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This study aims to assess whether the ease of doing business can be considered as an alternative path (indirect path) between innovation and competitiveness of nations, improving the understanding of the effect transfer between these two variables. The study used exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis and mediation techniques applied to data from 141 countries contemplated in The Global Competitiveness report 2019 by the WEF and Doing Business report 2019 by the World Bank. The results show the mediator role of ease of doing business in the relationship between innovation and global competitiveness. Innovation improves the competitiveness of nations, but rules and regulations can be a barrier to this relationship. Therefore, ease of doing business is an essential element in improving the relationship between innovation and competitiveness, helping policymakers to focus their efforts on ease of doing business aspects in such a way as to enhance the economic process and support investors to make the most appropriate decisions when choosing the countries in which to invest their resources. Complementarily, the study also contributes by pointing out that the current method of calculating the EDB index may not be the most suitable, since it can distort analysis affecting international investment feasibility studies

Background and study aims A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of argon plasma coagulation (APC) therapy in treating post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) weight regain and the incidence of complications related to this procedure, using a sham treatment group as a control. Patients and methods Forty-one patients with a minimum weight regain of 10 kg and a minimum postoperative time of 36 months were randomized into two groups. Results In the APC group (n = 21), the mean initial weight was 100.4 kg and the mean weight regain was 24.94 kg. In the sham group (n = 20), the mean initial weight was 103.65 kg, and the mean weight regain was 25.18 kg. Anastomotic stenosis occurred only after the first APC session. The results for the comparison of APC with the sham group showed a percentage weight regain loss of 63.95 compared to -.65, and weight loss of 15.02 and –0.57), percentage total weight loss of 14.46 and –0.62, excess weight loss of 54.32 % and –2.34 %), and BMI reduction of 5.38 and –0.21, with P

The state military police of the Brazilian state of São Paulo (PMESP) has the lowest number of police officers in the institution since the 1990s, compared to itself, with a vast number of unpaid leave and resignation requests. Low salaries appear to be a reason, but the police say that this is not the only factor to be rectified; lack of recognition and difficulties in overcoming trauma are also frequently mentioned. This picture refers to a situation that can be understood as low motivation, loss of meaning, and psychological suffering. This study aimed to understand whether there is a general loss of meaning at work in PMESP, together with well-being and psychological suffering. Using structural equation modeling, the study sought to understand the factors that give meaning to the work of these professionals and their consequences for well-being and psychological distress at work. Social usefulness and learning and development opportunities showed a meaningful relationship with meaning of work, with learning and development opportunities being the most important for the surveyed military police officers. Regarding the consequent constructs of meaning of work, significant relationships between psychological well-being at work and psychological suffering were verified. The study indicates that when meaning is constructed (via social utility and learning), there is an increase in psychological well-being, as well as a decrease in the effect of psychological suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to identify the countries’ innovation factors that are determinant for them to achieve higher levels of development. In addition, the research identified which of these factors should be prioritized so the countries can move up in the rank of the most competitive. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the indicators of innovation and the stage of development of 137 countries proposed by the Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum and techniques of multivariate data analysis. Findings – The results indicated that all the factors tested are determinant to lead the countries throughout their stages of development. The research highlights that the factors “Quality of scientific research institutions” and “Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications” should be equally prioritized for the countries’ development. Practical implications – The results suggested that the factors Capacity for Innovation, Quality of Scientific Research Institutions, Company Spending on Research and Development (R&D), University–Industry Collaboration in R&D, Government Procurement of Advanced Technology Products, Availability of Scientists and Engineers and PCT Patent Applications are decisive for positioning countries in terms of their stage of development and should be part of their public policy and enterprises’ strategic planning. Originality/value – The findings show that countries should prioritize the factors Quality of Scientific Research Institutions and PCT Patent Applications, as these factors, when acting together, predict the evolution to higher stages of development.

