Sentiment classification of consumer generated online reviews using topic modeling

The development of the Internet and mobile devices enabled the emergence of travel and hospitality review sites, leading to a large number of customer opinion posts. While such comments may influence future demand of the targeted hotels, they can also be used by hotel managers to improve customer experience. In this article, sentiment classification of an eco-hotel is assessed through a text mining approach using several different sources of customer reviews. The latent Dirichlet allocation modeling algorithm is applied to gather relevant topics that characterize a given hospitality issue by a sentiment. Several findings were unveiled including that hotel food generates ordinary positive sentiments, while hospitality generates both ordinary and strong positive feelings. Such results are valuable for hospitality management, validating the proposed approach.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Characterization of antioxidant olive oil biophenols by spectroscopic methods

Olive oil contains numerous phenolic components with well-recognized health-beneficial activity. The major phenolic compounds present in olives and virgin olive oil-hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein and the oleuropein aglycones 3,4-DHPEA-EA and 3,4-DHPEA-EDA-as well as some of their metabolites were studied in the present work, regarding their main structural preferences. Vibrational spectroscopy (Raman) coupled to theoretical methods were used, aiming at fully characterizing the systems and therefore enabling their quick and reliable identification in food samples

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterisation of amphetamine-like drugs: Application to the screening of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its synthetic precursors

A complete physicochemical characterisation of MDMA and its synthetic precursors MDA, 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde (piperonal) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-[beta]-methyl-[beta]-nitrostyrene was carried out through voltammetric assays and Raman spectroscopy combined with theoretical (DFT) calculations. The former provided important analytical redox data, concluding that the oxidative mechanism of the N-demethylation of MDMA involves the removal of an electron from the amino-nitrogen atom, leading to the formation of a primary amine and an aldehyde. The vibrational spectroscopic experiments enable to afford a rapid and reliable detection of this type of compounds, since they yield characteristic spectral patterns that lead to an unequivocal identification.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TF4-4P0X5D5-4/1/9762a97e2bf78b805ff2aef86d7a1cc

A persistent wheeze

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Structural characterization of agmatine at physiological conditions

Abstract The present work aims at determining the structure-activity relationships (SAR's) which rule the biological function of agmatine (4-(aminobutyl)guanidinium, AGM), a biogenic amine produced by decarboxylation of arginine. Its structural preferences, both as an isolated molecule and in aqueous solution (namely at physiological conditions) were ascertained, by vibrational (Raman) spectroscopy coupled to theoretical (density functional) calculations. An evaluation of mitochondrial functions (membrane potential ( ), mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release) in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) was also carried out. The results thus obtained, coupled to the conformational analysis performed for the distinct polyamine protonation states, allowed to individualize the agmatine structures which interact with the mitochondrial site responsible for its transport and for the protection against mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induction, a

Build the brand identity for the new brand you are creating, and explain the brand elements you have chosen, liasing with the positioning choices you have made for the brand

Branding is all about creating differences. Differences that will ultimately make consumers choose a brand over another. In a world overloaded by brands, the concept of brand identity has never been more important. Identity is much more than just deciding on the logo or name of a brand, it requires strategic planning and need to fit the current positioning of the brand. In this report, it is presented the brand identity for the new SBG’s sangria brand as well as its elements: name, slogan, logo and packaging

Fluoxetine and Norfluoxetine Revisited: New Insights into the Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Properties

The extent to which humans and wildlife are exposed to the vast array of anthropogenic chemicals and their degradation products, along with related naturally occurring compounds, is nowadays an important issue. The study of the physical-chemical properties of the compounds and/or degradation products is an important subject because some of them are intrinsically related to its resistance to degradation and/or bioaccumulation. Accordingly, the study of the electrochemical behavior of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine and its main metabolite norfluoxetine was investigated. The identification of the oxidation processes was done via two fluoxetine analogues, 1-(benzyloxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene and N-methyl-3-phenylpropan-1-amine hydrochloride. The oxidative processes occurring in fluoxetine are pH-dependent and were ascribed to the chemical moieties present in the molecule: the secondary amine group and the substituted aromatic nucleus. To perform an unequivocal ascription, the structural preferences of the drug and metabolite were also determined, by Raman spectroscopy coupled to quantum mechanical calculations (at the DFT level). The analytical data obtained in this work will allow the development of a rapid and unequivocal spectroscopic procedure suitable for fluoxetine identification, as well as to distinguish between the drug and its main metabolite

