Grocery consumer relational perceptions: value typologies and environmentally sustainable consumption

JEL Classification System: M31 - Marketing; Y40 - DissertationsUnderstanding the concept of perceived value by the consumer has been the subject of several studies, in order to understand its impact on relational satisfaction between consumer and retailer. This understanding is relevant to the extent that relational satisfaction can be improved by retailers, in view of the value that consumers more perceived as essential in a relationship. In this sense, this study aims to identify consumer segments in accordance with their perceived value, which are characterised according to the risk of environmentally unsustainable consumption in their relations with the stores that they regularly attend, as well as their state of satisfaction and repurchase intentions. The segments were obtained based on a sample of 327 young adult consumers with schooling equal or greater than 12 years, living in central and southern Portugal. The methodology adopted is focused on a cluster analysis, based on a set of perceived value variables of consumer-retailer relationship after application of a principal component analysis. In addition, measures of descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were used in order to characterise the sample and consumer segments. Four different consumer segments were obtained: "Prudent" (group of consumers who give importance to the functional value and less to the monetary value); "Intimate" (consumers privilege the emotional value); "Influenced" (especially the social value) and "Pragmatic" (combine the functional value and less the social).A compreensão do conceito de valor percebido pelo consumidor tem sido alvo de vários estudos com a finalidade de entender o seu impacto na satisfação relacional entre consumidor e retalhista. Este entendimento é relevante, na medida em que a satisfação relacional poderá ser aperfeiçoada pelos retalhistas, atendendo ao valor que os consumidores mais percebem como fundamentais num relacionamento. Neste sentido, este estudo pretende identificar segmentos de consumidores de acordo com o seu valor percebido, sendo estes caracterizados quanto ao risco de consumo ambientalmente insustentável nas relações que mantêm com as lojas que regularmente frequentam, bem como o seu estado de satisfação e intenções de recompra. Os segmentos foram obtidos tendo por base uma amostra de 327 consumidores jovens adultos com escolaridade igual ou superior ao 12ºano, residentes no Centro e Sul de Portugal. A metodologia adoptada incidiu sobre uma análise de clusters, baseada num conjunto de variáveis do valor percebido da relação consumidor-retalhista após a aplicação de uma análise de componentes principais. Além disso, foram utilizadas medidas de estatística descritiva e testes de hipóteses de modo a caracterizar-se a amostra e os segmentos de consumidores. Obtiveram-se quatro segmentos de consumidores diferenciados: “Prudentes” (consumidores que prezam o valor funcional e menos o valor monetário na relação); “Intimistas” (consumidores privilegiam o valor emocional); “Influenciados” (sobretudo o valor social) e “Pragmáticos” (aliam o valor funcional e menos o social)

Um modelo para análise de risco para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos em contexto de inovação aberta

Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia IndustrialO processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos é complexo, e exige recursos e competências que, frequentemente as organizações não dispõem. Deste modo, as organizações desenvolvem redes colaborativas, que fomentam essa partilha. No entanto, e tal como em todos os projetos, é necessário alocar recursos, definir a cronologia, o orçamento e também, analisar os riscos a que a organização e o projeto, estão expostos. A análise e gestão de risco, recorre de um modo geral a métodos tradicionais, os quais, e na sua maioria, não é tido em conta a subjetividade inerente a perceção do gestor responsável na análise, bem como a influência do projeto e as suas componentes nos diferentes domínios da organização. Recorrendo à metodologia de estudo de caso, pretende-se desenvolver uma metodologia de risco, que incorpore os aspetos acima descritos, associada ao desenvolvimento de novos produtos em Inovação Aberta, e no contexto de uma Virtual Enterprise. A abordagem desenvolvida, será suportada em métodos de inteligência artificial (Lógica Fuzzy), e a sua robustez será analisada através da sua aplicação a uma rede colaborativa, criada com o propósito de desenvolver um veículo elétrico Plug-in. A partir do modelo desenvolvido, procura-se identificar e avaliar os níveis de risco envolvidos no processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, com o intuito de reduzir a incerteza e a ambiguidade inerente à análise de risco, por parte de um gestor bem como, estudar a influência do risco associado a cada componente, sobre o desenvolvimento do produto, e em particular sobre cada domínio da organização.New product development process is complex and requires resources and skills that Organizations frequently don't have. In this way, Organizations develop collaborative networks, as is the case of a Virtual Enterprise (VE), with the aim to foster this sharing. However, as in all projects, it's necessary to allocate human (and non-human) resources, define the project chronology, the budget and, also analyze the risks that the Organization and the project itself are exposed. Analyses and Risk management generally rely on traditional methods most of which don't take into account, the subjectivity of the manager's perception and, the influence of the project and its components in the different areas or domains of the Organizations. By using the case study methodology, with this dissertation, it's intended to develop a risk methodology, which incorporates the aspects above described, associated on new product development in Open Innovation, in a Virtual Enterprise (VE) context. The methodology developed it will be supported by an Artificial Intelligence model, (Fuzzy Logic), to implement in a collaborative network of 11 Industries and 3 Research and Development centers, in order to create a highly autonomy electric plug-in vehicle. Based on the already developed method, it's attempted to identify and evaluate the risks involved in new product development process in order to reduce the uncertainty and inherent ambiguity in risk analysis by a manager, as well as, to study the influence of risk associated with each component on product development, and in particular on each area of the organization.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Formar as crianças para os direitos dos animais: avaliação de um processo de intervenção com crianças do 2º ano de escolaridade

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e de Português e História e Geografia de Portugal no 2.º Ciclo do Ensino BásicoO presente relatório decorre no contexto da Unidade Curricular Prática de Ensino Supervisionada II (PES II), do Mestrado em Ensino do 1.º e 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB), da Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa e apresenta a descrição do percurso desenvolvido neste âmbito. A par da descrição das práticas interventivas, o trabalho integra um estudo efetuado na turma de 2.º ano, num estabelecimento de ensino público, na área da Grande Lisboa. A investigação foi motivada por interesses pessoais e da turma e, ainda, pela verificação de fragilidades dos alunos ao nível do pensamento crítico e das capacidades reflexivas. Com base nos fatores elencados, definiu-se o tema Formar as crianças para os direitos dos animais, implementando-se a avaliação de um processo de intervenção com as crianças do ano escolar mencionado. Objetivou-se, com este estudo, o desenvolvimento das capacidades críticas e reflexivas, a reflexão sobre o conceito dos Direitos dos Animais e, com efeito, a consciencialização das crianças face a esta temática. Para tal, optou-se por seguir uma metodologia de investigação-ação, tendo sido delineado um design que compreende uma entrevista realizada antes da intervenção, a implementação de sessões de discussão e reflexão sobre situações sujeitas de reflexão previamente selecionadas e, finalmente, uma entrevista final. Os resultados do estudo foram avaliados mediante a análise das respostas às entrevistas, cujo teor consistia na análise de algumas imagens que comprometiam os Direitos dos Animais e de outras que os respeitavam. Especificamente, os resultados evidenciaram uma clara evolução nas competências referidas – pensamento crítico e reflexivo – nos alunos e, particularmente, demonstraram que todos os participantes desenvolveram, ainda que nem todos com a mesma intensidade, uma maior consciência perante a temática dos Direitos dos Animais.ABSTRACT This report is carried out in the context of the course of Supervised Teaching Practice II, of the Master's Degree in Teaching in Primary Education of Basic Education (CEB), of the Lisbon Higher Education School and presents the description of the course developed in this field. In addition to the description of the intervention practices, this work incorporates a study carried out in the 2nd grade class in a public education institution in the Great Lisbon area. The research was motivated by personal and class interests, and by the verification of students' fragilities in terms of critical thinking and reflective capabilities. Based on the factors listed, the theme Training the children for the animal rights was defined, implementing an evaluation of a process of intervention with the children of the mentioned school year. The aim of this study was the development of critical and reflexive capacities, a reflection on the Animal Rights concept and, indeed, the awareness of children regarding this theme. To do so, we chose to follow a research-action methodology, outlining a design that included an interview conducted before the intervention, the implementation of discussion and reflection sessions on previously selected situations of reflection and, finally, a final interview. The results of the study were evaluated by the analysis of the answers to the interviews, which consisted of the analysis of several images that compromised the Rights of Animals and others who honored them. More specifically, the results showed a clear evolution in the mentioned skills - critical and reflective thinking – regarding the students and, more particularly demonstrated that all the participants developed, although not all with the same intensity, a greater awareness on the Animal Rights subject.N/

