that may change with land management. This study explores the effect of different land cover types (coniferous tree stands, broad-leaved stands, shrublands, pastures/grasslands and croplands) on physical, chemical and microbial properties (all contributing to soil health) in southern European areas under moderate-high desertification risk selected in Italy, Spain and Portugal. In sites that differ in land cover, we determined microbial biomass (C mic), activity and indices of microbial metabolism including C mic /C org ratio, metabolic quotient (qCO 2) and quotient of mineralization (qM). Soil physical and chemical properties were also measured, comprising bulk density (BD), water content (WC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total organic C (C org) and some of its labile fractions, extractable C (C ext) and mineralizable C (C min), total N content and C/N. Results showed that land cover type played a strong role in determining magnitude of microbial variables with biomass and activity being higher under coniferous tree cover than in other land covers, according to trends in WC, CEC, C org , C ext , C min , N, C/N. Compared to land cover, aridity index had lower effect on investigated variables. In comparison to sites with higher C org content, sites with lower C org content (most croplands) tended to lose C more rapidly, as suggested by high qM values, except for Spanish acidic soils. Therefore, urgent actions must be taken to counteract the tendency of C-poorer soils to lose C, promoting land cover types that facilitate soil recovery by ensuring denser and more continuous soil cover over time. We also identified a minimum set of soil variables that provide information on soil health changes in both short term (microbial variables) and longer term (physical and chemical variables) in areas under desertification risk. [Display omitted] • Land cover is a key factor affecting soil health in areas at desertification risk. • Coniferous cover had the best effect on soil microbial, physical and chemical variables. • Croplands, grasslands, shrublands and broad-leaved soils differed at a lesser extent. • Soils poorer in organic C tended to lose C more rapidly than richer soils. • A minimum data set of soil health indicators was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is a widely held belief that sustainable development (SD) policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability, and are an indicator of the extent to which they are active in this field. This paper aims to examine the evidence which currently exists to support this assumption. It surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and the UK and the USA to ascertain the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 35 universities in seven countries (five universities respectively). A mixed-methods approach has been used, ranging from document analysis, website analysis, questionnaires and interviewing. Findings: Although only 60 per cent of the sampled universities had a policy that specifically addressed SD, this cannot be regarded as an indicator that the remaining 40 per cent are not engaged with substantial actions that address SD. Indeed, all of the universities in the sample, regardless of the existence of a SD formal policy, demonstrated engagement with environmental sustainability policies or procedures in some form or another. This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Despite this, it is one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed. Research limitations/implications: This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Practical implications: The findings provide some valuable insights into the connections between SD policies on the one hand and the practice of sustainable development in higher education institutions on the other. Social implications: Universities with SD policies can contribute to models of economic growth consistent with sustainable development. Originality/value: The study is the one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed.

