Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa

This study embarks on a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to elucidate the intricate relationship between knowledge management capabilities and perceived performance within information technology small and medium-sized enterprises (IT SMEs). Utilizing data from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, this research meticulously examines occurrences, word frequencies, and clustering analyses to identify pivotal thematic areas influencing IT SMEs. By employing advanced tools such as RStudio software and the Biblioshiny application, the study dissects average citations per year, presenting a dynamic view of research impact and evolving significance in the domain. Authorship dynamics are explored through Lotka’s law, and geographic contributions are analyzed, highlighting the global and collaborative essence of knowledge management research. Factorial analysis further reveals layered dimensions of research trends, offering guidance for researchers and practitioners in crafting nuanced strategies. The collective insights underscore the paramount role of knowledge management in enhancing IT SMEs’ performance and competitive edge, marking a significant stride toward understanding and implementing effective knowledge management strategies in the rapidly evolving IT landscape.

E-waste management is a major environmental concern that also poses serious risks to occupational health. While e-waste workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals, little is known about occupational exposure to microbiological agents. This study aims to fill that gap. For that purpose, two e-waste facilities were assessed: one battery-recycling facility (BRF), and another facility (SRE) dedicated to e-waste sorting and storage before sending it for different processing. Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD, 24 samples) and settled dust (13 samples) were collected using standardized sampling approaches, and analyzed by culture-based, chemical and molecular methods. Workers also filled in a questionnaire regarding work activities and the use of FRPD. Microbial contamination, fungal diversity, azole resistance, and prevalence of Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi (as surrogates of harmful fungal contamination) and mycotoxins were determined. To estimate potential health effects related to exposure, the FRPD cytotoxicity was determined in human A549 lung and HepG2 hepatic cells. Microbial contaminants with pathogenicity and toxigenic potential were observed in FRPD and settled dust. Aspergillus section Fumigati was widespread. The observed presence of Aspergillus section Flavi relates to the risk of exposure to aflatoxin B1 (a potent hepatocarcinogen). Four different mycotoxins were detected in 8% FRPD and 15% dust samples, including fumonisin B1 and sterigmatocystin (below the limit of quantification). A low to moderate cytotoxic effect of sampled FRPD was observed, with human lung alveolar cells more sensitive than hepatic cells. No relevant azole resistance was observed, nor correlations between fungal reduced azole-susceptibility and fungal growth at 37 °C or cytotoxicity. In summary, it can be concluded that this approach using FRPD and settled dust presents a promising potential for screening occupational exposure to microbiological contaminants in e-waste management. More studies in this occupational context should be prioritized to identify critical biological hazards and to support the implementation of appropriate health risk mitigation strategies.

The efficient allocation of public financial resources to energy consumption in Portuguese municipalities is one of the most discussed topics in public finance, given the growing relevance of sustainability and energy efficiency. The study analyzes how public spending affects energy efficiency through a combination of data analysis and hypotheses testing to assess the relationship between public spending and energy consumption. The methodology includes DEA analysis of the financial data and energy consumption of the municipalities, as well as the definition of hypotheses to determine the possible correlations between investment and efficiency. The results suggest that, in general, municipalities with higher levels of public spending have lower levels of energy efficiency. Meanwhile, municipalities with smaller budgets and fewer resources tend to be more efficient. The DEA analysis of the data suggests that energy efficiency is not directly related to the size and/or economic aptitude of municipalities but rather to their ability to adopt new technologies and more efficient budgetary and financial management practices. The hypotheses tested show varying levels of efficiency in public spending in relation to energy consumption. The study also concludes that public policies should focus on technological innovation and benchmarking to improve energy efficiency. The analysis suggests that collaboration between municipalities and the adoption of best practices are essential to tackle regional disparities and promote energy sustainability. AcknowledgmentsThis article is financed by Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa [Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon].

Motor competence is associated with the perceived difficulty of a task. This study hypothesized that children with higher motor competence perceive certain tasks as less challenging than their peers with lower motor competence. As a result, children with higher motor competence were expected to set more ambitious goals for themselves while learning a new task compared to children with lower motor competence. To investigate the relationship between motor competence and the difficulty of self-set goals during motor learning, we included 48 children aged between eight and ten years, stratified into terciles; our analysis focused on 32 children from the highest and lowest terciles. The experimental task required participants to throw a 100 g bean bag toward a target located 3 meters away. Children were instructed to set goals before each block of 10 trials during the learning phase. Pretest, retention, and transfer tests were administered without imposed goals. Motor competence was assessed using the Motor Competence Assessment, which integrates scores from the task used to evaluate motor learning and the percentage increase in each block to assess the difficulty of the self-set goals. The findings revealed no significant correlation between motor competence and the difficulty of self-set goals. Nevertheless, higher motor competence was linked to enhanced performance during the acquisition phase, retention and transfer tests. These results suggest that although motor competence is associated with improved motor learning, it does not influence the level of challenge of the goals that children set for themselves.

