Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-06"
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- Fast decellularization process using supercritical carbon dioxide for trabecular bonePublication . Duarte, Marta M.; Ribeiro, Nilza; Silva, Inês V.; Dias, Juliana R.; Alves, Nuno M.; Oliveira, Ana L.Decellularization is a process that consists on the removal of immunogenic cellular material from a tissue, so that it can be safely implanted as a functional and bioactive scaffold. Most decellularization protocols rely on the use of harsh chemicals and very long washing processes, leading to severe changes in the ultrastructure and loss of mechanical integrity. To tackle these challenges, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) is herein proposed as an alternative methodology for assisting decellularization of porcine trabecular bone tissue and is combined, for the first time, with Tri(n-butyl) phosphate (TnBP). Histological and DNA analysis revealed that both TnBP and scCO2 were able to extract the DNA content from the scaffolds, being this effect more pronounced in treatments that used TnBP as a co-solvent. The combined protocol led to a decrease in DNA content by at least 90%, demon- strating the potential of this methodology and opening new possibilities for future optimizations.
- The influence of generalized and arbitrary institutional inefficiencies on the ownership decision in cross-border acquisitionsPublication . Falaster, Christian; Ferreira, Manuel Portugal; Li, DanExtant studies have focused on conceptualizing and measuring the general quality of the institutions and their impact on an array of firms’ strategies. We distinguish two dimensions of institutional inefficiencies in a host country – generalized and arbitrary – and theorize from a knowledge perspective their impact on the acquirers’ ownership decisions in cross-border acquisitions (CBAs). Our empirical examination of 5522 CBAs by firms entering emerging economies reveals that, when exposed to a higher level of host-country generalized institutional inefficiencies, the acquirer tends to take a lower ownership in a CBA. When exposed to higher levels of arbitrary institutional inefficiencies, however, the acquirer tends to take a higher ownership in a CBA. We further find that these relationships are contingent upon the acquirer’s experience in the host region and technological nature.
- Context matters less than leadership in preventing unethical behaviorPublication . Alvez, Marlond; Marques, Tânia; Ramalho, NelsonEver since corporate scandals became a concern of public interest, leaders have been a common target for attributing responsibilities and ethical leadership has been suggested as a solution to prevent it. However, organizations, especially MNCs, are permeable to their social environment, and therefore, a contextual approach is called for. This study is set to empirically test a sequential mediation model bridging ethical leadership to employees’ unethical behavior via instrumental ethical climate and employee displacement of responsibility embedded in its society’s ethical standards represented by the country’s corruption index that acts as a moderator. A total of 184 participants comprised in 39 teams across 13 countries, answered a dyadic two-waved survey. Findings show that ethical leadership has an indirect influence on unethical behavior avoidance by diminishing the instrumental ethical climate and frustrating the displacement of responsibility of individuals. In addition, results suggest this process is not sensible to the corruption levels of countries. Such findings suggest organizations are less prone to adjust their ethical standards to the environment than usually expected. The unavoidable conclusion is that in MNCs, ethical leaders may suffice to counter any corruption-like pressure from the social environment but likewise, may be what it takes to foster a corrupted organization in a society that values ethical principles in business.
- Cuidar em Situação de Catástrofe: Um desafio para a educação em EnfermagemPublication . Santos, Paulo; Rabiais, Isabel; Amendoeira, José Joaquim Penedos; Henriques, CarolinaA necessidade de educação na área de catástrofe surge como uma prioridade e deve ser encarada como uma preocupação multidimensional (Veenema, et al., 2017). A educação em enfermagem deve promover o desenvolvimento do conhecimento e o raciocínio clínico sobre os valores e os princípios fundamentais dos cuidados de enfermagem nesta área específica.
- Swanwick, HelenaPublication . Lucas, Eugénio
- The Profile of Portuguese People when Choosing an ApartmentPublication . Santos, E.; Tavares, F.It is important to study and to know the determining factors of the housing purchase business, as this is often the greatest business deal in a family’s life. The purpose of this study is to identify the profile of the Portuguese regarding the determining factors when searching for apartments to acquire. The methodology used is based on a questionnaire that analyzes the determining factors in the choice of apartments to acquire and the sociodemographic profile of Portuguese people looking for an apartment. The sample consisted of 646 individuals who were looking for an apartment in different regions of Continental Portugal. The determining factors in the choice of apartments have quite adequate levels of validity and reliability, and four dimensions are obtained: negative externalities, positive externalities, a business located on the ground floor and rational interest in proximity to public services. Cluster analysis results show the formation of five clusters, classifying individuals into a generic cluster, urban business cluster, urban services cluster, urban citizens cluster and elitist cluster. This study is expected to contribute to increasing scientific knowledge on the topic and to help real estate developers better match their clients' preferences.
