2025
Authors
Pasandideh, S; Martins, J; Pereira, P; Gandini, A; De la Cal, MZ; Kalvet, T; Koor, T; Sopelana, A; de Aguileta, AL;
Publication
ADVANCES IN CULTURAL TOURISM RESEARCH, ICCT 2023
Abstract
This chapter describes the IMPACTOUR co-creation method, which is developed to enhance the impact of cultural tourism in various destinations. The method utilizes effective strategies and actions to monitor and increase the impact of cultural tourism. The primary objective of the IMPACTOUR technique is to support decision-makers in improving the sustainability and competitiveness of cultural tourists in their destinations. The method involves collecting and analyzing data from diverse sources, including tourism stakeholders and specifically local communities to create a comprehensive decision-making system. The resulting recommendations aim to promote the positive impacts of cultural tourism while minimizing negative effects and fostering long-term development. Ultimately, the IMPACTOUR method seeks to assist destinations and attractions in becoming more competitive and attractive to cultural visitors, while ensuring their long-term sustainability.
2025
Authors
Ferreira, S; Rodrigues, MA; Mateus, C; Rodrigues, PP; Rocha, NB;
Publication
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
Abstract
Background: In modern, high-speed work settings, the significance of mental health disorders is increasingly acknowledged as a pressing health issue, with potential adverse consequences for organizations, including reduced productivity and increased absenteeism. Over the past few years, various mental health management solutions, such as biofeedback applications, have surfaced as promising avenues to improve employees' mental well-being. However, most studies on these interventions have been conducted in controlled laboratory settings. Objective: This review aimedtosystematicallyidentify and analyzestudies that implementedbiofeedback-based interventions in real-world occupational settings, focusing on their effectiveness in improving psychological well-being and mental health. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. We searched PubMed and EBSCO databases for studies published between 2012 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were original peer-reviewed studies that focused on employees and used biofeedback interventions to improve mental health or prevent mental illness. Exclusion criteria included nonemployee samples, lack of a description of the intervention, and low methodological quality (assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database [PEDro] checklist). Data were extracted on study characteristics, intervention type, physiological and self-reported outcomes, and follow-up measures. Risk of bias was assessed, and VOSviewer was used to visualize the distribution of research topics. Results: A total of 9 studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions used a range of delivery methods, including traditional biofeedback, mobile apps, mindfulness techniques, virtual reality, and cerebral blood flow monitoring. Most studies focused on breathing techniques to regulate physiological responses (eg, heart rate variability and respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and showed reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Mobile and app-directed interventions appeared particularly promising for improving resilience and facilitating recovery after stress. Of the 9 studies, 8 (89%) reported positive outcomes, with 1 (11%) study showing initial increases in stress due to logistical limitations in biofeedback access. Sample sizes were generally small, and long-term follow-up data were limited. Conclusions:Biofeedback interventions in workplace settings show promising short-term results in reducing stress and improving mental health, particularly when incorporating breathing techniques and user-friendly delivery methods such as mobile apps. However, the field remains underexplored in occupational contexts. Future research should address adherence challenges, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term outcomesto support broader implementation of biofeedback as a sustainable workplace mental health strategy.
2025
Authors
Rodrigues, P; Teixeira, C; Guimaraes, L; Ferreira, NGC;
Publication
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
Abstract
Bees play a critical role as pollinators in ecosystem services, contributing significantly to the sexual reproduction and diversity of plants. The Caatinga biome in Brazil, home to around 200 bee species, provides an ideal habitat for these species due to its unique climate conditions. However, this biome faces threats from anthropogenic processes, making it urgent to characterise the local bee populations efficiently. Traditional taxonomic surveys for bee identification are complex due to the lack of suitable keys and expertise required. As a result, molecular barcoding has emerged as a valuable tool, using genome regions to compare and identify bee species. However, little is known about Caatinga bees to develop these molecular tools further. This study addresses this gap, providing an updated list of 262 Caatinga bee species across 86 genera and identifying similar to 40 primer sets to aid in barcoding these species. The findings highlight the ongoing work needed to fully characterise the Caatinga biome's bee distribution and species or subspecies to support more effective monitoring and conservation efforts.
2025
Authors
Pratas, J; dos Santos, JPM; Brito, PQ;
Publication
MARKETING AND SMART TECHNOLOGIES, ICMARKTECH 2024, VOL 1
Abstract
This paper explores the main challenges and barriers to VR/AR adoption and categorizes common activities performed with these technologies, explaining each specific factor affecting them. After reviewing literature on metaverse retailing, channel strategies, VR/AR technologies, and user experiences, a conceptual framework was developed. Data from the Voice of the Consumer: Digital Survey (20202024) in over 20 countries was analyzed, using Pearson's correlation, factor analysis, and multiple linear regressions. The results point that key challenges for VR/AR adoption include security, privacy, content, price, headset-free experiences, digital fatigue, and poor experiences. Gaming is the most common VR/AR activity, while metaverse retailing activities like shopping and virtual try-ons have fewer users. Practical considerations drive metaverse retailing, unlike gaming, which is mainly hedonic. Privacy concerns, safety risks, poor experiences, and lack of knowledge surprisingly increase VR/AR usage for metaverse retailing, indicating informed consumers or threshold characterization of these variables. Additional insights were found for tourism, hospitality, and gaming activities. Theoretical implications, insights, and potential actions for retailers and tech companies are discussed, along with limitations and suggestions for further research.
2025
Authors
Pires, PB; Santos, JD; de Brito, PQ;
Publication
Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies
Abstract
Establishing the relationship between online communication channels and the stages of the consumer decision-making process was the aim of this research. A review of online communication channels and consumer behavior models was conducted for this purpose. Subsequently, three experiments (car glass repair, retail of clothing and sports equipment, and retail of books and technological products) were carried out that consisted of questionnaires that were applied in companies belonging to different industries. The questionnaires were used to measure the expectations and preferences of consumers at each stage for each channel. The results showed that there is no relationship between online communication channels and the stages of the decision-making process. They also revealed a gap between expectations and preferences for each channel in each phase. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.
2025
Authors
Campos, P; Pinto, E; Torres, A;
Publication
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RESEARCH
Abstract
In many e-commerce platforms user communities share product information in the form of reviews and ratings to help other consumers to make their choices. This study develops a new theoretical framework generating a bipartite network of products sold by Amazon.com in the category musical instruments, by linking products through the reviews. We analyze product rating and perceived helpfulness of online customer reviews and the relationship between the centrality of reviews, product rating and the helpfulness of reviews using Clustering, regression trees, and random forests algorithms to, respectively, classify and find patterns in 2214 reviews. Results demonstrate: (1) that a high number of reviews do not imply a high product rating; (2) when reviews are helpful for consumer decision-making we observe an increase on the number of reviews; (3) a clear positive relationship between product rating and helpfulness of the reviews; and (4) a weak relationship between the centrality measures (betweenness and eigenvector) giving the importance of the product in the network, and the quality measures (product rating and helpfulness of reviews) regarding musical instruments. These results suggest that products may be central to the network, although with low ratings and with reviews providing little helpfulness to consumers. The findings in this study provide several important contributions for e-commerce businesses' improvement of the review service management to support customers' experiences and online customers' decision-making.
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