Responsible research and innovation: a global perspective

Based on the paper presented at the Doctorate Conference on Technologogy Assessment in July 2013 at the University Nova Lisboa, Caparica campus

Responsible research and innovation: a global perspective

Based on the paper presented at the Doctorate Conference on Technologogy Assessment in July 2013 at the University Nova Lisboa, Caparica campus

Responsible innovation: bringing together technology assessment, applied ethics, and STS research

Paper presented as "key note" at the Doctorate Conference on Technology Assessment in June 2011, at FCT-UNL, Monte de Caparica.

Prospective system analysis of stationary battery systems under the frame of Constructive Technology Assessment

Based on the report for the unit ���Project IV��� of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment under the supervision of Dr.-Ing. Marcel Weil and Prof. Dr. Ant��nio Brand��o Moniz. The report was presented and discussed at the Doctorate Conference on Technologogy Assessment in July 2013 at the University Nova Lisboa, Caparica campus.

Internationalization plan for social enterprises: A research on the internationalization of "Book a Street Artist"

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Corporate social responsible behaviour in the financial industry

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Into a new phase of the research on restructuring of work in the knowledge society: the Third WORKS General Assembly in Sofia (Bulgaria)

The WORKS Project started two years ago (2005), involving the efforts of research institutes of 13 European countries with the main purpose of improving the understanding of the major changes in work in the knowledge-based society, taking account both of global forces and the regional diversity within Europe. This research meeting in Sofia (Bulgaria) aimed to present synthetically the massive amount of data collected in the case studies (occupational and organisational) and with the quantitative research during last year.

Management Structure and Work Team Processes; Responsibilities and Responsiveness

This paper explores the management structure of the team-based organization. First it provides a theoretical model of structures and processes of work teams. The structure determines the team���s responsibilities in terms of authority and expertise about specific regulation tasks. The responsiveness of teams to these responsibilities are the processes of teamwork, in terms of three dimensions, indicating to what extent teams indeed use the space provided to them. The research question that this paper addresses is to what extent the position of responsibilities in the team-based organization affect team responsiveness. This is done by two hypotheses. First, the effect of the so-called proximity of regulation tasks is tested. It is expected that the responsibility for tasks positioned higher in the organization (i.e. further from the team) generally has a negative effect on team responsiveness, whereas tasks positioned lower in the organization (i.e. closer to the team) will have a positive effect on the way in which teams respond. Second, the relationship between the number of tasks for which the team is responsible with team responsiveness is tested. Theory suggests that teams being responsible for a larger number of tasks perform better, i.e. show higher responsiveness. These hypotheses are tested by a study of 109 production teams in the automotive industry. The results show that, as the theory predicts, increasing numbers of responsibilities have positive effects on team responsiveness. However, the delegation of expertise to teams seems to be the most important predictor of responsiveness. Also, not all regulation tasks show to have effects on team responsiveness. Most tasks do not show to have any significant effect at all. A number of tasks affects team responsiveness positively, when their responsibility is positioned lower in the organization, but also a number of tasks affects team responsiveness positively when located higher in the organization, i.e. further from the teams in the production. The results indicate that more attention can be paid to the distribution of responsibilities, in particular expertise, to teams. Indeed delegating more expertise improve team responsiveness, however some tasks might be located better at higher organizational levels, indicating that there are limitations to what responsibilities teams can handle.

The 1st ISA forum of sociology on the ���Sociological Research and Public Debate���

1st ISA Forum report

Framework for a business interoperability quotient measurement model

Disserta����o apresentada na Faculdade de Ci��ncias e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova da Lisboa para obten����o do grau de Mestre em Engenharia e Gest��o Industrial (MEGI)

Enterprise information portals: potential for evaluating research for knowledge management and human capital assets using social network analysis

Paper presented at the ECKM 2010 ��� 11th European Conference on Knowledge Management, 2-3 September, 2010, Famalic��o, Portugal. URL: http://www.academic-conferences.org/eckm/eckm2010/eckm10-home.htm

Is ambient intelligence a truly human-centric paradigm in industry? Current research and application scenario

Based on the paper presented at the International Conference ���Autonomous Systems: inter-relations of technical and societal issues���, organized by IET with the support of the Portuguese-German collaboration project on ���Technology Assessment of Autonomous Robotics��� (DAAD/CRUP) at FCT-UNL, Biblioteca da UNL, Campus de Caparica on 5-6 November 2009.

