Science (Universidade Europeia)
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Consumer behavior in online retail
No full textRapid technological advancements have led to significant growth in e-commerce, with more people purchasing products online. These online shopping activities are associated with multiple benefits, such as convenience, access to various products, and consumer ability to compare offers and select the most favorable deal. So, understanding consumer behavior in online retail is crucial for businesses to design effective marketing strategies, enhance the user experience, build trust, and drive sustainable growth in the digital marketplace. This paper aims to identify research trends in the field through a systematic bibliometric literature review of research on consumer behavior in online retail. The review includes 115 articles published in the Scopus™ and WoS™ databases, presenting up-to-date knowledge. The R-Tool “Biblioshiny for Bibliometrix” was used to perform a comprehensive bibliometrics analysis based on evaluative and relational bibliometrics techniques, which allow us to analyze the knowledge structure in terms of three different structures: conceptual, intellectual, and social. The findings indicate that the factors affecting consumer online behaviors in e-commerce can be categorized into seven significant classifications: demographic, psychographic, economic, technological, social, environmental, and cultural. The success of online retail businesses depends on their ability to cater to diverse customer needs and expectations to ensure that these factors are met. As a result, companies need to address potential challenges such as cybersecurity risks, data privacy concerns, cultural stereotypes, and misinterpretations that may hinder customers' willingness to participate in online shopping activities
Do Defense Mechanisms and Dissociation Symptoms Link the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experienceand Somatization Symptoms in Faroese Adolescents
No full textExposure to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a risk factor for the development and increase in somatization symptoms among adolescents. Defense mechanisms and dissociation may play a key role in the association between these variables. The aim of the study was to analyze the indirect association between direct and indirect exposure to ACEs with somatization symptoms through defense mechanisms and dissociation symptoms in Faroese adolescents. The sample consisted of 687 Faroese adolescents, who completed validated self-report questionnaires that assessed the variables under study. Serial multiple mediation models were tested by conducting a structural equation modeling employing Preacher and Hayes’ procedures (2008). Results showed that both direct and indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was indirectly related to somatization symptoms through immature defenses and dissociation symptoms. Indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was also indirectly related to somatization symptoms through neurotic defenses and dissociation symptoms. It was also observed that indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was indirectly related to somatization symptoms through immature and neurotic defense mechanisms. The results suggest the central role of both defense mechanisms and dissociation symptoms in the association between direct and indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs and somatization symptoms in Faroese adolescents
Focus group insights into student experiences and real-time data visualization expectations to enhance campus life
No full textThis study investigates the potential benefits of a smartphone application designed to enhance student experiences at IADE, Universidade Europeia (Portugal) by providing real-time information on campus space occupancy, availability, and indoor environmental quality. Focus group sessions with 33 s-year BSc Design students highlighted issues like overcrowded areas, insufficient dedicated study spaces, and unclear classroom usage policies. Students primarily use campus facilities for studying and collaborating, and they appreciated the proposed app’s features, including real-time data on occupancy and indoor environmental quality, which would improve their search for suitable study environments. Suggested additional features included desk and equipment reservation systems, integration of lab and studio waiting lists, and event notifications. While the app is expected to positively impact students who already use campus facilities, it may not attract those who prefer studying off-campus. Although the study provided useful insights, it is important to consider that it is limited by the lack of sample diversity: all participants were enrolled in the same course and year, and the nature of the course may also induce a bias. Pre-existing dynamics between participants also may have affected the length and depth of discourse during the sessions. Further research should include a broader sample of both students and faculty
Engaging in co-creation experiences: The role of affective image and satisfaction
No full textPurpose – This study proposes a conceptual model and aims (1) to understand how co-creation experience
influences guest engagement, (2) to analyse the effect of satisfaction and affective image between co-creation
experience and guest engagement, and (3) to analyse the effect of guest engagement on behavioural intentions.
Design/methodology/approach –Aquestionnaire-based online survey was conducted targeting U.S.-based
hotel customers. Developed on Qualtrics and distributed via Mechanical Turk, the survey garnered 465 useable
responses from individuals who had visited international chain hotels within the last year. Data analysis was
performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in IBM SPSS Amos.