ABSTRACT Background: Abdominal obesity or android obesity, that is, the increase in adipose tissue in the abdominal region, is considered a risk factor for several morbidities. Different ways of quantifying it have been proposed, one method is the measurement of the abdominal fat area by computed tomography. Aim: To establish correspondence between the groups defined by degree of obesity in relation to the total, subcutaneous and visceral fat area. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study carried out through the analysis of tomographic examinations. Horos v3.3.5 medical image visualization software was used, with abdominal tomography in a single cut including the L4 vertebral body and the umbilical scar, to obtain the areas of total, visceral and subcutaneous fat. Results: Of the 40 patients, 10 had grade II obesity, 23 grade III and 7 superobese. The amount of total fat showed an increase in relation to the degree of obesity. Visceral fat did not show significant differences between the degrees of obesity, but the data showed a lower average in the group of obesity grade II. The area of subcutaneous fat, as well as total fat, showed an increase in its measurements, according to the progression of the patients’ BMI, but there was no statistical significance in this difference between the groups of grade II and super-obese individuals. Conclusion: The area of total and subcutaneous fat showed an increase in its measurements according to the progression of the BMI groups, which did not happen with visceral fat.

Research on olfactory stimulation indicates that it can influence human cognition and behavior, as in the perception of facial expressions. Odors can facilitate or impair the identification of facial expressions, and apparently its hedonic valence plays an important role. However, it was also demonstrated that the presentation of happiness and disgust faces can influence the emotional appraisal of odorants, indicating a bilateral influence in this phenomenon. Hence, it's possible that odor influences on emotional categorization vary depending on the intensity of expressions. To investigate this hypothesis, we performed an emotion recognition task using facial expressions of five emotional categories (happiness, fear, disgust, anger and sadness) with ten different intensities. Thirty-five participants completed four blocks of the task, each with a different olfactory condition, and we found that odorants' effects varied according to the facial expressions intensity. Odorants enhanced the Reaction Time (RT) differences between threshold and high-intensity expressions for disgust and fear faces. Also, analysis of the RT means for high-intensity facial expressions revealed that the well-known advantage in recognition of happiness facial expressions, compared to other emotions, was enhanced in the positive olfactory stimulation and decreased in the negative condition. We conclude that olfactory influences on emotional processing of facial expressions vary along intensities of the latter, and the discrepancies of past research in this field may be a result of a bilateral effect in which the odorants influence the identification of emotional faces just as the facial expressions influence the emotional reaction to the odor.

Esta pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, procura refletir sobre os métodos avaliativos utilizados antes e durante o período de distanciamento social provocado pela pandemia de covid-19, utilizando uma rede pública de instituições de ensino superior profissional do estado de São Paulo como objeto de estudo. A partir do referencial teórico e do questionário enviado aos docentes e gestores da rede, a percepção dos respondentes acerca da avaliação do processo de aprendizagem dos alunos das graduações tecnológicas, em comparação a procedimentos utilizados antes das medidas de isolamento, sugere a necessidade de revisão sobre a prevalência de conteúdos a serem avaliados e reflexão sobre a mensuração dos resultados esperados dos alunos de cursos superiores de educação profissional.

Organizational studies highlight the role of innovation for competitiveness, but few of them address ecological sustainability as one of the variables in this relationship. The traditional model only considers economic growth to be anchored in the dimension of innovation, disregarding the environment. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of ecological sustainability on the relationship between innovation and global competitiveness. To reach the goal of the manuscript, a database was used that included indicators from 119 countries present in the Global Competitiveness Report of WEF and the Global Innovation Index. The data were treated using regression analysis with mediation techniques. The results suggest significant mediation of ecological sustainability in the relationship between innovation and global competitiveness. This work shows the importance of ecological sustainability to increase country’s innovative activity and consequently its competitiveness. Additionally, it draws attention to the gap in studies that present these relationships at the country level. In terms of practical contributions, the findings support the recommendation for companies to focus on actions to environmental and innovation management improving sustainability and increasing organizational performance and long-term survival. Finally, this research also draws attention to the lack of an important indicator of ecological sustainability in a report addressing countries’ competitiveness.

Purpose – This study seeks to investigate whether a good management environment in companies determines results in terms of country competitiveness. Additionally, it aims to verify if innovation plays a role in contributing to this. Design/methodology/approach – The study used structural equation modeling and data on 138 countries contemplated in The Global Competitiveness Report 2016/2017 (2016 World Economic Forum). A number of theories have been used to relate competitiveness to innovation and to management practices. This discussion was expanded, taking these variables into account in a more comprehensive framework. Findings – The analysis performed indicates the role of best management practices as a mediator in the relationship that exists between innovation and global competitiveness, which reinforces the importance of a good level of management Originality/Value- There have been many studies and discussions about global competitiveness. The factors in the literature used to explain a country´s degree of competitiveness include cheap labor, abundant raw materials, the amount of capital available for investment, and, especially, the capacity to innovate. Some authors point to a fifth factor: best management practices. The paper shows how this factor improves competitiveness. The most important contribution of this study is to demonstrate that innovation alone cannot by itself ensure competitiveness in companies or nations, and requires the simultaneous presence of best management practices.

