Polytechnical Institute of Lisbon

Purpose Most studies on supported accommodations (SAs) for people with serious mental disorders have focused on effectiveness. Very few analysed the experiences and expectations of residents and professionals of SAs, which is fundamental to improving care. This study aimed to explore in depth the perspectives of residents and professionals of SAs in Portugal regarding the residents’ previous contacts with mental health services, current experiences, and expectations. Methods A purposeful sample of 11 residents and 11 professionals from 11 different organisations managing SAs in Portugal was included. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using interview guides to assess previous experiences with mental health services, expectations, and suggestions to improve care. Thematic analysis was used. Findings Residents had a long history of mental health problems and contact with mental health services. Most had been referred to SAs due to poor family or social conditions. The majority of residents expected to stay at the SAs in the long-term, and did not mention major suggestions to improve. Professionals suggested several improvements, such as having more time allocation to work with the residents and revising maximum limits of lengths of stay. Conclusions Residents are seldom involved in decision-making. However, most were satisfied with care and hoped to remain in the SAs. Implications of this study apply to the political level (regarding the financing of SAs and the provision of community mental health care and other social supports) and to the clinical level (regarding training and family interventions).

In both online and offline environments, children and youth have the right to freedom of expression and participation. Research on children’s participation and voice in the media is expanding, although the objectives and the actual actions of their participation are less studied. In this study, using conceptualisations of children and youth media participation as social interaction, political and civic participation (Giddens, 2006; Carpentier, 2011, 2015; Dahlgren, 2013), a literature review (2017–2022), on children's participation in media and in society through media was conducted in the field of Communication Sciences. The “Communication Abstracts” database and the Prisma 2020 methodology were used to answer the following research questions: (a) What is the object of analysis and methodological approach in sources? (b) What are the goals of children mediated participation reported by studies? (c) What types of action are conducted by children in the media and in society through media? After the application of the eligibility criteria, 78 studies were included in the review. Overwall, the results suggest that social interaction followed by political participation were the main goals of children (mediated) participation in those studies. Belonging to a community seems to be the main motivation for children's content creation and sharing, followed by activism and social change. Identity building, prestige and recognition are more connected with children content creation, while political engagement actions rely more on sharing content. Only four sources mention participation in media organisations. Children use social media, particularly YouTube, and game platforms to participate with diverse levels of intensity. Formal education, and particularly civic and media education, have a relevant role in youth participatory actions in media.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (signaling pathway is involved in numerous important mammal cell functions, such as growth, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Associated with this, it is involved in tissue normal development and growth, tumorigenesis, and in tissue repair. Epidermal growth factor receptor is broadly expressed in the organism, including in the central and peripheral nervous system, where it has important neurotrophic functions. The central nervous system has a limited capacity for regeneration upon lesion, leading to severe disabilities, such as blindness, sensorimotor deficits, and paralysis. However, observations suggest that its innate neurogenic response may be amplified to promote the replenishment of damaged neuronal populations. In addition, the environment can also be modulated to promote regeneration. Therefore, the pathways involved in neural tissue repair have been investigated in terms of regenerative medicine, to discover new therapies to recover from traumatic injury or ischemia in the central nervous system or to inhibit the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Growth factors have been widely accepted as the most important promoters of proliferation and neurogenesis under physiologic conditions and after injury. In this review, we summarize how the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway is involved in neuronal damage and neurodegeneration in several settings, including in the olfactory epithelium, brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve, where this pathway can be modulated in the context of regenerative medicine to promote neuronal regeneration and, therefore, neurological function reestablishment in response to insults.

Background Mozambique is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of schistosomiasis, although there is little data on the prevalence of disease and associated morbidity in the adult population. This study aimed to describe and characterize the morbidity associated with schistosomiasis in the adult population of Chókwè district and to explore the use of anamnestic questionnaires and urine dipsticks, as well as point-of-care ultrasound for urinary related findings, to better characterize disease prevalence and morbidity. Methodology Between April and October 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study embedded within the Chókwè Health Research and Training Centre. Data were collected on sociodemographic variables, signs and symptoms for schistosomiasis and water related activities. Infection status was determined by urine filtration, Kato-Katz thick smear and DNA detection. Point-of care urinary tract ultrasonography was performed to assess structural morbidity associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection. Multivariate logistic regression was used to search for associations between risk factors, signs and symptoms, infection status and ultrasound abnormalities. Principal findings Our study included 1033 participants with a median age of 34 years old. The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni and ultrasound detected urinary tract abnormalities were 11.3% (95% CI 9.5%-13.4%), 5.7% (95% CI 4.3%-7.5%) and 37.9% (95% CI 34.8%-41.2%), respectively. Of the 37.9% with urinary tract abnormalities, 14.5% were positive for Schistosoma haematobium. Reported hematuria in the last month (p = 0.004, aOR 4.385) and blood in the urine dipstick (p = 0.004, aOR 3.958) were markers of Schistosoma haematobium infection. Reporting lower abdominal pain (p = 0.017, aOR 1.599) was associated with ultrasound abnormalities. Conclusion Using microscopy and DNA analysis for both Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni in conjunction with urinary ultrasound abnormalities gives us several insights into correlations between disease prevalence (microscopic and anatomical) and demographic details in a high-risk population.

This study investigates what determines social media consumption in private and public locals. Based on a survey of 638 citizens, we found that the daily consumption frequency of social networks, and face-to-face, both inversely influence consumption in private places, the daily consumption frequency of the Internet inversely influences consumption in both private and public places, and daily consumption frequency of mobile phones inversely influences consumption in the private place. Results conclude that daily consumption frequency of the Internet mediates the effect of time spent on the Internet, watching and listening in private local; daily consumption frequency of mobile phones mediates the effect of time spent on the Internet, reading, watching and listening in private local. We also found that daily consumption frequency of the Internet mediates the effect of time spent on the Internet, reading and listening in public local, and daily consumption frequency of social networks mediates the effect of time spent on the Internet, reading, watching and listening in public local.

Mobile devices’ popularization has brought several new applications to communication networks. As we move into an increasingly denser scenario, problems such as collisions between transmissions and unbalanced load become more pronounced. Moreover, while station-based handoff is inefficient to reduce these issues, network-wide handover decisions might provide better network resource management. This paper proposes LEAF, an access point virtualization solution based on Software Defined Networking to enable station (STA) handover conducted by the network, based on a global scope. Unlike other solutions in the literature, our proposal fully supports multichannel migrations through the IEEE 802.11h Channel Switch Announcement without restricting the channel utilization by the access points. To demonstrate the feasibility of such an approach, we present experimental data regarding the behavior of several different devices in face of this mechanism. We also evaluate our complete virtualization solution, which reveals that the handoff of STAs did not lead to significant packet losses or delays in STAs’ connections, while providing a foundation to improve network’s self-management and flexibility, allowing association control and load balancing tasks to be executed on top of our solution.

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.