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.service quality; restaurants

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

Avaliação da eficiência da higienização das mãos em manipuladores de alimentos

Dissertação de mest., Biologia Molecular e Microbiana, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univ. do Algarve, 2011A higienização das mãos dos manipuladores de alimentos revela-se de extrema importância considerando que a contaminação dos alimentos ocorre, muitas vezes, por microrganismos presentes nas suas mãos. A presença de microrganismos nas mãos está muitas vezes relacionada com práticas de higiene inadequadas, o que sugere uma falta de formação dos profissionais, principalmente na área da restauração. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir para a eficiência dos procedimentos de higienização das mãos praticados por manipuladores de alimentos. Com vista a esse fim, este trabalho pretendeu: otimizar um protocolo de higienização testando diferentes agentes de desinfeção e comparando-os; otimizar o procedimento de amostragem selecionando o método mais reprodutível/viável para utilização em rotina; propor critérios de apreciação da eficiência de higienização das mãos para a amostra alvo. Recolheram-se amostras antes e após a higienização das mãos e analisou-se a presença de diferentes microrganismos. Os mais frequentes, e com maior número de contagens microbianas, foram os mesófilos aeróbios, apresentando valores máximos de 9,50x105 UFC/mão antes e de 9,30x104 UFC/mão após lavagem das mãos. Amostras com presença de coliformes totais e Staphylococcus aureus foram observadas em menor número e apresentaram contagens máximas elevadas, respetivamente 1,98x105 e 3,60x102 UFC/mão antes, e 2,00x10 e 2,20x102 UFC/mão após higienização das mãos. Os resultados obtidos, com exceção para S. aureus, evidenciaram uma maior eficácia na redução da contaminação quando a higienização das mãos é feita usando dois agentes. Concluiu-se também que a recolha da amostra em várias zonas da mão é importante para se obter informação mais realista sobre o nível de contaminação. As elevadas concentrações microbianas registadas neste estudo salientam a importância da implementação de programas de formação dos manipuladores, nos quais deverão ser abordados temas como a influência da higienização das mãos na qualidade sanitária dos alimentos e a forma como esta deve ser praticada

High Resolution spatial analysis of a z ∼\sim 2 lensed galaxy using adaptive coadded source-plane reconstruction

We present spatially resolved analysis of a lensed galaxy, SDSS1958+5950 at $z = 2.225$, from the Cambridge Sloan Survey of Wide Arcs in the Sky (CASSOWARY). We use our new high resolution imaging data to construct a robust lens model for the galaxy group at $z = 0.214$. We employ the updated lens model to combine the Integral Field Spectrographic observations on two highly distorted images of the lensed target. We adopt a forward-modeling approach to deconvolve the effects of point spread function from the combined source-plane reconstruction. The approach is adapted to the lens model magnification and enables a resolution of $\sim$170 pc in the galaxy-source plane. We propose an ongoing merger as the origin of the lensed system on the basis of its source-plane morphology, kinematics and rest-frame emission line ratios. Using our novel technique of adaptive coadded source plane reconstruction, we are able to detect different components in the velocity gradient that were not seen in previous studies of this object, plausibly belonging to different components in the merging system.Comment: 15 pages, 9 Figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

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

Psychological factors predict an unfavorable pain trajectory after hysterectomy: a prospective cohort study on chronic postsurgical pain

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a well-recognized potential complication with negative personal, social, and health care consequences. However, limited data exist on CPSP and on the course of pain over time after hysterectomy. Using data from a prospective cohort study on a consecutive sample assessed at 4 time points, presurgery (T1), 48 hours (T2), 4 months (T3), and 5 years postsurgery (T4), we sought to examine women's PSP trajectories using assessments of pain at T3 and T4. In addition, this study aimed to investigate presurgical and postsurgical risk factors associated with an unfavourable pain trajectory (PT). Based on pain data collected at T3 and T4, 3 distinct trajectories of PSP emerged: no CPSP (PT1; n = 88), prolonged PSP (PT2; n = 53), and CPSP (PT3; n = 29). Moreover, reported CPSP prevalence at 5 years was 17.1%. Multinomial logistic regression models controlling for age, presurgical pain, and type of hysterectomy tested for baseline and acute postsurgical predictive variables. Membership in PT2 and PT3 was predicted by presurgical anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.131, P = 0.015; OR = 1.175, P = 0.009, respectively), emotional representation of the surgical disease (OR = 1.155, P = 0.034; OR = 1.213, P = 0.020, respectively), and pain catastrophizing (OR = 1.079, P = 0.043; OR = 1.143, P = 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, acute PSP intensity and frequency determined membership of women in PT3 (OR = 1.211, P = 0.033; OR = 3.000, P = 0.029, respectively), and postsurgical anxiety (OR = 1.182, P = 0.026) also played a key predictive role. This study identified factors that can be easily screened before and after surgery and are amenable to change through carefully designed timely and tailored interventions for women at risk of an unfavorable PSP trajectory posthysterectomy.This work was supported by 2 grants (SFRH/BD/36368/2007 and SFRH/BPD/103529/2014) from the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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