A importância dos novos media para a elaboração de uma estratégia de marketing territorial

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ciências da Comunicação (área de especialização em Publicidade e Relações Públicas)O marketing territorial é uma técnica relativamente recente, e assume particular importância perante a crescente globalização dos mercados e a consequente necessidade de diferenciação. Os países, cidades ou regiões comportam-se cada vez mais como empresas, assumindo um pensamento estratégico, e optando pelo desenvolvimento e implementação de um plano de comunicação que lhe proporcione notoriedade e reputação. Na sociedade atual, encarada como a sociedade da informação, das novas tecnologias digitais e dos novos media, a novidade surge a cada passo, e a comunicação assume diferentes perspetivas. Os meios tradicionais estão a ser progressivamente ultrapassados pelos novos media, estes que têm como grande paradigma a Internet e todas as potencialidades que lhe estão associadas. As marcas devem adaptar os seus negócios às circunstâncias do mercado onde se movimentam, desenvolvendo estratégias de acordo com o perfil do novo consumidor e das suas novas formas de comunicar e interagir. Como forma de perceber se esta adaptação acontece também no universo das estratégias de marketing territorial (e que grau de importância assume), foi concebido o presente trabalho, que decorre de um estágio realizado na B+ Comunicação, uma agência especializada na área da publicidade. Este relatório de estágio propõe-se analisar a importância dada aos novos media aquando da elaboração de uma estratégia de marketing territorial. Trata-se de uma análise desenvolvida com base em dois casos reais de marketing territorial: “Oportonity City”, marca criada para a cidade do Porto, e “Alentejo, Tempo para ser Feliz”, marca criada para a região do Alentejo. Assim sendo, foi utilizada uma metodologia assente numa pesquisa qualitativa, com base em entrevistas semiestruturadas administradas via e-mail aos responsáveis pela delineação e implementação das estratégias de marketing territorial em questão.Territorial marketing is a relatively new technique, and is particularly important given the growing globalization of markets, and given the consequent need for differentiation. Countries, cities or regions behave increasingly as companies assuming a strategic thinking and choosing the development and implementation of a communication plan that provides them with notoriety and reputation. In today's society seen as the information, the new digital technologies and new media society, novelty comes at every step, and communication takes different perspectives. New media, which have as their greatest paradigm the Internet and all the potential associated with it, are gradually overtaking the traditional media. Brands must adapt their business to the market circumstances in which they move, developing strategies according to the profile of the new consumer and its new ways to communicate and interact. This study aims at understanding if this adaptation also takes place in the universe of territorial marketing strategies (and what level of importance it acquires) and is based on an internship at B + Communications, an agency specialized in advertising. This internship report will examine the importance given to new media when developing a marketing strategy planning, by means of an analysis based on two real cases of territorial marketing: "Oportonity City", a brand created for the city of Porto, and "Alentejo, Tempo para ser Feliz", a brand created for the Alentejo region. Thus, a methodology based on a qualitative study will be used by means of semi-structured interviews conducted via e-mail to the responsible for the design and implementation of the territorial marketing strategies in question

Electrospun silk-elastin fibres functionalized with silver nanoparticles as antibacterial wound dressings

[Excerpt] Silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) are a class of bioinspired, genetically engineered block copolymers, composed of silk and elastin repeating units. As base materials for biomedical purposes, SELP nanofibre mats demonstrate potential to be applied as wound dressing materials [1]. The increasing antimicrobial resistance associated with the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics demands the research for new pathogen-free healthcare polymeric materials with enhanced biological performance. [...]This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER- 007569) through FCT I.P. and by ERDF through COMPETE2020 - POCI. The authors are grateful for funding from FCT (project “FunBioPlas” ERA-IB-2-6/0004/2014) and a fellowship to RM (SFRH-BPD/86470/2012). The authors also thank support from the COST Action MP1206

Antimicrobial Electrospun Membranes of Selp/Ag Composites

Silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) are a new class of bioinspired, biologically synthesized block copolymers, composed of silk and elastin repeating units. SELP electrospun fibre mats show potential for application as wound dressings for skin regeneration. In this work, antimicrobial nanofibrous mats were produced by electrospinning SELP solutions containing different concentrations of silver nitrate without addition of reducing agents. The SELP/Ag composite materials demonstrated antimicrobial activity against both Gram– and Gram+ bacteria. Furthermore, the SELP/Ag composite materials showed no cytotoxicity against normal human skin fibroblasts.This work was supported by FCT/MEC through Portuguese funds (PIDDAC) - PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014, PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011, Matepro - NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000037. RM, AC and VS, acknowledge FCT for SFRH-BPD/86470/2012, SFRH/BD/75882/2011 and SFRH/BPD/63148/2009 grants, respectively. The authors also thank support from the COST Action MP1206 “Electrospun Nano-fibres for bio inspired composite materials and innovative industrial applications”

