Airline environmental sustainability actions and CSR impact on customer behavior

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are growing concerns among passengers and airlines. However, the communication of such actions by airline companies is underexplored. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze airlines' CSR and Environmental Sustainability Actions (ESA) communications' impact on customer loyalty, through a Relationship Marketing (RM) perspective. Following a text-mining approach, 6181 Facebook comments were collected. A word frequency matrix was created from the collected data and used as input for PLS-SEM to test raised hypotheses. Results suggest that communication based on ESA and CSR positively affects behavioral loyalty and commitment. RM moderated ESA's communication impact on customer loyalty but not on the relationship between CSR communication and loyalty. These findings suggest that communicating environmental efforts positively affects customer loyalty, providing airline managers with valuable insights that should be considered within communication strategies to enhance return and customer retention

Development Scenarios of Sustainability for Golf: The Algarve Case

Golf is becoming a major industry worldwide. The majority of the Portuguese golf courses are located in the Algarve region. Golf tourism has a great economic impact on the Algarve and is regarded by local tourism developers as a vehicle for tackling the seasonal patterns of “mass tourism”. In consideration of the concerns of those involved in regional tourism and golf, the University of Algarve has developed a prospective study on the sustainability paths of this activity, starting from an integrated analysis of the reference conditions of golf in the Algarve, with respect to environmental, economic and social dimensions. This paper presents the sustainability assessment framework developed in this study and the results from its application to the Algarve’s golf courses through the definition and evaluation of three alternative development scenarios and their associated impacts. The application of economic, social and environmental indicators was a key tool for the construction of the “baseline”, “moderate” and “intensive scenarios”. It was concluded that the development of further golf activity in the Algarve should be framed within high service and environmental quality standards. The sustainability area for golf course development should vary between 29 and 41 gold courses (equivalent of 18 holes).

Portuguese emigration Factbook 2015

The Factbook consists of four chapters. The first chapter provides aggregated data on total Portuguese emigration, much of which is estimates, as well as comparative data on Portuguese and global emigration. The second chapter contains more detailed information on the four indicators of Portuguese emigration to the main destination countries: flows, stocks, citizenship, and consular records. The third chapter brings together the main information concerning remittances received in Portugal and sent from Portugal. The content of chapter four changes each year. In this first issue, the Factbook provides a chronological series on Portuguese emigration to all main destinations during the 21st century. Finally, the Factbook also contains basic information regarding the indicators and sources consulted (metadata and glossary)

Mature cystic teratoma with high proportion of solid thyroid tissue: a controversial case with unusual imaging findings

We describe a case of a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary with high proportion of solid thyroid tissue (< 50% of the entire tumor) in a childbearing woman. The patient presented with non-specific abdominal bloating. Pelvic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a complex cystic-solid tumor confined to the left ovary with an anterior fatcontaining locus compatible with mature cystic teratoma and a posterior predominantly solid component with low signal intensity on T2-weighted images that was histopatologically diagnosed as benign thyroid tissue. Thyroglobulin levels were in normal range. Although thyroid tissue is present in up to 20% of mature cystic teratomas, with exception of struma ovarii, it is not usually macroscopically nor radiologically identified. The differential diagnosis should include T2-hypointense adnexal lesions associated with mature cystic teratoma, malignant transformation of mature teratoma, and immature teratoma.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estimating the population and distributions trends of owls in Portugal using citizen science data from Program NOCTUA-Portugal and other sources

During the last eight years (2010-2017), the Working Group on Nocturnal Birds of SPEA (GTAN-SPEA) has carried out a volunteer monitoring program (NOCTUA-Portugal) to determine the population trends of seven owl species at a national scale. We used generalized estimating equations models to assess trends. In addition, we used the distribution data from breeding bird atlases, observations sent by collaborators, and data from the public online database PortugalAves/eBird to detect changes in distribution in a four-decade period (1978-2017). We defined four periods to study potential changes in distribution of owls in Portugal: 1978-1984 (1st breeding bird atlas); 1999-2005 (2nd breeding bird atlas); 2006-2014 (interval between 2nd and 3rd breeding bird atlases); and 2015-2017 (ongoing 3 rd breeding bird atlas). Three species had negative population and distribution trends: Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba), Eurasian Scops-owl (Otus scops), and Little Owl (Athene noctua). The Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) had a slightly positive population and distribution trends, while the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) was stable or slightly declined. The population trend of the Northern Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) was unknown because of large fluctuations, and due to the low number of records it was not possible to determine a population trend for the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Hemin ameliorates the inflammatory activity in the inflammatory bowel disease: a non-clinical study in rodents

FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, there is no cure, and pharmacological treatment aims to induce and maintain remission in patients, so it is essential to investigate new possible treatments. Hemin is a heme-oxygenase inducer that can confer anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and antiapoptotic effects; therefore, it can be considered an asset for different gastrointestinal pathologies, namely for IBD. Aim: This experiment aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hemin, in a chronic 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model in rodents. Methods: The induction of chronic colitis consisted of five weekly intrarectal administrations of 1% TNBS. Then, the mice were treated daily with 5 mg/kg/day or 10 mg/kg/day of hemin, through intraperitoneal injections, for 14 days. Results: Hemin demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, fecal calprotectin, and fecal hemoglobin. It was also found to be safe in terms of extraintestinal manifestations since hemin did not promote renal and/or hepatic changes. Conclusions: Hemin could become an interesting tool for new possible pharmacological approaches in the management of IBD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chronic experimental model of TNBS-induced colitis to study inflammatory bowel disease

IDI&CA_IPL/2019/COLITiS_ESTeSLFCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a world healthcare problem. In order to evaluate the effect of new pharmacological approaches for IBD, we aim to develop and validate chronic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. Methods: Experimental colitis was induced by the rectal administration of multiple doses of TNBS in female CD-1 mice. The protocol was performed with six experimental groups, depending on the TNBS administration frequency, and two control groups (sham and ethanol groups). Results: The survival rate was 73.3% in the first three weeks and, from week 4 until the end of the experimental protocol, the mice’s survival remained unaltered at 70.9%. Fecal hemoglobin presented a progressive increase until week 4 (5.8 ± 0.3 µmol Hg/g feces, p < 0.0001) compared with the ethanol group, with no statistical differences to week 6. The highest level of tumor necrosis factor-α was observed on week 3; however, after week 4, a slight decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α concentration was verified, and the level was maintained until week 6 (71.3 ± 3.3 pg/mL and 72.7 ± 3.6 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusions: These findings allowed the verification of a stable pattern of clinical and inflammation signs after week 4, suggesting that the chronic model of TNBS-induced colitis develops in 4 weeks.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The outdoor nature, indoors: relationship between contact with nature, life satisfaction and affect during a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic led to national lockdown measures, implying individuals’ household confinement, constraining active contact with outdoor nature, with potential associated mental health consequences. Hence, this cross-sectional correlational design study with 310 participants examined the relationship between self-reported measures of variety and intensity of indoor/outdoor activities involving contact with nature, life satisfaction and affect during the first nationwide lockdown in Portugal in 2020. Results showed a positive weak association between indoor activity intensity and positive affect, and between reported indoor mental recreation of contact with nature and negative affect. Actual indoor contact with nature was positively associated with life satisfaction and positive affect. Individuals without a variety of contact with indoor nature reported lower life satisfaction than those with high variety. Indoor contact with nature seemed particularly important for well-being during lockdown. During prolonged household confinement, mental health and well-being could be promoted through outdoor contact but indoor alternatives should also be considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efficacy and safety of erythropoietin in a chronic model of inflammatory bowel disease

FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is recognized as a group of chronic inflammatory disorders, localized in the gastrointestinal tract, which does not have a cure known. Indeed, the pharmacological approaches, commonly used, demonstrate significant toxicity, which highlights the need of investigating new possible treatments. Erythropoietin (EPO) is clinically used in anemic patients, with chronic renal insufficiency, due to its erythropoietic effect. However, it has also been described other non-erythropoietic effects, such as an anti-inflammatory role. There is already preclinical evidence about its anti-inflammatory effect in the IBD context, namely in an acute model of colitis in mice. Therefore, it is relevant to ascertain its anti-inflammatory effect in a chronic model, but mainly its hematopoietic side effect, during chronic treatment. Aim: This experiment aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EPO treatment in a chronic 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model in rodents. Methods: The induction of chronic colitis consisted of five weekly intrarectal administrations of 1% TNBS, and then mice were treated daily with 500 IU/Kg or 1000 IU/Kg of EPO, through intraperitoneal injections, for 14 days. Results: EPO demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory effect, translated by a significant reduction of the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α, fecal calprotectin, and fecal hemoglobin. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated to be safe, considering the cardiovascular system, in terms of extraintestinal manifestations, namely at renal and hepatic functions. Conclusions: EPO demonstrated to be a promising pharmacological approach to be considered in the management of IBD, being an interesting target for drug repositioning.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio