Sapientia
Repositório Científico da UAlg
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Cognitive, affective and behavioural repercussions of perceived quality in tourism vocational education: insights from self-determination theory
Publication . Silva, Rejane Santana da; Quiroga Souki, Gustavo; Oliveira, Alessandro Silva de; Vieira, Luís Sérgio; Dionísio Serra, Manuel António
Purpose – This study aimed to investigate the influence of the perceived quality by students regarding their experiences in vocational schools in tourism, hospitality and food service on cognitive and affective responses (satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations and self-regulation strategies of motivation for learning - SRSML) and commitment (behavioural response). Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 454 students from twelve Turismo de Portugal IP-affiliated schools. The theoretical framework was rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and PLS-SEM, using ADANCO 2.3 software to test the proposed model. Findings – Perceived quality by students concerning their school experiences are socio-contextual factors that directly influence their satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations (cognitive and affective responses). Satisfaction and self-efficacy expectations positively affected SRSML. Finally, satisfaction and the SRSML positively impacted the students` commitment to schools (behavioural response).
Originality/value – This study contributes to academia by comprehensively addressing 16 perceived quality dimensions within vocational education. It aligns with SDT, revealing that socio-contextual factors affect students’ cognitive, affective, and behavioural responses. Additionally, it demonstrates positive relationships between student satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations, SRSML, and students’ commitment to vocational education institutions. This study emphasises the multidimensional nature of perceived quality, urging educational institutions to address tangible and intangible dimensions to develop strategies to provide high-quality experiences, increasing students` satisfaction, self-efficacy expectations, motivation, and commitment.
Bioprospecting of natural products from medicinal plants
Publication . Rodrigues, Maria João
The exploration of natural products derived from medicinal plants that provide an abundance of bioactive compounds has long been a cornerstone of scientific discovery, revolutionizing fields such as medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology [1]. Notable examples include artemisinin, a life-saving antimalarial derived from Artemisia annua [2], and taxol, a chemotherapeutic agent sourced from the Pacific yew tree [3], both of which highlight the immense potential of medicinal plants to address global health challenges. Over the past decade, rapid advancements in analytical techniques, omics technologies, and bioinformatics have significantly improved our ability to uncover and characterize these natural products. Despite these strides, critical challenges persist in the field, including the sustainable utilization of plant resources, the discovery of novel compounds with unique modes of action, and the translation of these findings into practical, real-world applications. This Special Issue, Bioprospecting of Natural Products from Medicinal Plants, highlights the vast potential of medicinal plants as reservoirs of bioactive compounds. Comprising twelve articles—an inspiring blend of original research and review papers—this collection exemplifies the collaborative spirit of researchers across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The global significance of medicinal plant research is further emphasized by the diverse contributions, which reflect the unique biodiversity and ecological challenges faced by different regions. Such international collaboration is vital, as each country brings its distinctive resources and expertise to uncovering and harnessing new bioactive compounds.
Short‐term effects of attaching animal‐borne devices on the behavior of juvenile green turtles
Publication . Robinson, Nathan J.; Ruth Doñate-Ordóñez; Chatzievangelou, Damianos; Brooks, Annabelle M. L.; Cuffley, Jack; Fields, Candace Y. A.; Hoefer, Sebastian; Pinou, Theodora; Smith, Alexander; Mills, Sophie
The use of animal-borne devices (= biologgers) has revolutionized the study of marine megafauna, yet there remains a paucity of data concerning the behavioral and physiological impacts of biologger attachment and retention. Here, we used animal-borne cameras to characterize the behavior and dive duration of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in The Bahamas for up to 210min after biologger deployment (n=58). For a “control,” we used unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect comparable data from nonhandled green turtles (n=25) in the same habitats. Animal-borne footage revealed that immediately after release turtles spent 70%–80% of their time swimming with a mean dive duration of 45.3±34.3 s (SD). Over time, the percentage of time spent swimming decreased alongside an increase in dive duration until reaching a plateau around 90min. However, the “control” UAV data for time spent swimming and dive durations were more comparable to the behaviors observed immediately after biologger deployment than during the plateau. We observed no significant differences in dive durations based on body size, and differences in behaviors based on body size were also minimal. We conclude that the effects of handling stress and biologger attachment on the behavior and dive duration of juvenile green turtles are evident up to 90min postdeployment. After that, it is possible that either: (1) the effects of biologger deployment and retention are negligible, but UAVs may produce biased data that overestimates the proportion of time turtles typically spend swimming or (2) longer durations (>210min) are necessary for turtle behaviors to return to nonhandled levels and UAVs accurately represent the proportion of time turtles typically spend swimming. Answering this question, alongside further research into the physiological and behavioral implications of handling stress and biologger attachment, is essential to improve ethical biologging guidelines for sea turtles.
Quantifying the effect of heating temperature on silcrete blank production
Publication . Watson, Sara; Li, Li; Mackay, Alex
In southern Africa, heat treatment of silcrete is documented by ~164 ka and is considered an important technological innovation, allowing knappers to improve the flaking properties of rocks for lithic blank production. Previous research has explored structural, mechanical, and geochemical changes in silcrete during heat treatment, but most studies have not explored the implications of those transformations for the blanks produced. Experiments that have examined the effects of heat treatment on blank production tend to rely on replicative flintknapping, where small changes in the way a blank is removed can create “noise.” In this study, we provide quantitative data to understand the effects of silcrete source and heating temperature on blank production using a flaking machine to isolate the effects of heat treatment on blank morphol ogy. Our results show changes in absolute blank dimensions, and in the frequency of abrupt terminations as a result of heat treatment. However, the benefits of heat treatment may only occur within a limited temperature range and are heavily source dependent. This suggests that we should reconsider broad generalizations about the role of heat treatment in lithic technology and its supposed benefits and focus more on silcrete source and source-based effects on blank production.
Unravelling environmental drivers and patterns of Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) blooms in two ocean regions: North Atlantic and the Southeast Pacific
Publication . Martins, Lara Colaço; Gomes-Pereira, José Nuno; Dionísio, Gisela; Assis, Jorge
Jellyfish blooms can significantly impact marine food webs, biochemical processes and human health, disrupting various economic sectors, including fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Thus, understanding the regional drivers and patterns of jellyfish occurrence is key for developing effective management strategies. The Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) is a hazardous, cosmopolitan siphonophore of particular concern, requiring a deeper ecological understanding to effectively guide mitigation efforts. Our study reveals that the occurrence of P. physalis in both the North Atlantic (Azores, Portugal) and the Southeast Pacific (Australian East Coast) is driven by region-specific wind patterns and increased primary productivity (>30 % model contribution), with warming conditions emerging as an additional occurrence driver on the Australian East Coast (~20 % model contribution). These insights resulted from machine learning models (Boosted Regression Trees) trained with high-resolution environmental data against field data describing the temporal variability of P. physalis occurrence (North Atlantic: 2008–2021; Southeast Pacific: 2016–2020). The models achieved excellent predictive performance (AUC North Atlantic: 1.00; AUC Southeast Pacific: 0.92) and allowed hindcasting occurrences over 30 years, uncovering contrasting trends between the two regions, with decadal fluctuations in the Azores and a significant increase in occurrence over time on the Australian East Coast. Overall, we provide a better understanding of the drivers and patterns of P. physalis occurrence, which can support the development of coastal management strategies. Importantly, the anticipated changes in productivity and temperature conditions in both regions may result in increased blooms in the years to come, further exerting impacts on the ecosystems, human health, and the economy.