Brand gender and consumer-based brand equity on Facebook: The mediating role of consumer-brand engagement and brand love

Brand gender has been suggested as a relevant source of consumer-based brand equity (CBBE). The purpose of this paper is to deepen understanding of the relationship between brand gender and CBBE by analyzing the mediating roleofconsumer–brandengagement (CBE)andbrandlove(BL)onthisrelationship.Thisresearchwas conducted on Facebook, the dominant global social media platform. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results support 6 of the 9 hypotheses, with a significant relationship between analyzed constructs. This study advances prior work by showing that brand gender has an indirect and relevant impact on CBBE through BL and CBE. Therefore, this research confirms the advantages of clear gender positioning and extends prior research by suggesting that brands with a strong gender identity will encourage BL and CB

Anthropometric data collection of Portuguese children using 3D body scanning: considerations about the scanning booth

This paper presents some considerations regarding the scanning booth used in an anthropometric study done with a 3D body scanning technology. The data collected is part of a Ph.D. study conducted in Textile Engineering at University of Minho in Portugal, which aims to develop clothing for overweight and obese Portuguese children aged 2-11 years, of both genders. The challenges faced during data collection are described, and modifications of the scanning booth are proposed. It is possible to conclude that the importance of the scanning booth is key to an efficient anthropometric data collection, including the growth of this technology in the garment industry, Universities Research Institutes involved with anthropometric studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obesidade infantil: dimensão do problema, perspetivas futuras e questões metodológicas

Citação: Leitão, R. B., Rodrigues, L. P., Neves, L., & Carvalho, G.S. (2015). Obesidade Infantil: Dimensão do problema, perspetivas futuras e questões metodológicas. In: L. Santos, C. Parente, J. Ribeiro & A. Pontes (Eds.), Promoção da Saúde: Da Investigação à Prática. Lisboa: Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicologia da Saúde (SPPS), Editora, Lda, Vol. 1, pp. 48-51. (ISBN: 978-989-98855-1-6)A obesidade infantil tornou-se atualmente na doença nutricional mais prevalente em países desenvolvidos, sendo considerada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde um dos maiores problemas de Saúde Pública no Mundo. Apesar das variações que se verificam entre países e regiões a maioria dos estudos, independentemente dos métodos e critérios utilizados, têm mostrado que a prevalência do excesso de peso e obesidade em idade pediátrica aumentou de uma forma notável. Apresenta-se, de forma sucinta, os fatores implicados na obesidade bem como diversos métodos e técnicas utilizadas para a avaliação do excesso de peso e obesidade.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UM (UI 317 da FCT

Perceptions and knowledge regarding quality and safety of plastic materials used for food packaging

The objective of this study is to investigate the consumer perceptions about quality and safety of foods packed in plastic, as well as the impact of plastic materials on human health. To carry out the study, a questionnaire survey about the consumption habits and knowledge about plastic packaging was conducted to a sample of 487 Portuguese adult citizens. The results revealed that most respondents (81%) think about food safety and quality when purchasing foods. Additionally, it was found that the consumer’s knowledge about the toxicity of components possibly migrating from the plastic packaging to the food is still limited (only 46% of participants). However, other negative effects of plastics well known to consumers include environmental pollution and marine fauna degradation (67 and 82% of participants, respectively). Thus, it was concluded that the Portuguese population need to be further educated about the toxicity of some chemical compounds present in plastic packaging, which can be ingested by migrating to the food or which can be absorbed from the environmental microplastics resulting from incorrect disposal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of mannans from saccharomyces cerevisiae as potential human microbiota modulators

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implantação de unidade de captação e gerenciamento de recursos para o município de Santa Maria/RS

Este Plano de Intervenção foi elaborado como alternativa de solução a um problema contemporâneo diagnosticado na Prefeitura Municipal de Santa Maria/RS, no que se refere a Captação de Recursos extra tributários. As tarefas relacionadas a este fim, estão hoje sendo desenvolvidas por uma equipe multidisciplinar de profissionais que operam informalmente no Gabinete da Casa Civil, sem estarem a ela subordinados seja por questões formais, normativas ou por questões profissionais. As atividades de captação carecem de uma estrutura organizada com a dedicação exclusiva de profissionais em seu quadro, capacitados e atualizados conforme as exigências sistêmicas que envolvem as tarefas de captação de recursos. Para tornar o desenvolvimento dos projetos que tem prioridade de acordo com as políticas públicas da atual gestão administrativa do município, identifica-se necessário a implementação de uma Unidade de Captação e Gerenciamento de Recursos – UCGR, estruturada e instituída através de norma própria, para tornar os processos e resultados organizacionais mais céleres, eficazes, efetivos e eficientes.33 páginasGestão Públic

Evidence on the use of gait analysis - A review

Gait analysis consists of evaluating the individual through kinematic analysis, while walking along a surface. Kinematic analysis relates the relative movement between rigid bodies and finds applications in gait analysis. The purpose of this paper is to find the applications of gait analysis, the methodologies used to perform it and conclude about the different methodologies’ uses. A literature search was performed using PRISMA Guidelines. Twenty-two documents fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A total of 15 different countries presented researches in this topic. The areas within which these papers are published include Sports Medicine (7), Pediatric Medicine (1), General Medicine (11), Occupational Medicine (1), Engineering (2). Gait analysis has many different areas of intervention. Some gait parameters are interrelated and there are a few different methodologies available to perform gait analysis. A comprehensive table of results has been developed, where results are presented.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

