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Service convenience, satisfaction, and word-of-mouth among fitness centre customers: Differences between PT subscribers and non-subscribers
No full textDepressão, solidão e qualidade de vida em idosos institucionalizados e não-institucionalizados em Portugal: Um estudo transversal
No full textOur study aims to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptomatology among older adults and to assess their association with loneliness and quality of life according to institutionalisation status in a Portuguese sample. Background: The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2050, the world’s population over 60 will number two billion people, which poses complex challenges in terms of maintaining the mental health of older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this population, but the post-pandemic phase has not yet been studied much. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2023 among institutionalised and non-institutionalised older adults (total n = 525; institutionalised = 458; non-institutionalised = 67) who were selected by convenience sampling. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms, the WHOQOL-BREF to assess perceived quality of life and the Loneliness Scale (UCLA) to assess negative feelings of loneliness. Unconditional logistic regression models were fitted to compute crude adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the association between sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics and depressive symptomatology, according to institutionalisation status. The final model was adjusted for sex, age, QoL and feelings of loneliness. Results: Of the 525 participants, 74.6% of the non-institutionalised participants had no or minimal depressive symptoms, while 55.4% of the institutionalised participants fell into this category. Mild to moderately severe depressive symptoms were present in 25.4% of the non-institutionalised participants. 26.9% of the institutionalised participants had mild symptoms, 11.8% had moderate symptoms, 3.9% had moderately severe symptoms, and 2.0% had severe depressive symptoms. Overall, a higher quality of life was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Participants describing feelings of loneliness were more likely also to present depressive symptoms (OR = 78.10; 95%CI 2.90–2106.08 and OR = 3.53; 95%CI 1.72–6.91 for non-institutionalised and institutionalised older adults, respectively), independently of institutionalisation status. Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms is high in older adults, which means that it has not decreased after the increase seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lower perception of quality of life and the presence of negative feelings of loneliness are associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. These conclusions suggest that plans should be developed to intervene in the dimensions of depressive symptoms, perceived quality of life and negative feelings of loneliness
Self-service technology: Does its use influence satisfaction, behavioural intentions, and word-of-mouth intention in fitness centres?
No full textAnalysis of flaws in graphical representations of statistical data in the field of occupational safety and health
No full textA relevância dos dados estatísticos, na sociedade, impôs a urgência de garantir a literacia estatística de todos os indivíduos. Desta necessidade resultou um reforço do estudo da Estatística, com reflexo em todos os níveis de ensino, e com particular incidência na formação de profissionais cuja atividade envolverá o tratamento de dados estatísticos. Na área da segurança e saúde no trabalho, como noutras áreas, os profissionais envolvidos no processo de recolha, organização, análise e reporte de dados estatísticos, recorrem a diversos métodos e ferramentas estatísticas, que, no desfecho do processo, lhes permitirão apreciar, traduzir, revelar e comunicar a informação contida nos dados. Pelo importante contributo que os gráficos estatísticos proporcionam na tarefa de organização e apresentação de dados em relatórios, melhorando a eficácia na transmissão de informação, é imperioso garantir a correção e adequação destas representações. Na presente pesquisa, despoletada pela preocupação dos autores com a desadequação de muitos dos gráficos produzidos no âmbito de pesquisas no domínio da segurança e saúde no trabalho, analisámos os gráficos estatísticos presentes em três relatórios técnicos, no contexto da segurança e saúde no trabalho, focando os aspetos que violam os princípios orientadores da construção de gráficos estatísticos. Com este intuito assumimos uma investigação de abordagem exploratória, com recurso a métodos qualitativos, e recolha bibliográfica de dados. Os resultados revelam a presença de inúmeras debilidades nos gráficos, com violação de alguns dos mais importantes princípios que devem reger a construção de gráficos estatísticos, e que poderão comprometer a validade e utilidade desses gráficos
Addressing the algebraic structure of a linear mixed model with balanced design towards model extension
No full textLinear mixed models provide a general and versatile approach for analyzing data collected in experiments, suitable for modeling repeated, longitudinal, or clustered observations. Important results for estimation can be obtained when subclasses of these mixed models are considered, based on some characteristics of their algebraic structure. The class of the models with commutative orthogonal block structure, for which least squares estimators are the best linear unbiased estimators, is of great interest. In an approach based on the algebraic structure of the models, and availing ourselves of U matrices, we study the possibility of extending a balanced mixed model, which could lead to a model with commutative orthogonal block structure
Acute responses to a potentiation warm-up protocol on sprint and change of direction in female football players: A randomized controlled study
No full textObjectives
To evaluate the acute effect of exposure to a potentiation warm-up protocol compared to a usual warm-up program.
Design
Randomized parallel control trial.
Setting
Synthetic grass in the club’s facilities (Portugal).
Participants
Seventeen female football players (age: 23.9 ± 3.9 years), were randomly allocated to a control (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 9). To allocate the players, a table was computer-generated by a research team member with no involvement in the trial.
Intervention
The control group performed their usual warm-up program, while the experimental group performed a potentiation warm-up protocol with jumps combined with sprints with change of direction.
Main outcomes measures
The players were tested pre- and post-intervention for a 40-m linear sprint and pre-planned change of direction using the T-test.
Statistical analysis
An intention-to-treat analysis was performed, with all the participants originally randomized being involved. The normal distribution was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The assumption of sphericity was analyzed. Effect sizes were calculated using partial eta squared.
Results
No significant pre-post differences in the T-test and in the 40-m sprint were detected for any group. However, in the T-test, large effect sizes in time increments were observed within the experimental (0.27 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.176) and control groups (0.06 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.176). Also, in the 40-m sprint, large effect sizes in time increments were observed within the experimental (0.05 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.251) and control groups (0.09 s; p > 0.05, ηp2 = 0.251).