Meta-analysis of gender and science research - Country report - Portugal

In Portugal, especially starting in the 1970s, women���s studies had implications on the emergency of the concept of gender and the feminist criticism to the prevailing models about differences between sexes. Until then, women had been absent from scientific research both as subject and as object. Feminism brought more reflexivity to the scientific thinking. After the 25th of April 1974, because of the consequent political openness, several innovating themes of research emerged, together with new concepts and fields of study. However, as far as gender and science relationship is concerned, such studies especially concentrate on higher education institutions. The feminist thinking seems to have two main objectives: to give women visibility, on the one hand, and to denunciate men���s domain in the several fields of knowledge. In 1977, the ���Feminine Commission��� is created and since then it has been publishing studies on women���s condition and contributing to the enhancement of the reflection of female condition at all levels. In the 1980s, the growing feminisation of tertiary education (both of students and academics), favoured the development of women���s studies, especially on their condition within universities with a special focus on the glass ceiling, despite the lack of statistical data by gender, thus making difficult the analysis of women integration in several sectors, namely in educational and scientific research activities. Other agglutinating themes are family, social and legal condition, work, education, and feminine intervention on political and social movements. In the 1990s, Women Studies are institutionalised in the academic context with the creation of the first Master in Women Studies in the Universidade Aberta (Open University), in Lisbon. In 1999, the first Portuguese journal of women studies is created ��� ���Faces de Eva���. Seminars, conferences, thesis, journals, and projects on women���s studies are more and more common. However, results and publications are not so divulgated as they should be, because of lack of comprehensive and coordinated databases. 2. Analysis by topics 2.1. Horizontal and vertical segregation Research questions It is one of the main areas of research in Portugal. Essentially two issues have been considered: - The analysis of vertical gender segregation in educational and professional fields, having reflexes on women professional career progression with special attention to men���s power in control positions and the glass ceiling. - The analysis of horizontal segregation, special in higher education (teaching and research) where women have less visibility than men, and the under-representation of women in technology and technological careers. Research in this area mainly focuses on description, showing the under-representation of women in certain scientific areas and senior positions. Nevertheless, the studies that analyze horizontal segregation in the field of education adopt a more analytical approach which focuses on the analysis of the mechanisms of reproduction of gender stereotypes, especially socialisation, influencing educational and career choices. 1

Anemia de c��lulas falciformes na idade pedi��trica : contribui����o para o estudo das suas principais complica����es e indicadores de progn��stico