- Assessment of structural changes in cement matrix materials using virtual modeling, embedded and acoustic sensorsPublication . Trambitski, Yahor; Fernandes, Paulo Alexandre Lopes; Shabanov, DmitryThe study of the structure of cement systems, the formation of initial defects in it and the possibility of their detection at early stages to prevent further development has become an urgent issue now. Monitoring systems for the stress-strain state of concrete and reinforced concrete structures are also relevant. The creation of such systems would make it possible to register structural changes in a concrete structure, to assess the degree of this change, thereby preventing possible destruction of the object under study. The purpose of the thesis is to study the structure of cement systems, namely the formation and development of initial defects in it, the possibility of their detection at early stages. Creation of a system for monitoring the stress-strain state of cement composites. Creation of an effective tool that will allow continuous monitoring of the structural integrity of cement composites. The main results of the work: 1. Developed an experimental system for monitoring the stress-strain state of cement composites, based on the tensometry and acoustic emission methods; 2. Designed and tested a model of an internal strain gauge sensor (embedded sensor) for determining the structural changes of cement composites; 3. Created a 3D-package model of the studied cement composite for future research.
- Geração Y e Z: O impacto da Identificação Organizacional no Engagement e na Intenção de TurnoverPublication . Justiniano, Ana Margarida Domingos; Ribeiro, Neuza Manuel PereiraPresentemente, existem no mercado de trabalho quatro gerações: os Baby Boomers, a geração X, a geração Y e a geração Z. Ao longo dos anos, vários foram os estudos realizados sobre as diversas gerações e como estas são diferentes umas das outras. As gerações mais recentes, nomeadamente, a geração Y e Z, são as gerações que, num futuro próximo, vão estar em maioria nas organizações e a ocupar os cargos de liderança. Este estudo tem como objetivo fornecer evidências empíricas adicionais acerca do impacto da identificação organizacional das gerações Y e Z no engagement e na intenção de turnover. Para a realização deste estudo recorreu-se à aplicação de um questionário que foi disponibilizado em várias plataformas online. Participaram neste estudo 296 sujeitos, com idades compreendidas entre os 17 e os 41 anos. Destes, 132 pertencem à geração Y e 164 pertencem à geração Z. Os resultados revelaram que existe uma relação positiva entre a identificação organizacional e o engagement, em ambas as gerações, uma relação negativa entre a identificação organizacional e a intenção de turnover, apenas na geração Y e, por último, uma relação negativa entre o engagement e a intenção de turnover nas duas gerações em estudo. Este estudo fornece importantes pistas para as empresas conseguirem aumentar o engagement e diminuírem a intenção de turnover dos jovens das novas gerações, ao fomentarem a identificação organizacional dos mesmos.
- O desafio das tecnologias para fins sociais - o caso do World Summit AwardsPublication . Oliveira, Márcio; Cruz, Katiuska; Santos, Tânia Cristina Simões de Matos dos; Sousa, MarleneTemos assistido nas últimas décadas ao fenómeno do desenvolvimento e disseminação das tecnologias, com forte impacto na economia e em vários setores da sociedade. Quando é possível utilizar a tecnologia como ferramenta para promover o bem-estar das populações e para resolver problemas sociais, o ser humano é o mais beneficiado da história. Enquadrado na temática das Tecnologias Sociais, o presente artigo aborda o World Summit Awards (WSA), uma iniciativa dinamizada pela Organização das Nações Unidas, que visa a rede de partilha de conhecimento no domínio das Tecnologias, com o objetivo primário de alcançar um desenvolvimento sustentável verdadeiramente global.
- A CHANCE FOR PLACES THAT DON’T MATTER. PLACE-BASED SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PROJECT FOR DEPOPULATED RURAL REGIONS: THE CASE OF PORTUGALPublication . Santos, António Agostinho Oliveira; Guerra, Jaime Manuel Afonso Ramos; Jorge, João Paulo da Conceição SilvaHuman desertification of rural areas is a growing evidence, in a never-ending cycle of decline, with lack of services and businesses, fewer jobs and population ageing. Consequently, land and built heritage is abandoned and degradation take root. To this social and economical deterioration, adds the environmental impact, resulting in the lack of forest management, accumulation of flamable biomass, and as a result, wild fires devastation. This project argues that there is currently a triple-sidded opportunity to invert this trend of decline. Firstly, on the digital transformation of rural areas, which offers connectivity and digitalization, and will power many new opportunities; secondly, on the growing attention from policy makers to the rural society, namely to the socio-economic underdevelopment, ecological degradation and demographic situation; and thirdly, on the availability of unused built heritage, that a new generation of rural built owners received as legacy from their ancestors, and that has become a burden instead of an asset or a benefit. This project presents a strategy that, by taking advantage of the combination of these three fields of opportunity, creates an innovative business, grounded on the the touristic offer of hotel rooms in recovered rural houses, integrated in a rural resort. In this way, this project will associate all the facilities, services and hotel refinement with the unique experience of being a part of local community and encountering a rural lifestyle. It provides a model easily replicable in several locations, with similar characteristics and needs, all over the world. With sustainability as a bedrock, this project commits to an effective and positive environmental, social and economic effect in the community, exploring a place-based approach for the community and visitor engagement. Moreover, this project aspires to make a contribution for youth fixation, by creating more and better jobs and transforming rural communities into modern and vibrant living places, grounded in nature and local uniqueness, turning around the decline and switching the expression from ‘places that don’t matter’ to ‘places that really matter’.