Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-05-01"
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- Economic impact of healthcare cyber risksPublication . Brilhante, M. Fátima; Mendonça, Sandra; Pestana, Pedro; Rocha, M. Luísa; Santos, RuiPurpose: The healthcare sector is a primary target for cybercriminals, with health data breaches ranking among the most critical threats. Despite stringent penalties imposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), vulnerabilities still persist due to slow detection and ineffective data protection measures. On the other hand, as organizations are often reluctant to disclose security breaches for fear of reputational and market share losses, penalties can serve as a useful proxy for quantifying losses and insurance claims. Methods: This study analyzes fines and settlements (2008–2024) using the traditional lognormal, general extreme value (GEV) and other heavy-tailed statistical models, including the geo-max-stable loglogistic law, and also the mixture models hyperexponential and hyperloglogistic. Results: Mixture models, either the hyperexponential or the hyperloglogistic, deliver the best fit for OCR penalties, and for yearly maxima, the best fit is achieved with the GEV distribution. Regarding Attorneys General fines, the hyperexponential model is optimal, with the GEV model excelling again for their yearly maxima. Hence, mixture models effectively capture the dual nature of penalty data, comprising clusters of moderate and extreme values. However, yearly maxima align better with the GEV model. Conclusions: The findings suggest that while Panjer’s theory for aggregate claims suffices for moderate claims, it must be supplemented with strategies to address extreme cybercrime scenarios, ensuring insurers and reinsurers can manage severe losses effectively.
- Nurse and midwife interventions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding: an umbrella reviewPublication . Couto, Cristina; Prata, Ana Paula; Souto, Sandra Patrícia; Machado, Joana; Viana, Clara RoqueteBackground Low breastfeeding rates continue to be a global concern among nurses and midwives, raising critical questions about knowledge and effectiveness in promoting breastfeeding. Summarising evidence on nursing and midwifery interventions to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding enables a deeper understanding of how these professionals can enhance breastfeeding practices, inform decision-makers, and improve care quality. Aim To synthesise nursing and midwifery interventions that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. Methods The JBI methodology for umbrella reviews guided this study. Searches were conducted in databases aggregated by EBSCOhost, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, as well as relevant grey literature. Systematic reviews published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish from January 2018 to December 2023 were included. Two independent reviewers used a JBI critical appraisal tool and a specific data extraction instrument to synthesise findings. Findings A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Synthesised findings include: (1) the absence of nursing/midwifery interventions focused on breastfeeding protection; (2) five nursing/midwifery interventions aimed at breastfeeding promotion, with the primary intervention being prenatal education; and (3) twenty-four interventions of nurses/midwives on breastfeeding support, the most frequent being home visits, telephone technology and follow-up. Conclusion This umbrella review reveals limited involvement of nurses/midwives in breastfeeding protection, despite their expertise and potential influence on policy development to support breastfeeding. They are involved in breastfeeding promotion, but most of their intervention is focused on breastfeeding support. The diverse roles and settings of nursing and midwifery practice present challenges in evaluating intervention effectiveness. Further research specific to nursing and midwifery is needed to inform evidence-based practice and policymaking in breastfeeding care.
- Neuropotenciação e identidade pessoalPublication . Fernandes, SaraNeuropotenciação e Identidade Pessoal levanta perguntas que já não são ficção: e se tocar no cérebro fosse reinventar o Eu? Podemos melhorar a mente sem perder a nossa identidade? Num cruzamento envolvente entre filosofia, neurociência, psiquiatria e literatura, a autora convida-nos a explorar os riscos e as promessas das novas tecnologias cerebrais. Um livro desafiante, atual e imperdível para quem quer pensar o futuro da humanidade.