Creation of antimicrobial biopolymers by the use of recombinant DNA technology

[Excerpt] The spread of antimicrobials resistant microorganisms has triggered the search for new ways to treat infections. One of these ways is the creation of antimicrobial devices and surfaces that kill or prevent the spread of microorganisms. In the present work we explored the properties of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) for the creation of biopolymers with broad antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial recombinant protein-based polymers (rPBPs) were designed by cloning the DNA sequence coding for the different AMPs in frame with the N-terminus of the elastin-like recombinamer consisting of 200 repetitions of the pentamer VPAVG, here named A200. [...]This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P. and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). By the Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-38043-C02-01) and Junta de Castilla y León-JCyL (VA152A12-2 and VA155A12-2), Spain. AC and RM, acknowledge FCT for SFRH/BD/75882/2011 and SFRH/BPD/86470/2012 grants, respectively

Genetically engineered Silk-Elastin-Like Proteins as a versatile platform for the development of new biomaterials

[Excerpt] Throughout evolution nature created and refined proteins for a wide range of functions, working as structural components or as molecular motors. In this sense, the natural fibrous proteins represent the utmost case of function specialization and high performance materials. The remarkable mechanical properties of proteins like elastin or silk are founded on conservative blocks of amino acid sequences that propagate through the natural protein. These repetitive amino acid sequences are arranged in a way that creates flexible, rigid or tough domains, which are responsible for the physical and mechanical properties of the natural protein. Indeed, the recognition of the mechanics linking the nano- and micro-scale structure with the macromolecular assembly and organization, enabled molecular biologists to understand nature’s refined ways of creating high performance structural materials. Advances in synthetic protein biotechnology, emerging from the increase of knowledge in structural and molecular biology, combined with the use of recombinant DNA technology and biotechnology processes, made possible the advent of a new class of artificial biomacromolecules, the recombinant Protein-Based Polymers (rPBPs). This new class of protein-based materials, inspired in nature and with precisely controlled amino acid sequences, mimic the properties of their natural counterparts but can also combine in the same polypeptide chain the properties of two or more different proteins, creating copolymers with distinct properties from their native equivalents. Indeed, by recombinant DNA technology, it is possible to design and produce tailored synthetic genes, allowing for the creation of multifunctional complex PBPs with absolute control of its composition, structure and molecular weight. [...]This work is supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P. and by the ERDF through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) and by the project EcoAgriFood (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000009), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It is also supported by FCT within the ERA-NET IB, project FunBioPlas with grant number ERA-IB-15-089 and FCT reference ERA-IB-2-6/0004/2014. AMPereira acknowledges DP_AEM and FCT for the PD/BD/113811/2015 grant

Development of electrochemical genosensors for the detection of toxic dinoflagellate alexandrium spp.

Microalgae represent a photosynthetic microorganisms’ group that inhabit both salt and fresh waters. These microorganisms, namely several species of dinoflagellates (e.g. Alexandrium spp.)1 , are mostly harmless; however, some species produce toxins classified as unsafe to human health. The uncontrolled proliferation of such species results in a hazardous occurring event designated harmful algal blooms (HAB). The effects of these episodes can lead to severe ecological and socio-economic impacts (e.g. decrease of the local tourism, fishing and port activities, the contamination or death of the nearby wildlife, discoloration of the beach coasts). Therefore, the need for a rapid, selective and in real time detection device that can monitor the presence of these microalgae in aquaculture waters is critical to prevent human, ecological and economical losses. In this work, an analytical approach based on electrochemical genosensor techniques was developed to create a low cost platform able to detect the dinoflagellates: Alexandrium minutum and Alexandrium ostenfledii. The design of this genosensor consisted of several steps including: i) Sensing phase: Creation of a mixed self assembled monolayer (SAM) composed by a linear DNA capture probe (DNA-CP) and mercaptohexanol (MCH) onto screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGE) surface; ii) Heterogenous hybridization of complementary DNA sequence (DNA target) by using a sandwich format assay with enzymatic labels and iii) Electrochemical detection by chronoamperometry using an enzymatic scheme to amplify the electrochemical signal (Figure 1). The best analytical conditions were used to study the relationship between electrochemical signal and DNA target concentration.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antibacterial protein-based fibres: combining recombinant DNA technology with electrospinning

