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

Enhanced mitochondrial testicular antioxidant capacity in Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rats: role of coenzyme Q

Because diabetes mellitus is associated with impairment of testicular function, ultimately leading to reduced fertility, this study was conducted to evaluate the existence of a cause-effect relationship between increased oxidative stress in diabetes and reduced mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. The susceptibility to oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity (in terms of glutathione, coenzyme Q, and vitamin E content) of testis mitochondrial preparations isolated from Goto-Kakizaki (GK) non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats and from Wistar control rats, 1 yr of age, was evaluated. It was found that GK mitochondrial preparations showed a lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation induced by ADP/Fe(2+), as evaluated by oxygen consumption and reactive oxygen species generation. The decreased susceptibility to oxidative stress in diabetic rats was associated with an increase in mitochondrial glutathione and coenzyme Q9 contents, whereas vitamin E was not changed. These results demonstrate a higher antioxidant capacity in diabetic GK rats. We suggest this is an adaptive response of testis mitochondria to the increased oxidative damage in diabetes mellitu

Brain and liver mitochondria isolated from diabeticGoto-Kakizaki rats show different susceptibility to induced oxidative stress

Increased oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant capacity observed in both clinical and experimental diabetes mellitus have been implicated in the etiology of chronic diabetic complications. Many authors have shown that hyperglycemia leads to an increase in lipid peroxidation in diabetic patients and animals reflecting a rise in reactive oxygen species production. The aim of the study was to compare the susceptibility of mitochondria from brain and liver of Goto-Kakizaki (12-month-old diabetic) rats (GK rats), a model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, to oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses.Brain and liver mitochondrial preparations were obtained by differential centrifugation. Oxidative damage injury was induced in vitro by the oxidant pair ADP/Fe2+ and the extent of membrane oxidation was assessed by oxygen consumption, malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation. Coenzyme Q and alpha-tocopherol contents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Brain mitochondria isolated from 12-month-old control rats displayed a higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, as assessed by oxygen consumption and formation of MDA and TBARS, compared to liver mitochondria. In GK rats, mitochondria isolated from brain were more susceptible to invitro oxidative damage than brain mitochondria from normal rats. In contrast, liver mitochondria from diabetic rats were less susceptible to oxidative damage than mitochondria from normal rats. This decreased susceptibility was inversely related to their alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q (CoQ) content.The present results indicate that the diabetic state can result in an elevation of both alpha-tocopherol and CoQ content in liver, which may be involved in the elimination of mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species. The difference in the antioxidant defense mechanisms in the brain and liver mitochondrial preparations of moderately hyperglycemic diabetic GK rats may correspond to a different adaptive response of the cells to the increased oxidative damage in diabetes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

