Career trajectory and cross-system mobility: Career planning of doctoral students in Macao - Ge, Yun (Higher Education Quarterly, 2024)
This study investigates career trajectory and work locations of doctoral students trained in Macao and analyses how their career paths are shaped by perceived macro-level factors. Respondents from four applied disciplinary areas were selected for semi-structured in-depth interviews. Research results show that doctoral students who graduated from Macao higher education institutions enjoy good career prospects in Mainland China. Their competitiveness in the research-related job market benefits from having a multi-level support system and a training mode that promotes government–university–industry collaboration. Policies and demand from industrial sectors are involved in students' learning experience through channels such as financial support, project collaboration and networks. Doctoral students in Macao are strategic planners and actors in leveraging their human capital. As Macao becomes an emerging destination for cultivating high-level research labour, findings from this study capture a model of human capital formation in China's cross-system context.
Keywords: career trajectory; cross-system mobility; doctoral education; employability; human capital formation

Internationalisation of higher education: new players in a changing scene - Ge, Yun (Educational Research and Evaluation, 2022)

The Role of University in High-Level Human Capital Cultivation in China’s West Greater Bay Area - Ge, Yun (ICHE XVI International Conference on Higher Education, 2022)

Understanding Chinese Model of Government-University-Industry Collaborations in Research and Education: The Case of Macau SAR. - Ge, Yun (IFCU’s International Centre for Research and Decision Support’s Research Talk series, 2023)
Higher Education in Macau has been benefiting from a multi-layered institutional environment under China’s One-Country-Two-Systems. This presentation introduces research and education policies and practices of Macau universities under China’s national plan of the Greater Bay Area development. It aims to demonstrate and analyze how higher education actors collaborate with local and regional governments and industrial sectors in human capital formation and research innovations.

澳門教師文化回應教學認知與實踐研究 - Ge, Yun (3rd Summit of Youth Education and Development in Hong Kong and Macau, 2021)

澳門課程改革與發展: 政策與實務 - Ge, Yun (4th Summit of Youth Education and Development in Hong Kong and Macau, 2022)

澳門特殊與融合教育的發展及教師培訓 - Ge, Rochelle Yun (知行合一特殊教育高質量發展國際研討會, 2023)

課程變革的趨勢和具澳門特色的課程發展 - Ge, Rochelle Yun (Curriculum and Teaching in a Global Perspective: Reforms, Opportunities and Challenges Symposium, 2023)

China-ASEAN Student Mobilities along the Belt and Road: New Trends and Implications - Ge, Rochelle (Asian Studies and Indian Ocean Summer School, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, 2024)

Global Curriculum Development Trends and Teacher Training Needs: Challenges and Opportunities in Change - Ge, Rochelle (The Seminar of Curriculum Development and Teaching Materials Preparation in Mainland China and Macao SAR, 2024)

Intensifying Higher Education Collaboration between Macau SAR and PSCs: Supporting System and Strategic Implications - Ge, Rochelle (The panel Macau’s Higher Education Collaboration with Portuguese-speaking Countries: Mutual Goals and Challenges, 2024)

是來時路，亦是前行燈：澳門教師的使命與歸屬 - Ge, Rochelle (2025)

Journalism Ethics and the Common Good: The Formation of Values and Virtues for Just and Harmonious Societies - Gassner, Franz; Simoes, José Manuel (Disentangled Vision On Higher Education: Preparing The Generation Next, 2022)

Ethical Investment’s Visible Hand: Methods And Transformative Potentials - Gassner, Franz (The Journal of the Macau Ricci Institute, 2021)

From Maximum Illud 1919 to the First National Synod Primum Concilium Sinensis 1924 in Shanghai: Historical & Theological Perspectives - Gassner, Franz (Orientis Aura: Macau Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2022)

Learning God’s Mercy: Spiritual Transformation According to Hos 11:8 - Gassner, Franz (The Journal of the Macau Ricci Institute, 2022)
A growing focus on God’s mercy and forgiveness emerged in the wake of the recent Pontificates of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Our time with its multiple crises cries for healing, forgiveness, and the experience of God’s mercy. In social, political, and global terms, humanity craves for “lasting peace, born of the marriage of justice and mercy” (John Paul II, 2001, no. 15). The experience of God’s forgiveness, merciful healing and new life has been expressed many times in the Bible. But, theologically, it has never been formulated as directly as in Hosea 11:8, when God’s own heart becomes “turned over”, “converted” following the blaze of his own overwhelming compassion, paving the way for a fundamental spiritual transformation, rooted in forgiveness and mercy, that opens wellsprings of dignity, healing, and new life for all.

Resources for Future in a Caring Economy - Gassner, Franz (Menschenrechte und Gerechtigkeit als bleibende Aufgaben, 2020)

“To Listen to the Language of Nature and to Act Accordingly” :: Natural Law as Beacon guiding to Human Flourishing and Ecological Civilization - Gassner, Franz (Orientis Aura: Macau Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2021)
The article sets off from a speech given by Benedict XVI in the German Bundestag in 2011, where he requested an ecological learning process to aim at sustainable human development. Appreciating the Ecological Movement, he asked to learn to listen to Nature’s language and act accordingly, which he applies analogically to “human ecology”. The article bridges elements of “Listening to Nature” and the Natural Moral Law Tradition in Benedict’s speech and in Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudatu Si’ inview of serving human flourishing in an ecological civilization. Keywords: Natural Moral Law; Nature, Laudatu Si’, Benedict XVI, Francis; Ecological Civilization/生態文明, Sustainable Development, Ecology of Man.

Forming Intercultural Missionaries - Gallares, Judette (Becoming Intercultural: Perspectives on Mission, 2021)

Interculturality and formation - Gallares, Judette (Engaging our diversity : interculturality and consecrated life today, 2020)

Religious Vows in their Mystic and Prophetic Dimensions - Gallares, Judette (Religious Life Asia, 2022)

An Exploratory Study into How the Application of Neurosciences can Assist in Understanding the Decision-Making Process Under Stress - Furtado, Filipa Magalhães de Moura e Mota (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

Macau's Historical House Taxonomy: The Shophouses at the Rua de Cinco de Outubro (Case Studies) - Fu Ho I (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of History & Heritage Studies (MHHS); University of Saint Joseph

Challenges and Learning Strategy for young children with special needs during the pandemic in Indonesia - Fridani, L.; Ikegami, Kiiko (Anthology Challenges in Management of Early Childhood Education during Pandemic, 2021)

THE POWER OF SCENT MARKETING: INFLUENCING CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE - Fong, Un I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Examining consumer perceptions of scent marketing in Macau's retail setting is the goal of this study. The study focuses on the following two primary uses of scent marketing in retail environments: subliminal application and application as a component of branding strategy. Qualitative research methodology is used. A total of ten consumer interviews produced the data. The findings show that consumers are in favor of scent marketing's use in retail settings. The use of scent marketing as a tool for establishing brands is preferred, and consumers find this approach to scent marketing to be more acceptable than its subliminal application. Although consumers believe that other factors, such as price, are typically more significant than scent when making purchases, the use of subliminal scents was not always evaluated negatively. Unless occasionally when making an unplanned purchase, consumers do not think that a subliminal scent can significantly impact their purchasing behavior
Keywords: Consumer behavior; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; branding; consumer opinion; marketing strategy; scent marketing; subliminal advertising

The Moderating Effect of Job Alternatives Perceptions in the Relationship Between Burnout and Turnover: A Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Macao - Fong, Sut Cheng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); University of Saint Joseph

探討澳門托兒所推行融合托兒服務的策略與挑戰 - Fong, Sou Lei (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Probabilistic Forecasting Model for the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on the Composite Monte Carlo Model Integrated with Deep Learning and Fuzzy System - Fong, Simon James; Marques, João Alexandre Lobo; Li, Gloria; Dey, Nilanjan; Crespo, Rubén González; Herrera-Viedma, Enrique; Gois, Francisco Nauber Bernardo; Neto, José Xavier (Epidemic Analytics for Decision Supports in COVID19 Crisis, 2022)
There are several techniques to support simulation of time series behavior. In this chapter, the approach will be based on the Composite Monte Carlo (CMC) simulation method. This method is able to model future outcomes of time series under analysis from the available data. The establishment of multiple correlations and causality between the data allows modeling the variables and probabilistic distributions and subsequently obtaining also probabilistic results for time series forecasting. To improve the predictor efficiency, computational intelligence techniques are proposed, including a fuzzy inference system and an Artificial Neural Network architecture. This type of model is suitable to be considered not only for the disease monitoring and compartmental classes, but also for managerial data such as clinical resources, medical and health team allocation, and bed management, which are data related to complex decision-making challenges.
Keywords: COVID-19; Composite Monte Carlo simulation; Healthcare decision-making systems; Prediction

The Application of Supervised and Unsupervised Computational Predictive Models to Simulate the COVID19 Pandemic - Fong, Simon James; Marques, João Alexandre Lobo; Li, Gloria; Dey, Nilanjan; Crespo, Rubén González; Herrera-Viedma, Enrique; Gois, Francisco Nauber Bernardo; Neto, José Xavier (Epidemic Analytics for Decision Supports in COVID19 Crisis, 2022)
The application of different tools for predicting COVID19 cases spreading has been widely considered during the pandemic. Comparing different approaches is essential to analyze performance and the practical support they can provide for the current pandemic management. This work proposes using the susceptible-exposed-asymptomatic but infectious-symptomatic and infectious-recovered-deceased (SEAIRD) model for different learning models. The first analysis considers an unsupervised prediction, based directly on the epidemiologic compartmental model. After that, two supervised learning models are considered integrating computational intelligence techniques and control engineering: the fuzzy-PID and the wavelet-ANN-PID models. The purpose is to compare different predictor strategies to validate a viable predictive control system for the COVID19 relevant epidemiologic time series. For each model, after setting the initial conditions for each parameter, the prediction performance is calculated based on the presented data. The use of PID controllers is justified to avoid divergence in the system when the learning process is conducted. The wavelet neural network solution is considered here because of its rapid convergence rate. The proposed solutions are dynamic and can be adjusted and corrected in real time, according to the output error. The results are presented in each subsection of the chapter.
Keywords: ANN predictor; COVID19; Epidemiology; Fuzzy predictor; PID control; SEAIRD

Analysis of the COVID19 Pandemic Behaviour Based on the Compartmental SEAIRD and Adaptive SVEAIRD Epidemiologic Models - Fong, Simon James; Marques, João Alexandre Lobo; Li, G.; Dey, N.; Crespo, Rubén G.; Herrera-Viedma, E.; Gois, F. Nauber Bernardo; Neto, José Xavier (Epidemic Analytics for Decision Supports in COVID19 Crisis, 2022)
A significant number of people infected by COVID19 do not get sick immediately but become carriers of the disease. These patients might have a certain incubation period. However, the classical compartmental model, SEIR, was not originally designed for COVID19. We used the simple, commonly used SEIR model to retrospectively analyse the initial pandemic data from Singapore. Here, the SEIR model was combined with the actual published Singapore pandemic data, and the key parameters were determined by maximizing the nonlinear goodness of fit R2 and minimizing the root mean square error. These parameters served for the fast and directional convergence of the parameters of an improved model. To cover the quarantine and asymptomatic variables, the existing SEIR model was extended to an infectious disease model with a greater number of population compartments, and with parameter values that were tuned adaptively by solving the nonlinear dynamics equations over the available pandemic data, as well as referring to previous experience with SARS. The contribution presented in this paper is a new model called the adaptive SEAIRD model; it considers the new characteristics of COVID19 and is therefore applicable to a population including asymptomatic carriers. The predictive value is enhanced by tuning of the optimal parameters, whose values better reflect the current pandemic.
Keywords: Adaptive SEAIRD model; Adaptive SVEAIRD model; Asymptomatic cases; Prediction models

