Collaborative Innovation and Absorptive Capacity as an Antecedent on IT Firm Financial Performance

A lack of collaborative innovation and absorptive capacity in firms causes projects to fail. Managers/employees in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not sufficiently aware of the practices of intellectual capital and nor do they collect, share, transfer, and utilize knowledge properly. This current study, therefore, focuses on the relationship between collaborative innovation and the financial performance of Portuguese IT sector SMEs, with a mediating role of absorptive capacity and a moderating role of intellectual capital based on three sub-domains (human capital, organizational capital, and social capital). Close-ended questionnaires were used to obtain data from 308 employees and managers. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, data were also collected through an online survey method. The simple random sampling technique was used to collect data and analyze it using the PLS-SEM method. The results show that collaborative innovation has a positive and significant impact on the financial performance of IT firms in Portugal. Absorptive capacity is considered a potential mediator between collaborative innovation and financial performance. Moreover, the moderating role of intellectual capital strengthens the relationship between collaborative innovation and absorptive capacity. © 2023, The Author(s).

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THE COVID-19 CONTEXT: THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO THE SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL EXISTENTIAL MINIMUM

Objective: The purpose of this article is to analyze environmental injustice in the context of Covid-19, especially how systematic violations of the socio-environmental rights of vulnerable populations contribute to contamination and the increase in the number of deaths among this marginalized group. Likewise, the objective is to demonstrate that the socio-environmental existential minimum-the essential core of fundamental human rights-is a condition for guaranteeing the principle of human dignity, and as such, it cannot be an object of discretion, nor can it be relativized. Therefore, given the failure of the State to implement it, this right can be claimed in court. Methodology: The methodology used in this research, regarding the means, was developed through the deductive, descriptive and qualitative method, through bibliographical, doctrinal and jurisprudential analysis. As for the purposes, the research was qualitative. Results: Although it is said that the new coronavirus is a democratic virus, reaching rich and poor, reality has shown that the pandemic "chooses” those who live in precarious conditions as its preferred victims. Contribution: It is concluded that in the short term the ethical imperative requires "doing whatever is necessary” to preserve human lives and guarantee a life with dignity for all. However, in a post-pandemic period, the country's economic reconstruction must be done on new bases-more sustainable, inclusive and promoting justice. © 2023, Centro Universitario Curitiba - UNICURITIBA. All rights reserved.

Does Participative Leadership Promote Employee Innovative Work Behavior in IT Organizations

The responsibilities of leaders have grown as a result of information technology organizations' increasing reliance on information and development to carry out their work. It is important for leaders to guide and support organizations as they respond to the challenges of continually generating new innovation and information frameworks. The participative initiative, therefore, is characterized as an authority that draws on part data and part insight to reduce progressive obstructions by including individual hierarchical individuals in the decision-making process. The participative initiative encourages a positive style of leadership in which the leader provides workers with the chance to partake in dynamic and critical thinking through consolation, backing, and impact. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of participative leadership on employee innovative work behavior through the mediating role of employee knowledge-sharing attitude and absorptive capacity, with project risk management as moderator. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was used and data collection occurred over three months from January 2022 to March 2022. As data collection took place in one time period, the design is cross-sectional in nature. The data were collected from 273 workers (i.e. engineering manager, project manager, project leader, team leader, software engineer, advisor, and expert) working in different public and private sector IT companies of Portugal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both hard and soft copies of surveys were distributed via email. The analysis was performed using Smart PLS version 3.2.8. The results revealed that participative leadership had a direct effect on employee innovative work behavior that was positive and significant. Also, both the knowledge-sharing attitude and absorptive capacity of employees positively and significantly mediate the relationship between participative leadership and employee innovative work behavior. Project risk management, however, only significantly moderates the relationship between absorptive capacity and employee innovative work behavior. Lastly, some theoretical, practical implications, study limitations and future directions were discussed.