RESMO: Introdu����o: A anemia de c��lulas falciformes doen��a heredit��ria, com repercuss��o multi-org��nica, tem grande variabilidade na sua express��o cl��nica. Da�� o interesse do estudo de indicadores de progn��stico. A investiga����o realizada foi precedida de um resumo hist��rico incidindo sobre a compreens��o de aspectos fundamentais da doen��a ao longo dos tempos. Na primeira parte do estudo e ap��s revis��o bibliogr��fica, foram referidos dados da fisiopatologia como base para os estudos que integram a presente disserta����o. Abordou-se o estado da arte relativamente ��s complica����es, aos indicadores de progn��stico e �� terap��utica utilizada. Objectivos: Constitu��ram objectivos deste estudo realizado numa amostra populacional representativa: identificar as les��es a n��vel dos sistemas cardio-respirat��rio e nervoso central, avaliando-se as respectivas repercuss��es; avaliar a presen��a de indicadores de progn��stico entre as vari��veis seleccionadas; estudar a efic��cia e toxicidade da HU nos doentes com as formas graves da ACF. Para a prossecu����o destes objectivos foram delineados para al��m do estudo global tr��s estudos espec��ficos: Estudo 1- repercuss��o no sistema cardio-respirat��rio; Estudo 2- repercuss��o no sistema nervoso central; Estudo 3- terap��utica com hidroxiureia. Doentes e m��todos: Procedeu-se a um estudo prospectivo e multi-institucional durante um per��odo de tr��s anos tendo-se seleccionado para a amostra, e de acordo com crit��rios pr��-definidos, 30 doentes com ACF na fase est��vel da doen��a, com idades compreendidas entre os sete e os 18 anos, todos de origem africana �� excep����o de um caucasiano. O diagn��stico baseou-se em t��cnicas de electroforese e estudo molecular que definiu o genotipo da doen��a e a presen��a da delec����o da ���-talass��mia assim como os haplotipos da amostra populacional. Foram utilizadas diferentes metodologias para avaliar a exist��ncia de les��o pulmonar e cerebral. Atrav��s do estudo estat��stico foram seleccionadas diversas vari��veis como hipot��ticos indicadores de progn��stico. Estudo 1. Para determinar a exist��ncia de les��o a n��vel pulmonar usaram-se duas metodologias diferentes, a avalia����o da fun����o pulmonar com estudo da satura����o da Hb em O2 no sangue arterial e a tomografia computadorizada de alta resolu����o. Estudou-se tamb��m a poss��vel disfun����o card��aca como repercuss��o da les��o pulmonar, atrav��s do ecocardiograma, e os indicadores de progn��stico com significado estat��stico para a les��o encontrada. Estudo 2. O desenho deste estudo foi sobrepon��vel ao anterior, mas com metodologia adequada para o SNC. Procedeu-se ao estudo das les��es cerebrais por meio de exames imagiol��gicos, (RMN-CE e DTC) e de testes psicol��gicos. Correlacionaram-se as tr��s metodologias utilizadas e a import��ncia de cada uma para a decis��o de atitudes terap��uticas preventivas. Estudo 3. Consistiu num estudo aberto prospectivo n��o controlado com nove crian��as e adolescentes com formas graves de ACF, com o objectivo de avaliar a efic��cia da terap��utica com hidroxiureia, durante um per��odo de 24 meses. Todos os doentes completaram no m��nimo 15 meses de terap��utica, com uma dose final m��dia de 19���4 mg/K/dia. Resultados globais: Durante o per��odo anterior �� investiga����o caracterizou-se a amostra populacional estudada quanto ao fenotipo gen��tico, cl��nico e hematol��gico de acordo com os crit��rios utilizados por outros investigadores. Verificou-se: predom��nio do haplotipo Bantu na forma homozig��tica em 53% dos doentes; n��mero total de EVO ���3/ano em 87,5% dos doentes; crises de sequestra����o em 18,75%; dactilites no primeiro ano de vida em 31,2%; quadro de s��psis grave apenas num doente; crises de hiper-hem��lise em 50%; e STA em 59,38% dos doentes. Quanto ao fenotipo hematol��gico evidenciaram-se como factores de risco reticulocitose (13,1x103/���l) e hiperbilirrubin��mia (2,5 mg/dl) e como factores de bom progn��stico a presen��a de delec����o de um gene da ���-talass��mia em 46,9% dos doentes e valor m��dio de Hb 8,1 g/dl. Resultados dos estudos parcelares: Estudo 1. Deste estudo infere-se que a DPR ligeira foi diagnosticada em 70% dos doentes, uma vez que as altera����es da difus��o n��o foram estatisticamente significativas, o estudo dos gases no sangue n��o evidenciaram resultados anormais e a TCAR evidenciou altera����es em 43,3% dos doentes. Apenas num doente se verificou doen��a pulmonar obstrutiva relacionada com maior n��mero da STA.O estudo da disfun����o card��aca encontrada em 86,7% dos doentes n��o reflecte a repercuss��o da DPR a n��vel card��aco, podendo estar associada ��s altera����es fisiopatol��gicas da pr��pria anemia cr��nica. Encontraram-se indicadores de progn��stico hematol��gicos e cl��nicos. Entre os primeiros, valores de Hb ���8,5 g/dl e de HbF ���13% foram considerados indicadores de bom progn��stico para a les��o pulmonar. Em rela����o aos par��metros cl��nicos, as STA n��o foram consideradas indicadoras de progn��stico para a DPR ao contr��rio do que se verificou com o n��mero de EVO. Pela an��lise dos par��metros gen��ticos e socio-econ��micos provou-se a aus��ncia de rela����o estatisticamente significativa com les��o pulmonar. Estudo 2. Pela RMN-CE foram diagnosticados ES em 33,3% com uma localiza����o preferencial na subst��ncia branca