IL-9 expression by invariant NKT cells is not imprinted during thymic development

Copyright © 2015 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reservedInvariant NKT (iNKT) cell thymic development can lead to distinct committed effector lineages, namely NKT1, NKT2, and NKT17. However, following identification of IL-9-producing iNKT cells involved in mucosal inflammation, their development remains unaddressed. In this study, we report that although thymic iNKT cells from naive mice do not express IL-9, iNKT cell activation in the presence of TGF-β and IL-4 induces IL-9 secretion in murine and human iNKT cells. Acquisition of IL-9 production was observed in different iNKT subsets defined by CD4, NK1.1, and neuropilin-1, indicating that distinct functional subpopulations are receptive to IL-9 polarization. Transcription factor expression kinetics suggest that regulatory mechanisms of IL-9 expression are shared by iNKT and CD4 T cells, with Irf4 and Batf deficiency deeply affecting IL-9 production. Importantly, adoptive transfer of an enriched IL-9(+) iNKT cell population leads to exacerbated allergic inflammation in the airways upon intranasal immunization with house dust mite, confirming the ability of IL-9-producing iNKT cells to mediate proinflammatory effects in vivo, as previously reported. Taken together, our data show that peripheral iNKT cells retain the capacity of shaping their function in response to environmental cues, namely TGF-β and IL-4, adopting an IL-9-producing NKT cell phenotype able to mediate proinflammatory effects in vivo, namely granulocyte and mast cell recruitment to the lungs.This work was supported by Fundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal Grants PTDC/SAU-TOX/114424/2009 and HMSP-ICT/0034/2013 and the Novo Nordisk/European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (to L.G.), as well as by grants from the Fundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal, the European Molecular Biology Organization, the European Research Council, and the U.S. National Blood Foundation (to H.V.-F.). A.A.-D., C.F.A., D.F.-P., and M.M. were supported by fellowships from the Fundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Rare Case of Bilateral Proptosis

A 65-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of severe bilateral proptosis, palpable lymphadenopathy and moderate hepatosplenomegaly. A blood test was positive for hepatitis C infection. CT showed palpebral infiltrative lesions with regional progression through the temporal and masticatory spaces to the pharynx and hypopharynx causing almost complete airway obstruction. A palpebral biopsy was consistent with low-grade Bcl-2+ extra-nodal MALT non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. The patient received six cycles of rituximab-based chemotherapy with clinical remission at 9-month follow-up. Bilateral proptosis is a rare presentation of several diseases. When brain CT excludes cavernous sinus pathology, thyroid ophthalmopathy or haematological malignancy should be considered

Circulating small non-coding RNAs provide new insights into vitamin K nutrition and reproductive physiology in teleost fish