WORKSHOP NACIONAL “INVESTIGAÇÃO EM OLIVICULTURA E AZEITE - RESULTADOS E APLICAÇÕES

Workshop Nacional “Investigação em Olivicultura e Azeite – Resultados e Aplicações” De 27-06-2013, 09:00 a 28-06-2013 Sala de Conferências do Pólo da Mitra da Universidade de Évora O Workshop Nacional dedicado ao tema “Investigação em Olivicultura e Azeite – Resultados e Aplicações” realizou-se nos dias 27 e 28 de junho de 2013. Pretendeu-se com este evento, dirigido a produtores, técnicos, e todos os interessados, divulgar os resultados obtidos no âmbito de projetos de investigação em curso em Portugal na área da Olivicultura e Azeite, com especial ênfase nas potenciais aplicações e contribuições para o desenvolvimento do setor. As sessões incidiram nos seguintes temas Sistemas e Técnicas Culturais Recursos Genéticos e Melhoramento Proteção Fitossanitária Tecnologia e Qualidade do Azeite Apresentações Tema 1 - Sistemas e Técnicas Culturais Múltiplos olhares sobre a transpiração do olival - Francisco Lúcio dos Santos Gestão de cobertos vegetais de leguminosas anuais de ressementeira natural em olival - Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues Mecanização do Olival - soluções e novos desafios - Arlindo de Almeida Máquina para a Colheita em Contínuo de Azeitona - António Bento Dias Influência de diferentes regimes hídricos no uso e na eficiência do uso da água, produção e qualidade do azeite - Anabela Silva Medidas de prevenção e mitigação dos impactos da seca no olival de sequeiro: efeitos da rega sustentável e de coberturas vegetais - Eunice Bacelar Contribuição do COTR para o uso eficiente da água na rega do olival - Luís Boteta Tema 2 - Recursos Genéticos e Melhoramentos A diversidade genética da mosca-da-azeitona na bacia mediterrânica - Luís Teixeira Evolução dos primeiros estados fenológicos em oliveira - diversidade intervarietal e alterações climáticas - António Cordeiro Variabilidade genética e química - implicações na rastreabilidade de azeites - Paula Lopes Tema 3 - Protecção Fitossanitária A elevada incidência de vírus em olivais nacionais: causas e consequências - Rosário Félix Como proceder para fertilizar racionalmente o olival - Pedro Jordão Avaliação de Genótipos de Olea europaea vs Infecção de Colletotrichum acutatum - Teresa Carvalho Isolamento e seleção de fungos endofíticos da oliveira para luta biológica contra Colletotrichum acutatum e Verticillium dahliae - Paula Batista A utilização de indicadores biológicos como ferramentas para avaliar o impacte de práticas agrícolas na sustentabilidade do olival - Sónia Santos Proteção contra pragas da oliveira: fomento da ação dos inimigos naturais pelo estabelecimento da flora autóctone - Albino Bento Fungos entomopatogénicos em pragas da oliveira: isolamento, caracterização e selecção para controlo biológico - Paula Batista Tema 4 - Tecnologia e Qualidade Redefinição da Denominação de Origem Protegida “Azeite de Trás-os-Montes” e criação da Denominação de Origem Protegida “Azeite do Douro” - Ricardo Malheiro Azeitonas de mesa do nordeste de Portugal - contributo para a sua caraterização e promoção - Nuno Rodrigues ÁCIDOS GORDOS E POLIFENÓIS EM AZEITE VIRGEM - Isabel Baer Influência da rega na produção e qualidade de azeites produzidos em olivais intensivos (cv. Cobrançosa) e em olivais em sebe (cv. Arbequina) - Mariana Mota Efeito do processamento culinário na composição nutricional e química de azeites portugueses - Susana Casal A Arte do Azeite - Ana Carrilho O Azeite Português na Economia Global: Oportunidades e desafios - Teresa Zacarias Comissão Organizadora: Adélia Sousa, Grupo ASC do ICAAM António Bento Dias, Grupo CTV do ICAAM Fernando Rei, Grupo CTV do ICAAM Francisco Lúcio dos Santos, Grupo ASC do ICAAM-coordenador Raquel Garcia, Grupo CTV do ICAAM Renato Coelho, Grupo CTV do ICAAM Joana Perdigão, UDIT-ICAA

Carbon nanotubes based multi-directional strain sensor

In this work a new carbon nanotubes (CNT) based multi-directional strain sensor capable of quantifying and indicate strain direction is foreseen. This work investigates the electromechanical behavior of an aligned CNT sensing patch strained at 45◦ in order to validate its multi-directional sensing capability. Vertically aligned CNT forests are produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and then mechanically knocked down onto polyimide (PI) films. Two configurations, diamond (D sample) and square (Sq sample), are considered. The relative electrical resistance (ΔR/R0) and the electrical anisotropy (RB/RA) upon strain increments are analyzed and compared to previous work results (0◦ and 90◦ strain direction). Both 45◦ samples, D and Sq, are sensitive to strain. A correlation between electrical anisotropy behavior and strain direction (0◦, 45◦ and 90◦) is established. The results show that with only an aligned CNT small patch it is possible to quantify and indicate strain in three directions.This work was partially funded under the project “IAMAT – Introduction of advanced materials technologies into new product development for the mobility industries”, with reference MITP-TB/PFM/0005/2013, under the MIT-Portugal program exclusively financed by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. This work was also co-financed by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, with the scope of projects with references UIDB/05256/2020 and UIDP/05256/2020”