Findings – The findings revealed significant direct effects of co-creation experience on affective image and
guest satisfaction, with guest satisfaction notably influencing guest engagement, and guest engagement
directly influencing behavioural intention. However, both co-creation experience and affective image showed
minimal direct impact on guest engagement. The study also highlighted the importance of indirect effects and
total effects in understanding the dynamics between the constructs analysed.
Research limitations/implications – The findings revealed significant direct effects of co-creation
experience on affective image,with affective image notably influencing guest engagement, and guest engagement
directly influencing behavioural intention. Although satisfaction had direct effects on guest engagement, cocreation
experience showed minimal direct impact on guest satisfaction and on guest engagement.
Practical implications – This study advises managers to use co-creation primarily to enrich guest
experiences and establish emotional connections rather than as a tool for directly enhancing engagement. It
recommends that managers invest in strategies to enhance guest engagement beyond co-creation given the
direct link between guest engagement and behavioural intentions, and the minimal direct impact between cocreation,
guest engagement and satisfaction.
Originality/value – This study demonstrates that affective image is a pivotal mediator between co-creation
experience and guest engagement. The findings provide valuable implications for hospitality practitioners in
designing and managing co-creation experiences, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive affective
image in the value co-creation process to attain positive behavioural outcomes
AI, optimization, and human values: Mapping the intellectual landscape of industry 4.0 to 5.0
No full textThis study conducts a systematic bibliometric literature review to explore the conceptual and technological transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, focusing on the roles of artificial intelligence (AI), optimization, and human values. Applying the PRISMA 2020 protocol, the analysis includes 53 peer-reviewed sources from the Scopus database, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies such as cyber–physical systems, the Internet of Things, collaborative robotics, and explainable AI. While Industry 4.0 is marked by intelligent automation and digital connectivity, Industry 5.0 introduces a human-centric paradigm emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and co-creation. The findings underscore the significance of human–machine collaboration, process personalization, AI education, and ethical governance as foundational pillars of this new industrial era. This review highlights the emerging role of enabling technologies that reconcile technical performance with social and environmental values, promoting a more inclusive and sustainable model for industrial development
Effect of a 16-Week Exercise Program After Bariatric Surgery on Sarcopenia Parameters Based on FNIH, EWGSOP2, and EASO/ESPEN Criteria: the Results of the EXPOBAR Randomized Trial Program
No full textBackground: Bariatric surgery is a recognized treatment option for severe obesity, and its effectiveness in reducing weight and controlling obesity-related conditions has been demonstrated. However, it can also lead to decreased skeletal muscle mass and strength, increasing the risk of sarcopenia after surgery. This randomized clinical trial studied the effects of a 16-week exercise program on sarcopenia in bariatric surgery patients. Methods: Thirty-seven surgery candidates participated in the EXPOBAR (EXercise POst BARiatric) program and were randomized into experimental or control groups. The intervention lasted 16 weeks, starting 1 month after surgery, and included a circuit training with aerobic and resistance exercise intervention. The outcomes included physical fitness parameters (anthropometry, body composition, and physical performance) and were assessed at four time points. All participants underwent gastric bypass surgery (RYGB). Results: The EXPOBAR trial revealed significant and meaningful effects of the exercise intervention on anthropometric indices, such as weight (p = 0.039) and waist circumference (p = 0.010). The most substantial improvements were observed in physical function and strength metrics (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively), along with a reduction in fat mass (p = 0.006), indicating the intervention’s effectiveness on sarcopenia parameters and in enhancing both physical fitness and body composition. Discussion: Current findings indicate that following an initial decrease due to bariatric surgery, exercise training significantly improves functional physical capacity and strength. The exercise program in this study effectively reversed the surgery-induced loss in function and strength, reducing the number of patients at risk of sarcopenia. Physical and functional capacity are crucial noninvasive indicators for diagnosing muscle quality and sarcopenia. Conclusion: Long-term management of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in bariatric surgery patients requires frequent monitoring of body composition and muscle function. This approach is essential for tracking progress and optimizing treatment strategies over time. This study highlights the importance of integrating structured exercise programs into after bariatric surgery care to mitigate the risk of sarcopenia. Trial Registration: The trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05289219)
Designing against bias: AI, crime racialization, and the ethics of image
