Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-01-27"
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- Situational context analysis of tourists’ eWOM engagement: the moderating effects of hotel star category and review site use intensityPublication . Pérez Aranda, Javier Ramón; Pinto, Patrícia; Martins Guerreiro, Maria Manuela; Ait-Bakrim, AbderrahmanBased on interactional psychology theory, this study explored the moderating effects of hotel star category and hotel review site use intensity on two antecedents of consumer engagement with electronic word of mouth (eWOM): organizational review site competence (ORSCP) and organizational review site commitment (ORSCM). Data were collected from a cross-national sample of 443 hotels and analyzed using partial least-squares methods. The results confirm that ORSCP and ORSCM affect customers' eWOM engagement. The findings also include that the hotel star category and the use intensity of hotel review sites have a moderating effect on the ORSCP - ORSCM relationship but not on these two variables' connection with consumer eWOM engagement. This research thus ascertained that a complex relationship exists between hotels' management of social networking sites and customers' eWOM engagement, which has implications for hotel marketing specialists.
- Proximate analysis, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of wild carob pulp from three mediterranean countriesPublication . Chami, Mohamad Ali El; Palacios-Rodríguez, Guillermo; Ordóñez-Díaz, José L.; Rodríguez Solana, Raquel; Navarro-Cerrillo, Rafael M.; Moreno-Rojas, José M.Background: Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp is of great interest nowadays due to its nutritional benefits and diverse utilization in the food process. The nutritional and antioxidant properties of carob pulp in the Mediterranean have been assessed in several studies. Still, few studies have combined, within the same work, a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of carob pulp from fruits of natural populations across different countries of the Mediterranean basin, while also incorporating new research areas. (2) Methods: In the present work, we evaluated the nutritional value, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of carob pulp derived from wild populations of carob trees from three Mediterranean countries: Lebanon, Spain, and Morocco; (3) Results: All assessed bromatological characteristics, with the exception of ash and fiber content, revealed significant differences in the carob pulp from the three countries under study. High variability was observed for the total polyphenols ranging between 5.05 mg/g and 12.70 mg/g. Sucrose was the predominant sugar quantified ranging between 13.70 g/100 g and 28.10 g/100 g. The lipid content was low (0.26-0.36%). The moisture content of carob pulp ranges between 4.36% and 6.40%. Carob pulp presented a rich composition in fiber, with an average of 35.87%. The ash content was between 2.52% and 3.28%. The percentage of the protein content of the carob pulp ranged between 4.40 and 5.52, with an average carbohydrate value of 74.71%; (4) Conclusions: Spanish wild carob pulp samples offered higher carbohydrates contents and values for sucrose, fructose, and glucose, polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity, whereas Moroccan samples had higher values of carbohydrates and in concrete, the monosaccharides fructose and glucose showed higher contents in proteins and lipids. In contrast, Lebanese samples exhibit a high content of the disaccharide sucrose. These findings could be exploited in breeding programs to improve varieties that balance both the agronomical quality and nutritional values of carob pulp.
- Co-designing an inclusive bus stop for a tourist transportation hubPublication . Pires Rosa, Manuela; Golestaneh, Seyed Homayoun; Mello, Germana Santiago de; Rodrigues, Joao; Sousa, Nelson; Gameiro, Celeste; Sousa, Carlos; Cavaleiro, Rui; Lamarão, HugoThis study explores the integration of sustainable mobility and universal design principles in creating accessible public transportation infrastructure. The research focuses on the co-design of a bus stop at Faro International Airport, engaging diverse stakeholders, including older tourists and adults with disabilities, through surveys, group reflections, walk-throughs, and workshops. The methodology incorporated multiple methods, such as, inquiries, observations and interviews, and digital prototyping to gather comprehensive insights into the specific needs of the participants. By addressing societal vulnerabilities and promoting social sustainability, the co-design process fostered innovation, resulting in a bus stop design that is functional, inclusive, and adaptable. The study underscores the role of sustainable mobility in enhancing equitable urban transportation systems and demonstrates how inclusive design principles contribute to achieving the broader goals of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The design incorporates accessibility features, such as tactile paving, raised platforms, intuitive seating, and smart technology, tailored to the diverse needs of users. Special emphasis was placed on minimising barriers for individuals with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments while addressing the practical requirements of older adults. The inclusive bus stop serves as a model for future initiatives, highlighting the importance of active community engagement in designing transportation infrastructure that supports diverse societal needs.
- Transcriptome profiling in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: a focus on RNA-binding proteinsPublication . Mirapalheta, Lorenzo Macedo Correa; Nóbrega, Clévio; Esteves, FilipaSpinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease first described in 1971 and characterized by cerebellar ataxia and slow saccades. It is caused by a gain-of-function mutation of ATXN2, which encodes the ataxin-2 protein. Ataxin 2 is a multi-functional RNA-binding protein (RBP), and many of its related biological pro cesses, such as calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, have been implicated in SCA2 path ophysiology. However, ataxin-2’s RNA-binding function, through which it interacts with vari ous facets of the RNA metabolism system, has yet to be directly linked to SCA2. This thesis’ main objective was to analyze the cerebellar transcriptome of the novel transgenic SCA2 mouse model, TG-SCA-Q129, with a focus on genes encoding RBPs, to un cover whether or not SCA2 might be characterized by a dysfunction of RNA metabolism, as it pertains to its presentation in this mouse model. Eighty-four differentially expressed genes were identified between two lines of trans genic mice compared against wild-type mice, such as Alyref and Aptx, and an analysis of the functions of their encoded RBPs indicated an abundance of functions related to known SCA2 mechanisms, but also to mRNA processing and DNA repair. Gene ontology and weighted gene co-expression network analyses of the whole tran scriptome of the transgenic animals were also conducted, identifying not only known mecha nisms of SCA2, but also inflammation in the cerebellum of the transgenic line with a prominent motor phenotype, and alterations in synaptic vesicle endocytosis. In conclusion, the results from this thesis point to RNA metabolism being a core mech anism in SCA2, and identify DNA repair, pre-mRNA processing, neuroinflammation, and syn aptic vesicle endocytosis as warranting further research to verify whether they might also char acterize SCA2.