- Clinical-genomic profiling of MDS to inform allo-HCT: recommendations from an international panel on behalf of the EBMTPublication . Gurnari, Carmelo; Robin, Marie; Adès, Lionel; Aljurf, Mahmoud; Almeida, António M.; Duarte, Fernando Barroso; Bernard, Elsa; Cutler, Corey; Porta, Matteo Giovanni Della; Witte, Theo De; DeZern, Amy; Drozd-Sokolowska, Joanna; Duncavage, Eric; Fenaux, Pierre; Gagelmann, Nico; Garcia-Manero, Guillermo; Haferlach, Claudia; Haferlach, Torsten; Hasserjian, Robert; Hellström-Lindberg, Eva; Jacoby, Meagan; Kulasekararaj, Austin; Lindsley, R. Coleman; Maciejewski, Jaroslaw P.; Makishima, Hideki; Malcovati, Luca; Mittelman, Moshe; Myhre, Anders E.; Ogawa, Seishi; Onida, Francesco; Papaemmanuil, Elli; Passweg, Jakob; Platzbecker, Uwe; Pleyer, Lisa; Raj, Kavita; Santini, Valeria; Sureda, Anna; Tobiasson, Magnus; Voso, Maria Teresa; Yakoub-Agha, Ibrahim; Zeidan, Amer; Walter, Matthew; Kröger, Nicolaus; McLornan, Donal P.; Cazzola, MarioFor patients with myelodysplastic neoplasm/syndrome (MDS), allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) represents the only potentially curative treatment, capable of eradicating disease-related mutant hematopoietic cells and establishing normal donor hematopoiesis. Biologic-assignment clinical trials have indicated that in eligible patients, allo-HCT is associated with superior clinical outcomes compared with nontransplant therapy. However, this therapeutic option is only available to a subset of patients, and the outcome is influenced by multiple factors inherent to the patient, the MDS subtype, and the allo-HCT procedure itself. In 2017, the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) published recommendations for allo-HCT in MDS to guide practical decision-making. In the contemporary era, genomic profiling has become routine clinical practice in many centers, and the most recent classification systems include MDS entities that are defined by genetic abnormalities. In particular, the molecular International Prognostic Scoring System offers more precise prognostication across all clinical end points and currently represents the standard tool for estimating patient survival in the absence of disease-modifying treatment. Evidence from multiple sources increasingly indicates that allo-HCT should be considered at the time of diagnosis in all eligible patients with MDS. Therefore, genomic profiling for somatic mutations and testing for germ line predisposition variants are integral to determining a patient's eligibility for transplantation. Although all patients with higher-risk MDS are potential candidates for immediate transplantation, a subset of those with lower-risk MDS may also derive benefit from this procedure at an earlier disease stage. Comprehensive recommendations on behalf of an expert international panel for clinical practice and future clinical studies of relevance are presented.
- Social media users’ perceptions of roles and responsibilitiesPublication . Roberts, JessicaGiven how much the behavior of social media users influences the content displayed to other users— directly, through the content they post, and indirectly, through the content they click, watch, like, or comment on—assessing the attitudes shaping user behavior are essential to understanding and ultimately positively affecting content on social media sites. The purpose of this study was to understand how respondents perceive the role of social media user and the associated responsibilities. An online survey (n=395) asked users of several popular social media platforms how they view their role and that of other users, and who they say is currently responsible for and who should be responsible for various aspects of content on social media sites. Results of the survey indicate that a majority view social media companies or journalists as responsible for keeping users informed, maintaining civility on social media sites, and other obligations. The only area where the majority said users bear responsibility was to report harmful content. The survey results reveal how users see themselves as having little responsibility for the content on social media sites and expect social media companies and journalists to provide oversight.
- A Portuguese expert panel position paper on the management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - part II: unmet needs and organization of care in PortugalPublication . Silva-Cardoso, José; Moreira, Emília; Melo, Rachel Tavares de; Moraes-Sarmento, Pedro; Cardim, Nuno; Oliveira, Mário; Gavina, Cristina; Moura, Brenda; Araújo, Inês; Santos, Paulo; Peres, Marisa; Fonseca, Cândida; Ferreira, João Pedro; Marques, Irene; Andrade, Aurora; Baptista, Rui; Brito, Dulce; Cernadas, Rui; Santos, Jonathan dos; Leite-Moreira, Adelino; Gonçalves, Lino; Ferreira, Jorge; Aguiar, Carlos; Fonseca, Manuela; Fontes-Carvalho, Ricardo; Franco, Fátima; Lourenço, Carolina; Martins, Elisabete; Pereira, Hélder; Santos, Mário; Pimenta, JoanaIn Portugal, a 15.2% prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was recently identified among those aged ≥50 years. HFpEF represents 90% of Portuguese heart failure patients. HFpEF management in Portugal is challenging due to patient heterogeneity, diagnostic and therapeutic complexity, and organizational constraints on the healthcare system. Considering the above, a panel of Portuguese experts convened to address HFpEF management within the national context. This was done in a two-paper set. This, the second paper, identifies unmet needs and suggests a set of measures to improve the current organization of HFpEF management in Portugal. Our purpose is to create a multidisciplinary integrated care system, ensuring a seamless connection between hospitals and primary care. Additionally, we propose a practical approach to the management of HFpEF, including a roadmap for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment. The aim is to help clinicians improve HFpEF management throughout the disease trajectory.