The Comparison of Different Linear and Nonlinear Models Using Preliminary Data to Efficiently Analyze the COVID-19 Outbreak - Fong, Simon James; Marques, João Alexandre Lobo; Li, G.; Dey, N.; Crespo, Rubén G.; Herrera-Viedma, E.; Gois, F. Nauber Bernardo; Neto, José Xavier (Epidemic Analytics for Decision Supports in COVID19 Crisis, 2022)
The COVID-19 pandemic spread generated an urgent need for computational systems to model its behavior and support governments and healthcare teams to make proper decisions. There are not many cases of global pandemics in history, and the most recent one has unique characteristics, which are tightly connected to the current society’s lifestyle and beliefs, creating an environment of uncertainty. Because of that, the development of mathematical/computational models to forecast the pandemic behavior since its beginning, i.e., with a restricted amount of data collected, is necessary. This chapter focuses on the analysis of different data mining techniques to allow the pandemic prediction with a small amount of data. A case study is presented considering the data from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus was first detected, and the place where the major outbreak occurred. The PNN + CF method (Polynomial Neural Network with Corrective Feedback) is presented as the technique with the best prediction performance. This is a promising method that might be considered in future eventual waves of the current pandemic or event to have a suitable model for future epidemic outbreaks around the world.
Keywords: Artificial neural networks; Epidemiology; Machine learning; Prediction models

澳門小學常識科教師在融合生班級上運用 STEM 教學方法之研究 =: Human-Belongings Behaviour Analysis: A Smart Interactive Cabinet - Fong, Sao Hong (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

A Study on inclusive Class Management by Nursery Teachers in Macau =: 澳門托兒所融合班教師班級經營之研究 - Fong, Ka Lei (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

澳門特殊教育教師助理員的工作現狀與工作滿意之探討: 基於質性之實踐分析析 - Fong, I. Mei (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Innovation Analysis and Research on the Mode of KOL Live Commerce - Fong, Hou Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
With the rapid development of digital media, internet celebrity live streaming has become a key factor in influencing the consumer decision-making of adolescents, presenting unique regional characteristics in different socio-cultural and economic contexts. This study investigates the differences in consumption habits among adolescents in Macau and Mainland China and their impact on the innovation and reform of the commercial model of internet celebrity live streaming. The methodology employs a questionnaire survey and data analysis to systematically compare the consumption behavior of adolescents in Macao and mainland China, collecting live streaming consumption habits of adolescents in both regions. Statistical methods are used to compare and analyze the consumption patterns within the regions. The analysis indicates that influencers, as internet celebrities with a large number of fans on social media, have a significant impact on adolescents' consumption decisions through their recommendations and evaluations. Firstly, the convenience and diversity of e-commerce platforms provide adolescents with a wealth of consumption choices, such as characteristics and usage effects of products. Secondly, the recommendations and evaluations of influencers have become an important reference for adolescents' consumption. Results show that adolescents in Macau tend to seek entertainment and interaction in their consumption of internet celebrity live streaming, whereas those in Mainland China place greater emphasis on the practicality of the live streaming content and the cost-effectiveness of the products. Moreover, the study reveals the roles of socio-cultural and economic levels in the differences in consumption between the two regions. Based on these insights, it is recommended that live streaming platforms should advance the innovation and reform of their business models to cater to different market characteristics—such as optimizing content recommendation algorithms, enhancing interactive elements, and improving the integration of e-commerce features, thereby promoting business sustainability and economic benefits
Keywords: Adolescent Consumption Habits; Internet Celebrity; Live Streaming; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

合作學習法在小學中文科教學中的實施: 以澳門某小學為例 = The Implementation of Cooperative Learning in Primary School Chinese Teaching: A Case Study of a Primary School in Macao - Fong, Hio Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

EVALUATING SATISFACTION OF LOCAL ROAD USERS OF MACAU - Fong, Chi Cheng; Pinheiro, Francisco Vizeu; Lei, Weng Chi (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
"Macau's rapid economic development in recent decades and relatively low usage of public transportation have put considerable pressure on the city's carrying capacity. Improving the transportation system has been a major policy goal of Macau's urban planners. To deepen the understanding of the perspectives of local road users, this dissertation's main research question is: what factors determine the satisfaction of local road users of Macau? After collecting responses using an online questionnaire, quantitative research methods were adopted to analyze travel patterns, satisfaction toward different road usage dimensions, and sociodemographic characteristics of local residents. 145 responses were collected and quota samples were generated to match the distribution of each sociodemographic feature of the population. Most respondents used private vehicles to travel during peak hours on weekdays for work or for school and to travel during the entire afternoon and evening on weekends for shopping necessities and for leisure. The most traveled districts were Baixa de Taipa, Costa & Ouvidor Arriaga, and Baixa de Macau. It was found that the mean overall satisfaction score inclined to the dissatisfaction side (below 3). Only clarity of traffic lights and number of road signs (measuring infrastructure) and temperature and price of fares (measuring public transportation) had mean satisfaction scores that were significantly higher than 3, indicating higher satisfactions. Meaningful hypotheses regarding the differences of different road user groups were set out, then Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were run. The significant findings were such that the elderly aged 65 or above were less satisfied and the unemployed were more satisfied with road usage. The better educated were more satisfied with the environment, and the unemployed were more satisfied with the public transportation. Drivers were less satisfied with transportation costs, and peakhour road users were less satisfied with the infrastructure. The Spearman correlation analyses found that infrastructure had moderately positive correlation with facilities and with travel safety. Based on the findings and their policy implications, policy suggestions could be made. The policies suggested in this study should have favorable short-term and long-term effects on more than one road usage aspects."
Keywords: Public transport; Survey questionnaire; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Government Studies (MGS); Traffic congestion; Transportation; Transportation services; University of Saint Joseph

Expansion of private tutoring centers in Macau: voice from parents of primary school students - Fong, Chan Seng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) PRACTICES IN THE MACAU SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES): A STUDY OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY - Fong Wai Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This research used a qualitative approach to explore the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices implemented by SME restaurants in Macau. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight (8) SME restaurant owners and managers to understand their ESG initiatives and their challenges. Key findings include: Environmental Initiatives: Many restaurants have adopted practices such as limiting plastic use, better food management, and organic waste recycling, often driven by government regulations rather than broader ESG considerations. Community Engagement and Social Responsibility: Social practices are less adopted, with some restaurants collaborating with charities, hiring individuals with disabilities, and donating food. However, most do not make monetary donations or engage in sponsorship activities due to financial concerns rather than a lack of consumer trust. Governance Initiatives: Restaurants have adopted electronic workflows, risk management practices, and stakeholder management approaches, including a flexible approach to employee management focused on operational efficiency rather than investor attraction. The findings indicate that for SME restaurants, the key drivers for ESG implementation are more focused on factors such as cost-savings and operational efficiency rather than broader considerations around investor interest or consumer trust. This study provides insights into how SME restaurants integrate ESG elements into their operations
Keywords: Environmental; Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Social, and Governance (ESG); Sustainable Practices; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

Art-Based Intervention For Children with ADHD: Catina Fong Chi Cheng - Fong Chi Cheng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

澳門年輕群體對性別多元態度與態度構成因素之研究 =: The Attitude of the Relative Influential Factors and Gender Diversity on Youth in Macau - Fion, Si Wai (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Social Work (MSW); University of Saint Joseph

Optimization of Energy Storage Systems with Renewable Energy Generation and Consumption Data - Filho, Edmilson Moreira Lima; Silveira, Aêdo Braga; Ferreira, Alexandre Marques; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre; Batista, Josias Guimarães; Guimarães, Glendo De Freitas; Alexandria, Auzuir Ripardo De; Rodrigues, Joel José Puga Coelho (2024 IEEE 7th Student Conference on Electric Machines and Systems (SCEMS), 2024)
This work provides a comprehensive systematic review of optimization techniques using artificial intelligence (AI) for energy storage systems within renewable energy setups. The primary goals are to evaluate the latest technologies employed in forecasting models for renewable energy generation, load forecasting, and energy storage systems, alongside their construction parameters and optimization methods. The review highlights the progress achieved, identifies current challenges, and explores future research directions. Despite the extensive application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) in renewable energy generation, consumption patterns, and storage optimization, few studies integrate these three aspects simultaneously, underscoring the significance of this work. The review encompasses studies from Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct up to December 2023, including works scheduled for publication in 2024. Each study related to renewable energy storage was individually analyzed to assess its objectives, methodology, and results. The findings reveal useful insights for developing AI models aimed at optimizing storage systems. However, critical areas need further exploration, such as real-time forecasting, long-term storage predictions, hybrid neural networks for demand-based generation forecasting, and the evaluation of various storage scales and battery technologies. The review also notes a significant gap in research on large-scale storage systems in Brazil and Latin America. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for continued research and the development of new algorithms to address existing limitations in the field.

Emotion Detection from EEG Signals Using Machine Deep Learning Models - Fernandes, João Vitor Marques Rabelo; Alexandria, Auzuir Ripardo de; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre; Assis, Débora Ferreira de; Motta, Pedro Crosara; Silva, Bruno Riccelli dos Santos (Bioengineering, 2024)
Detecting emotions is a growing field aiming to comprehend and interpret human emotions from various data sources, including text, voice, and physiological signals. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a unique and promising approach among these sources. EEG is a non-invasive monitoring technique that records the brain’s electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp’s surface. It is used in clinical and research contexts to explore how the human brain responds to emotions and cognitive stimuli. Recently, its use has gained interest in real-time emotion detection, offering a direct approach independent of facial expressions or voice. This is particularly useful in resource-limited scenarios, such as brain–computer interfaces supporting mental health. The objective of this work is to evaluate the classification of emotions (positive, negative, and neutral) in EEG signals using machine learning and deep learning, focusing on Graph Convolutional Neural Networks (GCNN), based on the analysis of critical attributes of the EEG signal (Differential Entropy (DE), Power Spectral Density (PSD), Differential Asymmetry (DASM), Rational Asymmetry (RASM), Asymmetry (ASM), Differential Causality (DCAU)). The electroencephalography dataset used in the research was the public SEED dataset (SJTU Emotion EEG Dataset), obtained through auditory and visual stimuli in segments from Chinese emotional movies. The experiment employed to evaluate the model results was “subject-dependent”. In this method, the Deep Neural Network (DNN) achieved an accuracy of 86.08%, surpassing SVM, albeit with significant processing time due to the optimization characteristics inherent to the algorithm. The GCNN algorithm achieved an average accuracy of 89.97% in the subject-dependent experiment. This work contributes to emotion detection in EEG, emphasizing the effectiveness of different models and underscoring the importance of selecting appropriate features and the ethical use of these technologies in practical applications. The GCNN emerges as the most promising methodology for future research.