Background: Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin known for its essential role in blood coagulation, but also on other biological processes (e.g. reproduction, brain and bone development) have been recently suggested. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms behind its particular function on reproduction are not yet fully understood. Methods: The potential role of VK on reproduction through nutritional supplementation in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) was assessed by gonadal maturation and 11-ketosterone, testosterone and estriol plasma levels when fed with control or VK supplemented (1250 mg kg(-1) of VK,) diets along a six month trial. At the end, sperm production and quality (viability and DNA fragmentation) were evaluated. Circulating small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in blood plasma from males were also studied through RNA-Seq. Results: Fish fed with dietary VK supplementation had increased testosterone levels and lower sperm DNA fragmentation. SncRNAs from blood plasma were found differentially expressed when nutritional and sperm quality conditions were compared. PiR-675//676//4794//5462 and piR-74614 were found up-regulated in males fed with dietary VK supplementation. Let-7g, let-7e(18nt), let-7a-1, let-7a-3//7a-2//7a-1, let-7e(23nt) and piR-675//676//4794//5462 were found to be up-regulated and miR-146a and miR-146a-1//146a-2//146a-3 down-regulated when fish with low and high sperm DNA fragmentation were compared. Bioinformatic analyses of predicted mRNAs targeted by sncRNAs revealed the potential underlying pathways. Conclusions: VK supplementation improves fish gonad maturation and sperm quality, suggesting an unexpected and complex regulation of the nutritional status and reproductive performance through circulating sncRNAs. General significance: The use of circulating sncRNAs as reliable and less-invasive physiological biomarkers in fish nutrition and reproduction has been unveiled.European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) through the Portuguese "Programa Operational" (PROMAR)European Union (EU) [31-03-05-FEP-0073]COST Office (Food and Agriculture COST Action) [FA1205: AQUAGAMETE]network LARVAplus "Estrategias de desarrollo y mejora de la production de larvas de peces en Iberoamerica" - Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo (CYTED) [117RT0521]CYTED [318RT0549][CCMAR/SC/BPD/09/2016]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O impacto da pandemia COVID-19 na qualidade de vida dos teletrabalhadores: protocolo de revisão de escopo

Objective: Mapping the Scientific Evidence on the Impact of Telecommuting on Quality of Life Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methodology: This review will be conducted following the JBI® methodology and PRISMA-ScR® guidelines. Inclusion criteria: All studies focusing on telecommuters before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered. This includes studies evaluating the quality of life of telecommuting workers and demonstrating the impact of telecommuting before, during, and after the pandemic. Articles written in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French, available in free full text, will be included. Final remarks: It is expected that this work will contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of telecommuting before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This understanding will aid in defining more suitable and effective strategies to reduce the perceived impact.Objetivo: Mapear a evidência científica relativa ao impacto do teletrabalho na qualidade de vida antes, durante e após a pandemia covid-19. Critérios de inclusão: Serão considerados todos os estudos que avaliaram o impacto do teletrabalho antes, durante e após a pandemia, redigidos em português, inglês, espanhol e francês e disponíveis em free full text. Metodologia: Trata-se de um protocolo de revisão de escopo, de acordo com a metodologia do Joanna Briggs Institute e as recomendações do PRISMA-ScR® para registro. A pesquisa foi realizada nas seguintes bases de dados: CINAHL®; MEDLINE Complete®; Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive®; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials®; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts e MedicLatina® (via EBSCOhost). A seleção dos artigos será realizada por dois revisores independentes pela plataforma Rayyan, recorrendo-se a um terceiro revisor em caso de discordância. Os dados dos estudos serão extraídos através de ferramentas construídas pelos autores para o efeito. ABSTRACT Objective: To map the scientific evidence regarding the impact of teleworking on quality of life before, during and after the covid-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria: All studies that assessed the impact of teleworking before, during and after the pandemic will be considered; written in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French and available in free full text. Methodology: This is a scoping review protocol, in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR® recommendations for registration. The search was carried out in the following databases: CINAHL®; MEDLINE Complete®; Nursing & Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive®; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials®; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts and MedicLatina® (via EBSCOhost). The selection of articles will be carried out by two independent reviewers using the Rayyan platform, using a third reviewer in case of disagreement. Data from the studies will be extracted using tools built by the authors for this purpose

