Factors influencing the brand equity of nonprofits : the case study of FLAD

Purpose: As brand management becomes well-established within the for-profit field, the same hasn’t been felt in the nonprofit sector. In response, this project provides insights into the conceptualization and operationalization of nonprofit customer-based brand equity, by evaluating and providing strategies to improve FLAD’s (Luso-American Development Foundation) value as a brand. For this purpose, the present research improves and further validates the measurement scale of Boenigk and Becker (2016), including the dimensions of awareness, trust and commitment, for which behavioral intentions were added. Methodology: All constructs under analysis were identified and operationalized based on an extensive literature review and a detailed assessment of the existing brand equity models for nonprofits. The selected measurement instrument to evaluate FLAD’s brand equity was based on the scale developed by Boenigk and Becker (2016). The data collected from an online survey (n=203) was mostly analyzed through descriptive statistics. Findings: The results point to trust and behavioral intentions as the dimensions that most contribute to FLAD’s brand equity, while commitment and awareness fall short in this assessment. Further recommendations to improve FLAD’s brand equity are discussed. Research limitation: Future research should test the efficacy, generability and robustness of the proposed nonprofit customer-based brand equity model, based on Boenigk and Becker’s (2016) study. Recommendations are made to use more statistical instruments, different samples and nonprofit types, as well as incorporate other dimensions of brand equity not analyzed in this project. Originality: The brand equity model established for FLAD in this project provides the basis for other nonprofits, especially in Portugal, to evaluate their brand’s performance over time, compare it to competitors and develop accordant marketing strategies where and when needed. Additionally, this study contributes to the research field of nonprofit branding, so these organizations are better equipped to support such activities successfully

Afro-descendants' experiences in Portuguese workplaces: perspectives on subtle discrimination and HRM practices in managing diversity

With the European political landscape becoming increasingly intolerant of differences, where neoconservative, racist and xenophobic ideologies are becoming more popular and with the decline of traditional racism marked by its evidence and easy recognition, and the spread of subtle forms of ethnic discrimination in organizations, it is important to trace where graduated Afro-descendants with white-collar jobs stand in the spectrum of discrimination in Portuguese organizations. This qualitative study aims to analyse the workplace experiences of graduated Afro-descendants in the ‘first person’, with a specific focus on the perceptions of unequal treatment and discrimination. Twelve graduate men and women who define themselves as Afro-descendants participated in semi-structured interviews and exposed their perceptions and understandings of potentially discriminatory situations at work, ways of coping with these events, and HRM policies favouring cultural diversity, equality and inclusion in organizations. The interviews were analysed by using a thematic analysis style – Template Analysis – producing the following main themes: ‘perception of discrimination’, ‘coping strategies’, ‘consequences of ethnic discrimination’, and ‘HRM practices’ developed and explored in 12 sub-themes. It was found that ethnic identity plays an important role in the perception and attribution to discrimination, that subtle discrimination permeates Portuguese organizations which are fairly homogeneous in terms of cultural diversity, and that HRM policies must be appropriate to adequately manage diversity counteracting the multiculturalist approach of including diversity without considering the existing inequalities between dominant group and ethnic minorities.Com o panorama político europeu cada vez mais intolerante às diferenças, onde as ideologias neoconservadoras, racistas e xenófobas estão cada vez mais populares, com a diminuição do racismo tradicional marcado pela sua evidência e fácil reconhecimento, e a propagação de formas subtis de discriminação racial nas organizações, é importante compreender em que situação estão as minorias étnicas com empregos de colarinho branco nas organizações portuguesas, no espectro da discriminação. Este estudo qualitativo visa analisar as experiências laborais de afrodescendentes graduados na ‘primeira pessoa’, com um foco específico nas perceções de tratamento desigual e discriminação. Doze homens e mulheres graduados que se definem como afrodescendentes participaram em entrevistas semiestruturadas e expuseram as suas perceções e entendimentos sobre situações potencialmente discriminatórias no trabalho, formas de lidar com esses eventos e políticas de gestão de RH de favorecimento à diversidade cultural, igualdade e inclusão nas organizações. A análise das entrevistas foi feita recorrendo a um estilo de análise temática - "Template Analysis" - produzindo os seguintes temas: "perceção de discriminação", "estratégias de coping", "consequências da discriminação étnica", e "práticas de GRH", desenvolvidos e explorados em 12 subtemas. Constatou-se que a identidade étnica desempenha um papel importante na perceção e atribuição à discriminação, que a discriminação subtil permeia as organizações portuguesas que se revelaram bastante homogéneas em termos de diversidade cultural e as políticas de GRH devem ser adequadas para ser feita uma gestão da diversidade que contrarie a abordagem multiculturalista de incluir a diversidade sem considerar as desigualdades existentes entre grupo dominante e minorias étnicas