INNOVATING IN OPEN DISTANCE TEACHING WITH FACE-TO-FACE RETREATS WITHIN A DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN DIGITAL MEDIA ART - Fernandes-Marcos, A; Tavares, M (IATED Academy, 2022)

SINGERS' ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGIES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE: HOW TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE FOR EFFECTIVE MUSIC PROMOTION AND FAN ENGAGEMENT - Feng, Qiuyuan (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Previous research has explored the development of online music and singers in Guangdong Province; however, there is a gap in understanding how singers establish and maintain a strong online presence through effective online marketing strategies. To fill this gap, this study employs a mixed-methods approach to deeply investigate how Guangdong singers leverage digital platforms for effective music promotion and fan engagement. Online questionnaires were distributed via Xiaohongshu and WeChat, collecting 153 valid responses from fans, which were analyzed to understand interaction methods and their impact on singers. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three Guangdong singers and one music company employee, and the interview data were thoroughly analyzed.The findings indicate that Guangdong singers utilize specific social media platforms (such as TikTok) to create and share personalized content and establish direct interactions with fans. These strategies are crucial for successful music promotion and fan engagement. In the highly competitive online music market, adopting such targeted digital marketing strategies allows singers to significantly enhance their visibility and fan engagement. This approach not only holds significant importance for the personal development of singers in Guangdong but also has far-reaching implications for the prosperity of the music industry and the creative economy as a whole
Keywords: Guangdong singer; Internet influence; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph; audience engagement; music promotion; online marketing; singer fans

Framework proposition for identification, impact analysis and intervention on causes of delay in construction projects in the Greater Bay based on descriptive analytics and artificial intelligence - Felix, Fung Ka Chun (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)

A Critical Look at Blockchain-Interactive Generative Art - Farinha, Daniel Filipe (International Journal of Creative Interfaces and Computer Graphics, 2022)
Artists are increasingly using blockchain as a tool for trading digital artwork as non-fungible tokens (NFTs); however, some are also beginning to experiment with the blockchain as a medium for generative art, using it as a seed for a generative process or to continuously modify an evolving piece. This paper surveys, reviews, and classifies the state-of-the-art in blockchain-interactive NFTs and presents a liberal-arts critique of the opportunities and threats posed by this technology, whilst addressing existing criticism on the broader topic of art-related NFTs. The paper examines some of the most experimental pieces minted on the Hic et Nunc (HEN) and Teia NFT marketplaces, for which a purpose-built research tool was developed. The survey reveals some reliance on centralised infrastructure, namely blockchain indexers, placing undesired trust on third parties which undermines the potential longevity of the artwork. The paper concludes with recommendations for artists and NFT platform designers for developing more resilient and economically sustainable architectures.
Keywords: Art Preservation; Blockchain; Crypto Art; Dynamic NFT; Generative Art; Non-Fungible Token; Provenance

Attitude of middle school students toward persons with mental illness in Macau - Fan, In Kuan (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Social Work (MSW); University of Saint Joseph; 污名化; 現象學; 精神疾患; 青少年

Parents’ Experiences in Macau: From Assessment to Inclusive Placement for Children with SEN - Estadieu, Karine Anne Marie Thepot (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Beyond Physical Boundaries—Organising a Virtual Exhibiton with NFTs for an International Conference - Estadieu, Gerald; Ng, S.O.K.M.; Martins de Abreu, F.; Farinha, D.F. (ARTECH 2023 - 11th International Conference on Digital and Interactive Arts, 2023)

Static recording apparatus for soundscape analysis in Macau - Estadieu, Gerald; Cheung, Yin Yan; Pestana, Pedro Duarte; Barbosa, Alvaro (INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings, 2023)
The concept of Soundscape was initially proposed to study the relationship between humans and their sonic environment. It has gathered momentum from academia to environmentalists and policymakers throughout the years. The study and characterisation of Soundscapes can be complex as it tries to take a holistic and qualitative approach rather than simply quantifying sound pressure levels. This paper introduces a comprehensive Soundscape study process in an ongoing research project in Macao (China), a small territory (32.9 km2) and one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The paper seeks to show a first version of a technical solution to systematically capture the local soundscape, analyse it, classify it, and ultimately deliver a dataset library and the intangible qualities of the environmental sound. This implementation, including technical documentation, code, and sound library with strong labelling, is presented under an open-source license to encourage future collaborative research. Finally, the paper offers suggestions on further developing the apparatus to reach a systematic and near real-time soundscape analysis with the development of a machine learning system.

Book of Proceedings of ARTeFACTo2022MACAO, Third International Conference on Digital Creation in Arts, Media and Technology - Emerging Extended Realities. 24-25 Nov. 2022, Macao. IEEE ISBN 979-8-3503-1004-7 - Estadieu, Gerald (2022 Third International Conference on Digital Creation in Arts, Media and Technology (ARTeFACTo), 2022)

Book of Proceedings of ARTeFACTo 2022 Macao, Third International Conference on Digital Creation in Arts, Media and Technology - Emerging Extended Realities - Estadieu, G; Martins de Abreu, F.; Caires, Carlos; Fernandes Marco, A. (IEEE, 2023)

AI-based Multimodal Qualitative Mapping of Macao Soundscape - Estadieu, G; Cheung, Y.Y. (United Nations World Data Forum, 2023)

SOUNDSCAPE.AI - A Sonic Perspectives on Macau - Estadieu, G (Iberian Soundscapes Conference, 2023)

O trabalho de recuperação de crianças resgatadas do tráfico humano no Nepal=Recovery work for rescued children from human trafficking in Nepal - Espindola, Marcelo Gonçalves (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

A Financial Valuation of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc - Encarnação, Bruno Miguel Arantes da (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

Aristotle, Lubich And Ratzinger On A New Economic Paradigm - Eh, Edmond (The Journal of the Macau Ricci Institute, 2021)

Bodhidharma i początki szkoły buddyzmu chan (Bodhidharma and the Origin of Chan School of Buddhism) - Duraj, Jaroslaw (Chiny Dzisiaj, 2022)

Contemplation and Leadership: In the Footsteps of Fr. Yves Raguin, S.J. - Duraj, Jarosław (Macau Ricci Institute Public Forum, 2021)

Fr. Yves Raguin, S.J. and Interreligious Dialogue - Duraj, Jaroslaw (Macau Ricci Institute Public Forum, 2023)

Narodziny buddyzmu humanistycznego na Tajwanie: Mistrz Shengyan i szkoła Góry Bębna Dharmy (Emergence of Humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan: Master Shengyan and the School of Dharma Drum Mountain) - Duraj, Jaroslaw (Chiny Dzisiaj, 2022)

Re-thinking Chinese Ecumene in the Global Age - Duraj, Jaroslaw (Eric Voegelin’s Asian Political Thought, 2020)
The rise of Asia in global affairs has forced western thinkers to rethink their assumptions, theories, and conclusions about the region. Eric Voegelin’s Asian Political Thought brings together a mixture of established and rising scholars from both Asia and the West to reflect upon the political philosopher’s thought about China, Japan, Korea, Central Asia, and India. From Voegelin’s writings, readers will not only understand how Voegelin’s approach can illuminate the fundamental principles and issues about Asia but also what are the challenges and possibilities that Asia offers in the twentieth-first century. For those who want to move past the superficial commentary and clichés about Asia, Eric Voegelin’s Asian Political Thought is the book for you.

The Metaxological Philosophy of Dialogue with Buddhism - Duraj, Jaroslaw (The Wheel & The Cross: An Anthology by Jesuits & Friends on Buddhism and Dialogue, 2021)

The Role of Metaxy in the Political Philosophy of Eric Voegelin - Duraj, Jarosław (Peter Lang US, 2021)
This book is a study of Eric Voegelin (1901-1985) and of the role played by metaxy in his vision of political philosophy. Metaxy, already defined by Plato as the "in-between" matrix of the human condition, is for Voegelin a powerful notion that symbolizes the intermediate state in which man experiences diverse and opposing tensions such as the ones between immanence and transcendence or mortality and immortality. The metaxy constitutes the realm of the divine-human mutual participation (methexis), and its locus resides in human consciousness (nous), there where the divine reality manifests itself as the origin of being. Being the field of intermediation between opposing forces, man has to keep the balance of consciousness in order to differentiate the noetic and pneumatic dimensions and so attune his life to the divine ground of being. This book claims that for Voegelin metaxy shapes the possibility of the philosophical, historical, political and religious orientation in life. Indeed, Voegelin’s approach deserves recognition as an option adequate for addressing the intellectual challenges engendered by modern and postmodern philosophies.

The Role of Metaxy in the Political Philosophy of Eric Voegelin - Duraj, Jarosław (Peter Lang, 2021)
This book is a study of Eric Voegelin (1901-1985) and of the role played by metaxy in his vision of political philosophy. Metaxy, already defined by ...

Transformacja buddyzmu w kontekście chińskim (Transformation of Buddhism in the Chinese Context) - Duraj, Jaroslaw (Chiny Dzisiaj, 2022)

Zen-Ignatian Training Program in Japan: A Personal Experience - Duraj, Jaroslaw (The Wheel & The Cross: An Anthology by Jesuits & Friends on Buddhism and Dialogue, 2021)

Is masculinity ruining the male skincare market? Comprehensive insights on consumer behavior in cosmetics - Duarte, Paulo; Silva, Susana; Carvalho, Maria Joana (Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2025)
This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing men’s purchase intentions for skincare products, particularly focusing on the evolving attitudes toward masculinity, grooming and self-care. The study seeks to identify dimensions such as self-image, health concerns, masculinity and perceptions regarding skincare, along with the impact of social media use on men’s skincare purchase intentions.,The research uses an online questionnaire to gather data from 178 valid responses. The collected data is analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.,The results reveal that men’s skin health concerns significantly impact their purchase intention for skincare products. Self-image concerns and perceptions regarding skincare also emerge as influential determinants in shaping men’s purchasing decisions. Conversely, health concerns and social media platform use do not directly influence skincare purchase intention. Notably, self-image completely mediates the relationship between men’s social media usage and their intention to purchase skincare products.,The data is based on responses from an online questionnaire, which may introduce biases. In addition, the research focuses on specific personal variables and social media use, potentially overlooking other influential factors.,By recognizing the importance of men’s skin health concerns, self-image and perceptions regarding skincare, cosmetic companies can tailor marketing strategies to effectively target key dimensions to enhance sales of skincare products among men.,In a broader societal context, this research contributes to the ongoing evolution of attitudes. By identifying influential factors in men’s skincare purchase intention, the study sheds light on changing societal norms and perceptions. Acknowledging these shifts can lead to a more inclusive understanding of masculinity and contribute to breaking traditional stereotypes related to men’s grooming practices.,This research contributes to the understanding of men’s skincare purchase intention by exploring dimensions such as self-image, health concerns, masculinity and perceptions regarding skincare, in conjunction with the impact of social media use. The findings provide valuable insights, expanding on previous studies on men’s attitudes toward skincare products. The identification of self-image as a complete mediator is a novel contribution.

Beyond the myth: understanding women's impulsive retail footwear shopping - Duarte, Paulo; Silva, Susana C.; Magro, Margarida; Dias, Joana Carmo (International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2024)
This research focuses on common misconceptions about the factors driving women to purchase footwear impulsively. Its primary objective is to explore how emotional and social triggers specifically influence women's purchasing decisions, contrasting with the traditionally rational consumer models.,An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of women, yielding 199 useable responses.,The findings reveal the key determinants of women's impulsive retail footwear purchases, which include self-regulation, hedonic motivations and the influence of the retail store environment. This research challenges the prevailing assumption that women's passion for shopping is driven solely by inherent characteristics and suggests that external factors substantially shape their impulsive buying behaviour. In summary, the stereotypical portrayal of women as compulsive retail footwear shoppers may result more from external stimuli and environmental factors rather than an intrinsic trait.,This study improves the existing knowledge of women’s impulsive buying behaviour by unveiling the determinants of women's impulsive footwear purchases and assessing whether prevailing stereotypes hold true.

Beyond the myth: understanding women's impulsive retail footwear shopping - Duarte, Paulo; Silva, Susana C.; Magro, Margarida; Dias, Joana Carmo (International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2025)
Purpose This research focuses on common misconceptions about the factors driving women to purchase footwear impulsively. Its primary objective is to explore how emotional and social triggers specifically influence women's purchasing decisions, contrasting with the traditionally rational consumer models. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of women, yielding 199 useable responses. Findings The findings reveal the key determinants of women's impulsive retail footwear purchases, which include self-regulation, hedonic motivations and the influence of the retail store environment. This research challenges the prevailing assumption that women's passion for shopping is driven solely by inherent characteristics and suggests that external factors substantially shape their impulsive buying behaviour. In summary, the stereotypical portrayal of women as compulsive retail footwear shoppers may result more from external stimuli and environmental factors rather than an intrinsic trait. Originality/value This study improves the existing knowledge of women’s impulsive buying behaviour by unveiling the determinants of women's impulsive footwear purchases and assessing whether prevailing stereotypes hold true.