Nocardiose: visão geral e relato de 28 casos em vacas e cães

Phenotypic characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and clinical-epidemiological features of 28 Nocardia strains isolated from 19 cases of bovine mastitis, eight cutaneous-subcutaneous lesions and one case of pneumonia in dogs were evaluated. Microbiological, biochemical, cytological and scanning electron microscopy methods were used in diagnosis. Nocardia asteroides type IV, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum,Nocardia nova (type III) and Nocardia farcinica (type V) were isolated from bovine milk, bronchial lavage and/or cutaneous-subcutaneous abscesses in dogs. Nocardial bovine mastitis was diagnosed predominantly in clinical cases, in dairy herds with poor environmental hygienic conditions between milking and inappropriate intramammary therapy. Canine nocardiosis was observed commonly in animals co-infected with distemper virus. Sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (92.8%), amikacin (92.8%) and ceftiofur (92.8%) were the most effective drugs in 28 isolates. Multiple drug resistance to three or more and five or more antimicrobials was observed in ten (35.7%) and three (10.7%) strains, respectively, predominantly with use of cloxaxillin, cefoperazone and ampicillin. The species (type) classification, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis, multiple-drug resistance and public health considerations in Nocardia strains isolated from cattle and dogs in Brazil are discussed, with special reference to report of bovine mastitis by N. otitidiscaviarum by first time in Brazil and the similarity between Nocardia species isolated from human and animal origin.A caracterização fenotípica, perfil de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos e aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos foram avaliados em 28 linhagens de Nocardia isoladas de 19 casos de mastite, oito lesões tegumentares e um caso de pneumonia em cão. Foram utilizados no diagnóstico métodos microbiológicos, bioquímicos, citológicos e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Nocardia asteroides tipo IV, N. otitidiscaviarum,N. nova (tipo III) e N. farcinica (tipo V) foram isoladas do leite de vacas com mastite, de material de lavado transtraqueal e de lesões cutâneas de cães. Nocardiose mamária bovina foi diagnosticada predominantemente sob a forma clínica, em propriedades com precárias condições de higiene na pré e pós-ordenha, e inadequado procedimento de terapia intramamária. Nocardiose canina foi diagnosticada comumente em animais co-infectados com o vírus da cinomose. Sulfametoxazole/trimetoprim (92,8%), amicacina (92,8%) e ceftiofur (92,8%) foram os antimicrobianos mais efetivos frente às linhagens de Nocardia. Resistência múltipla a três ou mais e cinco ou mais antimicrobianos foram observadas, respectivamente, em dez (35,7%) e três (10,7%) linhagens, notadamente frente à cloxacilina, cefoperazona e ampicilina. A caracterização de espécies (tipo), aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos, diagnóstico, resistência múltipla aos antimicrobianos e reflexos em saúde pública de linhagens de Nocardia isoladas de bovinos e cães no Brasil foram discutidos. Foi destacada a similaridade entre as espécies de Nocardia isoladas de animais e do homem, e a primeira descrição no Brasil de N. otitidiscaviarum na etiologia da mastite bovina

IL-31 and IL-8 in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: Looking for Their Role in Itch

The itch associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), including Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), is often severe and poorly responsive to treatment with antihistamines. Recent studies have highlighted the possible role of interleukins in nonhistaminergic itch. We investigated the role of IL-31 and IL-8 in CTCL, concerning disease severity and associated itch. Serum samples of 27 patients with CTCL (17 MF and 10 SS) and 29 controls (blood donors) were analyzed for interleukin- (IL-) 31 and IL-8; correlations with disease and itch severity were evaluated. IL-31 serum levels were higher in CTCL patients than in controls and higher in SS than in MF. Also, serum IL-31 levels were higher in patients with advanced disease compared to those with early disease, and they correlated positively with lactate dehydrogenase and beta 2-microglobulin levels, as well as with the Sézary cell count. Itch affected 67% of CTCL patients (MF: 47%; SS: 100%). Serum IL-31 levels were higher in itching patients than in controls and in patients without itching. There was no association between serum IL-8 and disease severity, nor with itching. Serum IL-8 levels correlated positively with peripheral blood leukocyte and neutrophil counts in CTCL patients. Our study suggests a role for IL-31 in CTCL-associated itch, especially in advanced disease and SS, offering a rational target for new therapeutic approaches. Increased serum IL-8 observed in some patients may be related to concomitant infections, and its role in exacerbating itch by recruiting neutrophils and promoting the release of neutrophil proteases deserves further investigationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio