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Numerous risk factors for lower limb amputations are known; however, this study aimed to identify risk factors for re-amputation in patients within 6 months from an initial lower limb amputation procedure.

Purpose: The evolution of e-health technologies presents promising alternatives for health-care excellence. Despite the benefits arising from mobile e-health (m-health) and wearables technologies, the literature stands many contradictories signs regarding how users accept and engage in using these technologies. This study aims to synthesize the estimations about m-health user acceptance technologies. Design/methodology/approach: A meta-analytic structural equation modeling was carried out using the 778 relationships estimated by 100 previous research. The estimations follow the relations and constructs proposed in the UTAUT2 technological acceptance model. Findings: The results indicate the performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and habit constructs are most important for predicting the behavioral intention of use of m-health technologies. The Latin American users of e-health technologies are still underestimated in the literature. Originality/value: The study presents a guide to understanding the acceptance process of m-health technologies and delivers a general orientation for developing new m-health devices considering their acceptance by users.

Despite the relevant amount of studies in the literature about e-health technologies, it is necessary to organise the information about the theme in a clear structure within the technological context. The present study aims to gather information about applications of e-health technologies from a systematic literature review. The search obtained 130 entries considered in this research. The studies were grouped in relation to the technologies and the health area of the technological application, according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related health problems. Among the technologies present in the literature, most (62) did not focus on a specific technology, covering more than one e-health technology. In a more focused way, there are studies regarding m-health, telemedicine and wearables technologies. Regarding technological application health areas, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases are presented in most of the studies. The present study gathers information about e-health technology, providing guidance for future research.

Purpose: This article aims to compare smart meters' acceptance studies worldwide to consolidate trends and highlight factors that are not a consensus. Design/methodology/approach: This work performs a statistical meta-analysis, using the Hunter–Schmidt method and the UTAUT2 model, of the factors of acceptance of smart meters in the world literature. A meta-regression was also conducted to verify the moderation exercised by gender, level of education and timeline context of the articles. Findings: The main results point to hedonic motivation, performance expectancy and effort expectancy as the leading influencers for smart meter's acceptance. Meta-regression indicates that the influence is more significant among the male gender and that over the years, the social influence must gain weight in the smart meter's acceptance. Social implications: Specific strategies are suggested to improve projects for the implementation of smart meters based on the obtained results. Originality/value: The contribution given by this work is relevant, considering it is the first meta-analysis focused on smart meters' acceptance published in the literature

Purpose: This study is to propose a procedure to support decisions on which enablers should be employed to minimize the impact of barriers to implementing mass customization strategies in food companies. Design/methodology/approach: Through interpretive structural modeling, the authors analyzed the relationships between barriers. Then, with an approach similar to the quality function deployment technique, commonly used in general product and process development, the authors clarified the relationships between barriers and enablers. Findings: The results revealed 19 barriers and 17 enablers for implementing food mass customization. The analysis indicates that most of the barriers (16) present strong associations with each other. The barrier “products with non-customizable features” depends on the whole chain of associations and causes a minor impact on the other barriers. In turn, the barrier “ingredient incompatibility” causes impact over the whole chain, and its dependence on other barriers is very low. Research limitations/implications: The results were tested in a single Brazilian company in the food sector. Practical implications: The findings can allow food manufacturing companies to focus their efforts on the improvement of enabling technologies, such as smart packaging, Internet of Things and additive manufacture. Social implications: This study would help food companies to improve their business and provide better products to society. Originality/value: There are few recommendations in the literature to how to implement mass customization strategy in companies from the food sector. This study fills in this gap presenting a procedure to guide managerial staff to develop this promising approach for food companies.

Cardiac dysfunctions are described in diabetes. However, the role of purinergic neurotransmission in diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the purinergic neurotransmission in isolated atria from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The animals were grouped as control and diabetic with 30 days (D30) and 60 days (D60) after streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The isolated left and right atria were used in functional experiments. The effects of adenosine triphosphate, uridine diphosphate, and adenosine were evaluated on atrial inotropism and chronotropism. The antagonists 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine and pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate were also used, as blockers of P1and P2receptors, respectively. A negative inotropic effect followed by a positive inotropic effect was induced by adenosine triphosphate in isolated atria. This negative inotropic effect was decreased by 25 in left atria of D30. Additionally, the apparent affinity for adenosine was diminished in left atria of D30, suggesting changes in P1receptor function. No changes were found in the right atria of D30 stimulated by adenosine. The left atria and right atria stimulated by uridine diphosphate showed an increased inotropic effect of 92 and 17, respectively. No changes were observed in left and right atria of D30 stimulated by uridine diphosphate. Our data showed the involvement of purinergic neurotransmission in diabetes-related cardiovascular changes.

Two optically active cationic surfactants, (2S)-N-hexadecyl-N, N-dimethyl-(1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-2-ammonium chloride 1and (2S)-N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-(1-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-2-ammonium chloride 2, have been selected and synthesized for use as enantioselective micellar catalysts in aqueous media. Their surface and aggregation behavior has been investigated at 298 K using surface tension and light scattering studies, which revealed that both molecules associate at low concentrations to produce micellar aggregates. Interestingly, although the area per molecule occupied by the surfactants at the air–water interface (43.6 Å2for 1and 54.6 Å2for 2) is similar to that of related cationic surfactants, their aggregation number (23 for 1and 19 for 2) is much smaller, perhaps reflecting the influence of the size or homochiral nature of the head group in the packing of the micelle.

The effects of added surfactants on the aqueous Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and a range of acrylate esters have been studied. The surfactants were used at their critical micellar concentrations, and the pH of the aqueous solutions was varied to determine the optimum conditions for the formation of the endocycloadduct.

A novel chiral surfactant has been used in the first reported aqueous chiral micellar catalysis of a Diels–Alder reaction and enantioselectivities have been observed.

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