Objective To explore how the development of research skills through postgraduate training is transferred to the use of research in clinical nursing practice. Method This was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study developed based on a focus group in October 2021, using an intentional sample of eight postgraduate nurses from a healthcare institution in the region of Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. Bardin's content analysis was performed to analyze data. The participants and two reviewers legitimized the findings. In addition, the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist were applied to this study to ensure the quality of the research report. Results From the data analysis, three categories emerged: 1) transfer of research skills to clinical practice, 2) constraints to the development of research, and 3) expectations concerning the development of nursing research. Conclusion Appreciation of research skills in contexts of practice, team involvement, improvement of nursing care outcomes, greater understanding of the research process, communication of results, and transferring knowledge to the clinic are contributions of research skills acquired in postgraduation training. The findings from this study can contribute to the development of health and nursing education policies. Descriptors: Evidence-based Practice; Students; Learning; Nursing Care; Professional Competence

Objective To explore how the development of research skills through postgraduate training is transferred to the use of research in clinical nursing practice. Method This was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study developed based on a focus group in October 2021, using an intentional sample of eight postgraduate nurses from a healthcare institution in the region of Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. Bardin's content analysis was performed to analyze data. The participants and two reviewers legitimized the findings. In addition, the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist were applied to this study to ensure the quality of the research report. Results From the data analysis, three categories emerged: 1) transfer of research skills to clinical practice, 2) constraints to the development of research, and 3) expectations concerning the development of nursing research. Conclusion Appreciation of research skills in contexts of practice, team involvement, improvement of nursing care outcomes, greater understanding of the research process, communication of results, and transferring knowledge to the clinic are contributions of research skills acquired in postgraduation training. The findings from this study can contribute to the development of health and nursing education policies. Descriptors: Evidence-based Practice; Students; Learning; Nursing Care; Professional Competence

The progressive degeneration of nerve cells causes neurodegenerative diseases. For instance, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases progressively decrease the cognitive abilities and the motor skills of an individual. Without the knowledge for a cure, we aim to slow down their impact by resorting to rehabilitative therapies and medicines. Thus, early diagnosis plays a key role to delay the progression of these diseases. The analysis of handwriting dynamics for specific tasks is found to be an effective tool to provide early diagnosis of these diseases. Recently, the Diagnosis AlzheimeR WIth haNdwriting (DARWIN) dataset was introduced. It contains records of handwriting samples from 174 participants (diagnosed as having Alzheimer's or not), performing 25 specific handwriting tasks, including dictation, graphics, and copies. In this paper, we explore the use of the DARWIN dataset with dimensionality reduction, explainability, and classification techniques. We identify the most relevant and decisive handwriting features for predicting Alzheimer. From the original set of 450 features with different groups, we found small subsets of features showing that the time spent to perform the in-air movements are the most decisive type of features for predicting Alzheimer.

Despite the growing recognition in the literature that foreign ownership and business group affiliation (BGA) are rewarding for firms in general and hospitality small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, this issue has not yet been subjected to direct empirical investigation during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a large, updated sample of 207,691 firm-year observations of 37,881 hospitality SMEs operating in 29 Eurozone countries from 2002 to 2021, this research offers new insights into the strategic management of these firms during times of economic downturn. Our results provide evidence that foreign ownership and BGA size have positive impact on the financial performance of European hospitality SMEs. Furthermore, foreign ownership and BGA moderate the negative effect of both crises on the financial performance. In particular, we found that European hospitality SMEs affiliated with large BG suffered more during the difficult times (COVID-19 pandemic). In addition, foreign-owned SMEs operating within the European Union exhibited lower profitability than their Eurozone counterparts during the crisis periods. These findings contribute to the understanding of SMEs' geographic expansion strategies in the hospitality industry and offer valuable implications for business owners and authorities.

We here report on the progress of the HHH Workshop, that took place in Dubrovnik in July 2023. After the discovery of a particle that complies with the properties of the Higgs boson of the Standard Model, all Standard Model (SM) parameters are in principle determined. However, in order to verify or falsify the model, the full form of the potential has to be determined. This includes the measurement of the triple and quartic scalar couplings. We here report on ongoing progress of measurements for multi-scalar final states, with an emphasis on three SM-like scalar bosons at 125 $\,\text {Ge}\hspace{-.08em}\text {V}$ Ge V , but also mentioning other options. We discuss both experimental progress and challenges as well as theoretical studies and models that can enhance such rates with respect to the SM predictions.

Identifying high-risk patients, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), enhances treatment and reduces severe outcomes. Since the pandemic, numerous studies have examined COVID-19 patient profiles and factors linked to increased mortality. Despite six pandemic waves, to the best of our knowledge, there is no extensive comparative analysis of patients’ characteristics across these waves in Portugal. Thus, we aimed to analyze the demographic and clinical features of 1041 COVID-19 patients admitted to an ICU and their relationship with the different SARS-Cov-2 variants in Portugal. Additionally, we conducted an in-depth examination of factors contributing to early and late mortality by analyzing clinical data and laboratory results from the first 72 h of ICU admission. Our findings revealed a notable decline in ICU admissions due to COVID-19, with the highest mortality rates observed during the second and third waves. Furthermore, immunization could have significantly contributed to the reduction in the median age of ICU-admitted patients and the severity of their conditions. The factors contributing to early and late mortality differed. Age, wave number, D-dimers, and procalcitonin were independently associated with the risk of early death. As a measure of discriminative power for the derived multivariable model, an AUC of 0.825 ( p < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.719–0.931) was obtained. For late mortality, a model incorporating age, wave number, hematologic cancer, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and platelet counts resulted in an AUC of 0.795 ( p < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.759–0.831). These findings underscore the importance of conducting comprehensive analyses across pandemic waves to better understand the dynamics of COVID-19.

The prevalence of myopia, especially high myopia, continues to increase in several parts of the world. Thus, the use of biomarkers for early myopia detection would be highly valuable for clinical practice aiding in the prevention and myopia control management. The identification of biomarkers that can predict the risk of myopia development, severity of myopia, and treatment response are of paramount significance. In this review, we present the current state of research on biomarkers and myopia, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in biomarkers research for myopia. Although myopia biomarkers may have a role as early indicators of myopia or treatment response, the adoption of biomarkers into myopia clinical practice may only be done when tests have high accuracy, are easily measurable, minimally invasive, and acceptable to parents, children, and eye care professionals. Large consortia studies are necessary to validate biomarkers and translate evidence into clinical practice.

The strategic utilization of postmodern illustrated literature has emerged as a crucial tool in facilitating a profound understanding of how children construct their comprehension of diverse perspectives within the realm of social dynamics. This article rigorously scrutinizes children's conceptualizations pertaining to a wide array of subjects, encompassing diversity, socioeconomic disparities, gender dynamics, and active participation. This examination was conducted within the comprehensive framework of the RED_SMOOTH Project (Horizon 2020, European Union), which involved a qualitative investigation involving a cohort of 22 second-grade primary education students situated in the city of Lisbon. This initiative entailed the deliberate implementation of a read-aloud intervention program, primarily designed to explore the intricate themes under consideration. Keywords Children; Post-Modern Picture Books; Read Aloud; Diversity

The strategic utilization of postmodern illustrated literature has emerged as a crucial tool in facilitating a profound understanding of how children construct their comprehension of diverse perspectives within the realm of social dynamics. This article rigorously scrutinizes children's conceptualizations pertaining to a wide array of subjects, encompassing diversity, socioeconomic disparities, gender dynamics, and active participation. This examination was conducted within the comprehensive framework of the RED_SMOOTH Project (Horizon 2020, European Union), which involved a qualitative investigation involving a cohort of 22 second-grade primary education students situated in the city of Lisbon. This initiative entailed the deliberate implementation of a read-aloud intervention program, primarily designed to explore the intricate themes under consideration. Keywords Children; Post-Modern Picture Books; Read Aloud; Diversity

Understanding the mechanisms of pipeline failures is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities in gas transmission pipelines and planning strategies to enhance the reliability and resilience of energy supply chains. Existing studies and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) Code for Pressure Piping primarily focus on corrosion, recommending inspections every 10 years to prevent incidents due to this time-dependent threat. However, these guidelines do not provide comprehensive regulation on the likelihood of incidents due to other causes, especially non-time-dependent events (i.e. do not provide any indication of the inspection frequency or the most likely time for an incident to occur). This study adopts an innovative approach adopting machine learning, particularly artificial neural networks (ANNs), to analyse historical pipeline failure data from 1970 to 2023. By analysing records from the US Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the model captures the complexity of various degradation phenomena, predicting failure years and hazard frequencies beyond corrosion. This innovative approach allows adopting more informed preventive measures and response strategies, offering deep insights into incident causes, consequences, and patterns. The results provide practical insights for maintenance planning, offering an estimation of periods when a pipeline may be more susceptible to incidents based on various factors. However, since all models inherently present uncertainties, both in the data and the modelling process, these estimates should be interpreted as probabilistic assessments. This study provides operators with a strategic framework to prescriptively address potential vulnerabilities, thereby promoting sustained operational integrity and minimising the occurrence of unexpected events throughout the service life of pipelines. By expanding the scope of risk assessment beyond corrosion, this study significantly advances the field of pipeline safety and reliability, setting a new standard for comprehensive incident prevention.