Exploring the Current Landscape and Future Directions of Information Technology in Dance Education - Du, Wencai; Chen, Jiao; Xu, Simon (2023 26th ACIS International Winter Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing (SNPD-Winter), 2023)
Dance education has undergone significant changes with the integration of information technology. Traditional dance pedagogy is now complemented by innovative digital software tools and applications. This work surveys the diverse applications of information technology in dance education at college or university level and the impact it has on teaching and learning processes. We discuss the integration of technology in various aspects of dance education, including skill development, choreography, performance analysis, VR/AR, online virtual learning, and collaborative learning. Additionally, the benefits and challenges associated with the use of information technology are also examined and the future research directions for research and practice in this field are proposed.
Keywords: College and University Education; Dance Education; Education; Federated learning; Humanities; Information Technology; Interactive; Surveys; Technical requirements; Training; Visualization; applications

X-Ray Machine Learning Classification with VGG-16 for Feature Extraction - dos Santos Silva, Bruno Riccelli; Cortez, Paulo Cesar; da Silva Neto, Manuel Gonçalves; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre (Computerized Systems for Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19, 2023)
The Covid-19 pandemic evidenced the need Computer Aided Diagnostic Systems to analyze medical images, such as CT and MRI scans and X-rays, to assist specialists in disease diagnosis. CAD systems have been shown to be effective at detecting COVID-19 in chest X-ray and CT images, with some studies reporting high levels of accuracy and sensitivity. Moreover, it can also detect some diseases in patients who may not have symptoms, preventing the spread of the virus. There are some types of CAD systems, such as Machine and Deep Learning-based and Transfer learning-based. This chapter proposes a pipeline for feature extraction and classification of Covid-19 in X-ray images using transfer learning for feature extraction with VGG-16 CNN and machine learning classifiers. Five classifiers were evaluated: Accuracy, Specificity, Sensitivity, Geometric mean, and Area under the curve. The SVM Classifier presented the best performance metrics for Covid-19 classification, achieving 90% accuracy, 97.5% of Specificity, 82.5% of Sensitivity, 89.6% of Geometric mean, and 90% for the AUC metric. On the other hand, the Nearest Centroid (NC) classifier presented poor sensitivity and geometric mean results, achieving 33.9% and 54.07%, respectively.

Lung Segmentation of Chest X-Rays Using Unet Convolutional Networks - dos Santos Silva, Bruno Riccelli; Cesar Cortez, Paulo; Gomes Aguiar, Rafael; Rodrigues Ribeiro, Tulio; Pereira Teixeira, Alexandre; Bernardo Gois, Francisco Nauber; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre (Computerized Systems for Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19, 2023)
The gold standard to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection consider testing methods based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Still, the time necessary to confirm patient infection can be lengthy, and the process is expensive. On the other hand, X-Ray and CT scans play a vital role in the auxiliary diagnosis process. Hence, a trusted automated technique for identifying and quantifying the infected lung regions would be advantageous. Chest X-rays are two-dimensional images of the patient’s chest and provide lung morphological information and other characteristics, like ground-glass opacities (GGO), horizontal linear opacities, or consolidations, which are characteristics of pneumonia caused by COVID-19. But before the computerized diagnostic support system can classify a medical image, a segmentation task should usually be performed to identify relevant areas to be analyzed and reduce the risk of noise and misinterpretation caused by other structures eventually present in the images. This chapter presents an AI-based system for lung segmentation in X-ray images using a U-net CNN model. The system’s performance was evaluated using metrics such as cross-entropy, dice coefficient, and Mean IoU on unseen data. Our study divided the data into training and evaluation sets using an 80/20 train-test split method. The training set was used to train the model, and the evaluation test set was used to evaluate the performance of the trained model. The results of the evaluation showed that the model achieved a Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 95%, Cross entropy of 97%, and Mean IoU of 86%.

Covid-19 Detection Based on Chest X-Ray Images Using Multiple Transfer Learning CNN Models - dos Santos Silva, Bruno Riccelli; Cesar Cortez, Paulo; Crosara Motta, Pedro; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre (Computerized Systems for Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19, 2023)
The gold standard to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection considers testing methods based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Still, the time necessary to confirm patient infection can be lengthy, and the process is expensive. In parallel, X-Ray and CT scans play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment processes. Hence, a trusted automated technique for identifying and quantifying the infected lung regions would be advantageous. Chest X-rays are two-dimensional images of the patient’s chest and provide lung morphological information and other characteristics, like ground-glass opacities (GGO), horizontal linear opacities, or consolidations, which are typical characteristics of pneumonia caused by COVID-19. This chapter presents an AI-based system using multiple Transfer Learning models for COVID-19 classification using Chest X-Rays. In our experimental design, all the classifiers demonstrated satisfactory accuracy, precision, recall, and specificity performance. On the one hand, the Mobilenet architecture outperformed the other CNNs, achieving excellent results for the evaluated metrics. On the other hand, Squeezenet presented a regular result in terms of recall. In medical diagnosis, false negatives can be particularly harmful because a false negative can lead to patients being incorrectly diagnosed as healthy. These results suggest that our Deep Learning classifiers can accurately classify X-ray exams as normal or indicative of COVID-19 with high confidence.

Biculturalism and Parenting Styles among Filipino Mothers and Young Adult Offspring in Macao - Doctor, Ana Catarina Alvarez (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

Evaluation of mathematical models for QRS feature extraction and QRS morphology classification in ECG signals - do Vale Madeiro, João Paulo; Lobo Marques, João Alexandre; Han, Tao; Coury Pedrosa, Roberto (Measurement, 2020)
It is plausible to assume that the component waves in ECG signals constitute a unique human characteristic because morphology and amplitudes of recorded beats are governed by multiple individual factors. According to the best of our knowledge, the issue of automatically classifying different ’identities’ of QRS morphology has not been explored within the literature. This work proposes five alternative mathematical models for representing different QRS morphologies providing the extraction of a set of features related to QRS shape. The technique incorporates mechanisms of combining the mathematical functions Gaussian, Mexican-Hat and Rayleigh probability density function and also a mechanism for clipping the waveform of those functions. The searching for the optimal parameters which minimize the normalized RMS error between each mathematical model and a given QRS search window enables to find an optimal model. Such modeling behaves as a robust alternative for delineating heartbeats, classifying beat morphologies, detecting subtle and anomalous changes, compression of QRS complex windows among others. The validation process evaluates the ability of each model to represent different QRS morphology classes within 159 full ECG signal records from QT database and 584 QRS search windows from MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. From the experimental results, we rank the winning rates for which each mathematical model best models and also discriminates the most predominant QRS morphologies Rs, rS, RS, qR, qRs, R, rR’s and QS. Furthermore, the average time errors computed for QRS onset and offset locations when using the corresponding winner mathematical models for delineation purposes were, respectively, 12.87±8.5 ms and 1.47±10.06 ms.
Keywords: ECG feature extraction; Mathematical modeling; Morphology classification; QRS complex delineation

Trace-element compositions of sulfides from inactive Tianzuo hydrothermal field, Southwest Indian Ridge: Implications for ultramafic rocks hosting mineralization - Ding, Teng; Wang, Jia; Tao, Chunhui; Dias, Ágata Alveirinho; Liang, Jin; Wang, Yuan; Chen, Jie; Wu, Bin; Huang, Hui (Ore Geology Reviews, 2022)
The recently explored inactive Tianzuo hydrothermal field, in the amagmatic segment of the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), is closely associated with detachment faults. In this site, sulfide minerals are hosted by serpentine-bearing ultramafic rocks and include high-temperature (isocubanite, sphalerite, and minor pyrrhotite) and low-temperature (pyrite I, marcasite, pyrite II, and covellite) phases. In this study, trace-element concentrations of isocubanite and pyrite II were used to elucidate mineralization processes in ultramafic rocks hosting sulfides. Results show that isocubanite is enriched in metals such as Cu, Co, Sn, Te, Zn, Se, Pb, Bi, Cd, Ag, In, and Mn, and pyrite II is enriched in Mo and Tl. The marked enrichment in Te, Cu, Co, and In in isocubanite (compared with Se, Zn, Ni, and Sn, respectively) is most likely due to the contribution of magmatic fluids from gabbroic intrusions beneath the hydrothermal field. The intrusion of gabbroic magmas would have enhanced serpentinization reactions and provided a relatively oxidizing environment through the dissolution of anhydrite precipitated previously in the reaction zone, within high temperature and low pH conditions. This might have facilitated the extraction of metals by initial hydrothermal fluids, leading to the general enrichment of most metals in isocubanite. Metals in pyrite II have compositions similar to those of isocubanite, except for strong depletion in magmatically derived Te, Cu, Co, and In. This means that serpentinization processes had a dominating role in pyrite II precipitation as well. The enrichment of pyrite II in Mo and Tl is also indicative of seawater contribution in its composition. The study concludes that serpentinization reactions contribute effectively both to high- and low-temperature sulfide mineralization at Tianzuo hydrothermal field, with gabbroic intrusions further promoting high-temperature sulfide mineralization, providing additional metals, fluids and heat. In contrast, low-temperature sulfide mineralization occurred during the cooling of gabbroic intrusions, with decreasing rates of serpentinization reactions and a significant influence of seawater.
Keywords: SWIR; Serpentinization; Sulfide; Tianzuo; Trace-element; Ultramafic rocks

Serpentinization and its implications for ultramafic-hosted sulfide mineralization: A case study at the Tianzuo hydrothermal field, 63.5°E, Southwest Indian Ridge - Ding, Teng; Dias, Ágata Alveirinho; Wang, Jia; Tan, Tingting; Liang, Jin; Wu, Bin; Tao, Chunhui (Marine Geology, 2023)
Reaction of ultramafic rocks with seawater and subsequent serpentinization has been considered one of the most important factors controlling the formation of ultramafic-hosted seafloor massive sulfide (UM-SMS) deposits. However, the mineralization processes responsible for these deposits remain poorly understood, in particular because they are less abundant as compared with their basaltic counterparts. In this work, serpentinites with different alteration grades collected at the Tianzuo hydrothermal field (THF), Southwest Indian Ridge, were studied. Mineralogical and chemical analyses were performed in the secondary opaque minerals resulting from serpentinization to understand the role of this process during the formation of UM-SMS deposits. Our results show that these opaque minerals mainly consist of magnetite, hematite, pentlandite, and minor pyrite, suggestive of high but varying oxygen and sulfur fugacities. The hematite is characterized by an enrichment in Mg, Si, Ni, and Co as compared with magnetite. Pentlandite associated with hematite has elevated and consistent Ni contents as compared with that associated with magnetite. These results indicate that breakdown and decomposition of primary silicate and sulfide minerals during serpentinization has controlled the sources of ore-forming materials. Concentrations of Te are variable and show a positive correlation with Ni in pentlandite associated with magnetite or hematite, suggesting that gabbroic intrusions provided additional material to the hydrothermal system. Oxidation and sulfidation conditions are ideal for the formation of trisulfur ion S3− in THF, which can significantly improve the capability of hydrothermal fluids for leaching ore-forming metals from the wall rocks, promoting the formation of THF. In addition of reduced systems, hydrothermal fluids with high oxygen and sulfur fugacities triggered by extensive seawater infiltration can most likely also develop in ultramafic-hosted systems. These results suggest that the areas with well-developed fractures are promising candidates for further exploration of UM-SMS deposits along mid-oceanic ridges.
Keywords: Opaque minerals; Oxidation and sulfidation; Sulfide mineralization; Tianzuo hydrothermal field; Ultramafic rocks