Evaluation of myocardial work in patients recovered from the severe form of COVID-19

Background/Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 goes beyond its acute form, and can lead to the persistence of symptoms and the emergence of systemic disorders, defined as Post-Covid or Long-Covid. Purpose(s): Assess the late impact on the cardiorespiratory system of patients recovered from severe Covid. Method(s): We performed cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age who recovered from the severe form of COVID-19 after at least 60 days of their discharge. Patients and healthy controls were enrolled to perform transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Result(s): A total of 52 patients and 24 controls were enrolled. The standard TTE parameters (end diastolic diameters, left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic function and right ventricular systolic function) showed no difference when compared to the control group. When analyzing the myocardial work, there was a higher Wasted MW (GWW): 135 mmHg% vs 84.5 mmHg% (p=0.002), with lower MW Efficiency (GWE): 94 vs. 96 (p=0.003);as well as lower values of global strain: Cases = 18.6% vs. 20.1% (p=0.009). No differences were found in the Constructive MW (GWC) and MW Global Index (GWI). In the CPET data we found lower peak values for the VO2: 24 ml/kg/min vs. 32.75 ml/kg/min (p<0.001);for the Heart Rate: 162 bpm vs. 175 bpm (p<0.001);for the Ventilation: 79.3 L/min vs. 109.85 L/min (p<0.001) and Respiratory Exchange Ratio: 1.12 vs. 1.19 (p=0.004). There was no difference in the maximum load reached, neither in the oxygen pulse values and in the Ve/CO2 slope. In relation to the oxygen kinetics, there was a significant reduction in OUES%: 85% vs. 98% (p=0.03);as well as an extended T1/4: 112 s vs. 88.5 s (p<0.001);and a slowing of the fall in heart rate in recovery time, as measured by the Heart Rate decay: -17.32 bpm vs. -22.08 bpm (p=0.005). Conclusion(s): Patients recovered from the severe form of COVID-19 had higherGWWwith lower efficiency (GWE). Such findings, added to changes in oxygen kinetics during exercise, may point to a possible cardiocirculatory mechanism associated with decreased aerobic capacity.

Quality of life of higher education students at the Polytechnic Institutes of Santarem and Leiria during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study aims to determine the quality of life of higher education students at the Polytechnic Institutes of Santarem and Leiria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The population consists of 6483 students attending higher education, from both Institutes. A total of 775 participants selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Study with a quantitative, descriptive, correlational character, aiming to describe phenomena and, in addition, identify and explore possible relationships between variables. The WHOQOL-Bref instrument adapted from WHO was applied. The data treatment and analysis were performed using descriptive, correlational and inferential statistics. Results: Students' self-assessment about Quality of Life is globally superior to the self-assessment with their satisfaction with health, where the female students have lower average values than the male students. The WHOQOL-Bref domains referring to Quality of Life with higher values were the Physical and Environment domain, with the Social Relations and Psychological domains having the lowest values. Conclusion: The results point to the need for intervention to promote the Quality of Life of students, focusing on psychosocial factors, due to the conditions imposed during the confinement period, by the pandemic COVID-19.

Brief Assessment of Adaptive and Maladaptive Coping Strategies During Pandemic

This study aimed to analyse the internal structure, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity for the Coping Strategies Scale. We found a two-factor solution (maladaptive coping;adaptative coping) with a second-order general factor (coping strategies) that demonstrated adequate factorial structure and internal consistency for a brief nine items instrument in a sample of 211 economically active Brazilians (Mage = 37.07;SD = 13.03). The adaptive strategies factor converged with quality of life and work. It also diverged from phobia, stress, and anxiety. Maladaptive coping strategies converged with phobia, stress, and anxiety and diverged from the quality of work and life. According to the results, we found that coping strategies are a vital personal resource to overcome daily adversity, including those from the current pandemic. The present instrument may impact worldwide, offering conditions to investigate and promote mental health positive outcomes by reinforcing coping assessment during pandemics. © 2023, Associação Brasileira de Psicologia.