Barriers to innovation activities as determinants of ongoing activities or abandoned

Purpose – This paper aims to analyses barriers as a determinant of ongoing or abandoned innovation activities. The literature exploits barriers as the nature of innovation and its influence on firm’s. The main focus is the Portuguese SMEs and the impacts that act as barriers in the development of innovation activities. Design/methodology/approach – The database was obtained through the Community Innovation Survey 2010 (CIS 2010) that was coordinated by EUROSTAT. In this sense, a logistic regression model is proposed, which makes it possible to analyse the relations between three or more variables, depending on whether the relationship is one of dependence or interdependence, thus allowing the application of distinct statistical techniques, using 6,160 firms Findings – There are several sources of information that are associated with the development of innovation projects. Practical implications – The importance of barriers to the development of innovation activities, as well as it being a decisive factor in the impediment to and abandon of the same, was noted. Originality/value – This study also demonstrated that each case is different and that a barrier in one firm can at the same time be a window of opportunity for another firm.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Redefining the role of ectoderm in somitogenesis: a player in the formation of the fibronectin matrix of presomitic mesoderm

The absence of ectoderm impairs somite formation in cultured presomitic mesoderm (PSM) explants, suggesting that an ectoderm-derived signal is essential for somitogenesis. Here we show in chick that the standard enzymatic treatments used for explant isolation destroy the fibronectin matrix surrounding the anterior PSM, which fails to form somites when cultured for 6 hours. By contrast, explants isolated with collagenase retain their fibronectin matrix and form somites under identical culture conditions. The additional presence of ectoderm enhances somite formation, whereas endoderm has no effect. Furthermore, we show that pancreatin-isolated PSM explants cultured in fibronectin-supplemented medium, form significantly more somites than control explants. Interestingly, ectoderm is the major producer of fibronectin (Fn1) transcripts, whereas all but the anterior-most region of the PSM expresses the fibronectin assembly receptor, integrin alpha5 (Itga5). We thus propose that the ectoderm-derived fibronectin is assembled by mesodermal alpha5beta1 integrin on the surface of the PSM. Finally, we demonstrate that inhibition of fibronectin fibrillogenesis in explants with ectoderm abrogates somitogenesis. We conclude that a fibronectin matrix is essential for morphological somite formation and that a major, previously unrecognised role of ectoderm in somitogenesis is the synthesis of fibronectin.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/FEDER projects POCTI/BCI/40754/2001 and POCI/BIA-BCM/59201/2004 and the FP6/EU Network of Excellence ‘Cells into Organs’ of which P.R., C.L., R.P.A., G.R., I.P. and S.T. are members. L.C. was supported by the European Social Fund contract 1/3.2/PRODEP/2001. R.P.A. was supported by FCT (SFRH/BPD/9432/2002)

Response of estuarine meiofauna assemblage to effects of fertilizer enrichment used in the sugar cane monoculture. Pernambuco, Brazil

A aplicação in situ de fertilizantes inorgânicos foi utilizada para simular a eutrofização associada ao cultivo da cana-de-açúcar. A estrutura da associação de meiofauna foi analisada com o objetivo de avaliar este impacto. O experimento de enriquecimento do sedimento foi desenvolvido em nove áreas quadrangulares de 4m² distribuídas de forma aleatória no mediolitoral da área estuarina. Três áreas foram enriquecidas com alta concentração (375 g/m²) de NPK (Nitrogênio-Fósforo-Potássio), três com baixa concentração (187,5 g/m²) e as demais tratadas como controle. Os fertilizantes foram aplicados semanalmente. Os parâmetros físico-químicos do sedimento e a meiofauna bentônica foram coletados após três a quatro semanas da aplicação dos fertilizantes. Obedecendo este intervalo foram realizadas 6 amostragens subseqüentes. As amostras foram triadas e a meiofauna contada e identificada em nível de grande grupo. As respostas da meiofauna variaram de acordo com a área: enquanto a área Controle manteve sua abundância total durante todo o experimento, as áreas tratadas apresentaram forte queda nas densidades totais. A ordenação MDS e a análise ANOSIM evidenciaram mudanças significativas na estrutura da associação de meiofauna entre as áreas e também ao longo do experimento nas áreas tratadas.In situ application of inorganic fertilizer was used to simulate environmental eutrophication associated with the sugar cane monoculture. Meiofauna community structure is herein used to assess this experimental impact. Nine quadrangular areas (4m² each) were randomly defined in the midlittoral estuarine area. Three of these areas received a high dose of sugar cane fertilizer (375 g/m² Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium), three areas received a low dose of the fertilizer (187.5 g/m²) and the other three areas represented the control. The fertilizer was applied every week. Environmental parameters and meiofauna were sampled using three-to-four week intervals. Six samplings were subsequently performed maintaining this interval. Meiofauna was counted and identified to major taxonomic groups. Meiofauna community structure varied throughout the experimental areas. Control areas maintained their abundance values during the study period, but within the enriched areas meiofauna abundance decreased greatly. MDS and ANOSIM analysis showed significant variation in the meiofauna community structure among experimental areas and also along the experimental period in the enriched areas