Applicability of SERVQUAL in restaurants: an exploratory study in a Portuguese resort

SERVQUAL is the most popular instrument to ascertain service quality. However, some debate exists about its ability to characterize different service environments. Furthermore, there is not a consensus about the inclusion of customer expectations in the model. The research presented in this paper intends to discuss the applicability of SERVQUAL to restaurant services and to analyze the inclusion of customer expectations in such environment. The research was developed in a Portuguese resort and more than 300 customers, from two different restaurants, were invited to participate in the study

Rural Vitality Check: proposta de metodologia para a avaliação da sustentabilidade de uma aldeia

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente perfil Ordenamento do Território e Impactes AmbientaisA aldeia é um local de vivência única e que devido ao seu enquadramento rural oferece uma variedade de recursos que, quando utilizados em harmonia, contribuem decisivamente para o seu desenvolvimento sustentável. Porém, a performance das zonas rurais tem vindo a decair desde 1950 com os incentivos migratórios do interior para o litoral de Portugal. Actualmente a importância das zonas rurais começa a ser reconhecida e algumas medidas têm sido tomadas com objectivo de recuperar a sustentabilidade destes locais. A variedade de metodologias internacionais de avaliação de zonas rurais demonstra a sua importância, no entanto a maioria está direcionada para uma comparação internacional. Para a sua aplicação à escala de aldeia é necessário a sua adaptação de forma a aproximar os resultados obtidos à realidade da aldeia. No presente trabalho foi construída com base em metodologias já existentes a Rural Vitality Check, que deve permitir a avaliação preliminar de uma aldeia, caracterizando a sua sustentabilidade e constituindo uma base para a definição de medidas de intervenção. Pretende-se constituir um sistema de Indicadores de Sustentabilidade Rural que permita quantificar o estado de desenvolvimento de uma zona rural, monitorizar a sua evolução bem como ajudar a identificar pontos de intervenção para a melhoria da área em estudo. Será assim possível contribuir para um desenvolvimento rural baseado não apenas na agricultura, mas também na sua articulação com o sistema sociocultural local como suporte para a manutenção dos recursos naturais. Adicionalmente foi definido o Índice de Sustentabilidade Rural que tenta agregar a informação reunida na avaliação da aldeia de forma a classifica-la globalmente. Por fim, tentou estabelecer-se um Limiar de Sustentabilidade Rural que pretende delinear o ponto a partir do qual a recuperação da aldeia é insustentável

A young star-forming galaxy at z = 3.5 with an extended Ly\,α\alpha halo seen with MUSE

Spatially resolved studies of high redshift galaxies, an essential insight into galaxy formation processes, have been mostly limited to stacking or unusually bright objects. We present here the study of a typical (L$^{*}$, M$_\star$ = 6 $\times 10^9$ $M_\odot$) young lensed galaxy at $z=3.5$, observed with MUSE, for which we obtain 2D resolved spatial information of Ly$\alpha$ and, for the first time, of CIII] emission. The exceptional signal-to-noise of the data reveals UV emission and absorption lines rarely seen at these redshifts, allowing us to derive important physical properties (T$_e\sim$15600 K, n$_e\sim$300 cm$^{-3}$, covering fraction f$_c\sim0.4$) using multiple diagnostics. Inferred stellar and gas-phase metallicities point towards a low metallicity object (Z$_{\mathrm{stellar}}$ = $\sim$ 0.07 Z$_\odot$ and Z$_{\mathrm{ISM}}$ $<$ 0.16 Z$_\odot$). The Ly$\alpha$ emission extends over $\sim$10 kpc across the galaxy and presents a very uniform spectral profile, showing only a small velocity shift which is unrelated to the intrinsic kinematics of the nebular emission. The Ly$\alpha$ extension is $\sim$4 times larger than the continuum emission, and makes this object comparable to low-mass LAEs at low redshift, and more compact than the Lyman-break galaxies and Ly$\alpha$ emitters usually studied at high redshift. We model the Ly$\alpha$ line and surface brightness profile using a radiative transfer code in an expanding gas shell, finding that this model provides a good description of both observables.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, accepted in MNRA

A comparison of predictors and intensity of acute postsurgical pain in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty

Background: Acute pain is an expected result after surgery. Nevertheless, when not appropriately controlled, acute pain has a very negative impact on individual clinical outcomes, impairing healing and recovery, and has clear consequences on health care system costs. Augmenting knowledge on predictors and potentially modifiable determinants of acute postsurgical pain can facilitate early identification of and intervention in patients at risk. However, only a few studies have examined and compared acute pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to compare THA and TKA in acute postsurgical pain intensity and its predictors. Methods: A consecutive sample of 124 patients with osteoarthritis (64 undergoing THA and 60 TKA) was assessed 24 hours before (T1) and 48 hours after (T2) surgery. Demographic, clinical, and psychological factors were assessed at T1, and acute postsurgical pain experience was examined at T2. Additionally, the same hierarchical regression analysis was performed separately for each arthroplasty type. Results: TKA patients reported higher levels of acute postsurgical pain compared with THA (t=8.490, p=0.004, d=0.527, 95% confidence interval, 0.196-0.878). In the final THA predictive model, presurgical pain was the only variable approaching significant results (t[57]=1.746, beta=0.254, p=0.086). In the final TKA predictive model, optimism was the only predictor of pain (t[51]=-2.518, beta=-0.339, p=0.015), with emotional representation ( t[51]=1.895, beta=0.254, p=0.064) presenting a trend toward significance. Conclusion: The current study is the first examining THA and TKA differences on acute postsurgical pain intensity and its predictors using a multivariate approach. Results from this study could prove useful for the design of distinct interventions targeting acute postsurgical pain management depending on whether the site of arthroplasty is the hip or the knee. Finally, the current results also support the argument that these two surgeries, at least with regard to acute pain, should be approached separately.This work was supported by two grants (SFRH/BD/36368/2007 and SFRH/BPD/103529/2014) from the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of a Local HIV-1 Epidemic in Portugal Highlights Established Transmission of non-B and -G Subtypes

The existing data supports Portugal as the Western Europe country with highest HIV-1 subtype diversity. However, detailed phylogenetic studies of Portuguese HIV-1 epidemics are still scarce. Thus, our main goal was to analyze the phylodynamics of a local HIV-1 infection in the Portuguese region of Minho. Molecular epidemiological analysis was applied to data from 289 HIV-1 infected individuals followed in the reference Hospital of the province of Minho, Portugal, in which isolated viruses had been sequenced between 2000 and 2012. Viruses of the G (29.1%) and B (27.0%) subtypes were the most frequent, followed by recombinant forms (17.6%), C (14.5%), F1 (7.3%) and A1 (4.2%) subtypes. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that the odds of being infected with A1 and F1 subtype increased over the years when compared with B, G, C or recombinant viruses. As expected, polyphyletic patterns suggesting multiple and old introductions of subtypes B and G were found. However, transmission clusters of non-B and -G viruses among native individuals were also found with the dates of the most recent common ancestor estimated to the early 2000s. Our study supports that the HIV-1 subtype diversity in the Portuguese region of Minho is high and has been increasing in a manner that is apparently driven by factors other than immigration and international travel. Infections with A1 and F1 viruses in the region of Minho are becoming established and were mainly found in sexually transmitted clusters, reinforcing the need for more efficacious control measures targeting this infection route

Atendimento pré - hospitalar móvel: identificando agravos à saúde da pessoa idosa Mobile pre hospital attendance: identification aggravations for the elderly person

Objetivo: investigar agravos à saúde que acometem idosos, envolvendo a prestação de socorro pelo atendimento pré hospitalar móvel na cidade de João Pessoa-PB. Método: pesquisa documental, quantitativa com 240 prontuários de idosos com 75,5±9,5 anos, sendo 54,6% (131) mulheres, atendidos pelo respectivo serviço. Dados coletados mediante questionário semi estruturado, em setembro de 2012. Resultados: constatou-se que 69,2% (166) das ocorrências são clínicas; 18,8% (45) ocorrências de quedas no mesmo nível; 9,6% (23) hipertensão essencial. Conclusão: espera-se que o estudo possa consubstanciar medidas de intervenções específicas direcionadas a assistência prestada ao idoso, um caminho para promoção da saúde, implementação de ações preventivas destas ocorrências, visto que grande parte delas são passíveis de prevenção. Descritores: Serviços de atendimento, Urgência, Idoso, Doença.