Sjögren’s syndrome and acquired splenic atrophy with septic shock: a case report

INTRODUCTION: The most frequent causes of adult-onset recurrent infections are human immunodeficiency virus infection, malignancy, and autoimmune diseases, while acquired non-surgical hyposplenism is rare. Although acquired asplenia/hyposplenism have been described in association with celiac disease and, less frequently, with autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, the manifestations in this context are usually only detectable in the laboratory setting, with Howell-Jolly bodies or thrombocytosis. To the best of our knowledge, no previous case of pneumococcal septic shock in a patient with acquired hyposplenism and co-morbid Sjögren’s syndrome has been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 45-year-old Caucasian woman who developed pneumococcal pneumonia at age 42 years, pneumococcal meningitis at age 44 years and septic shock with Streptococcus agalactiae bacteremia at age 45 years and was subsequently diagnosed with radiological splenic atrophy and functional asplenia, as well as primary Sjögren’s syndrome. After appropriate immunizations, the patient has been free from clinically important infections. CONCLUSION: Hyposplenism should be suspected in patients with adult-onset infections caused by encapsulated bacteria, especially if autoantibodies are present. Early diagnosis can help prevent potentially life-threatening infections. Possible associations between splenic atrophy and Sjögren’s syndrome are discussed

Um olhar socio-semiótico sobre a multimodalidade do discurso publicitário: relação texto - imagem em análise

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ciências da Comunicação (área de especialização em Publicidade e Relações Públicas)A publicidade impôs-se nas nossas vidas como um poderoso mecanismo de sedução, parte integrante da cultura moderna. Hoje em dia não consumimos só produtos, mas todo o mundo de significação que a publicidade cria em torno deles. A publicidade tem demonstrado um crescente domínio do visual sobre o verbal nas mensagens que divulga. Ainda assim, as investigações publicitárias portuguesas não têm dado a devida ênfase aos significados produzidos pelo modo visual. Este estudo pretende dar um contributo nesse sentido, defendendo uma abordagem própria para compreender o funcionamento socio-semiótico dos recursos visuais, que destaque as suas especificidades e que acentue o seu valor no todo da peça publicitária. Apresenta um duplo enfoque: a reflexão crítica da experiência de estágio na agência QA Publicidade e a investigação de uma questão suscitada nesse meio, a saber, de que forma os signos visuais confirmam e reafirmam, ou não, os sentidos produzidos pelos recursos linguísticos nos anúncios publicitários. Para responder a esta questão, usam-se a abordagem e o quadro analítico da socio-semiótica de Gunther Kress e Theo van Leeuwen (1996). A Teoria da Multimodalidade, desenvolvida pelos mesmos autores, desempenha igualmente um papel fundamental (Kress e van Leeuwen, 2001; Kress, 2010). Através da análise de um conjunto de anúncios publicitários conclui-se que são diversas as relações entre texto e imagem que confirmam e reafirmam mutuamente os sentidos. Argumenta-se a necessidade de consciencialização dos publicitários sobre estas possíveis relações e como estas podem influir no processo de interpretação do anúncio por parte do leitor. Acredita-se que é nesta relação que pode residir a chave do sucesso persuasivo. A persuasão por meio de imagens é bastante eficaz, mas a sua aliança com uma componente verbal pode dotar o anúncio publicitário daquele nada que é tudo – o pormenor que torna aquela publicidade memorável.Advertising has taken an important part of our lives as a powerful mechanism of seduction, an integral part of modern culture. Nowadays we don’t consume only products, but the whole world of meaning that advertising creates around them. Advertising has shown an increasing dominance of the visual over verbal. However, the portuguese advertising studies has given due importance to meanings produced by the visual mode. This study wants to give a contribute to this field of work, supporting an own approach to understand the social semiotic functioning of visual resources, that emphasizes their specificities and their value to the ad as a unity. This presents a dual approach: a critical reflection of the internship experience at the advertising agency QA Publicidade, and the investigation of a question raised by that experience, namely, how do the visual signs confirm and reaffirm, or not, the meanings produced by language on ads. To answer this question we use the approach and analytic framework of social semiotics of Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen (1996). The Multimodality Theory, developed by the same authors, is also essential to this study (Kress e van Leeuwen, 2001; Kress, 2010). By analyzing a set of ads we conclude that there are different relationships between image and text that mutually confirm and reaffirm meanings. It is argued that advertisers need to raise awareness of these possible relationships and how these can influence on the interpretation of the ad by the reader. It is believed that the relationship between visual and verbal resources can be the key to persuasive success. Persuasion through images can be very effective, but an alliance with a verbal element can provide that little detail that makes an memorable ad

Avaliação do desempenho docente

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo melhorar as práticas educativas numa instituição de ensino particular e cooperativo, ou seja, aperfeiçoar o desempenho da instituição e ao mesmo tempo o desempenho de cada docente que nela trabalha. O tema do projeto centrou-se na avaliação do desempenho docente, mais concretamente no problema da inexistência de um sistema formal de avaliação do desempenho docente. Assim, desenvolveu-se um quadro teórico e legal atualizado com vista a realização de um estudo empírico bem fundamentado. Sem dúvida que a observação cuidada, análise, flexibilidade, crítica, reflexão e abertura à mudança é imprescindível para delinear um plano de ação que resolva o problema existente na instituição quer a curto, como a médio e a longo prazo. Só assim cada docente pode dar resposta à missão educativa que diariamente se propõe alcançar. Só quando é estabelecida uma verdadeira cultura de avaliação nas escolas, onde todos os membros são informados, participam e melhoram, é possível promover a qualidade educativa do serviço prestado e ter profissionais que se sentem realizados, valorizados e recompensados pelo seu trabalho, esforço e empenho.This work has as principal goal the improvement of educational practices in a private and cooperative educational institution, ie, improving institution's performance, while increases the performance of each teacher who works in it. The theme of the project focused on the evaluation of teaching performance, in particular, on the problem of formal system lack for teacher performance assessment. Thereby, a upgraded theoretical and legal framework was developed in order to prepare an empirical well founded study. No doubt that careful observation, analysis, flexibility, critical thinking and openness to change is essential to outline a plan of action to solve the problem existing in the institution both on short, on medium and long term. Only this way each teacher can give the answer to the educational mission that aims to achieve daily. Barely when a true culture of assessment is established on schools, where all members are informed, participate and improve, is possible to promote educational quality of the service provided and to have professionals who feel valued and rewarded for their work, effort and commitment

The interplay between atmospheric conditions and grape berry quality parameters in Portugal

The atmospheric conditions are a strong modulator of grape berry composition, but further research is required to better understand this relationship, which is particularly pertinent under the context of climate change. The present study assesses the relationship between interannual variability in atmospheric conditions (mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures and precipitation totals) on grape berry quality attributes in three main Portuguese wine regions—Douro, Dão and Alentejo—and targets two major varieties growing in Portugal (cv. Touriga Nacional and cv. Aragonez/Tempranillo). Berry weight, titratable acidity (TA), pH, potential alcohol (PA), anthocyanins and total phenols index (TPI) data, collected two to three weeks after the end of the veraison until technological maturity, since 1999 in Douro, 2004 in Alentejo and 2008 in Dão, were selected. Meteorological data were obtained from both automatic weather stations and a climatic database defined at a very-high-resolution grid (<1 km) (PTHRES). The influence of daily mean, maximum and minimum air temperatures (November–October) and precipitation totals (April to June and July to September) on the above-mentioned berry quality parameters were first explored to identify the months/periods more influential to grape berry composition. Different statistical approaches were subsequently carried out to explore in greater detail these relationships. At technological maturity, temperature was negatively correlated to berry weight, titratable acidity, anthocyanins and TPI, but was positively correlated to pH and potential alcohol. Moreover, lowest levels of berry weight and TA (and highest levels of pH) were more frequent in warmer regions, while the opposite was seen in the cooler regions. PA, TPI and anthocyanins at maturity did not show a clear trend across regions. In addition, the maturation parameters of each site were grouped into two clusters—years where the maturation parameter is higher (cluster 1) and years where it is lower (cluster 2)—and significant differences in monthly mean temperatures between clusters were found. Overall, temperatures at veraison and maturation periods (June–August) were more influential in determining grape berry composition at harvest. The influence of precipitation was dependent on location and variety. The results also suggested that berry composition in Alentejo is more sensitive to atmospheric variability, while Aragonez seems more resilient than Touriga Nacional. These outcomes are based on a systematized and unprecedentedly large grape berry quality database in Portugal and provided the grounds for the development of grape quality forecast models, either to be used operationally in each vintage or for assessing potential modifications in berry composition in response to changing climates.This study was funded by the Clim4Vitis project-"Climate change impact mitigation for European viticulture: knowledge transfer for an integrated approach", funded by European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under grant agreement no. 810176.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peritoneal water transport characteristics of diabetic patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a longitudinal study