profunda em 26,6% dos doentes. Relativamente aos par��metros hematol��gicos seleccionados, o valor m��dio da HbF 8,6% constitu��u um indicador de bom progn��stico para o aparecimento de ES, enquanto o valor m��dio de leuc��citos 12.39x103/��l foi considerado um indicador de mau progn��stico. No estudo do DTC apenas um doente apresentou aumento da velocidade do fluxo cerebral na ACM igual a 196 cm/segundos, associado a vasculopatia grave. Os testes psicol��gicos alterados em 80% dos doentes mostraram ser o m��todo mais sens��vel para detectar altera����es do neurodesenvolvimento, mas sem correla����o com os ES em 10% dos doentes. Real��a-se a baixa percentagem de DTC patol��gicos encontrados neste estudo em rela����o ao n��mero elevado de ES e de testes psicol��gicos alterados, n��o se verificando concord��ncia entre os tr��s exames. Dos indicadores de progn��stico estudados a ���-talass��mia foi considerada um factor de protec����o para o coeficiente de intelig��ncia da escala de Wechsler. Em rela����o a par��metros cl��nicos estudados os doentes com maior n��mero de EVO, tem em m��dia valores inferiores nos testes psicol��gicos. Estudo 3. Neste estudo verificou-se que o valor m��dio da HbF aumentou significativamente de 7,0��4% para 13,7��5,3% (p=0,028) ao fim de 15 meses de terap��utica com hidroxiureia. Clinicamente todos os doentes responderam significativamente com uma redu����o de 80% no n��mero de EVO, 69% no n��mero de internamentos, 76% no n��mero de dias de hospitaliza����o e 67% no n��mero de transfus��es. Deste modo comprovou-se n��o s�� a efic��cia desta terap��utica neste grupo pedi��trico como tamb��m a falta de efeitos secund��rios significativos. Considera-se a necessidade de estudos mais prolongados e em grande s��ries, para com seguran��a se usar a HU antes que a les��o org��nica se estabele��a, portanto logo nos primeiros anos de vida. Conclus��o: Na amostra populacional estudada foram evidenciadas les��es pulmonares e cerebrais na grande maioria dos doentes que condicionaram a sua qualidade de vida. Foram identificados indicadores de progn��stico que poder��o eventualmente ditar medidas terap��uticas precoces com o objectivo de diminuir a morbilidade e a mortalidade neste grupo et��rio. Demonstrou-se que a terap��utica com a HU foi eficaz e bem tolerada----------ABSTRACT: Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA), a hereditary disease characterized by pain and lifetime multi-organic lesion, is a challenge for all that work with carriers of this disease. The clinical expression variability of SCA is a constant reality and a problem to be solved in the current world of investigation, for which the knowledge of prognostic indicators responsible for the different aspects of clinical evolution diversity wiil be an added value. The study is preceded by a historical summary of the most important factors in the evolution of SCA, which are in themselves, an incentive for future research. In the first part of the study, after an extensive bibliographical revision, physiopathology data is referred to in general and specifically regarding the target organs, that constituted the base for the studies presented in the dissertation. The state of the art for the complications to be studied, the choice of prognostic indicators and the therapeutics application, were approached for the renewed interest in the theme. Aims: In regard to the investigation, the objective was to study the lesions in the most affected organs of a chosen pediatric group, to investigate prognostic indicators for lung and cerebral lesions and to evaluate the protective effect of hydroxyurea in children with severe outcomes. Patients and methods: A prospective and multi-institutional study was carried out during a three-year period, February 1998 to March 2001, with children and adolescents followed up at a Immunohematology Outpatient Clinic of Dona Estef��nia's Hospital, Lisbon. Based in predefined criteria, 30 children with SCA were selected in a stable phase of the disease, aged from seven to 18 years old, all of whom were of African origin with exception of one who was Caucasian. The diagnosis was based on electrophoresis techniques and molecular study that allowed to define the genotype, the presence of deletional alpha-thalassemia as well as haplotypes in the population. Different methodologies were used to evaluate the existence of lung and cerebral lesion. Statistical study of the different variables selected the prognostic indicators. In Study 1, to determine the existence of lung lesion two different methodologies were used: pulmonar function study with arterial blood gases determination; and high resolution computerized tomography. Heart dysfunction as a repercussion of lung lesion was also studied through echocardiography, and prognostic indicators were statistically significant for lesions found. The design of Study 2 was similar to Study 1, but with the appropriate methodology for CNS. After neurological examination, which was normal in all patients (control group), cerebral lesions were studied with imagiologic exams (MRN-CE and TCD) and psychological tests. These three methodologies were correlated and the importance of each one in the decision of the therapeutic profilactic attitudes. Study 3 consisted of a controlled prospective open study in children with severe