No full textGenerative AI tools have become increasingly accessible to the general public during the last few years, empowering users to create images with unprecedented ease. However, these tools are often trained on biased datasets, which can lead to the production of biased imagery, an underlying issue that often goes unnoticed by users. This problem is particularly concerning in the design field, where advertising agencies and other companies are progressively integrating AI-generated visuals into their workflows, resulting in inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes in visual outputs. We conducted a study involving 114 participants, to uncover how societal biases manifest when people are presented with AI-generated images of individuals from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, seeking to uncover patterns of racial profiling and the underlying mechanisms of crime racialization, and how this can harm the creation and selection of AI-generated images in the design industry. The findings highlight a significant and pervasive issue, raising important questions about the ethics and implications of generative AI, and the potential harm this could cause to the design field . This research is of particular interest to educators, designers, AI developers, and anyone who uses or encounters AI-generated content
Inclusive play framework: An approach to promote awareness about gender neutral play in portuguese context
No full textThe paper focuses on the development process of the Inclusive Play Framework. Being a medium of alternative perception, the framework aims to promote awareness in adults about gender-neutral play, which can initiate equal opportunity in children’s formative years. It attempts to connect the intangible idea of being aware of how a toy can be gendered to the tangible formation of utilizing this knowledge in the community and society. Specifically, it tries to generate knowledge for adults regarding several gendered trends related to objects of play, such as toys, which potentially limit children's early play experiences, resulting in gender differences in skill and abilities. The framework is critically formulated, holistically connecting different approaches of Design for Behavior Change and Inclusive Design. Within the methodology, the study emphasizes Portuguese culture and how different socio-cultural and socio-economic entities affect the initiation of the multidimensional problem of gender differentiation. Further, the framework investigates the necessity to associate multiple scales within these entities, connecting design ethnography and the practice of inclusion through changing behavior. The pragmatic implementations of these entities are synthesized into Children-Parents, Children-Educators, and Children-Designers. The proposed framework is operationalizable for these different user clusters with different levels of complexity. In a systematic way, connected through logical reasoning, the framework proposes three stages of activities—Identify, Diversify and Inclusify. As a result, it enables the recognition of different elements of gender differentiation, generating motivation towards diverse perspectives, and transmitting inclusive knowledge through reconfiguring beliefs and practices
The synergies initiative: Enhancing interdisciplinarity through problem-based learning in design education
No full textOver the few past decades, expectations about design education have changed dramatically, as designers are increasingly expected to be more multidisciplinary, have more systematic and critical thinking skills, and integrate more relevant knowledge from other academic disciplines. However, the problem is that providing these skills is not always feasible, partly due to resistance from design educators themselves and bureaucratic obstacles imposed by educational systems. However, we believe that these factors should not prevent us from improving educational programs. This chapter discusses these issues and our motivation to develop what we call "synergies". We implemented a pedagogical project to offer students an interdisciplinary experience throughout their design course that involves all knowledge areas within our school. While it is still early to make categorical conclusions regarding the efficacy of this project, we can present and discuss good indicators of success and difficulties encountered in implementing it. The work we present here suggests that bureaucratic limitations can be overcome. The synergies require substantial work from everyone involved, rigorous planning, and gradually overcoming resistance from teachers, but the project reveals interesting new approaches for design education and the fruitful implementation of project-based learning
Patient-oriented smart applications to support the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and care of patients with Parkinson’s: An umbrella review
No full textThis umbrella review aimed to identify, analyze, and synthesize the results of existing literature reviews related to patient-oriented smart applications to support healthcare provision for patients with Parkinson’s. An electronic search was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, and, after screening using predefined eligibility criteria, 85 reviews were included in the umbrella review. The included studies reported on smart applications integrating wearable devices, smartphones, serious computerized games, and other technologies (e.g., ambient intelligence, computer-based objective assessments, or online platforms) to support the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Parkinson’s, improve physical and cognitive rehabilitation, and support disease management. Numerous smart applications are potentially useful for patients with Parkinson’s, although their full clinical potential has not yet been demonstrated. This is because the quality of their clinical assessments, as well as aspects related to their acceptability and compliance with requirements from regulatory bodies, have not yet been adequately studied. Future research requires more aligned methods and procedures for experimental assessments, as well as collaborative efforts to avoid replication and promote advances on the topic