- Life satisfaction and risk of depression: the role of adolescents’ social and emotional skillsPublication . Francisco, Rita; Branquinho, Cátia; Noronha, Catarina; Moraes, Bárbara; Rodrigues, Nuno Neto; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deThe absence of mental illness does not necessarily mean the presence of mental health or well-being. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to identify the risk and prevent the development of mental illness. The present study aimed to: a) characterize the levels of well-being and life satisfaction of adolescents; b) identify the risk of depression; c) analyze differences in the three dimensions of mental health considering sociodemographic characteristics (gender and level of education); and d) analyze predictors of life satisfaction and risk of depression, considering the sociodemographic characteristics and social-emotional skills. Participated in the study 3235 adolescents (50% female), aged between 11 and 20 years (M=14.47, SD=1.91). Participants attend public schools in the 3rd cycle of basic education (47.9%) and secondary education (52.1%), and responded to self-report measures. The results revealed that most adolescents (58.5%) have an average level of life satisfaction. However, 51.1% of participants have a low level of well-being and 19.6% are at risk of depression. All the social-emotional skills included in the models proved to be significant predictors of life satisfaction and lower risk of depression, especially optimism (besides emotional control, stress resistance and sociability). The results reinforce the existence of a double continuum of mental health and mental illness. The results also support the relevance of implementing school-based interventions to promote social-emotional skills that help adolescents deal with the challenges of a changing world, and to prevent depression. From a public health perspective, it is essential to implement universal prevention programs that are part of the paradigm of health-promoting schools.
- Torn between practicality and fear: how strategic communication professionals are adopting artificial intelligencePublication . Dias, Patrícia; Krolow, Priscila; Andrade, José GabrielArtificial Intelligence (AI) is expanding across various contexts and organizations and becoming ingrained in daily practices professionals in strategic communication. This study examines the adoption of AI in strategic communication, mapping how and why professionals integrate AI into their workflows. Specifically, it identifies key AI tools, their applications, and the opportunities and risks their adoption entail. This exploratory study employs a qualitative approach, based on structured interviews to a purposive sample of 16 strategic communication professionals, defined as “professionals working in communication departments or agencies as primary agents of communication” (Heide et al., 2018, p. 1), including communication Directors and Managers. A thematic analysis was applied to the data using MAXQDA software. Our findings reveal widespread AI adoption, with ChatGPT emerging as the most used platform. AI tools are applied in various tasks, including social media content creation, data analysis, process optimization, and workflow facilitation. The main advantages identified are enhanced efficiency, resource optimization, and speed, while challenges revolve around potential displacement and data privacy concerns. Looking ahead, professionals anticipate that AI will increasingly streamline repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on critical thinking and creative work. This study contributes to understanding AI’s evolving role in strategic communication and highlights key implications for future professional practices.
- Biofertilizers: unraveling the in vivo potential of PGPB traitsPublication . Sousa, Ana S. S.; Epelde, Lur; Alves, Paulo Célio; Castro, P. L.; Pereira, S. I. A.
- Impact of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), biochar, and microbial inoculants on maize growth and irrigation needsPublication . Pereira, SofiaThe integration of sustainable agricultural practices with microbial inoculants is increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance crop productivity and resilience to abiotic stress. Soil amendments and biofertilizers contribute to plant growth by improving soil fertility, retaining moisture, stimulating microbial activity, and enhancing nutrient availability. This study evaluates the combined effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and organic soil amendments—biochar and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) derived from wastewater treatment granular sludge—at two application rates (2.5% and 5%) on maize growth and irrigation efficiency. A randomized factorial pot experiment was conducted with two variables: (i) organic soil amendments (biochar and EPS) and (ii) bacterial inoculation (presence or absence of PGPB). The bacterial strains Arthrobacter nicotinovorans EAPPA and Rhodococcus sp. EC35 were used for maize inoculation. Results demonstrated that applying 5% EPS alongside bioinoculants significantly enhanced maize growth, nutrient uptake, and soil water retention, reducing irrigation needs by 30%. While biochar also contributed to lower water requirements, its application as soil amendment negatively impacted maize growth. The combination of EPS and bioinoculants proved to be an effective strategy for improving maize performance while reducing irrigation demand, highlighting its potential as a sustainable approach to agriculture.