Conclusions
The performance-enhancing ability of the potentiation method performed at warm-up was not verified when applied to female football players. Thus, the potentiation methods may not improve sprint and COD ability for this population. However, the lack of statistical significance may have been due to reduced statistical power, as three of four effects suggest acute performance impairment after a supposed potentiation-oriented warm-up. Nevertheless, the presence of a statistical type 2 error cannot be ruled out
“Who comes next?”: Planning and managing sustainable initiatives that facilitate family business succession
No full textFamily businesses are increasingly recognized for their significance in the global economy, constituting a growing portion
of companies worldwide and elevating the importance of this topic on governmental agendas. Unique challenges confront
family firms, intertwining business decisions with familial repercussions. Among these challenges, the succession process
emerges as a critical threat to their continuity. Inadequate solutions to the question of succession often lead to organizational
failure, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue. This study endeavors to construct an analysis model to support
decision-makers throughout the succession journey, integrating a constructivist approach that merges cognitive mapping
and interpretive structural modeling (ISM). This dual methodology facilitates the swift identification and analysis of factors crucial for smoother family business succession. The model development leverages insights from an expert panel and
entails delineating cause-and-effect relationships among identified determinants and prioritizing these factors based on
their significance. Subsequently, the model undergoes validation through a consolidation session with experts from the
Associação de Empresas Familiares (i.e., Family Business Association in Portuguese), who assess its practical applicability.
This includes perspectives from a Brazilian expert renowned for his understanding of family business dynamics within an
emerging economy—Brazil. The insights gleaned from these sessions inform recommendations on implementing the tested
procedures within real-life family enterprises, thereby contributing to the sustainability and longevity of these businesses
Filial maturity and caregiving to aging parents
No full textThe aging of parents results in changes in the filial relationship. The increasing vulnerability
of parents leads adult children to realize that they have individual needs and cannot fully function as
sources of security and protection, as they did before. Simultaneously, the evidence of losses and
disability imposes the need for care, which tends to be assumed by adult children. Therefore, there is
a progressive change in the volume of support exchanges between parents and children, with more
support from adult children to parents. The way adult children adapt to these transitions is influenced
by several internal and relational factors. Filial maturity has been associated with filial caregiving
towards aging parents. The concept of filial maturity describes a developmental stage in which the
adult child overcomes the filial crisis, realizing and accepting that the parent also needs support and
comfort and starting to relate to him/her beyond the strictly parental role. Thus, this study aims
to explore the role of attachment and mental representation of caregiving in filial maturity. A total
of 304 children aged between 35 and 64 years old participated in this study, with at least one of the
living parents aged 65 years or older, not institutionalized. Attachment was assessed with the Adult
Attachment Scale, mental representation of caregiving with the Mental Representations of Caregiving
Scale and filial maturity with the Filial Maturity Measure. The results suggest that attachment,
mental representation of caregiving and the interaction between the two explain 24.5% (p < 0.01) of
variability in Comprehending and 11.1% (p < 0.05) of variability in Distance, two dimensions of filial
maturity. These findings suggest that it is important to consider mental representation of caregiving
and attachment when adult children must adapt to changes in the filial relationship and to the need
to care for parents
Rehabilitación de la función respiratória en la persona com neumonía: estudo de caso
No full textIntrodução: A pneumonia é uma doença onde ocorre a inflamação do parênquima de um ou ambos os pulmões. É um dos principais motivos de internamento por doença respiratória e caracteriza-se por um padrão restritivo, onde há diminuição na capacidade do volume inspirado. O tratamento da pneumonia é sintomático e/ou farmacológico, em função dos agentes envolvidos, e deve ser complementado com a realização de exercícios de Reeducação Funcional Respiratória para otimizar a ventilação, prevenir e corrigir as alterações posturais, permeabilizar a via aérea e reduzir o trabalho respiratório.
Objetivo: Identificar o contributo de um programa de Reeducação Funcional Respiratória dirigido à pessoa com pneumonia.
Método: Estudo de Caso que respeita as guidelines Case REport. Foi implementado um programa de Enfermagem de Reabilitação dirigido aos diagnósticos identificados consoante os objetivos previstos e das necessidades identificadas na avaliação inicial da pessoa cuidada.
Resultados: As técnicas de Reeducação Funcional Respiratória utilizadas permitiram a redução da sintomatologia associada à pneumonia, a melhoria da capacidade de exercício e da capacidade funcional, com um posterior aumento da participação nas atividades de vida diárias e consequentemente, uma melhoria da qualidade de vida.
Conclusão: O programa de Enfermagem de Reabilitação implementado contribuiu para a melhoria da função respiratória e da funcionalidade da pessoa com doença respiratória aguda
Sokoban: An assignment for an object-oriented and GUI programming course
Get PDFSIGCSE 2024, March 20–23, 2024, Portland, OR, USAMotivating assignments is a well-known way to promote deeper learning in programming courses. As those assignments must also be aligned with the intended learning outcomes and preferably
carry some novelty, the search for adequate assignments is permanent. This poster proposes a classical 2D one-person game that provides a solid basis for discussing and applying object-oriented
concepts, GUI programming, and simple patterns. It was applied in an introductory object-oriented course. Students’ feedback was highly positive, and anecdotal evidence suggests improved motivation
and learning. Additionally, the game can be easily extended with some extra requirements and is amenable to different degrees of scaffolding. Hence, it can be used in more introductory or more
advanced courses.DD11-5FB8-BD98 | JOÃO PAULO MESTRE PINHEIRO RAMOS E BARROSN/