The fact that there are (at least) two different translations of the English preposition for used to describe duration in Portuguese, namely durante and por, shows that duration is an interesting area in the tense and aspect panorama of this language, which deserves close study. In this paper, I present an empirical study based on four different corpora to investigate the matter, looking at the Portuguese varieties from Brazil and Portugal and different text genres (general and specialised newspapers, oral interviews, and fiction). The material spans circa two centuries. This paper identifies some specific uses and preferences of the two adverbials and confirms and challenges other claims in the linguistic literature. It shows that narrative fiction is definitely different from newspaper text due to its need to describe short duration and that planned duration can be expressed using both kinds of adverbials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to understand the involvement of women in white-collar crime (WCC) also referred to as pink-collar crimes. WCC is present around the globe and has created a word for itself. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is designed by studying the WCC in the area of Iran, Portugal, Norway, India and the USA. Findings: The paper attempts to move beyond the traditional perspectives of emancipation versus focal concern, which argue that less inequality will increase women involvement in WCC versus women socializing into accepting responsibilities for social concerns by caring for others. Research limitations/implications: As the data is restricted, this study is based on the limited data available on the internet. Originality/value: This paper is an original work of the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess banking stability and its determinants in Portugal during the period of 2010—2019. The empirical study starts with the construction of an index, which reflects the aggregated banking stability index (ABSI), using financial soundness indicators (FSI) over the period of 2010–2019, on a quarterly basis. The ABSI is then used as the dependent variable to assess the determinants of the Portuguese banking stability. The independent variables were classified into macroeconomic and financial variables, respectively, and the ARMA conditional least square method was considered. The findings suggest an improvement in stability since 2017, and point to significant macroeconomic early warning indicators, such as the growth rate of the consumer price index (%ΔCPI), as well as financial ones, such as the ratio of the second money multiplier (M2) to gross domestic product (GDP). This paper contributes to the banking stability literature by examining the Portuguese case for the first time. The results put in evidence that both macroeconomic and financial indicators can be useful predictors of banking instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the self-representations of Portuguese media professionals and their work practices. Utilizing data from a broader empirical study, this paper delves into the dynamics of influence among various actors within newsrooms. Based on journalists' perceptions of the content, the methods they use to assess the quality of the news are also identified. To address these enquiries, a survey was conducted among professionals engaged in the news production process. This sample comprised 72 individuals from various sectors of newsrooms, including photographers, designers, IT professionals, social media managers, and videographers. The main results indicate that seven out of ten respondents acknowledged their reliance on colleagues in newsrooms for success. Furthermore, the data suggest that there are no significant disparities among different professionals, with personal satisfaction emerging as the primary criterion for assessing the work quality. It is notable that almost twice as many women tend to indicate the low impact of the journalist on their work compared to male respondents. Moreover, most respondents stated that there is space for hybrid professionals in newsrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While industry tends towards mass personalisation and instant deliveries, the last mile of urban logistics is being challenged to decrease the number of vehicles in circulation and the distances they travel in city centres. The COVID-19 pandemic helped expose the inefficiency of cities in fulfilling citizens' real-time needs. Moreover, the first aim of this paper is to understand the barriers which policymakers face in providing a personalised response to citizens' needs and the second to ascertain how they can proactively serve their communities. In line with these concerns, empirical evidence was collected through a questionnaire to Portuguese policymakers, and the results were discussed in a focus group with experts. The results suggest a lack of tools to enable real-time visualisation and study of scenarios for implementing and organising means of delivery and storage. Moreover, although policymakers feel confident in their capacity to manage the last mile, they would struggle to operate autonomously. Therefore, this paper conceptualises an initial algorithm based on the dynamic collaboration of stakeholders and sharing of resources to guarantee fulfilment of citizens' necessities. Furthermore, future discussions shall emerge about the relationships and technical standards between stakeholders to provide the necessary logistical means for city management and operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing Resource Allocation in Fire Departments (RAFD) is crucial for enhancing Fire Protection Services (FPS) and ultimately saving lives. Efficient RAFD ensures that fire departments have the necessary resources to respond effectively to emergencies. This paper presents a method for optimizing RAFD based on performance assessment results, examining its impact on Fire Department (FD) efficiency in Portugal. Evaluating data from 353 FDs, two RAFD optimization methods were assessed: one adhering to Portuguese regulations and constraints, such as budget allocation limitations, and another without such constraints. Integrating a slack-based data envelopment analysis model and mixed-integer linear programming, the study found that incorporating FD efficiency scores in RAFD improved overall efficiency at national, district, and FD levels. While adherence to Portuguese regulations led to balanced resource allocation and a 4% performance improvement at the national level, relaxing constraints yielded an 8% improvement, albeit with potential performance deterioration in some FDs. The detailed budget and efficiency metric analysis provided in this paper offers actionable insights for fire protection services enhancement. This underscores the importance of diverse optimization strategies to enhance FD efficiency, with implications for decision-makers at the Portuguese National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection and similar organizations globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]