IntroductionIn this study we compared the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) with a story reading intervention (SI) on the executive functions and psychological profile of children in two different public schools in São Paulo, Brazil.MethodsIn this controlled clinical trial, 207 children aged 8 to 9 years old responded to the Five-Digit Test (FDT), stress levels, depression, anxiety, positive and negative affect, at baseline (T0) and 8 weeks later (T1). From T0 to T1, school 1 participated in MBI classes and school 2 in IS classes.ResultsIn school 1 (MBI), children improved their scores on all tests except reading (errors) and counting (errors) compared with school 2. No differences were observed between groups in terms of emotional health.ConclusionIt is feasible to implement MBI or SI in Brazilian public schools. Students in the MBI group presented broader effects in executive functions, while students in the SI group showed a trend toward reduced negative affect and depression symptoms.

ABSTRACT Background: As the number of bariatric operations increases, there is a greater interest in knowledge, experience and skills in the operative and anesthetic management of obese people. Anesthetic recovery is an important point in the therapeutic approach and less adverse effects delaying discharge of these patients are necessary to be kept in mind by the surgical team. Aim: To compare anesthetic-analgesic techniques in the opioid-sparing era through epidural administration of local anesthetic associated with low-dose morphine vs. clonidine and analyze the impact of analgesia on the effectiveness of postoperative recovery by comparing these two techniques. Methods: Randomized, double-blind clinical trial with 66 patients candidates for Roux-en-Y gastrojejunal bypass divided into two groups: morphine group and clonidine group. Multimodal analgesia included epidural anesthesia with 0.375% ropivacaine 20 ml at the eighth thoracic vertebra with the association of morphine (morphine group) at a dose of 15 mcg / kg or clonidine (clonidine group) at a dose of 1 mcg / kg. Results: The groups were homogeneous and statistical significance was found when analyzing the difference in pain between them in the first postoperative period. The pain was higher in the clonidine group, as in this period, analgesic rescue was also better in this group. In the other times, there was no significance in the differences regarding pain and rescue. The return of intestinal motility in the morphine group was earlier in the first postoperative period. Nausea, vomiting and hospital discharge did not show significant differences between groups. Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia with low-dose morphine allowed less pain during the entire hospital stay, with a positive impact on patient recovery.

Abstract Background Women have been assuming more responsibilities and higher positions in major companies, which exposes them to high levels of stress. Higher perceived work stress is related to higher emotional reactivity. Difficulties with emotional regulation can lead to anxiety and mood disorders, which are more prevalent in women than men. Indeed, women leaders are more likely to experience emotional fatigue than men due to excessive empathy. Our aim was to evaluate the associations between self-compassion (SC) scores to depression symptoms, perceived stress and mindfulness, as well as with brain responses to high-arousal unpleasant and pleasant pictures from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), as measured through functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in women managers. Methods Forty-six participants were selected for the study. All participants filled the Self Compassion Scale (SCS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mindful Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). After that they were scanned during an fMRI affective response paradigm. Correlation analysis were performed among these variables. Results Our data suggest that women with higher SC scores respond to affective stimuli with higher activation of the precuneus (a brain region related to self-referential processing), lower levels of stress and depression and show greater attention in everyday activities. Conclusion SC may be an important characteristic for women leaders because of its association with higher sensitivity to emotional stimuli and mindfulness. These skills may allow them to be more aware of others while being less susceptible for stress and depression symptoms.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the perceptions of cleanliness and organization of the point of sale, hygiene and training of those who serve the public (service) and healthiness of the products, constitute a base for the perception of the quality of food sold in the street. Studies about development of street food trade have gained relevance in academic debate because of its social and economic significance. Usually, aspects related to sanitary issues are presented, and the factors that influence consumer perception regarding quality of food consumed are less explored. This was the focus of this work. The relationships among possible predecessors – attendance, cleanliness, organization and healthiness – were tested, all acting together, influencing the variable perception of product quality. Competitive models were tested because of theoretical divergences regarding the relationship between quality and healthiness, not yet totally clear in the literature. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative survey was carried out in the city of Diadema (SP, Brazil), getting 603 respondents, with data and theoretical models analyzed by structural equation modeling. Findings - Results indicated that organization variable is not significant regarding perception of product quality, while attendance and healthiness directly affect this perception. On the other hand, cleanliness influences perceived healthiness and this, in turn, reinforces perception of product quality. Practical implications - The focus of street food traders should be on clerk cleanliness and politeness (characteristics related to the service) that end up influencing the perception that the consumer develops regarding healthiness (characteristic related to product quality).