Electrochemical miRNA-34a-based biosensor for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementia type and a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly. Diagnosis is expensive and invasive, urging the development of new, affordable, and less invasive diagnostic tools. The identification of changes in the expression of non-coding RNAs prompts the development of diagnostic tools to detect disease-specific blood biomarkers. Building on this idea, this work reports a novel electrochemical microRNA (miRNA) biosensor for the diagnosis of AD, based on carbon screen-printed electrodes (C-SPEs) modified with two gold nanostructures and a complementary anti-miR-34a oligonucleotide probe. This biosensor showed good target affinity, reflected on a 100 pM to 1 M linearity range and a limit of detection (LOD) of 39 pM in buffer and 94 aM in serum. Moreover, the biosensors response was not affected by serum compounds, indicating selectivity for miR-34a. The biosensor also detected miR-34a in the cell culture medium of a common AD model, stimulated with a neurotoxin to increase miR-34a secretion. Overall, the proposed biosensor makes a solid case for the introduction of a novel, inexpensive, and minimally invasive tool for the early diagnosis of AD, based on the detection of a circulating miRNA overexpressed in this pathology.This work was supported by 0624_2IQBIONEURO_6_E, 2IQBioneuro, Promotion of an R&I network in biological chemistry for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases EP-INTERREG V Spain Portugal (POCTEP), and by Portuguese funds through FCT in the framework of the project PTDC/BTM-MAT/4156/2021. S.D.S acknowledges FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.) for her contract under the Norma Transitória – DL57/2016/CP/CP1360/CT0013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Consecutive bilateral decompression retinopathy after mitomycin C trabeculectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: After a successful trabeculectomy, a sudden intraocular pressure decrease may alter the intracranial to intraocular pressure ratio and cause decompression retinopathy. Frequent Valsalva maneuvers may also play a role in its pathogenesis. This condition may manifest as multiple retinal hemorrhages, edema of the optic disc, macular edema, or a sudden decrease in visual acuity postoperatively. Outcomes for patients are usually good, with spontaneous resolution occurring within a matter of weeks. It has been rarely reported in the literature as a bilateral condition. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of consecutive bilateral decompression retinopathy in a 54-year-old severely obese Caucasian woman (body mass index 37 kg/m(2)) with open angle glaucoma and a poor history of medical therapeutic compliance, who chose surgical treatment based on her inability to consistently use ocular drops. Our patient underwent a trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in both eyes, with surgeries taking place 3 months apart. After the first surgery, 2 weeks postoperatively, she complained of decreased visual acuity. Examination of her right eye fundus revealed multiple retinal hemorrhages and disc edema. There was a similar pattern in her left eye, this time including maculopathy. Her visual acuity and fundoscopic changes resolved spontaneously over a period of a month in both cases. Currently, our patient has well-controlled bilateral intraocular pressure, ranging between 14 and 16 mmHg, without hypotensive medication. CONCLUSIONS: Decompression retinopathy is a potential complication after glaucoma surgery, but has rarely been described as a bilateral consecutive condition. A comprehensive approach could help to anticipate its occurrence and manage it

Development of conjugated kefiran-chondroitin sulphate cryogels with enhanced properties for biomedical applications

Hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides can have unique properties and be tailored for several applications, which may be mainly limited by the fragile structure and weak mechanical properties of this type of system. We successfully prepared cryogels made of newly synthesized kefiran exopolysaccharide-chondroitin sulfate (CS) conjugate via carbodiimide-mediated coupling to overcome these drawbacks. The freeze-thawing procedure of cryogel preparation followed by lyophilization is a promising route to fabricate polymer-based scaffolds with countless and valuable biomedical applications. The novel graft macromolecular compound (kefiran-CS conjugate) was characterized through 1H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy—which confirmed the structure of the conjugate, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)—which mirrored good thermal stability (degradation temperature of about 215 °C) and, finally, gel permeation chromatography–size exclusion chromatography (GPC-SEC)—which proved an increased molecular weight due to chemical coupling of kefiran with CS. At the same time, the corresponding cryogels physically crosslinked after the freeze-thawing procedure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Micro-CT, and dynamic rheology. The results revealed a prevalent contribution of elastic/storage component to the viscoelastic behavior of cryogels in swollen state, a micromorphology with micrometer-sized open pores fully interconnected, and high porosity (ca. 90%) observed for freeze-dried cryogels. Furthermore, the metabolic activity and proliferation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs), when cultured onto the developed kefiran-CS cryogel, was maintained at a satisfactory level over 72 h. Based on the results obtained, it can be inferred that the newly freeze-dried kefiran-CS cryogels possess a host of unique properties that render them highly suitable for use in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications where robust mechanical properties and biocompatibility are crucial.This research was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) from Portugal, with references CEECIND/00111/2017 and SFRH/BPD/94277/2013, respectively.H.R. and C.G. were supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) from Portugal, with references CEECIND/00111/2017 and SFRH/BPD/94277/2013, respectively. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Emanuel Fernandes for his invaluable contribution to this research by performing the STA experiment. The authors thank the financial support provided under the project “HEALTH-UNORTE: Setting-up biobanks and regenerative medicine strategies to boost research in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, oncological, immunological and infectious diseases”, reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000039, funded by the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), under the NORTE2020 Program

Analysis of Resilience and its Relationships with Psychological Factors during Successful Aging

The objective of this research was to verify the relationship between resilience, successful aging, wisdom, quality of life, basic psychological needs perception, cognition and depression. The methodological design was quantitative and transversal. 161 elderly people of both sexes living in the city of Ivoti / Brazil participated. The instruments used were the Resilience Scale, Wisdom Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Inventory of Basic Psychological Needs Perceptions for the Elderly, MMSE, and Whoqol-Old. Spearman's correlation analysis identified the relationship between resilience and quality of life variables, basic psychological needs and depression. In the linear regression analysis, we found a model in which the increase of resilience is associated to the personal competence, autonomy, wisdom, cognitive performance and past, present and future activities. We conclude that the resilience association with psychological aspects in the onset of old age is an important protective factor for the maintenance of successful aging