[Excerpt] With the increasing healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms there is a demand not only for new antimicrobial compounds but also for antimicrobial materials. Genetically engineered protein polymers functionalized with bioactive domains offer potential as multifunctional versatile materials for biomedical use. The present work describes the fabrication and characterization of antimicrobial fibre mats comprising the antimicrobial elastin-like recombinamer CM4-A200 [1]. [...]This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER- 007569) through FCT I.P. and by ERDF through COMPETE2020 - POCI. The authors are grateful for funding from FCT (project “FunBioPlas” ERA-IB-2-6/0004/2014) and a fellowship to RM (SFRH-BPD/86470/2012). The authors also thank support from the COST Action MP1206

Electrospun fibres of an elastin-like polymer functionalized with an antimicrobial domain

This work describes the production and characterization of nanofibres of a functionalized elastin-like recombinamer (ELR). The polymer was functionalized with an antimicrobial peptide domain by means of recombinant DNA technology and processed by electrospinning. The electrospun fibres were characterized for their morphology, physical-chemical, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity properties. The electrospun membranes showed no cytotoxicity against skin-related cell lines, suggesting the potential applicability of these materials for skin tissue engineering.This work was supported by FEDER through POFC – COMPETE and by Portuguese funds from FCT through the project PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014. By the Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-38043-C02-01) and Junta de Castilla y León-JCyL (VA152A12-2 and VA155A12-2), Spain. AC, VS and RM, acknowledge FCT for SFRH/BD/75882/2011, SFRH/BPD/63148/2009 and SFRH-BPD/86470/2012 grants, respectively. The authors also thank support from the COST Action MP1206 “Electrospun Nano-fibres for bio inspired composite materials and innovative industrial applications”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthetic Protein Biotechnology approaches for the creation of antimicrobial biopolymers

[Excerpt] The spread of antimicrobials resistant microorganisms has triggered the search for new ways to treat infections. In the present work we explored the ABP-CM4 peptide properties from Bombyx mori for the creation of biopolymers with broad antimicrobial activity. An antimicrobial recombinant protein-based polymer (rPBP) was designed by cloning the DNA sequence coding for ABP-CM4 in frame with the N-terminus of the elastin-like recombinamer consisting of 200 repetitions of the pentamer VPAVG, here named A200. [...]This work was supported by FEDER through POFC – COMPETE by FCT through the project PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014. By the Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-38043-C02-01) and Junta de Castilla y León-JCyL (VA152A12-2 and VA155A12-2), Spain. AC and RM, acknowledge FCT for SFRH/BD/75882/2011 and SFRH-BPD/86470/2012 grants, respectively

Genetic ablation of inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) fails to modify disease progression in a mouse model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion within the ataxin-3 protein (ATXN3). This leads to neurodegeneration of specific brain and spinal cord regions, resulting in a progressive loss of motor function. Despite neuronal death, non-neuronal cells, including astrocytes, are also involved in SCA3 pathogenesis. Astrogliosis is a common pathological feature in SCA3 patients and animal models of the disease. However, the contribution of astrocytes to SCA3 is not clearly defined. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) is the predominant IP3R in mediating astrocyte somatic calcium signals, and genetically ablation of IP3R2 has been widely used to study astrocyte function. Here, we aimed to investigate the relevance of IP3R2 in the onset and progression of SCA3. For this, we tested whether IP3R2 depletion and the consecutive suppression of global astrocytic calcium signalling would lead to marked changes in the behavioral phenotype of a SCA3 mouse model, the CMVMJD135 transgenic line. This was achieved by crossing IP3R2 null mice with the CMVMJD135 mouse model and performing a longitudinal behavioral characterization of these mice using well-established motor-related function tests. Our results demonstrate that IP3R2 deletion in astrocytes does not modify SCA3 progression.This work has been funded by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020, PTDC/NEUNMC/3648/2014 and COMPETE-FEDER (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016818); fellowships to DCG (2021.08121.BD), DMF (SFRH/BD/147947/2019), JSC (SFRH/BD/140624/2018), ANC (SFRH/BPD/118779/2016), AVF (UMINHO/BIL-CNCG/2022/11), SGG (SFRH/BD/101298/2014), and JFV (2020.05109.BD); FCT Scientific Employment Stimulus (CEEC)—Individual Call position to SDS (CEECIND/00685/2020); grants from the Bial Foundation (037/18) and “the la Caixa” Foundation (LCF/PR/HR21/52410024) to JFO; and by the projects NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013 and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023, supported by the Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It was also supported by grants from the ICVS Scientific Microscopy Platform, a member of the national infrastructure PPBI—Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging (PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122 and national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)