Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-12-06"
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- Gla-Rich protein is associated with vascular calcification, inflammation, and mineral markers in peritoneal dialysis patientsPublication . MARREIROS, CATARINA; Viegas, Carla; Malho Guedes, Anabela; Silva, Ana Paula de Andrade; Águas, Ana Catarina; Faísca, Marília; Schurgers, Leon; Simes, DinaVascular calcification (VC) is a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly in chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations. However, the specific relationship between VC and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains to be fully understood. The identification of new biomarkers to improve VC diagnosis and monitoring would significantly impact cardiovascular risk management in these high-risk patients. Gla-rich protein (GRP) is a VC inhibitor and an anti-inflammatory agent and thus is a potential VC marker in CKD. Here we explored the potential role of GRP as a marker for CVD and investigated the impact of VC in 101 PD patients. Methods: Circulating total Gla-rich protein (tGRP) was quantified in serum and in 24 h dialysate samples. VC score (VCS) was determined using the Adragão method. Results: Serum tGRP was negatively associated with VCS, serum calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), while it was positively associated with magnesium (Mg). A total of 35.6% of PD patients presented with extensive calcifications (VCS ≥ 3), and the lowest tGRP serum levels were present in this group (419.4 ± 198.5 pg/mL). tGRP in the 24 h dialysate was also negatively associated with VCS and with serum Ca and P. Moreover, serum Ca, P, and VCS were identified as independent determinants of serum tGRP levels. Conclusions: The association of serum tGRP with VC, mineral, and inflammation markers reinforces its potential use as a novel VC biomarker in CKD patients undergoing PD.
- Customer value co-creation journey in hotels: customer perception and behaviour towards value co-creation in hotelsPublication . Sadighha, Jinous; Pinto, Patrícia; Guerreiro, ManuelaThe present thesis investigates the customer perception and behaviour towards value co-creation by exploring the associations between customer co-creation perception (conducts of service provider’s DART activities: dialogue, access, risk assessment, and transparency) and customer participation behaviour (information seeking, information sharing, responsible behaviour, and personal interaction), and the value co-creation process (co-production and value-in-use) and customer citizenship behaviour (feedback, advocacy, helping, tolerance). The first study of this thesis proposes a conceptual model for stimulating customer participation behaviour by joining the Equity Theory with the Co-Creation Theory. The results support that customer co-creation perception (hotels' DART activities) drives customer participation behaviour, which subsequently improves the co-production of a desired offering and experiences a personalised value-in-use during consumption. The second study proposes a conceptual model for customer behaviour in value co-creation by combining Equity Theory and Social Exchange Theory with the Co-Creation Theory. The results show that customer participation behavior is a prerequisite for the co-production of a desired offering and unique experience of value-in-use, which further increases customer citizenship behavior. The third study proposes a model for reciprocity of value between the hotel and the customer by joining Equity Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and Script Theory with Co-Creation Theory. The findings reveal that customer co-creation perception conducting hotel DART evokes customer participation behaviour that boosts value co-creation and enhances customer citizenship behaviour. Moreover, customer participation behaviour is more associated with value co-creation for first-time customers. In turn, customer co-creation perception shows a stronger relationship with value co-creation for repeat customers. The present thesis advances theoretical knowledge on value co-creation in the hotel sector, considering the interrelation between the service provider’s and customers’ contributions. It also provides an effective practical mechanism for the hotels to assist them in increasing their benefits from the reciprocity of the value in the competitive market.
- Desenvolvimento de um sistema de interatividade intocável para a performance de live cinema: SSL2020Publication . Caeiro Perfeito, Ana de JesusO presente artigo relata o processo de criação de um sistema de interatividade intocável para a performance de live cinema SSL2020. Esse sistema possibilita a performer de interagir ao vivo com os elementos áudio e visuais da obra, assim como de manipular a narrativa do filme, através dos movimentos corporais. Utilizou-se um periférico computacional que deteta os gestos das mãos, um software de programação visual para a criação do projeto, e uma interface intermédia que atua como um controlador digital. O conjunto destas tecnologias forma um sistema que não necessita de toque direto nos objetos para funcionar durante a performance.