(1) Background: Residential care (RC) for children and youth should provide a holistic experience of growing up. Currently, RC homes face many challenges, highlighting the need for validated, innovative interventions. D’AR-TE is a pilot project aimed at creating an innovative intervention model for children and youth in RC, promoting protective factors through activities designed to enhance personal skills, socialization, and relationship building. The project spanned three years, focusing on two main areas: “Promoting the SELF” (including Sports, Art, and Virtual Reality) and “Promoting the US” (group activities with families and non-institutionalized peers). (2) Methods: To validate the D’AR-TE model, 46 children and youth in RC, aged between 6 and 20 years, were assessed. They were divided into an experimental group (26 participants) and a control group (20 participants). The evaluation, conducted at the beginning and end of the project, focused on cognitive and neuropsychological domains. (3) Results: By the end of D’AR-TE, the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements, including decreased aggression perception, increased social support, enhanced self-concept, and better cognitive and emotional performance. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that D’AR-TE had a positive impact and could be a valid and replicable model for children and youth in RC.

Human beings live in constant contact with chemical agents—mainly through environmental [...]

Objective This scoping review aims to provide a systematic overview of the literature on statistical models to estimate weight growth curves among infants, examining key features such as study design, sample size, and statistical approaches. Introduction Growth models were first developed to estimate individuals’ growth curves by modeling each individual separately. Later, with the aim of estimating mean trajectories, approaches using mixed effects regression models were proposed. More flexible models were also applied in this context, enabling the estimation of more parameters (eg, Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape; SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation models). Inclusion criteria Studies of statistical/mathematical methodologies for estimating weight growth curves of infants under 24 months of age, based on prospective/retrospective cohorts, or cross-sectional studies will be included. Only studies published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish will be considered. Case series reports, reviews, short letter publications, books, and abstract-only papers, such as conference proceedings, will be excluded. Methods This review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The databases, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, SciELO, and LILACS, will be searched for published studies, while ProQuest and RCAAP will be searched for unpublished studies. Search results will be imported into Rayyan to remove duplicates. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. The resulting data, namely mathematical/statistical approaches and models, will be summarized in tabular format, accompanied by a narrative summary. Review registration Open Science Framework https://osf.io/95udq

Introduction In “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) stores, workers from the wood department are considered woodworkers. Given the health risks associated with woodworking, particularly from fungi and their metabolites, this study aims to assess microbial contamination and health risks for both workers and customers. Methods The study was developed in 13 DIY stores in Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal. It employed a comprehensive sampling approach combining active (MAS-100, Andersen six-stage, Coriolis μ, and SKC Button Aerosol Sampler) and passive (electrostatic dust collectors, surface swabs, e-cloths, settled dust, filters from vacuumed dust, filtering respiratory protection devices, and mechanical protection gloves) methods to assess microbial contamination. A Lighthouse Handheld Particle Counter HH3016- IAQ was used to monitor the particulate matter size, temperature, and humidity. Results The wood exhibition area presented the highest fungal load, while the payment area exhibited the highest bacterial load. MAS-100 detected the highest fungal load, and surface swabs had the highest bacterial load. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently observed fungal species, followed by Aspergillus sp. Mycotoxins, namely mycophenolic acid, griseofulvin, and aflatoxin G1, were detected in settled dust samples and one filter from the vacuum cleaner from the wood exhibition area. Cytotoxicity evaluation indicates the wood-cutting area has the highest cytotoxic potential. Correlation analysis highlights relationships between fungal contamination and particle size and biodiversity differences among sampling methods. Discussion The comprehensive approach applied, integrating numerous sampling methods and laboratory assays, facilitated a thorough holistic analysis of this specific environment, enabling Occupational and Public Health Services to prioritize interventions for accurate exposure assessment and detailed risk management.

This study aims to analyze the explanatory factors of the accounting choices for investments of entities with securities traded on regulated markets from the European Union (EU) under International Accounting Standards (IAS) 27 — Separate Financial Statements (SFS). According to IAS27, investments in their scope can be accounted for by using the cost, equity method, or fair value, which represents alternative accounting methods commonly known in the literature as accounting choices. To identify the factors that may explain the accounting choices for investments under IAS27, a logistic regression model is used. The research covers listed entities from 19 out of the 21 EU countries where IAS27 is required or permitted. The findings highlight that the entities’ size and investment weight likely explain the adoption of the cost method, conversely to the size of the board of directors, which negatively explains its use. Accounting choices for investments under SFS are not yet explored in the literature. Moreover, this research also proposes further explanatory factors in the scope of the literature on accounting choices. This paper can potentially benefit a diverse set of stakeholders, namely the accounting standard-setters, as they can draw attention to the comparability issues from the use of accounting choices, which may mitigate the financial information usefulness for decision making. Furthermore, auditors, supervisors, as well as investors and other users, can have a more comprehensive perspective of the reasons behind the method chosen by entities for accounting for their financial investments.