Regarding the popularity of social media platforms among consumers, influencer marketing is increasingly present in brands' communication strategies. This study adds to the knowledge about the drivers of parasocial interactions with influencers by investigating not yet explored follower-influencer connections and their effects on consumers' responses to the recommended brands. An online consumer survey was conducted among followers of social media influencers and the data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that follower-influencer moral admiration, perceived similarity, emotional closeness, and expression of positive feelings positively affect their parasocial interaction. In turn, the effects of these variables on consumer responses are fully or partially mediated by follower-influencer parasocial interaction on social media networks. Interestingly, followers' skill admiration towards the influencer has no significant impact on parasocial interaction but has a positive significant direct impact on positive WOM and purchase intention of influencer recommend brands. Our findings demonstrate that influencer marketing communication is an effective strategy for improving consumer brand responses. Furthermore, to augment their marketing value, social media influencers need to promote parasocial interactions with followers. Our findings suggest novel recommendations to select influencers and manage influencer marketing value.
Electrical stimulation (ES) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing chronic wound healing, addressing the limitations of conventional treatments such as high costs, prolonged recovery times, and suboptimal outcomes. However, traditional ES methods face challenges in delivering uniform stimulation across the wound area. Recent advances in electrospun-based wound dressings, particularly those combined with conductive polymers, offer a solution to these limitations. Conductive electrospun-based wound dressings mimic the skin's extracellular matrix, providing high porosity, a large surface area, and the capacity to deliver ES directly to the wound site, significantly enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a concise summary of the skin structure, the wound healing process and the effects of ES at various stages of healing. It also explores advanced electrospun-based wound dressings, focusing on the synergistic potential of combining ES with conductive electrospun dressings to optimize chronic wound healing outcomes.
Additive manufacturing has been widely adopted in industry as an alternative to traditional manufacturing processes for complex component production. In fact, a diverse range of materials, particularly polymers, can be processed using 3D printing for biomechanical applications (e.g., prosthetics). However, in-depth evaluation of these materials is necessary to determine their suitability for demanding applications, such as those involving cyclic loading. Following previous work that studied Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified (PETG) under experimental fatigue testing, this study examines the fatigue behaviour of other current 3D-printed polymeric materials, namely Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyamide 12 (Nylon 12), and Polycarbonate-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (blend) (PC-ABS), for which fatigue data remain limited or even non-existent. The findings revealed performance differences on Tensile Strength (σR), Young's Modulus and Ultimate Strain among tensile specimens made from these materials and characterised S-N curves for both high-cycle (HCF) and low-cycle (LCF) fatigue regimes at room temperature, with a tensile load ratio (R = 0.05). These results establish relationships among fatigue limit and quasi-static mechanical properties, namely 25% × σr for ASA (8 MPa), 7% × σr for PC (3.6 MPa), 17% × σr for Nylon 12 (7.4 MPa), and 15% × σr for PC-ABS (4.7 MPa), as well as between mechanical properties and preliminary potential biomechanical applications. Main conclusions were further supported by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), which revealed levels of porosity in between 4% and 11%, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Central venous catheters (CVCs), which play a vital role in medical care and are widely utilized in intensive care units, are highly susceptible to microbial colonization, thus leading to serious catheter-related bloodstream infections and greatly increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, accounting for 12
Sustainable urban subsoil management is crucial for ensuring the resilience and long-term sustainability of rapidly growing cities such as Leiria, Portugal. This research explores the application of integrated 3D Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for effective subsoil management, using lithological, stratigraphic, and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) data obtained from boreholes. By developing 3D geospatial models of the subsoil, the study enhances knowledge, understanding, visualization, and analysis of subsurface conditions, thereby supporting sustainable urban planning. Case studies from Leiria, including the area surrounding the Municipal Stadium, demonstrate the potential of 3D GIS to improve infrastructure resilience, mitigate geotechnical risks, and promote environmentally responsible construction practices.