Evaluating TROPOMI and MODIS performance to capture the dynamic of air pollution in São Paulo state: A case study during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Atmospheric pollutant data retrieved through satellite sensors are continually used to assess changes in air quality in the lower atmosphere. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies started to use satellite measurements to evaluate changes in air quality in many different regions worldwide. However, although satellite data is continuously validated, it is known that its accuracy may vary between monitored areas, requiring regionalized quality assessments. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether satellites could measure changes in the air quality of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 outbreak; and to verify the relationship between satellite-based data [Tropospheric NO2 column density and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)] and ground-based concentrations [NO2 and particulate material (PM; coarse: PM10 and fine: PM2.5)]. For this purpose, tropospheric NO2 obtained from the TROPOMI sensor and AOD retrieved from MODIS sensor data by using the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm were compared with concentrations obtained from 50 automatic ground monitoring stations. The results showed low correlations between PM and AOD. For PM10, most stations showed correlations lower than 0.2, which were not significant. The results for PM2.5 were similar, but some stations showed good correlations for specific periods (before or during the COVID-19 outbreak). Satellite-based Tropospheric NO2 proved to be a good predictor for NO2 concentrations at ground level. Considering all stations with NO2 measurements, correlations >0.6 were observed, reaching 0.8 for specific stations and periods. In general, it was observed that regions with a more industrialized profile had the best correlations, in contrast with rural areas. In addition, it was observed about 57% reductions in tropospheric NO2 throughout the state of São Paulo during the COVID-19 outbreak. Variations in air pollutants were linked to the region economic vocation, since there were reductions in industrialized areas (at least 50% of the industrialized areas showed >20% decrease in NO2) and increases in areas with farming and livestock characteristics (about 70% of those areas showed increase in NO2). Our results demonstrate that Tropospheric NO2 column densities can serve as good predictors of NO2 concentrations at ground level. For MAIAC-AOD, a weak relationship was observed, requiring the evaluation of other possible predictors to describe the relationship with PM. Thus, it is concluded that regionalized assessment of satellite data accuracy is essential for assertive estimates on a regional/local level. Good quality information retrieved at specific polluted areas does not assure a worldwide use of remote sensor data.

Impact of absorptive capacity on project success through mediating role of strategic agility: Project complexity as a moderator

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of potential and realized absorptive capacity on project success through both the mediating roles of strategic agility and the moderating role of project complexity. A simple random sampling was used to collect data from 285 respondents working in the IT sector of small-medium sized Portuguese enterprises (SMEs). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, data were collected from and distributed on, several online channels (Gmail, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook). Smart PLS-SEM, version 3.2.8 was used for the analysis. The results indicate that the two absorptive capacity sub-dimensions, potential and realized absorptive capacity, not only directly affect a project's success but also indirectly through the mediator of strategic agility. Although the moderating role of project complexity has a positive and significant effect on the relation between potential absorptive capacity and strategic agility, it is insignificant concerning the relation between realized absorptive capacity and strategic agility. Finally, theoretical and practical contributions are made, research limitations are stated and future research is suggested. © 2023

Patterns of populist mobilization: comparing narratives on COVID-19 in the global South

This article explores the narratives shaping the official discourse on COVID-19 in five countries governed by populists in different world regions. It is based on the assumption that a crisis like the pandemic constitutes a perfect occasion for populist mobilization, allowing populist leaders to construct reality in their favour by deliberately promoting own narratives about the pandemic, its origin and management. Analyzing 357 original-language speeches and statements by representatives of the populist governments of Brazil, Israel, India, Mexico and Turkey, the article shows that populists in power use crises to mobilize support in very different ways. Surprisingly, most populist governments neither resorted to anti-scientific claims or conspiratorial discourses attributing the crisis to obscure elites, nor blamed minorities not belonging to the 'true people'. By contrast, except for Bolsonaro in Brazil, all other populist governments tried to mobilize support by emphasizing the strength of the 'people' or even by promoting an inclusive discourse of national unity, leaving aside the more divisive elements of their general populist discourse. Based on the cases analysed, the article concludes by developing hypotheses on the possible drivers of such variations in patterns of populist mobilization. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Relacao Entre O Indice Rdw, Gravidade E Mortalidade De Pacientes Internados Com Covid-19 No Municipio De Uberaba-Mg