forms of SCA, with the aim of the evaluating therapeutic effectiveness of hydroxyurea, during a period of 24 months. Results: In the global overall study preceding the Studies 1,2 and 3, there were a prevalence of haplotype Bantu (53%) and other risk factors, namely the number of VOC (87,5%), sequestration crisis (18,75%), dactilytis in first year of life(31,2%), hyperhemolysis crisis (50%) and ATC in more than half of the patients (59,38%). This group of bad prognostic indicators, associated with the population of the lower class according to the Graffar scale, demonstrates the importance of primary health care services, information provided to the children and their relatives, as well as the interest in prophylactic therapeutics, specific screening and prenatal diagnosis. Study 1. It was evident from this study that slight RPD was diagnosed in 70% of the patients, because alterations of the diffusion had no statistical significance and arterial blood gases determinations were normal. Only one patient had restrictive lung disease related with numerous ACS. However ACS was not considered a prognostic indicator for RPD, contrary to the number of EVO. HRTC revealed discreet fibrotic lines that could be related with slight RPD, but the lack of correlation of these two exams (33%) supports the value of lung function tests for precocious diagnosis of RPD. Heart dysfunction was found in 86,7% of patients, does not reflect the repercussion of RPD, but with the physiopathology of chronic anemia. Hematologic and clinical prognostic indicators were found. Good prognostic indicators for the non-evolution of RPD with average Hb values of ��� 8,5 g/dl and average HbF values of ���13%, respectively. The genetic and social-economic factors had no statistical significance; nevertheless, they were more prevalent among Bantu haplotype (53,3%) in patients with RPD. Study 2. RMN-CE detected SI in 33,3% of the patients, with preferential location in deep white substance in 26,6% and in front lobe in 20%. This distribution can be related to structural aspects of the brain and with the high sensibility of this organ to hypoxia. From the hematological parameters selected, average HbF value 8,6% and average leucocyte count 12.39x103/��l were prognostic indicators with different meaning to SI. The increase in the total bilirubin related to hyperhemolysis clinically explains the genesis of SI In the TCD study, only one patient had increased cerebral flow speed >196 cm/sec in CMA, which corresponded to serious vasculopathy in AngioMR. This patient never present previously neurological symptoms and had several hyperhemolysis crisis and VOC as risk factors. Low percentage of pathological TCD in this study, in relation to the high number of SI and altered tests, although without correlation among the three exams, is probably attributed to factors related to the methodology, aspects of cerebral physiopathology or perhaps a sign of good prognostic if the duration of study had not been so short. TCD should be used as a screening method in the age groups with higher risk of AVC and should never be considered separately in prophylactic therapeutics indication. Psychological tests were the most sensitive method to detect neurodevelopment impairment; in 80% of patients the neuropsychologics tests were altered, but without correlation with SI (10%). Since SI can become evident during the first two years of life and develop with time, the first psychological tests should be carried out between 3 and 5 years of age to timely be referred to special education and stimulation programs. Prognostic indicators to psychological tests were also found: alpha-thalassemia was found to be a protection factor of the IQ, just as other hematologic factors (hematocrit, MGCV and erythrocytes count). In relation to clinical parameters, although without statistical significance, patients with larger number of VOC had average lower scores versus the average in tests, except in TP. Results from different studies were conclusive as to the type of lesion found and the importance of prognostic indicators. Study 3. All the patients completed a minimum of 15 months therapeutic treatment with the final average daily dose of 19��4 mg/kg/day. The average value of the fetal hemoglobin increased significantly from 7,0��3,9% to 13,7��5,3% (p=0.028). The HbF average values increased from 6% to 15% after 15 months of therapeutic treatment. Clinically there was a reduction of 80% in the number of VOE , 69% in the number of hospitalization, 76% in the number of days of hospitalization and 67% in the number of transfusions. Once again the effectiveness of this treatment in this pediatric group, as well as the lack of any significant secondary effects, was evident. The study confirms the need for further detailed research in order to safely effect the appropriate treatment prior to the development of organic lesions, which ideally should be in the first year of life. Conclusions: These results allow us to clarify the importance of either pulmonary lesions or either nervous central system impairment among patients, children and adolescents, with sickle cell anemia. These lesions were demonstrated in most of the patients studied compromising their quality of life and the mortality. The treatment with HU is proved to be effective and having low toxicity.