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze patterns and trends of articles that present the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) and that were published in several Brazilian journals. In addition, this paper maps the institutions where the authors of the identified articles are affiliated, and discusses aspects of searching the articles in journals’ archives and other scientific databases. Design/methodology/approach – The work used bibliometrics, which is one of the forms of evaluation and measurement of information flows in scientific knowledge, using mathematical and statistical methods. Findings – The study showed an exponential growth in using SEM in several areas in recent years, with predominance in marketing. Most of the publications were produced by authors from institutions such as USP, FGV and UFRGS, but most authors published only one article using SEM. Almost all published articles used one of the three most common software, especially AMOS®. Surprisingly, many articles did not mention the software used, indicating methodological flaw. Practical implications – Weaknesses were found regarding the search for articles in the different sources used, indicating that, for literature reviews, the research should be conducted in several databases in a complementary way and not alternatively. This fact becomes critical especially when expressions in languages other than Portuguese were used. This situation suggests an aggravating lack of visibility for the Brazilian scientific community since the articles are less likely to be found. Originality/value – The paper shows that among the various techniques of multivariate data analysis used in the field of administration, SEM has gained prominence being operationalized using specific software.

Purpose: As cancer burden has risen worldwide, physicians, patients, and their advocates have become aware that the clinical cancer trial research paradigm is not ubiquitous. Furthermore, the number and characteristics of trials that are registered in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with that in high-income countries (HICs) are unknown. Methods: We collected retrospective data on trials for breast, lung, and cervical cancer registered in ClinicalTrials.gov or with the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform between 2010 and 2017. The data were then classified as trials within LMICs or HICs using definitions from the World Bank. Results: Included in these analyses were 6,710 trials, of which 3,164 (47%) were breast cancer trials, 3,283 (49%) were lung cancer trials, and 263 (4%) were cervical cancer trials. There were 1,951 (29%) trials from LMICs and 4,759 (71%) trials from HICs (P < .001). Although the proportion of phase III trials in HICs versus LMICs was similar (18% v 17%; P = .66), the number of phase I trials in LMICs was significantly lower than that of HICs (20% v 2%; P < .001). For several LMICs with the highest mortality-to-incidence ratios for breast, lung, or cervical cancer, there were no cancer trials registered in the registration data bases searched for this work. Conclusion: There are differences in access to cancer clinical trials in LMICs compared with HICs. Several factors, such as excessive cost and a lack of infrastructure and expertise, may explain these differences.

In recent years concerns have been expressed about the impact of products on the environment. Consumers and manufacturers have directed their attention to environmentally friendly products, energy-saving actions, organic food products, lead-free inks, recyclable paper, non-phosphate detergents, among others. This survey provides a brief review of environmental issues and identifies consumers' sustainable purchasing behavior, their level of awareness about environmental issues and green products according to the variables accessibility, sustainable awareness, brand, price and quality. The data collection was performed with an electronic questionnaire, obtaining 302 respondents. Results revealed that brand is the factor with the greatest influence on sustainable purchasing behavior, not having a concern with price and quality. Accessibility to sustainable products and sustainable consumer awareness also influence their product acquisition practices.

Este artigo apresenta uma matriz metodológica para análise de anúncios publicitários em websites, e a sua construção está embasada nas teses de Marshall McLuhan e Neil Postman, sob a vertente ecológica, e também nas propostas de Pinho, Sebastião, McMillan, Fernandes e Duarte. A matriz foi construída utilizando a cartografia como estratégia metodológica, pois permite acompanhar os movimentos de transformação da paisagem e seus resultados evidenciam que as possibilidades oferecidas pela tecnologia são responsáveis por mudanças nas práticas publicitárias, considerando-se que a cada novo aspecto inserido, novas experiências foram proporcionadas e a publicidade foi construindo o seu espaço na web.