Objetivo: Avaliar os indices RDW de pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 no municipio de Uberaba-MG e estabelecer uma relacao com a gravidade e mortalidade durante o periodo de internacao. Material e Metodos: Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comite de Etica em Pesquisa do Hospital de Clinicas da Universidade Federal do Triangulo Mineiro (CAAE ndegree 31328220.8.0000.8667). Foram levantados os dados epidemiologicos de 337 pacientes que estiveram internados em 3 unidades hospitalares do municipio de Uberaba-MG no periodo de maio de 2020 a junho de 2021. Foram coletados os seguintes dados: idade, sexo e desfecho. A classificacao de gravidade foi estabelecida de acordo com os criterios determinados no COVID-19 Clinical Management Living Guidance - World Health Organization, 2021. Os dados coletados foram compilados em uma planilha no programa Excel e posteriormente analisados por meio do programa GraphPad Prism© versao 8.4.3. A variavel continua foi descrita por media+/-desvio padrao. As variaveis quantitativas foram descritas por meio dos testes: Kolmogorov-Smirnov para verificacao da normalidade e as comparacoes entre os grupos por meio dos testes Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Os resultados foram considerados significativos quando p < 0,05. Resultados: Dos 337 pacientes analisados, 61,2% eram homens com idade media de 58,2 anos (DP +/- 15,6). Em relacao ao desfecho foi observado um aumento estatisticamente significante do indice RDW (p < 0,0001) no grupo que de pacientes que foram a obito (mediana 14,71%) quando comparado ao grupo que teve alta (mediana 13,32%). Quanto a gravidade foi verificado um aumento estatisticamente significante do indice RDW (p < 0,0001) de acordo com a gravidade do caso, quanto mais grave maior o indice. Foram observadas diferencas estatisticas entre os grupos leve e grave (p < 0,0001) e moderado e grave (p < 0,0001). As pacientes do sexo feminino tinham em media 60,8 anos (DP +/- 18) e corresponderam a 38,8% dos casos analisados. Em relacao ao desfecho foi observado um aumento significativo do indice RDW (p < 0,0001) no grupo de pacientes que foram a obito (mediana 14,56%) comprado ao grupo de pacientes que tiveram alta (mediana 13,63%). Em relacao a gravidade tambem foi visto um aumento do indice RDW em casos moderados e graves (p<0,001). Foram observadas diferencas significativas entre os grupos leve e grave (p < 0,05) e moderado e grave (p < 0,05). Discussao: O indice RDW tem sido apontado como um potencial marcador prognostico e de desfecho no curso da COVID-19. Ja foi demonstrado um aumento do indice RDW em pacientes com doencas infecciosas graves. Esse estudo demonstrou o aumento dos indices RDW em pacientes homens e mulheres conforme a progressao da gravidade. Os casos moderados, graves e os pacientes que foram a obito, independente do sexo, demonstraram maiores indices. Conclusao: O indice RDW tem grande potencial como marcador prognostico e de monitoramento do curso da evolucao da COVID-19 em pacientes de ambos os sexos, pois quanto maior o indice RDW maiores as chances de severidade e obito. Copyright © 2022

Sucesso Terapeutico Com Inibidor De Tirosina Kinase De Bruton Em Paciente Portadora Linfoma De Celulas Do Manto Com Insuficiencia Renal - Descricao De Caso