[Abstract] Background: Volume overload is frequent in diabetics undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), and may play a significant role in the excess mortality observed in these patients. The characteristics of peritoneal water transport in this population have not been studied sufficiently. Method: Following a prospective, single-center design we made cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons of peritoneal water transport in 2 relatively large samples of diabetic and nondiabetic PD patients. We used 3.86/4.25% glucose-based peritoneal equilibration tests (PET) with complete drainage at 60 min, for these purposes. Main Results: We scrutinized 59 diabetic and 120 nondiabetic PD patients. Both samples showed relatively similar characteristics, although diabetics were significantly more overhydrated than nondiabetics. The baseline PET disclosed lower ultrafiltration (mean 439 mL diabetics vs. 532 mL nondiabetics, p = 0.033) and sodium removal (41 vs. 53 mM, p = 0.014) rates in diabetics. One hundred and nine patients (36 diabetics) underwent a second PET after 12 months, and 45 (14 diabetics) underwent a third one after 24 months. Longitudinal analyses disclosed an essential stability of water transport in both groups, although nondiabetic patients showed a trend where an increase in free water transport (p = 0.033) was observed, which was not the case in diabetics. Conclusions: Diabetic patients undergoing PD present lower capacities of ultrafiltration and sodium removal than their nondiabetic counterparts. Longitudinal analyses disclose an essential stability of water transport capacities, both in diabetics and nondiabetics. The clinical significance of these differences deserves further analysis

Predicting the secondary structure of proteins using Machine Learning algorithms

The functions of proteins in living organisms are related to their 3-D structure, which is known to be ultimately determined by their linear sequence of amino acids that together form these macromolecules. It is, therefore, of great importance to be able to understand and predict how the protein 3D-structure arises from a particular linear sequence of amino acids. In this paper we report the application of Machine Learning methods to predict, with high values of accuracy, the secondary structure of proteins, namely alpha-helices and beta-sheets, which are intermediate levels of the local structure

The early childhood education school towards sexuality and gender education : exploring the motivations of professionals in Rio Grande do Sul

O presente artigo se propõe a explorar e discutir as motivações de profissionais da Educação Infantil para a formação e capacitação nas temáticas de sexualidade e gênero. Um questionário foi respondido por 96 participantes e as respostas foram analisadas através da frequência de palavras e de análise temática. Dos resultados emergiram dois principais temas para discussão: 1) a falta de conhecimento sobre sexualidade e gênero e 2) os atravessamentos da temática no contexto da Educação Infantil. O desenvolvimento de estratégias de capacitação/formação de professoras/es nessas temáticas é necessário para embasar as suas práticas cotidianas, proporcionar maior segurança em suas intervenções diárias - considerando a atual posição de vulnerabilidade dessas/es profissionais – e garantir a proteção dos direitos das crianças e das famílias que integram as instituições escolares.Este artículo tiene como objetivo explorar y discutir las motivaciones de los profesionales de la educación de la primera infancia para la formación en los temas de sexualidad y género. 96 participantes respondieron un cuestionario y las respuestas se analizaron mediante la frecuencia de palabras y el análisis temático. De los resultados surgieron dos temas principales para la discusión: 1) la falta de conocimiento sobre la sexualidad y el género y 2) los cruces del tema en el contexto de la Educación Infantil. El desarrollo de estrategias de formación de profesores/es en estos temas es necesario para apoyar sus prácticas diarias, proporcionar una mayor seguridad en sus intervenciones diarias -teniendo en cuenta la posición actual de vulnerabilidad de estos profesionales- y garantizar la protección de los derechos de los niños y las familias que integran las instituciones escolares.This paper aims to explore and discuss the motivations of Early Childhood Education professionals for education about Sexuality and Gender. A questionnaire was answered by 96 participants and the responses were analyzed through the frequency of words and thematic analysis. From the results, two main themes emerged: 1) the lack of knowledge about Sexuality and Gender and 2) the intersections of the theme in the context of Early Childhood Education. The development of teacher training strategies on these themes is necessary to support daily practices, provide greater safety in their daily interventions - regarding their current vulnerability position of these professionals - and also to guarantee the protection of the rights of children and families who are part of the school