TO EXPLORE SMOKING BEHAVIORS OF ADULTS IN MACAO: DISCOVERIES BY QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STUDIES - Dias, Luis Borges (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
The purpose of the study was to explore the smoking behaviour of the smokers living in Macao. I was part of the 1st group of doctors to have chosen to initiate smoking cessation in Macau. In addition to my diverse academic background of study in laws- a dissertation about the effect of tobacco control program in Macao (submitted in 2011), a master in Public Administration, and five years of working experiences as an Inspector Assistant of tobacco, I had the conviction that I have to write to share my experience and knowledge about smoking cessation to contribute to the field of counselling and psychotherapy as there is little research data concerning smoking prevalence and demographics in Macao. This study consists of two parts – PART I presents the quantitative data collected by a questionnaire-survey over 1378 smokers and PART II qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 10 adult smokers to explore their experiences of smoking and smoking cessation in Macao. Quantitative data analysis was conducted with the SPSS, while qualitative analysis with coding and theme identification by following the grounded theory procedures. The study found that about 85% smoker surveyed consumed more than half a pack of cigarette per day and about 31% reported various symptoms like irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite and difficulties in concentration. The qualitative study has identified major positive factors related to initiation and maintenance of smoking cessation, namely health concerns, financial concerns and family support. Major negative factors related to relapse of smoking are peer influences, smoking of family members, and impacts of stressful life events. Based on findings of the study, it is argued that preventive anti-smoking education should be implemented among young people. Promotion of health education and preventive anti-smoking strategist and policy in Macao are discussed. The data collected indicate the fact that individuals who have pathologies of the cardiovascular system as a motivating factor for contemplating or taking actions for smoking cessation. Moreover, financial problems, gender (male predominantly), married with family support, higher educational level, without psychological diseases, better economic status, lower nicotine dependent are predictors to success in quit smoking. It also raises the possible need to deepen some evaluation parameters hither to be only superficially addressed. Therefore, and by limitations inherent to the study, this hypothesis needs further investigation. I argue that non-pharmacological treatment methods alone have proven to be effective in the smoking cessation process. However, it is argued that this combined with pharmacological therapy, in particular in specialized consultations, would be more effective and capable in increasing success rates in smoking cessation
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph; grounded theory; relapse; smoking behaviour; smoking cessation

Empowering Luxury: How Cause-Related Marketing Influences Gen Z and Millennials' Post-Purchase Guilt in China's High-End Retail Landscape - Dias, Joana Carmo; Silva, Susana; Martins, Carla; Casais, Beatriz (European Journal of Applied Business and Management, 2024)
Purpose: This study explores the emotional impact of post-purchase guilt on younger consumers in the Chinese luxury retail market, with a specific focus on the role of Cause-related Marketing (CrM) in mitigating negative emotions across luxury and non-luxury product categories.Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative experimental design was utilized, involving 326 respondents exposed to different advertising scenarios. The study tested the impact of CrM on post-purchase guilt in both luxury (high-priced) and non-luxury (moderately priced) product conditions, using a 2 × 2 factorial design. The data were analyzed using ANCOVA to assess the effects of CrM campaigns across conditions.Findings: The results demonstrate that CrM effectively reduces post-purchase guilt across both luxury and non-luxury product categories, providing a moral justification for purchases by linking them to a positive social cause. However, contrary to expectations, the impact of CrM was not significantly stronger in the luxury context compared to non-luxury. This suggests that CrM's influence on post-purchase guilt operates uniformly, regardless of product type.Originality: This research enhances understanding Millennial and Gen Z consumer behavior in the Chinese luxury market. The findings offer actionable insights for luxury brands, highlighting the effectiveness of CrM in addressing guilt-related concerns, thereby informing marketing strategies aimed at younger generations.Keywords: post-purchase guilt, Millennials, Gen Z, Chinese luxury retail industry, cause-related marketing.Acknowledgments: The first author would like to thank CEGE – Research Centre in Management and Economics, funded by The Multiannual Funding Programme of R&D Centres of FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia under the project UIDB/00731/2020. The fourth author would like to thank COMEGI funded by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia under the project UIDB/04005/2020.DOI: https://doi.org/10.58869/EJABM10(3)/06

Ore-Forming Process of the Menez Gwen Hydrothermal Field: In situ S Isotopes and Trace Metals Constraints - Dias, Ágata; Qiu, Wenhong; Costa, Isabel Maria Amaral; Barriga, Fernando J A S (Goldschmidt2020, 2020)

Sub-Seafloor Sulfide Mineralization in the Saldanha Hydrothermal Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) - Dias, Ágata; Qiu, Wenhong; Barriga, Fernando J A S; Tao, Chunhui (Goldschmidt2020, 2020)

Sulfur isotopic compositions of sulfides along the Southwest Indian Ridge: implications for mineralization in ultramafic rocks - Dias, Ágata; Ding, Teng; Tao, Chunhui; Liang, Jin; Chen, Jie; Wu, Bin; Ma, Dongsheng; Zhang, Rongqing; Wang, Jia; Liao, Shili; Wang, Yuan; Yang, Weifang; et al. (Mineralium Deposita, 2020)

Exploratory Case Study of Teacher's Perspectives in Assisting Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Schools in Macau - Diakité, Patrícia Dina Correia Silves Ferreira (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Categorization of Foreign Aid Donors: A Critical Review of the Criteria in Light of China's Reemergence as a Donor - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty; Marques, João Alexandre Lobo (Journal of Global South Studies, 2023)
Over the past several decades, the dichotomy between traditional and emerging donors has been based upon the notion that emerging donors (such as China) support authoritarian regimes and use foreign aid to pursue their economic interests at the expense of the poor in the recipient countries. Accordingly, Western donors, media, and scholars portray Chinese aid as non-poverty-focused. This study aims to review and analyze whether the dichotomy between traditional and emerging donors is still relevant in the current aid system and to propose a new and rigorous criterion for recategorizing donors. In terms of methodology, this study relies on secondary data, including scholarly works on traditional and emerging donors and foreign aid policy documents. Conclusions based on the research indicate that the divide between traditional donors and (re)emerging donors is becoming more ambiguous. The literature review indicates that the two donors’ aids had a mixed impact and that their approaches were similar. This paper highlights the importance of developing different recategorization criteria depending on the impact of aid.
Keywords: China and development assistance committee donors; aid policies; categorization of donors; sustainable development goal; traditional and emerging donors

Arbitration as a dispute resolution method in Macau [Practice Notes] - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty; Cheok, Si Leung (LexisNexis, 2023)
The following Arbitration practice note provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Arbitration as a dispute resolution method in Macau

Challenging arbitral tribunal jurisdiction in Macau [Practice Notes] - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty (LexisNexis, 2023)
This Practice Note considers challenges to the jurisdiction of arbitral tribunals under the Macau Arbitration Law, the scope of challenge before national courts and tribunals.

China’s Aid policy approach to Poverty Alleviation in the recipient country: A Case study of the Republic of Guinea - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty (Journal of Social Studies (JSS), 2023)
This paper examines the extent to which China’s aid policies integrate poverty alleviation as a goal of their aid in general, particularly in Guinea. More specifically, the paper analyzed how aid donors focus on poverty alleviation and which policies and mechanisms are in place to address poverty in the countries receiving aid. Regarding the methodology, the author collected data from secondary sources, including government declarations of donors, policy documents at both the donor and recipient levels, as well as from scholarly publications. The following findings resulted from study:  China’s aid policies have progressively incorporated poverty alleviationobjectives and identified sectors for intervention against poverty. However, the limitations of China approach to poverty is that China adopts a top-down approach to poverty reduction and lacks of an impact evaluation mechanism based on poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Aid policy; China; Guinea; Poverty alleviation; Strategy

Enforcement of arbitral awards in Macau - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty (LexisNexis, 2024)
Under Macau Arbitration Law (MAL, art 64.1), an award shall be made in writing and shall be signed by the arbitrator or arbitrators. Furthermore, the law provides that in case of arbitral proceedings with more than one arbitrator, the signatures of the majority of all members of the arbitral tribunal shall suffice, provided that the reason for any omitted signature is stated (MAL, art 64.2).

Interim remedies in Macau arbitration proceedings [Practice Note] - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty (LexisNexis, 2023)
This Practice Note provides an overview of the powers of tribunals and courts to issue interim remedies including an anti-suit injunction pursuant to the Arbitration Law and the Civil Procedure Code of Macau and provisions dealing with emergency arbitrator appointments pursuant to the Macau Arbitration Law.

Perspectives of Local Communities on the Impact of Chinese Aid: A Case Study of China's Aid Projects in the Education Sector in Guinea - Diakite, Ansoumane Douty (Journal of Globalization Studies, 2023)
China's re-emergence as an aid donor has attracted the attention and criticism from Western donors, academia, and the media. In contrast to traditional donors, China's aid has been portrayed as anti-poverty aid, mainly due to its combination with other instruments, such as investment, and the absence of any political or economic conditions. This paper examines the impact of Chinese aid projects in Guinea's education sector from the perspective of the beneficiaries. The author collected data from both primary (interviews) and secondary (document analysis) sources. The present study concludes that China's aid projects in the education sector have received both positive and negative feedback, mainly because the recipients' needs have not been appropriately targeted. This study contributes to the literature on China's role in Africa. More specifically, it discusses the conditions for aid effectiveness in the field of education. Moreover, in the context of the globalization of aid practices, the study proposes best practices for China to adopt in order to improve the practices of its aid delivery. The novelty of this study lies in the methodology (qualitative method) used to understand China's aid from the perspective of the beneficiaries of its aid.

An Exploratory Study on the Possibility of Harmonizing Investment Protection Regimes within the OHADA Zone - Diakité, A. D.; Thiam, A. B. (Transnational Dispute Management (TDM), 2022)
Abstract With its large population and natural resources, Africa needs investors who can sustain its development. At the same time, foreign investors expect returns on their investments. In ...

COVID-19: Psychological and Psychosocial Impact, Fear, and Passion - Dey, Nilanjan; Mishra, Rishabh; Fong, Simon James; Santosh, K. C.; Tan, Stanna; Crespo, Rubén González (Digital Government: Research and Practice, 2021)

Divine foreknowledge and human free will: Embracing the paradox - DeVito, Michael; McNabb, Tyler Dalton (International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2021)

The evolutionary argument against naturalism: a Wittgensteinian response - DeVito, Michael; McNabb, Tyler (International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 2022)
In this essay, we put forth a novel solution to Plantinga’s Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism, utilizing recent work done by Duncan Pritchard on radical skepticism. Key to the success of Plantinga’s argument is the doubting of the reliability of one’s cognitive faculties. We argue (viz. Pritchard and Wittgenstein) that the reliability of one’s cognitive faculties constitutes a hinge commitment, thus is exempt from rational evaluation. In turn, the naturalist who endorses hinge epistemology can deny the key premise in Plantinga’s argument and avoid the dilemma posed on belief in the conjunction of naturalism and evolution.