Introducao: O linfoma da celula do manto (LCM) e uma doenca rara e agressiva com poucas alternativas terapeuticas. Mas com a introducao de inibidores de tirosina kinase de Bruton tem mudado a sobrevida a longo prazo. Objetivo: descricao de um caso clinico em portadora da doenca com insuficiencia renal cronica. Material e metodos: Descricao do caso clinico: Paciente feminina, 65 anos de idade, queixa de cansaco, dor abdominal, hepatoesplenomegalia, presenca de linfonodomegalias, emagrecimento de 5 kg em 6 meses, sudorese noturna, Hb = 8.8 g/dL, plaquetopenia de 118.000/mm3, albumina = 2.5 g/dL. Antecedente de HAS e DPOC. Diagnostico de Linfoma de celulas do manto em maio de 2021 por biopsia de adenomegalia inguinal. Tratamento instituido foi R-CHOP e RDHAP em meses alternados, porem apos o segundo ciclo evoluiu com edema agudo de pulmao volumoso, insuficiencia renal com necessidade dialitica diaria (IRA- KDIGO III multifatorial), intubacao orotraqueal e tratamento em unidade intensiva por quadro de choque septico (KPC). Realizou terceiro ciclo de QT com RCHOP, mas com a piora clinica foi aventada hipotese de cuidados paliativos. Mas com a melhora recebeu mais 3 tratamentos com rituximabe mensal, persistiu com falencia renal e necessidade de hemodialise. Recebeu alta hospitalar e introduzido ibrutinibe 560 mg ao dia em 09/11/2021 sem muitos efeitos adversos. Resultados: PETScan do diagnostico 26/05/2021 mostra linfonodos axilares, volumosa esplenomegalia, linfonodos mediastinais, retroperitoneais e inguinais, area focal de intensa concentracao na transicao retossigmoide e na pelve (SUVmax:12.5), moderado derrame pleural bilateral. PETScan antes da introducao do ibrutinibe 10/11/202: reducao do metabolismo dos linfonodos axilares bilaterais, das dimensoes do baco, mas persistencia da area focal na transicao do retossigmoide (SUVmax:10.15). 6 meses apos o tratamento: 23/06/2022, nao se observam areas focais de atividade metabolica glicolitica anomala (Score 1 de Deauville), persiste com esplenomeagalia homogenea. A paciente segue em tratamento, no momento com ibrutinibe e em hemodialise de segunda a sexta. Apresentou infeccao pelo coronavirus em janeiro de 2022 sem sequelas. Atualmente clinicamente assintomatica, ECOG=0 e exames laboratoriais normais exceto pelo aumento de ureia e creatinina. Discussao: A causa da insuficiencia renal desenvolvida durante a internacao pode ser explicada por varios fatores como a sindrome de lise tumoral, uso da medicamento cisplatina, historia de HAS previa e ao quadro septico. A paciente evoluiu com regressao do quadro de esplenomegalia, adenomegalias e da massa em retrossigmoide ao longo dos 6 primeiros meses e atualmente se encontra sem evidencia de doenca em uso de ibrutinibe ha 10 meses. A dose da medicacao nao foi ajustada em vigencia de realizacao de hemodialise se acreditando que a droga apresenta depuracao renal minima. Ha poucos casos descritos na literatura do uso de ibrutinibe em pacientes com insuficiencia renal grave com clearance < 30 mL/minuto avaliando a seguranca e eficacia de tratamento. Conclusao: Tratamento em paciente portador de Linfoma de celulas do manto com insuficiencia renal grave pode ser tratado com ibrutinibe. Em nosso caso houve sucesso terapeutico, mas e imprescindivel acompanhar a resposta pois o tratamento e continuo ate a progressao da doenca ou eventos adversos graves. Copyright © 2022

Physical activity levels of Portuguese adolescents in the first period of confinement due to the COVID- 19 pandemic and the first activities of teachers and coaches: a cross-sectional study