Testes de ecotoxicidade usando microalgas como complemento da avaliação da eficiência do tratamento de águas residuais

A qualidade da água é principalmente influenciada pela presença de poluentes. A seleção dos tratamentos a usar deve ser baseada na otimização da sua eficiência e sustentabilidade. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação da ecotoxicidade utilizando a microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata, antes e após diversos tratamentos terciários de águas residuais, de forma a complementar a avaliação da eficiência dos tratamentos. Os ensaios realizados foram baseados no teste de inibição para algas descrito no Regulamento (EU) 2016/266 da Comissão de 7 de dezembro de 2015, que, por sua vez, se baseia no documento “Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals: Freshwater Alga and Cyanobacteria Growth Inhibition Test”, OCDE 2011. A resposta do sistema foi obtida através da comparação do crescimento da cultura exposta a uma determinada concentração com o crescimento das culturas de controlo. Realizaram-se ensaios com águas provenientes de uma estação de tratamento de águas residuais urbanas: após tratamento secundário e terciário (ultrafiltração, ultravioleta e plasma não térmico). Observou-se que, no caso do tratamento secundário existe inibição de crescimento, obtendo-se uma concentração efetiva que causa 50% de inibição na população (CE50) igual a 49,7%. Para o caso do tratamento UV observou-se uma inibição pouco significativa (CE10= 69,6%). Nos restantes tratamentos terciários avançados, observou-se que todos os tratamentos potenciaram o crescimento da microalga. Realizaram-se, também, ensaios com águas provenientes de um tratamento eletroquímico avançado (processo eletroquímico 3D) de forma a avaliar os efeitos do tratamento ao nível da ecotoxicidade e capacidade de remoção de fármacos. Inicialmente, testou-se água ultrapura com uma concentração conhecida de NaCl, usado como eletrólito, antes e após o tratamento e verificou-se que o tratamento aumentava a toxicidade (CE50=2,57%), devido à presença de espécies reativas de cloro. De seguida, aplicou-se o mesmo tratamento a água ultrapura, na presença de sulfametoxazol e trimetoprim (e do eletrólito), e observou-se que quanto maior for a densidade de corrente aplicada, maior a taxa de remoção dos fármacos. Por fim, aplicou-se o tratamento eletroquímico 3D a uma água residual na presença e ausência de NaCl, e verificou-se que o tratamento mais eficiente foi na presença do eletrólito, onde se observou uma maior taxa de remoção dos fármacos, no entanto, obteve-se um valor de CE50 igual a 2,9% devido às espécies reativas de cloro geradas no tratamento.Water quality is mainly influenced by the presence of pollutants. The selection of treatments to be used should be based on optimizing their efficiency and sustainability. This work aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity, using the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata, before and after various tertiary treatments of wastewater, to complement the evaluation of the efficiency of the treatments. The tests carried out were based on the inhibition test for algae described in Regulation (EU) 2016/266 of the 7th of December 2015, which was based on the document “Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals: Freshwater Alga and Cyanobacteria Growth Inhibition Test”, OECD 2011. The system response was obtained by comparing the growth of the culture exposed to a certain concentration with the growth of control cultures. Tests with a wastewater from an urban wastewater treatment plant were performed after conventional secondary and tertiary treatments: ultraviolet (UV), ultrafiltration and nonthermal plasma (PTN). In case of secondary treatment there is growth inhibition, obtaining an effective concentration that causes 50% of inhibition in the population (EC50) equal to 49,7%. For the case of UV treatment, it was observed a little significant inhibition (EC10 =69,9%). Regarding the other advanced tertiary treatments, all treatments enhanced the microalgae growth. Tests with water submitted to advanced electrochemical treatments (3D electrochemical process) were carried out to evaluate the effects on ecotoxicity and pharmaceutical removal capacity of this treatment. Firstly, ultrapure water with a known concentration of NaCl, the used electrolyte, was tested before and after treatment and it was found that the treatment increased the ecotoxicity (EC50 = 2,57%) due to the presence of reactive chlorine species. The same treatment was applied to ultrapure water containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (and the electrolyte). It was observed that the increase of the current density applied, caused an increase in the drug removal rate. Finally, the 3D electrochemical treatment was applied to wastewater in the presence and absence of NaCl and it was verified that the most efficient treatment was in the presence of the electrolyte, corresponding to a higher rate of drug removal, however it was obtained an EC50 value of 2,9% due to reactive chlorine species produced during the treatment