CHARACTERIZARION OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IN MACAO S.A.R. OVER THE PAST DECADE: IMPLICATIONS FOR NOISE POLLUTION MANAGEMENT - Deng, Ziyang (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
With the rapid urban development, Macao SAR has become one of regions with the with highest population density in the world, characterized by high traffic flow and dense building aggregations. Noise has become one of the major environmental problems in Macao. Besides having an impact on human health and wellbeing, noise pollution is known to impact ecological systems and the image of a place. Before proposing a plan to reduce noise pollution, it is necessary to have a general understanding of the current noise levels in Macao, how they have changed over time and the main noise pollution sources and environmental concerns. This dissertation relies on the publicly available data from DSPA (Macao Environmental Protection Bureau) monitoring stations concerning noise levels over the past decade. The main research goals were: 1) Characterize changes in noise levels from 2010 to 2021 during daytime, nighttime, and full-day from multiple noise stations located in Macao, Taipa, and Coloane Peninsula; and 2) associate changes in noise levels with potential factors such as location, number of residents/tourists, number of vehicles, among others. This work provides an important framework for future studies concerning noise monitoring and mitigation strategies
Keywords: Environmental policies; Legislation; Master of Environmental Sciences and Management (MESM); Noise management; Noise pollution; University of Saint Joseph; mitigation

Perceptions of Sports Agents in a Small Territory: The Case of Macao - Deng, Hao You (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This study aims to investigate the difficulties and challenges faced by sports agents in the development of Macao, as well as the feasibility of the emergence of this industry in Macao. Since there is a lack of research on sports agents and related sectors in Macao, this study analyses the current environment of Macao's sports industry and tries to explore the development of sports tourism projects in Macao as an industrial upgrading and transformation and to promote the emergence of sports agents as a breakthrough, which will help Macao find a better way of development to become a world center of tourism and leisure, in the context of the diversification of the ""1+4"" industries. This study also aims to contribute to developing sports tourism in Macao. This study also provides modest suggestions for the professionalization of sports and the commercialization of the sports market in Macao, as well as for the future personal development of Macao's athletes and the sustainable development of the sports industry. This study adopts a qualitative research approach, starting with a basic introduction to sports agents, the origin and development of sports agents, and the definition of the concepts, and then further insights into the current development status, constraints, and future outlook of sports agents in Macao through industry experiences. The study sought out ten local sports industry practitioners in Macao for in-depth interviews. By analyzing and summarising the data, the study proposes meaningful recommendations for the sustainable development of the sports agent industry in Macao. Overall, the study found that the development of sports agents in Macao is still early. With the improvement of the talent admission system in Macao, society will pay more attention to the development of the sports industry, and the profession of sports agent will be nurtured in the context of a developed sports environment. However, the lack of professional athletes and large-scale sports events in Macao and the lack of innovative thinking of the General Sports Association in cultivating sports talents will limit the emergence of sports agents to a certain extent
Keywords: Macao; Sport Agent; Sport Industry; Talent Introduction; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

THE THEOLOGY OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE WRITINGS OF POPE BENEDICT XVI AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RELIGIOUS FORMATION OF ADOLESCENTS IN MACAO CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS - De Carvalho Ribeiro, Daniel Antonio (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This thesis aims to demonstrate how Pope Benedict XVI's Eucharistic theology can be used to fill the gap it identifies in the content within the Religious Education curriculum of Macao Catholic secondary schools and also extend support to the evangelization mission carried out in these schools. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the ideal religious formation of teachers and students in a Catholic school should be according to the teaching and discipline of the Catholic Church and how this is presently performed in three local Catholic secondary schools. This identifies a gap between theory and practice. The gap lies in the absence of formation in the sacramental and, therefore, Eucharistic teaching of the Church. The second part elaborates on the Catholic understanding of the human person and the basic needs for the development of adolescents. It does this to ensure that when the thesis proposes a solution to fill the gap in the curriculum, that solution is appropriate to the needs of the subjects of religious education, that is the adolescents in Macao Catholic secondary schools. In the third part, the Eucharistic theology of Pope Benedict XVI is explored, along with its relevance to the curriculum of the schools under investigation. It examines how it could enhance the experience of the educational mission of these schools and responds to the needs for adolescent development. Finally, suggestions are provided as how to incorporate the Eucharistic theme in the curriculum and create a Eucharistic education program for an enhanced evangelization outcome. This research has significant implications for all those who are involved in Catholic education, particularly in secondary schools
Keywords: Adolescents; Benedict; Catholic Education; Eucharist; Macao; Thesis and Dissertations PhD in Religious Studies (D-RS); University of Saint Joseph

Clothing and School Uniforms in Macau: Maria João Nunes Das - Das, Maria João Nunes (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Perspectives and Practices of Macau Secondary School Teachers Regarding ICT in Teaching and Learning - Das, Amit (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A SMART TOURISM CITY: A CASE STUDY OF MACAO SAR AND THE PERCEPTION OF EXPERTS - Da Rosa Ho, Hoi Lam (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This dissertation explores the strategies for developing a smart tourism city in the background of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the perceptions of different experts in Macao. Awared that the Macao government aims to expedite the development of a livable, smart, and green Macao and requires smart technology to be applied to upgrade the people’s livelihood. This is a long-term ambition to achieve and whether success remains uncertain. Through literature review, understood that the traditional tourism industry must be transformed and innovated to enhance competition since the 90s. And smart tourism cities provide enhanced tourists’ experience and residents’ better quality of life. Although prior research have studied the tourist behavior of smart tourism contents or evalutated strategic plans for the construction of a smart tourism city, there is no previous research explored on the topic. Therefore, this dissertation through qualitative research methods including on-site observations, analyzing government-released documents and interviewing relevant experts. The findings present the seven components of the conceptual framework, including physical infrastructures, technology applications, experience sharing, big data, business co-creation, technical professionals, and cyber security, are strongly support the smart tourism city development in Macao. Provide a clear understanding for the relevant stakeholders to practice in a smart tourism city context. In addition, from the perspective of experts, the key for successfully develop Macao as a smart tourism city is that should apply ‘government-led, multi-party participation, and marketing operation’ in every component of the framework. The key for success depends on all stakeholders actively participae the activities. Four recommondations also present at the end of this disseartation. Prospects the development of smart tourism city in Macao can enhance both the quality of tourists’ experience and residents’ life as well as driven the long-term economic growth sustainably
Keywords: Smart Tourism City; Technology and tourism development; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Government Studies (MGS); University of Saint Joseph

Unveiling the power of supplier-country image on B2B customers' perceptions: Beyond the product’s beauty - Crespo, Cátia Fernandes; Crespo, Nuno Fernandes; Silva, Susana C. (International Business Review, 2025)

Approaches to Customer due Diligence of Anti-Money Laundering Compliance of Banks in Macao - Couto, Miguel Angelo (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

Oxyhydroxide Hydrothermal Crusts from Saldanha Hydrothermal Field - Costa, Pedro; Dias, Ágata (Goldschmidt2020, 2020)

COPING WITH WAR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES: CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM PERSPECTIVES IN EAST TIMOR - Costa, Julieta da (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
The researcher aims to understand how Christian and Muslim communities in East Timor cope with and recover from trauma arising from war, violence, and conflict. The research seeks to identify critical spiritual and religious coping mechanisms as present in East Timor (Timor Leste) that could help victims heal and reconstruct their lives after a war trauma experience. The study uses a mixed method, first deploying a quantitative investigation of Christian and Muslim communities in East Timor. The questionnaire aimsto understand how religion and spirituality feature in individuals' coping with trauma and the healing practices prescribed or encouraged by religious institutions and practices. In addition, a qualitative research and thematic analyses have been conducted and added with the facilitation of 6 Interviewees, 3 Muslims, and 3 Christians. This study aimed to investigate trauma levels and religious coping strategies among participants from East Timor. The quantitative findings indicated that the participants experienced a moderate level of trauma, with trouble sleeping being the most significant symptom. The qualitative findings revealed in some participants a high level of traumatic experiences. Recurrent thoughts of traumatic events and feeling jumpy were also prevalent. However, feeling strange around people or objects and feeling personally damaged by the trauma were less common. Regarding coping strategies, participants tended to rely on positive religious coping, seeking a stronger viii connection with God, finding comfort in religious communities and beliefs, and using spiritual interventions to manage emotions and worries, finding healing and a path toward the future. Both Catholics and Muslims employed positive religious coping strategies, with Catholics showing a slightly higher level in their utilization. However, the difference between the two groups was minimal. Positive coping strategies were more frequently used by participants from both religious backgrounds, highlighting their importance in dealing with trauma. Positive religious coping did not significantly impact trauma symptoms, showing no decrease or increase. However, a notable positive correlation existed between negative religious coping and more severe trauma symptoms. Individuals relying on negative coping strategies were more likely to experience heightened trauma symptoms. These findings align with previous research, emphasizing the positive association between Islamic appraisals and religious coping with better post-traumatic adjustment, while trauma-related appraisals are linked to worse adjustment. The study underscores the need to respect individual coping variations and recognizes the impact of negative religious coping on trauma experiences
Keywords: COPING STRATEGIES; COUNSELING; EAST-TIMOR; RELIGION; SPIRITUALITY; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph; WAR

The Political and Economic Dependence of the Press in Macao under Portuguese and Chinese Rule: Continuity and Change - Costa-Ribeiro, Nelson; Simões, José Manuel (Communication & Society, 2021)
The article analyses the media system in Macao, a special administrative region of China that transitioned from Portuguese to Chinese sovereignty in 1999, becoming one of cities in the world with the largest number of published newspapers per capita. Combining historical research with the analysis of contemporary empirical data collected through interviews with journalists working on the ground, the research demonstrates how there is a long tradition of state control that goes back to the colonial era and that has assumed different forms, ranging from outright censorship to physical intimidation of journalists and economic dependence on the government. Limitations and control strategies imposed on news reporting during the Portuguese administration continue to be practiced today by the Chinese authorities. Even so, journalists operating on the Macao media market tend to overstate the level of freedom they are given, which can be attributed to media outlets being economically dependent on the state. Nevertheless, the level of freedom attributed to the press is today higher than it had been during the colonial period with some critical voices being allowed to reach the media. This needs to be understood in the context of what has been defined as the Chinese safety valve strategy.
Keywords: Censorship; Journalism Practice; Media Systems; Press Freedom; Press Subsidies

Home–School Collaboration in Assessment, Placement, and Individual Education Plan Development for Children With Special Education Needs in Macao: The Views of Parents - Correia, Ana; Teixeira, Vitor; Forlin, Chris (School Community Journal, 2021)
The aim of this study was to explore home–school collaboration in the areas of assessment, placement, and Individual Education Plan (IEP) development for children identified with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN) in Macao. Despite the noted benefits of parent–school partnerships from prior research, minimal research has been conducted from the perspective of parents of children with SEN to examine whether these partnerships materialize in the context of Macao. Participants included 115 parents of school-aged children diagnosed with SEN. They provided demographic information and completed a 36-item questionnaire derived from two validated instruments. The research identified a range of factors which hinder parental involvement in decision-making and in the inclusion of children with SEN in optimal ways in Macao schools. Parents indicated they were not receiving relevant information and assessment feedback from the teachers; they were minimally involved in the IEP process, and their children were not receiving one-to-one support, regardless of the type of placement. Parents also underlined issues related to the timing of assessment procedures. Parents of children attending special classes in regular schools voiced more satisfaction with support provision than parents of children following the full inclusion model. Recommendations about how services could be improved for greater parental involvement are discussed. Key Words: parental involvement, school–family collaboration, inclusion, special educational needs, Macao, Individual Education Plans, IEP