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social confinement was declared in Portugal on 19th March 2020. Schools and sports clubs were closed, access to all sports and leisure facilities was limited, and young people have experienced restrictions regarding the practice of physical activities and sports. The purpose of this study was to identify the physical activity (PA) levels and sports participation of adolescents before and during confinement, with whom they practice during restrictions and to identify the activities adopted by their physical education (PE) teachers and sports coaches to keep them physically active. An online survey was conducted between March 27th and April 14th 2020. A total of 3,012 Portuguese adolescents (57% females) aged between 10 and 19 years old (14.3 +/- 2.4 years old) took part in this study. Wilcoxon test and paired-sample t-test and chi-square test of independence were used in the data analysis. The results show that the number of students engaged in PA increased during the lockdown (72.7% to 88.2%). For those who practiced PA before lockdown, the frequency of PA decreased from 4.7 sessions/week to 4.4 sessions/week (during confinement). For those who did not practice PA before confinement, they started by doing 4.1 sessions/week. The vast majority of PE teachers (77.3%) proposed some pedagogical activities such as video conference classes (53.6%). Regarding the coaches, 53.4% pro-posed some activity, mainly time circuit training, walking and cycling (around 18% each), or specific training exercises and video conference classes (about 12% each). The number of students who increased their regular PA practice can be justified by the immediate intervention of PE teachers, who implemented several online activities, or because students were able to choose different options to stay active.

Dissociation and emotional dysregulation in pathological personalities related to the fear of SARS-COV-2: a case report

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic represented a serious strain on the mental health resilience worldwide. Implementation of restrictive rules implied the disruption of social networks, eliciting emotional exhaustion and intense response to fear. This was amplified by media spread of panic and fake news, representing risk factors for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fear can be dangerous, especially accounting premorbid psychopathological vulnerability, such as pathological personality traits. Emotional dysregulation increases fear levels, mediated by the relationship between emotional dysregulation and lack of tolerance. Objective(s): Clinical case presentation of patient who developed dissociative and behavioral symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Bibliographic research. Method(s): Bibliographic research using Pubmed. Clinical file consultation and patient interviews. Result(s): Heightened psychophysiological reactivity can result from the persistent fear experienced during a traumatic event and repeated memories related to it, leading to a sensitization of the response to fear. We present 57 year-old female patient, admitted to the COVID ward after trying to escape from home isolation due to positivity to COVID-19. In the hospital setting she developed dissociative symptoms, trying to escape from the ward and infect other people. Conclusion(s): Intense fear responses to COVID-19 are likely explained by poor emotion regulation capacities as well as dissociative mechanisms. Studies have shown that this pandemic was experienced as a real traumatic event and some studies have found that it may lead to the development of PTSD. Pathological personality is positively related to PTSD symptoms, attributable to higher levels of mood instability, cognitive/perceptual disorders, interpersonal dysfunctions and negative affection.

INNOVATIVE BOARD GAME DESIGN IN AN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Leisure or entertainment, like other everyday needs, are fundamental activities for human well-being. The creation of activities that lead to moments of satisfaction and relaxation are also a focus of attention and one of the areas of intervention where design can contribute solutions. This project challenged a group of students on a degree course in product design to develop modern, alternative board games, centred on users and on situations and environments of use, in order to exercise the practice of product design and seek to present innovative solutions. The challenge came through a local Cultural Association, with a tradition in promoting this type of game. The project followed a design project methodology that led students through a first phase of immersion in the theme, mechanics and strategies of games and their variety, going through the generation of ideas, models, evaluation tests, to the production of prototypes. The project was subject to the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced students and teachers to work at home. To improve teaching and learning experiences, the project involved specialists and professionals who shared their knowledge and experience in developing this type of product. This gave rise to a great diversity of solutions, resulting from the use of an adequate methodology, making it possible to design new board games in which the mechanics, when articulated with a theme of interest to the target audience, can result in a proposal for an appealing and unique game. © Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education: Disrupt, Innovate, Regenerate and Transform, E and PDE 2022. All rights reserved.

