Sapientia
UAlg Scientific Repository
About Sapientia
SAPIENTIA brings together all scientific publications produced by teachers, researchers, and students (theses and dissertations) from the University of Algarve and cooperating entities (ULSALG-Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve and Ciência Viva network centers in the Algarve) and aims to maximize their visibility, ensure easy access to this collection, improve the public impact of the scientific activity of the University and other entities, as well as ensure the preservation of their memories.
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Recent Submissions
Brand hate semiotics: hate as a story theory. Netnographic approach during the war on Gaza
Publication . Assoud, Mohamed; Berbou, Lahoucine; Vieira, Luís Sérgio
Purpose – This study aims to investigate brand hate semiotics among Muslim and Arabic-speaking consumers during the 2023 war on Gaza, exploring traits associated with hated and boycotted brands within a sociopolitical context. Design/methodology/approach – The research uses semiotic analysis and a netnographic approach to examine 3,000 public consumer-generated content linked to the hashtag # عطاق) boycott in Arabic) from Instagram and Facebook. Findings – Brands such as McDonald’s, KFC, Coca-Cola and Starbucks, which were subjected to hate and boycotts, are linked to negative associations and narratives, including The Stranger, The Faceless Foe, The Enemy of God and The Criminal. User-generated content significantly influences brand boycotts among Muslim and Arabic-speaking consumers. Research limitations/implications – Future research should explore additional sociopolitical contexts and demographics to generalize the findings further. Practical implications – Understanding the semiotic drivers of brand hate can help marketers develop effective crisis management and brand recovery strategies tailored to specific cultural contexts. Social implications – The findings highlight the impact of sociopolitical events on consumer behavior, emphasizing the need for brands to be aware of their cultural and ethical stances in global markets. Originality/value – This research contributes to brand hate theory by using the “hate as a story” lens, offering a unique theoretical perspective. It systematically explores the semiotic aspects of brand hate and pioneers’ semiotic analysis and netnography in this field. The study also addresses the underrepresentation of Muslim and Arabic-speaking consumers in brand hate literature.
Risk factors for non-communicable diseases in refugees, asylum seekers, and subsidiary protection beneficiaries resettled or relocated in Portugal between 2015 and 2020
Publication . Pinto de Oliveira, Ana; Conceição, Cláudia; Fronteira, Inês
Abstract: Non-communicable diseases, previously thought of as a problem of high-income countries, now coexist in low- and middle-income countries, including the countries of origin for many refugees traveling to Europe. We aimed to describe the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases among refugees, asylum seekers, and subsidiary protection beneficiaries resettled or relocated in Portugal between 2015 and 2020 and compare these to the prevalence of risk factors in the 12 months before they left their country of origin. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2019 and 2020 of all refugees, asylum seekers, and subsidiary protection beneficiaries attending a Lisbon, Portugal refugee center. Behavioral and biological risk factors were assessed using the WHO STEPwise modified questionnaire. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted, which included 80 respondents, mainly men, with an average age of of 30.3 ± 9.8 years. The prevalence of several behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among refugees, asylum seekers, and subsidiary protection beneficiaries was higher at the time of the study than in the 12 months before leaving the country of origin. Differences between men and women were noted in tobacco (49.1% vs. 25.9%) and alcohol use (43.4% vs. 18.5%) in the receiving country. Overweight and obesity also showed differences by gender (7.5% vs. 11.1% and 39.6% vs. 48.1%). The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicidalplanning was high, and varied from 6.3% and 20% in the country of origin to 16.3% and 38.5% respectively in the receiving country, however the prevalence of suicide attempts was lower in the receiving country (66.7%) compared to the country of origin (100.0%). Information on health and social determinants is critical to identify priorities and increase access to access to gender-specific health and community level interventions, including mental health, to reduce risk factors associated with refugee relocation and resettlement.
