Abstract Purpose This study analyses workers' perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, identifies factors that influence these perceptions, and verifies workers' intentions to maintain this work arrangement after the pandemic. Theoretical framework By conducting a comprehensive literature review, we identified the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking and selected factors that have a significant influence over it. Design/methodology/approach This is an exploratory and quantitative study, with primary data collection using a survey to identify the context of the teleworking experience and workers' perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages associated with this work arrangement. The sample obtained was 304 individuals. The data collected were processed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Findings The teleworking experience was essentially positive. Most workers intend to maintain this arrangement after the pandemic. The conditions offered by the organizations and the existence of an adequate workspace at home were factors that strongly influenced workers' perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking. Practical & social implications of research Considering workers' perceived benefits and willingness to remain teleworking, organizations should implement and manage teleworking programs with the understanding that organizational factors greatly influence the teleworker's experience and are critical to the success of this practice. Originality/value This study provides additional data concerning the teleworking experience during the Covid-19 pandemic and, to the best of our knowledge, it is one of the first studies to focus on the perception of Portuguese workers regarding the advantages and disadvantages of teleworking and to identify influencing factors.

Introdução: Há evidência que adolescentes com a mesma idade cronológica mas com estádios pubertários distintos têm comportamentos psicossociais diferentes. Desconhece-se, no entanto, se existe alguma relação entre o ritmo de maturação pubertária e o desenvolvimento do córtex pré-frontal e sistema límbico. Objetivo: Pretendeu-se com este trabalho avaliar através de ressonância magnética, o desenvolvimento cerebral de adolescentes do sexo feminino com a mesma idade cronológica mas com distintos ritmos de maturação pubertária. Material e Métodos: Avaliaram-se parâmetros hormonais e imagiológicos (idade óssea, ultrassonografia pélvica e ressonância magnética cerebral estrutural) a adolescentes de sexo feminino de 14 anos de idade. Resultados: Foram incluídas no estudo quatro adolescentes maturadoras precoces (grupo 1) e três maturadoras médias (grupo 2), A idade de início da puberdade foi a única variável biológica que distinguiu os 2 grupos (p=0,05). Apesar de não se encontrar significado estatístico, verificou-se que as maturadoras precoces, apresentavam volumes de todas as estruturas subcorticais estudadas superiores às maturadoras médias, com exceção do núcleo accumbens. Conclusões: Com base na pesquisa bibliográfica efetuada, este estudo foi o primeiro a tentar relacionar os ritmos de maturação pubertária e o desenvolvimento cerebral através da ressonância magnética. A tendência observada para o aumento do volume das estruturas subcorticais poderá estar relacionado com um possível atraso na maturação do núcleo accumbens nas maturadoras precoces e poderá explicar o aumento da vulnerabilidade deste grupo para comportamentos de risco. Consideramos que poderá constituir o ponto de partida para investigações futuras, de forma a compreender melhor o desenvolvimento adolescente e assim permitir encontrar formas mais eficazes de intervenção.

Aim: There is evidence that adolescents with distinct rhythms of pubertal maturation have different psychosocial behaviours. However, a relation between pubertal maturation and the development of the prefrontal cortex and limbic system was not yet established. The aim of this study was to apply brain magnetic resonance imaging to investigate brain development of teenagers with similar age but distinct timing of pubertal maturation. Methods: We compared the hormonal profiles and brain structure and volume using magnetic resonance imaging of two groups of 14 year-old girls, four with an early pubertal development (group 1) and three with an average pubertal development (group 2). Results: The age at onset of puberty was the only biological variable that distinguished the two groups (p = 0,05). There were no differences regarding global brain volume. However, early-maturers showed a tendency for an increased volume of all subcortical structures except for nucleus accumbens. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first work to address the relation of pubertal maturation timing and central nervous system development using brain magnetic resonance imaging. The observed tendency for an increased volume of the subcortical structures may be related to a possible delayed development of the nucleus accumbens in early-maturers, and may explain the increased vulnerability of this group to risk behaviours.

Pelvic floor disorders, which include pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI), affect 23% of women that when symptomatic can be surgically approached using synthetic meshes. Imaging techniques, particularly Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, have been increasingly used to evaluate patients submitted to these procedures, in both pre- and post-operative periods. The aim of this review is to assess the contribution of clinical imaging regarding meshes used in urogynecological surgery.