Sustainable Tourism in Natural Territories that Have Suffered from Catastrophes: The Perception of Public and Private Stakeholders of the Alva Great Route

This study analyses the current meaning of the sustainable tourism model, especially for natural and rural areas, with the aim of understanding the new development scenarios in a post-COVID-19 era. The interpretation of the value of water and landscape for tourism and leisure is our main motivation for studying the different types of resources associated with the Alva River in the central region of Portugal. This region has been recently affected by two catastrophes that affect the tourist attraction, first the large forest fires in 2017 and then the pandemic calamity of COVID-19 that still affects tourism worldwide. The objective of this study is to interpret the tourism potential and the appropriate development model for this region, which leads us to evaluate the model of sustainability and competitiveness of this area with low population density. Considering the impact of these disruptive events, both regional and global, it is important to understand what are the associated threats and ultimately the opportunities. The methodology adopted for this exploratory study is essentially quantitative, and, in addition to the literature and secondary data review, questionnaires were sent to the main public and private stakeholders of the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital to obtain responses to the objectives of the study and to understand their opinions and expectations regarding the recent creation of the Alva Great Route (AGR). The main results indicate that new and innovative actions are needed to better articulate the development of tourism in the region, the majority of whose tourist situation is considered adequate or negative. In fact, there is a great lack of knowledge in the region itself about the existence and purpose of the AGR. However, those who know about this route consider it very important and agree on the strategy to be followed, which is an integrated management structure at the level of all the municipalities along the Alva River. The sustainability of this area, whose main attributes are the landscape/nature and the river, and which is therefore very vulnerable to disasters, requires a model of shared management between public and private entities. Their involvement in a network performance is important both for the planning and development of the tourist offer and for the promotion and communication with the tourist demand. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Unique advantages of nanomaterials in drug delivery and therapy against viruses

Viruses have caused some of most deadly epidemics and pandemics of humanity. They can cause major health problems, the collapse of the health and economic systems, as well as have negative social and psychological implications. Although science has aided in the management of some viruses, it still requires additional research on new and emerging viruses. The virus SARS-CoV-2 has caused the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the death of many people globally. Several vaccinations have been developed to try to eradicate the virus;however, due to the high mutation rate of the virus, vaccines are still rigorously tested in research and trials. Nanotechnology is a pretty modern technology that offers the potential to treat viruses. For the introduction of advanced antiviral medicines and vaccines, research in this field is becoming increasingly crucial. Furthermore, in a pandemic situation, employing nanomaterials to regulate drug distribution can be a fantastic method to make them successful across a broad range of activity. This book chapter is aimed to highlight recent studies and new technologies on the use of nanomaterials as antiviral therapy, focusing on the drug delivery system, its principles, potential, and economic viability. Because we are in the midst of a COVID-19 epidemic, this research is critical in determining the potential of nanotechnology in medicine, as well as future prospects for drug delivery and nanotherapies generated from NPs of promising nanomaterials. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Repercussions of infodemia associated with COVID-19 on the mental health of the elderly in Brazil

The phenomenon called infodemia refers to the increase in the volume of information on a specific topic, which multiplies rapidly in a short period of time, and has stood out in the context of the health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Too much information can trigger feelings of fear, anxiety, stress, and other conditions of mental distress. The study aims to describe the profile of exposure to information about COVID-19 and its repercussions on the mental health of elderly Brazilians. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 1924 elderly Brazilians. Data were collected through a web-based survey sent to the elderly via social networks and email, from July to October 2020. The results of the descriptive analysis of the data show that most of the elderly were aged between 60 and 69 years (69.02%), female (71.26%), married (53.79%) and white (75.57%). About 21.67% (n = 417) concluded their graduation, 19.75% (380) concluded their specialization and 16.63% (320) concluded their master's or doctoral degrees. Television 862 (44.80%) and social networks 651 (33.84%) were reported as frequent sources of exposure to news or information about COVID-19. Participants indicated that television (46.47%;n = 872), social networks (30.81%;n = 575) and radio (14.48%;251) affected them psychologically and/or physically. Receiving fake news about COVID-19 on television (n = 482;19.8%) and on social media (n = 415;21.5%) mainly resulted in stress and fear. The disseminated information contributes to awareness, but also affects physically and/or psychologically many elderly people, mainly generating fear and stress. © 2022, Centro Nacional de Informacion de Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.