Sarcopenia in women with anorectal dysfunctions—a female sarcopelvic study
Publication . Vieira, Ana Margarida Duarte da Silva; Pais, Sandra; Martins, Viviana; Castelo, Barbara; Saraiva, Miguel Mascarenhas
Anorectal dysfunctions (ARDs) include fecal incontinence (FI) and functional defecation disorders (FDDs). The pelvic floor muscles play a central role in the physiology of continence and defecation. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in a female group with anorectal dysfunctions and compare them with a healthy female age-matched group. As secondary objectives, the relationship between anorectal dysfunction outcomes and sarcopenia was analyzed. Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional, interventional, controlled, and double-blind study involving female adults admitted to an ARD outpatient clinic assessed for FI and/or FDD. A control group was also included of age-matched women without ARD. Sarcopenia was evaluated in the entire cohort, according to the latest criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software v.29, considering a confidence interval of 95%. Results: A total of 130 participants were included, equally divided by the two groups. The median age was 64 years. Both groups were also similar regarding body mass index (BMI), physical activity index values, and dietary patterns. Among the 130 investigated women, there were no cases of confirmed sarcopenia or severe sarcopenia, but 15 women (11.5%) had probable sarcopenia or dynapenia. The case group had significantly more probable sarcopenia than women in the control group (14 (21.5%) vs. 1 (1.5%), p < 0.001). The presence of relevant comorbidities, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), urinary incontinence (UI), and meat dietary pattern (MDP), was a risk factor for probable sarcopenia. The binomial logistic regression analysis showed that probable sarcopenia (OR 3.9; CI 1.1–14.1, p = 0.039) was associated with a worse treatment response. Conclusions: Probable sarcopenia or dynapenia was significantly more prevalent in women with ARD and was a predictive factor of a worse treatment response, regardless of the ARD severity. Concomitant UI, MDP, IBS, and psychiatric conditions were significantly associated with dynapenia. The inclusion of the evaluation of sarcopenia in these patients should be considered.
Academic social entrepreneurship: a contemporary reflection from schumpeter’s economic sociology
Publication . Pinto, Hugo; Sampaio, Fábio; Ferreira, Sílvia; Elston, Jennifer Nicole
Entrepreneurship has gained significant relevance in contemporary societies due to its role in generating economic and social value, including job creation, new businesses, and technological and social innovations. Scientific interest in entrepreneurship, which dates back to the 17th century, has increased since the 1990s. This field of study has evolved to encompass not only strict business creation but also impactful social initiatives. This article explores the intersection of academic and social entrepreneurship, examining factors to understand impactful initiatives through the seminal ideas presented by Joseph Schumpeter. The text offers insights and recommendations for advancing the transdisciplinary study of academic social entrepreneurship starting from an Economic Sociology perspective.
Resilient territories: innovation and creativity for new models of regional development
Publication . Pinto, Hugo
Today, Europe is in a delicate situation. Contrasts of growing competition and the lack of capacity to overcome challenges from the recent economic turbulence in specific regions and countries have created a sense of urgency to reflect on member-states cohesion. Questions arise regarding the diverse regional economies that compose the European Union (EU) and what this diversity means for adaptation to external shocks, resistance to negative impacts and evolution to new sociotechnical regimes. Essentially, academics, planners and decision makers are looking for a way to increase the resilience of the EU territory. Resilience can be understood as a non-equilibrium characteristic that facilitates a socioeconomic system to recover from a negative impact by reshaping a former trajectory or by adapting a new trajectory that successfully deals with the external pressures. These processes and characteristics have been studied in the recent past by regional scientists seeking to identify the set of dynamic conditions that create a more or less resilient territory. In the regional context, resilience is a concept adapted from the study of ecological systems and other fields of science that is applied to the understanding of geographically embedded socioeconomic systems. It is often a characteristic connected to a threshold of socioeconomic variety and specialisation that facilitates a smooth adaptation to the challenges faced in territories. With the recent crisis, some regions have dealt with this concept, by planning the adequate conditions for resilience. Regional resilience has also been connected, but not fully integrated in the literature, with more stabilised concepts, such as innovation and creativity (Pinto & Pereira, 2014). Innovation is often assumed as crucial for resilience. It was a central notion for the EU s policies in the last decade and it was also very influential in science and technology (S&T) studies. In particular, innovation systems have been used as a framework to develop and implement policies in transnational, national, regional, local, and even sectoral contexts (OECD, 2005). An innovation system focuses on a specific area or sector, where a group of actors is interconnected, with the goal to innovate. The core of the system has the main function of innovation but also has a broader ambition for growth and development. Hence, when analysing the innovation system it is important to understand actors and linkages that are directly connected to S&T infrastructure but also the institutional architecture and a vast group of building blocks that are in the centre of the socio-economic profile of the territory, providing the range of possibilities for adaptation and evolution.