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- Permeability Evaluation of Flow Behaviors Within Perfusion BioreactorsPublication . Freitas, D.; Almeida, H.A.; Bártolo, P. J.Tissue engineering aims to produce artificial tissue in order to create or repair damaged tissue. It is evident that scaffolds are of extreme importance, because they will be the support structure of the new tissue. This new tissue is cultivated in vitro in a bioreactor in which is placed the scaffold. In order to control the cell culture process inside of a bioreactor, it is essential to know the fluid flow inside the scaffold for an adequate exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste. A novel multifunctional bioreactor with a perfusion system module comprised of three different inlet and outlet membranes is being developed. This research work will evaluate the permeability of the scaffold under the three different inlet and outlet diffusion membranes of the culture chamber.
- Characterization of the Dagorda Claystone in Leiria, Portugal, Based on Laboratory TestsPublication . Veiga, A.; Quinta-Ferreira, M.The Hetangian Dagorda claystone Formation occupies the core of a diapir outcropping in part of the city of Leiria, exhibiting a complex geological structure. The geological and geotechnical characterization is presented based in field observation and laboratory tests allowing to conclude that the Dagorda clay soils exhibit an unfavourable behaviour for urban occupation, due to the presence of expansive clay minerals. When partially saturated these soils can lead to cracking of walls and floors, or even to endanger the stability of buildings, if they have not been strengthened to resist to expansive soil. The presence of soluble minerals, mainly gypsum and seldom halite, can allow the formation of voids and eventually the deformation or collapse of the ground. Suitable safety procedures, in order to prevent hazards should be used.
- The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Accounting—The View of Certified AccountantsPublication . Grácio, Leonor; Eugénio, Teresa; Azevedo, GraçaIn recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken on an important role in various daily tasks. This is a transformative technology that is impacting several areas, one of which is accounting. The daily tasks of Certified Accountants (CAs) are increasingly being automated using machines. This scenario is evolving and transforming before the eyes of accounting professionals, which requires a high level of adaptability, as well as the new skills needed to perform the profession. The research conducted consists of a quantitative study and its general objective is to analyze the opinion of CAs on the impact that AI may have on their profession. The quantitative analysis of this work is supported by a survey addressed to CAs, which was subsequently analyzed using SPSS software. The main conclusions of this study are that CAs predict that AI will have an impact on accounting and expect the impact of this technology to be significant, but they do not agree that it will replace the profession of CA. There is also willingness on the part of the CAs for there to be collaboration between accounting professionals and AI in the future. This collaboration will bring together accounting professionals and AI, which will make it possible to get the best out of each other.
- Application of Renewable Energy—The Case of San Tomé IslandPublication . Ceita, Ludcelma de; Manso, Ricardo; Eugénio, TeresaIn the current context, the energy sector is one of the most important strategic points for the economic transformation of any society. Access to energy is a universal human right and a concern of the state. Whatever national development strategy is defined or implemented, it will always require measures to promote access to energy for all. Although the strong growth of renewable energies worldwide is evident, there are still few studies on their applicability in developing countries. The aim of this study is to contribute to energy sustainability in an emerging country where renewable energies have been little analysed and developed. The country analysed is São Tomé and Príncipe (STP). This paper develops a study on the application of renewable energy, energy sustainability, and clean electricity generation as challenges of the present and ways forward. Aware of the potential of natural resources on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, the study follows the following methodology: first phase: a preliminary study to describe the current energy situation on the island; second phase: presentation of a simulation on the use of available resources that has a direct impact on minimising the consumption of fossil fuels on the islands and on the country’s dependence on foreign fuel imports. As a result, the following proposal is made: Utilisation of photovoltaic solar energy with the help of agro-voltaic systems and floating panels, a biomass plant and a transition to electromobility with the help of electric vehicles as energy storage and means of transport.
- Circular Economy and Sustainability: What Are They Saying About It? – A Literature ReviewPublication . Costa, Berta; Rodrigues, SusanaCircular economy (CE) and sustainability are two interrelated con- cepts that are increasingly gaining attention in the fields of business, economics, and environmental studies. Although both concepts share similarities as they both aim to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment and promote sustainable development, they have predominantly been addressed sep- arately as two independent areas of knowledge, and continue to be ambiguous. Their relationship in literature has not been clarified, which may be obfuscating their overall usage. The aim of this article is to clarify the concepts of circular economy and sustainability, to examine how these two constructs have evolved in the last decades, and to identify their similarities and differences. In this regard a specific literature review was performed. For this purpose, 48 publications were identified, and a content analysis was conducted. Based on the aforementioned literature review, key findings relatively to circular economy and sustainability are presented.
- Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Indicators in AgribusinessPublication . Monteiro, Sónia; Quesado, Patrícia; Ribeiro, Verónica; Fernandes, Maria Eduarda; Eugénio, Teresa; Costa, João; Rodrigues, Hugo; Tomás, MarinaThe aim of this paper is to analyze the scientific production in the last decade (2011–2022) related to sustainable indicators (environmental, economic, social and ESG—Environmental, Social and Governance) in agribusiness. As methodology, a bibliometric study was carried out on articles from Scopus database. Afterwards, the most cited articles, journals and countries were analyzed, as well as a thematic analysis of the keywords. Results indicate that research on sustainable indi- cators of agribusiness has increased over time. In last years, the number of scientific papers on these topics has been increasing, probably associated with the approval of the United Nations for Sustainable Development (known as 2030 Agenda, approved in 2015). Italy is the country with most publications, the highest number of citations, and with the largest collaboration network. Most papers are published in 2 journals of higher impact and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is cited as the most usual method to assess the impact of business. Regarding the indicators to evaluate the sustain- ability of agribusiness, there is a greater predominance of environmental indicators compared to economic and social indicators.
- A Hybrid AIS-SVM Ensemble Approach for Text ClassificationPublication . Antunes, Mário; Silva, Catarina; Ribeiro, Bernardete; Correia, ManuelIn this paper we propose and analyse methods for expanding state-of-the-art performance on text classification. We put forward an ensemble-based structure that includes Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Artificial Immune Systems (AIS). The underpinning idea is that SVM-like approaches can be enhanced with AIS approaches which can capture dynamics in models. While having radically different genesis, and probably because of that, SVM and AIS can cooperate in a committee setting, using a heterogeneous ensemble to improve overall performance, including a confidence on each system classification as the differentiating factor. Results on the well-known Reuters-21578 benchmark are presented, showing promising classification performance gains, resulting in a classification that improves upon all baseline contributors of the ensemble committee.
- Host-guest interactions as a key to enhancing tourists WOM communication about Mediterranean destinationsPublication . Gomes, Dora; Kastenholz, Elisabeth; Ferreira, Alcina GasparHost communities play diverse roles in tourism, from suppliers to ‘place ambassadors’, enriching the visitor experience with their local knowledge and hospitality. While recognising these advantages, gaps in understanding the overall impact of positive host-guest interactions on destination success, through word-of-mouth (WOM), persist. This research studies the dynamics in resident-tourist interactions by examining how the social environment (reflected in residents’ friendliness) and emotional solidarity (sense of being welcome, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding), augment tourists' likelihood to share positive WOM, thus enhancing destination management strategies. This may be one of the first studies focused on WOM as an outcome of host-guest interactions, where recommendations on this specific area are given, to the Mediterranean region. An online survey was conducted among Portuguese who reported holidays in the Mediterranean region. Data was analysed using multiple linear regression modelling. Findings indicate that the perceived social environment, sense of being welcome, and sympathetic understanding on behalf of residents significantly and positively influence tourists’ WOM about the Mediterranean region. These results reinforce the importance of involving residents in destination management. First, as key points of contact with tourists, fostering positive interactions and promoting the destination through subsequent WOM. Additionally, residents' involvement in destination management allows them to control their interaction purposes, minimising negative impacts and strengthening their commitment to the destination. Effective tourism strategies should prioritise host-guest interaction, which could be central to the community-led tourism concept, benefiting both tourists and residents alike.
- The Role of Host-Guest Interactions in Remote Work-Driven Tourism DevelopmentPublication . Gomes, Dora; Kastenholz, Elisabeth; Ferreira, Alcina Gaspar; Almeida, JoãoDigital nomadism, characterised by location-independent work and enabled by digital technologies, represents a promising path for destinations seeking to revitalise their economies and attract new residents, associated to their quality of life, welcoming communities and interesting leisure and tourism proposals. This study examines the interplay between digital nomads and local communities by examining host-guest interactions, their influence on perceived quality of life, and the evolving attitudes of residents towards tourism development. In-depth interviews with residents from a low-population density rural area and representatives from the local Destination Management Organization (DMO) were conducted. The findings from this case study provide valuable insights into how rural communities can manage and benefit from the growing trend of ‘remote working tourism', while also addressing potential challenges related to cultural integration, economic disparities, and community cohesion.
- Tourism Destination Branding as a Marketing Factor: A Short Literature Review with a Focus on Northern CyprusPublication . Kudratova, Malika; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Santos, EleonoraThis research aims to evaluate the effects of “branding” on client satisfaction and loyalty within the framework of marketing management studies. As a result, brand image and destination brand loyalty were used as two mediators to examine customer happiness and loyalty. The premise is that the success of the lodging industry (i.e., four-and five-star hotels) significantly impacts a destination’s profitable tourism sector. However, the lodging industry can succeed if there is a base of devoted and contented clients. A significant role in mediating this results is branding. Contextually, the study used the Northern Cyprus as a case to investigate and examine the elements that establish the island’s “brand” description and how much branding may be used as a marketing tool. The results show that customers’ contributions to the delivery and use of destination services do not have a beneficial impact on the brand image of the destination, nor does brand image serve as a mediator between customers’ contributions and destination brand loyalty. Regarding the clients’ willingness to get service with no input, this can be explained. Moreover, customer satisfaction is acknowledged as having a favorable impact on the perception of a location. The relationship between service quality and loyalty is consistent with earlier research. Service quality positively impacts customer satisfaction, albeit the findings were lower than anticipated.