Exploring the participation and agency of students with special education needs in a Macau-Chinese secondary school - Correia, Ana M.; Forlin, Chris; Sio, Eva (Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 2022)
The research explores the perceptions of five secondary school students with special education needs (SEN) about their participation in learning, group membership, and agency within an inclusive school in Macau SAR. This goal is achieved by using students' voices documented in open-ended interviews and is underpinned by the conceptual framework of heutagogy. The aim is to shed light on students' perceptions on school effectiveness in supporting their needs through successful participation and agentic possibilities. Findings showed that students were more prone to social rejection and being isolated or bullied than their peers. They were struggling to feel included or participate, their needs were only partially being met, and they had few opportunities to exert influence on their educational trajectories. Recommendations are provided to assist educators and schools in enhancing students with SEN to connect to the learning process and community, with the provision of appropriate learning adjustments and more active approaches to ensure their acceptance by mainstream students, including the formation of coaching peers to assist in developing social and academic skills under teacher's scaffolding practices. This study highlights the contribution of the heutagogical perspective to advance research on the participation and agency of students with SEN in mainstream schools.
Keywords: Macau SAR; Special education needs; agency; disability; inclusive education; participation; students' voice

A figura feminina na ficção de Senna Fernandes: identidade, subalternidade e agência - Correia, Ana (O Macaense. Identidade e cultura e quotidiano, 2020)

Comparative study: The Human rights situation in China, the USA and Europe - Chu, Pok Tou; Lao-Phillips, Jenny Oliveros (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
This thesis mainly discusses and compares the human rights situation and the problems in China, the USA and the UK. Also, the thesis will give the solution of how to make the world's human rights situation more fairly. Because we sometimes listen to these countries use cruel ways to suppress the opponents from the news. So I think this will be very suitable for understanding the current human rights situation, problems and movements in these countries. This thesis mainly uses the secondary data analysis method to collect and analyse the data. After analysing the data, three main issues affecting human rights were identified. These issues are race, religion, and network privacy. Other important factors still influence human rights, but this dissertation focused on the three issues identified. Finally, I will give two to three recommendations to practice human rights more fairly. Although the step will be very small, we can greatly improve the fair human rights in the future
Keywords: China; Europe; Human rights; Human rights situation; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Government Studies (MGS); USA; United Kingdom; University of Saint Joseph

Developing programs for preschool children to enhance Chinese literacy: A Macau-based example - Chu, K. W.; Mak, M. C. K; Tse, T. P. M.; Cheng, P. W.; Ho, G. W. S.; Ng, M. H.; Ng, S. K. (The 7th Annual Conference for the Association for Reading and Writing in Asia (ARWA 2023), 2023)

Developing programs for preschool children to enhance Chinese literacy: A Macau-based example. - Chu, K. W.; Mak, M. C. K.; Tse, T. P. M.; Cheng, P. W.; Ho, G. W. S; Ng, M. H. (The 7th Annual Conference for the Association for Reading and Writing in Asia (ARWA 2023), 2023)

Reciprocity in a school-university partnership project: Towards a Macau-based Give-Get Model - Chu, K. W.; Mak, M. C. K.; Ng, M. H.; Wong, U. W. K.; Cheng, P. W.; Tse, T. P. M.; Ho, G. W. S (The IV Uniservitate Global Symposium 2023, 2023)

Post-pandemic Human Resources Challenges in Macau’s Hospitality Industry: Christy, Chu Ian I - Chu, Ian I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
In today's rapidly changing and fiercely competitive environment, talents are the key factor for a company's success and success, and a good strategy for retaining talents is how to use effective management measures to grasp employees' focus, vitality and service on work enthusiasm can generate dedication and loyalty to the enterprise, making the enterprise more consolidated and sustainable. Previous studies have shown that human resource management measures can increase employee contribution. Therefore, this study takes the important role of human resource management as an intermediary to explore how the human resource management of Macau's hospitality industry is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in post-pandemic human resource management. At the same time, the company's commitment to its employees after the outbreak is further analyzed for the success of the solutions made by the human resource management of the hospitality industry in Macau. The research results are expected to be used as a reference for leaders or managers in the hospitality industry when an unexpected pandemic occurs, by enhancing and improving human resource management. The qualitative research method was adopted, and in-depth interviews were conducted with hotel employees. The key findings of this research were that there are five factors affecting human resource management post-pandemic in the hospitality industry. More importantly, we found that Macau’s hospitality industry needs to transform in the future, which will also have a key impact on human resources management
Keywords: Dilemmas 2; Diversified 1; Theses and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; Vulnerabilities 3

Challenges and Possibilities of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Portuguese Tiles (Azulejos) in Macau - Chu, Hou Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Macao is a city of culture, and history and culture are the wealth of Macao. Over the centuries, the exchange and transmutation of Chinese and Western cultures have given Macao a unique cultural charm, and have also formed and preserved a considerable amount of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage has received increasing attention from all sectors of the community in the tourism industry in Macao, the promotion of the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage through tourism development has become a new issue in the tourism sector. As an independent art form in the urban public space, tile painting has both practical and aesthetic functions, and is a special vehicle for the convergence of multiple cultures in the urban cultural ecology. It is also a medium through which the city's cultural message can be fully disseminated. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of the development of Macao's cultural heritage tile murals, based on an introduction to the existing status of Macao's cultural heritage tile murals, using the SWOT analysis method, which provides a reference for Macao's cultural heritage tourism
Keywords: Azulejo; Cultural heritage; Macao; SWOT analysis; Strategy; Thesis and Dissertations Master of History & Heritage Studies (MHHS); University of Saint Joseph

E-Commerce in the Hospitality Industry: The Online Hotel Booking and Digital Marketing in Macau - Chowdee, Nattiya (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

Understanding the dynamics of customer satisfaction and repurchase intentions in the era of platform service supply chain – a case study of Foodpanda in Pakistan - Choudhary, Waliha; Waqar Haider, Syed; Raza, Aamir; Silva, Susana C.; Carmo Dias, Joana (Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 2024)

Knowledge and Attitude of Parents with Regular Primary Children Towards Inclusive Education in Macau =: 澳門小學普通生家長對澳門融合教育的認識及態度之調查報告 - Chong, Leng Leng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

A Prospective analysis about employee retention strategies for Macao Hotel Industry - Chong, Ka Yee; Lobo Marques, Joao A. (Association for Computing Machinery, 2021)
Human resources are essential to the survival, success, and long-term growth of a company. Hotel is an industry requiring a high level of human resources for delivering high-quality personal service to the hotel guests to maintain its competitiveness in the business environment. With the rapid economic growth in Macao started in 2002, all the industries have been growing fast and competing fiercely for the limited manpower in Macao. However, the Macao hotel industry has been losing its attractiveness in the Macao labor market and needs to rely on non-local workers with a limited stay in Macao. The management team of the Macao hotel industry is looking for a solution to maintain a stable workforce. Therefore, a study has been conducted on the effectiveness of its employee retention strategies. A questionnaire was designed to collect the preferences of the employees and interviews were conducted to understand the perspective of the management team toward the employee retention strategies. The study shows the employee strategies are focused on key employees’ interests such as career development and prospect. However, the communication between the management team and employees failed and led to employee turnover.
Keywords: Employee retention; Employee turnover reasons; Macao hotel industry; Macao shortage of manpower

澳門融合教育小學資源教師的工作困難與需求 =: INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN MACAO’S PRIMARY SCHOOL：THE WORK DIFFICULTIES AND NEEDS OF PRIMARY RESOURCE TEACHER - Chong, Hei Tong (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph; 小學資源教師; 工作困難; 融合教育

An Investigation on the Effectiveness of Enhancing Public Relations Through the Use of Facebook by the Public Sector of Macau - Chong, Chan U. (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

The Financial Valuation of Starbucks Corporation - Chong, Cecilia (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

A Comparative Study of Sympathy in David Hume, Karuna in Buddhism, and Ren in Confucianism - Chon, Iao Pang (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Philosophy (MPH); University of Saint Joseph

An Action Research on the Influence of Flipped Classroom on Learning Achievement and Learning Motivation of Primary School Students in Programming Courses=: 翻轉教學對於小學程式設計學習成效與學習動機影響之行動研究 - Choi, Wan Chong (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Rewriting Life Story and Career Development: a Case Study Using a Narrative Approach - Choi, Ka Lok (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

The Application of Zhuangzi's View on Death to the Philosophical Counselling - Choi, Cheng In (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Philosophy (MPH); University of Saint Joseph

對於澳門特殊需求學生教育的體驗: 來自自閉症兒童家長的聲音 - Choi Chi Wai (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education(MED); University of Saint Joseph

Redefining Macau's Film Industry: Case Studies on local Film Marketing & Distribution - Choi Chi Cheng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning in Stock Prediction: A Bibliometric Review - Chin, Yang Lin; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre; Lin, Kun Chan (20th European Conference on Management Leadership and Governance, 2024)
Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) are advancing in stock market prediction, attracting the attention of researchers in computer science and finance. This bibliometric review analyzes 525 articles published from 1991 to 2024 in Scopus-indexed journals, utilizing VOSviewer software to identify key research trends, influential contributors, and burgeoning themes. The bibliometric analysis encompasses a performance analysis of the most prominent scientific contributors and a network analysis of scientific mapping, which includes co-authorship, co-occurrence, citation, bibliographical coupling, and co-citation analyses enabled by the VOSviewer software. Among the 693 countries, significant hubs of knowledge production include China, the US, India, and the UK, highlighting the global relevance of the field. Various AI and DL technologies are increasingly employed in stock price predictions, with artificial neural networks (ANN) and other methods such as long short-term memory (LSTM), Random Forest, Sentiment Analysis, Support Vector Machine/Regression (SVM/SVR), among the 1399 keyword counts in publications. Influential studies such as LeBaron (1999) and Moghaddam (2016) have shaped foundational research in 8159 citations. This review offers original insights into the bibliometric landscape of AI and DL applications in finance by mapping global knowledge production and identifying critical AI methods advancing stock market prediction. It enables finance professionals to learn about technological developments and trends to enhance decision-making and gain market advantage.

Unity of Knowing and Acting from Christian and Confucian Ethical Practices: An Exegesis of Mark 4:1-20 - Chiang, Sau Kuan (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Philosophy (MPH); University of Saint Joseph

Palate Consciousness: A Philosophical Analysis on the Cultivation of Gustatory Aesthetics Through the Framework of Phenomenology of Perception - Chiang, I. Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Philosophy (MPH); University of Saint Joseph

COMMUNICARE - an Interactive Multisensory Application to Care for Trees in Macao - CHEONG, WENG IAN (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) GENERATED ART & VISUAL COMMUNICATION: ITS EFFECTS ON HUMANS' IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION, AND CULTURE - Cheong, Weng Chim (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Technological advancements have enabled machines to offer more efficient assistance to people across several domains. Art and creativity are what distinguish people or societies the most. The arrival of AI has caused a fresh wave of concern among many of us; it is crucial that we evaluate the weight of the positives and the drawbacks of how people employing these technologies will influence societies. Legislation is frequently delayed because of the various revolutions througout history. Along with the difficulties raised in the continuing debate, it is critical to identify a route or alternative to assist existing challenges for artists. This dissertation includes our case studies, analysis, and conclusions, which explain the effects on imagination, creativity, communication, and culture when individuals use AI technologies to create art or/and images. According to our findings, AI technology should be considered as one way to solve problems. The vast majority of created outputs are unable to accomplish the desired reach. Furthermore, even if the ethical issues cannot be resolved, individuals should not ignore it and keep their moral compass. Importantly, we must realise that individuals should always be involved in and influence the intricacies and components of the creative process. However, it is commonly understood that the deployment of artificial intelligence has an influence on people’s communication and societies. There are still no standards, frameworks, or norms on this front of Ai-generated images. This might contribute to an increase in industrial imbalance and discrimination. As a result, to safeguard our individuality, we must take the initiative to uncover any answers or directions that would aid in this scenario. As with any experience, whether internal or external, we should use it to our advantage to apply our creative process, something the computer cannot accomplish. Still, it gives many benefits and is effective in assisting people in completing challenging tasks, so it is smart not to avoid teamwork. Furthermore, because social media and the internet provide powerful expression and communication tools, their advantages should help build universal rules to safeguard artistic work
Keywords: AI-generated art; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph; communication; creativity; culture; imagination

A STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN JOB AUTONOMY, ORGANISATIONAL JUSTICE, ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IN MACAU - Cheong, Wan Sze (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
With the increasing number of tourists coming to Macau after the three years of lockdown period, more quality services are expected. However, organisations are now facing a big challenge in maintaining sufficient employee, managing their employees’ performance and productivity. Employee engagement plays an important role because it will not only affect individual performance but also the performance of an organisation. This is the first study to provide evidence of the engagement level of general employees working in Macau, and of its relationships with job autonomy, organisational justice and organisational culture. The study results revealed that the levels of vigour, dedication and absorption of employees working full time in Macau were slightly above the mid-point value 3 of the scale, with about 30% of employees were found less engaged or disengaged. Criteria autonomy, method autonomy, schedule autonomy, organisational justice and collectivism culture were positively and significantly correlated with all three dimensions of employee engagement (i.e. vigour, dedication and absorption). There is no significant negative relationship between power distance culture and employee engagement. Method autonomy was the strongest positive predictor of all three dimensions of employee engagement, followed by organisational justice, while collectivism culture was a positive predictor for vigour and absorption. The implications for management will be discussed in terms of organisational support and communication
Keywords: Employee engagement; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); University of Saint Joseph; autonomy; organisation al justice; organisational culture

An Investigation into Play-Based Educational Support For The Developing Social-Communication Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Kindergarten - Cheong, Tânia Guilherme (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

The Relationship Between Stress and Emotion Regulation with Students’ Academic Achievement - Cheong, Sin Teng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

不同社經地位之家長和教師對親師溝通的意見: 一間澳門幼稚園的個案研究 - Cheong, Man Hong (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

The Mediation Effect of Organisational Commitment on Job Autonomy and Turnover Intentions - Cheong, Lai Ieng (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); University of Saint Joseph

Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme: Prespectives of Macau Employees - Cheong, Kit I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Government Studies (MGS); University of Saint Joseph

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE MACAO EMPLOYEES’ DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES: FROM THE SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY PERSPECTIVE - Cheong, Ieng (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This dissertation aims to shed light on the factors derived from employee identity that contribute to corporate volunteering participation. The study explores the influence of perceived organizational support (POS), group cohesion, perceived volunteering meaningfulness, and transformational leadership on engagement in corporate volunteering activities. The study employed a correlational quantitative design, collecting data through a questionnaire survey. The findings reveal that POS and group cohesion positively impact corporate volunteering, with volunteering meaningfulness mediating these relationships. Transformational leadership moderates the effect of volunteering meaningfulness on the relationship between POS and corporate volunteering. This research adds to the literature on identity and corporate volunteering by establishing a connection between employee identity and engagement in corporate volunteering activities. It emphasizes the importance of volunteering meaningfulness as a key factor in this relationship, highlighting the positive influence of POS and group cohesion. By considering both POS and group cohesion as antecedents, this study offers new insights into the understanding of identity and corporate volunteering. Practically, organizations can enhance employee participation in corporate volunteering by cultivating a supportive work environment, showing care for employees' well-being, and recognizing their contributions. Promoting group cohesion through effective communication of organizational goals can increase employee identification and motivation for volunteering. Emphasizing the personal significance of corporate volunteering and highlighting its impact can boost employees' intrinsic motivation and sense of purpose. To implement successful corporate volunteer programs, organizations should provide support and appreciation for employees' efforts, utilize transformational leadership to inspire commitment, and consistently reinforce the value of corporate volunteering. The practical implications of this research provide guidance for organizations seeking effective implementation of corporate volunteer programs as part of their corporate social responsibility strategies. It also holds relevance for researchers interested in exploring the intersection of employee identity and corporate volunteering
Keywords: Corporate Volunteering; Group Cohesion; Mediator; Moderator; POS; Perceived Organizational Support; SIT; Social Identity Theory; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); Transformational Leadership; University of Saint Joseph; Volunteering Meaningfulness

ONLINE IMPULSE BUYING BEHAVIOR: A STUDY OF MACAU CONSUMERS - Cheong, I. Lam (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Due to the expansion of the Internet and advancements in technology, e-commerce has been frequently and widely used nowadays. The popularity of online shopping continues to develop and become increasingly common, yet, the concept of impulsive buying has consistently drawn significant attention over the years. In order to fit into the current shopping trend, recognizing the needs and wants of online shoppers as well as providing appropriate approaches are essential tasks for companies to achieve. The question of how to attract consumers to make purchases has been a concern for a long time, and in fact, it is necessary to explore consumers’ online purchase decisions in relation to their impulse buying behavior. In accordance with current academic knowledge, the main objective of this study is to investigate factors that influence consumers' online impulsive buying behavior based on external stimuli (such as sales promotions and websites characteristics) and the elements of marketing mix strategy (product, price, place, and promotion). According to the analysis, the promotion strategy has been identified as the most significant influence on consumers’ decision to make an online impulsive purchase. Therefore, the findings from this study are beneficial for companies and marketers to build a framework in order to develop suitable and effective strategies in order to encourage and stimulate consumers' desire for purchases. Furthermore, the research applies the qualitative methodology by conducting semi-structured interviews with 11 consumers who have previously experienced an online impulse buying
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; e-commerce; external stimuli; marketing mix strategy; online impulse buying; online shopping

初中教師面對融合學生校園欺凌經驗及應對策略之研究 =: Research on the Experience and Coping Stratrgies of Junior High School Teachers in the Face of Integrated Students' Bullying in Schools - Cheok, Pou Weng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

An Integrated Learning Platform Focusing on STEAM and Collaborative Modules for Macau - Cheng, Un Man; Martins de Abreu, F. (International Journal of Creative Interfaces and Computer Graphics (IJCICG), 2022)
In Macau, the effectiveness of traditional classroom learning is questioned as the problem is discovered by the changes in technology advances, social media, and the varieties of learning methods. Learning experiences, interests, discoveries, and creativity development are considered essential to ac...

Real-time emotion recognition based on facial expressions using artificial intelligence techniques - A review and future directions - Cheng, Qian; Lobo Marques, Joao Alexandre; de Alexandria, Auzuir Ripardo (2025)

The Financial Valuation of Nike Inc - Cheng, Kin San (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

The Financial Valuation of Chevron Corporation - Chenda, Elisa Francisco; Lao-Phillips, Jenny Oliveros (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Chevron Corporation (CVX) is one of the world’s largest energy companies, which operates across the entire Oil and Gas industry, including exploration and production as an Upstream operation and refining and marketing as a Downstream operation. Chevron has a strong presence worldwide, with operations in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, which includes more than 180 countries, where the US, in terms of production, represents 39.4% of the net oil-equivalent production in 2022. Its global presence, sustained by its competitive advantages, is challenged by its worldwide competitors, industry factors, and the economic environment. It is essential to understand the impact of such changes on the industry and the Company to accurately assess the intrinsic value of Chevron and its future positioning. To provide investors with helpful information, comparing the intrinsic value resulting from three valuation models with the Company's market share price as of December 31st, 2022, is essential
Keywords: Intrinsic value; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; forecast; stock market price

How Does Employer Brand Affect Employer of Choice? A Case Study of Two Macau F&B Groups’ Employer Branding Comparisons - Chen, Zhi Yi (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

IMPACTS OF CHINA’S ENTRY ON THE PRODUCT LINE RIVALRY IN THE GLOBAL CIVIL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY - Chen, Yawen (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
As international tourism continues to flourish and airlines are eager to expand their fleets, the demand for civil aircraft has continues to grow in the global market. The market has been a duopolistic one, shared by Boeing and Airbus. However, the recent entry of the Chinese company, Comac, had the potential to turn it into a triopoly within certain segment of the product line. This observation motivates the research objective to analyze the impact of Comac's entry on the production strategies of the incumbents. Specifically, this dissertation studies the impact on each firm’s allocation of production capacity toward different civil aircraft in the product line in response to how Comac’s entry, which can also impact the effects of capacity increase and market expansion on the product line rivalry. This dissertation is based on a multi-product, oligopolistic model of Boeing and Airbus. To provide insights on the strategy and behavior of each firm in the evolving competitive environment, this dissertation solves and extends the mathematical model to incorporate Comac as the entrant and compares model results with data of orders and deliveries of the three companies in the past 15 years. This model finds that when Comac's C919, a relatively small plane, enters the global civil aircraft market, Boeing and Airbus will increase the production of their small planes and decrease the production of the relatively large planes under the production capacity constraints. If the production capacity increases, both Boeing and Airbus will produce more planes, but will allocate more additional capacity to large planes than to small planes compared to the duopolistic competitive environment. When the market demand increases, despite the entry of the C919, Boeing and Airbus iv will continue to increase the production of both large and small planes, but the response is greater to an increase of demand for large planes than that for small planes. The orders and deliveries data provide some but insufficient support for the model predictions. As the market participation of Comac continues to grow, future researchers can re-assess the models’ propositions with more available data
Keywords: Capacity allocation; Civil aircraft; Comac; Duopoly; Oligopoly; Product line rivalry; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); Triopoly; University of Saint Joseph

A Neuropeptide Y/F-like Polypeptide Derived from the Transcriptome of Turbinaria peltata Suppresses LPS-Induced Astrocytic Inflammation - Chen, Qian; Liang, Zirong; Yue, Qian; Wang, Xiufen; Siu, Shirley Weng In; Pui-Man Hoi, Maggie; Lee, Simon Ming-Yuen (Journal of Natural Products, 2022)
Neuropeptides are a group of neuronal signaling molecules that regulate physiological and behavioral processes in animals. Here, we used in silico mining to predict the polypeptide composition of available transcriptomic data of Turbinaria peltata. In total, 118 transcripts encoding putative peptide precursors were discovered. One neuropeptide Y/F-like peptide, named TpNPY, was identified and selected for in silico structural, in silico binding, and pharmacological studies. In our study, the anti-inflammation effect of TpNPY was evaluated using an LPS-stimulated C8-D1A astrocyte cell model. Our results demonstrated that TpNPY, at 0.75–3 μM, inhibited LPS-induced NO production and reduced the expression of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, TpNPY reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, treatment with TpNPY reduced LPS-mediated elevation of ROS production and the intracellular calcium concentration. Further investigation revealed that TpNPY downregulated the IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibited expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Through molecular docking and using an NPY receptor antagonist, TpNPY was shown to have the ability to interact with the NPY Y1 receptor. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that TpNPY might prevent LPS-induced injury in astrocytes through activation of the NPY-Y1R.

CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein Alpha Is a Novel Regulator of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Osteochondrogenic Transition and Vascular Calcification - Chen, Pengyuan; Hong, Wanzi; Chen, Ziying; Gordillo-Martinez, Flora; Wang, Siying; Fan, Hualin; Liu, Yuanhui; Dai, Yining; Wang, Bo; Jiang, Lei; Yu, Hongjiao; He, PengCheng (Frontiers in Physiology, 2022)
AimsVascular calcification is a common clinical complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), atherosclerosis (AS), and diabetes, which is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients. The transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to an osteochondrogenic phenotype is a crucial step during vascular calcification. The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, but whether it regulates the calcification of arteries and VSMCs remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to understand the role of C/EBPα in the regulation of vascular calcification.Methods and ResultsBoth mRNA and protein expression levels of C/EBPα were significantly increased in calcified arteries from mice treated with a high dose of vitamin D3 (vD3). Upregulation of C/EBPα was also observed in the high phosphate- and calcium-induced VSMC calcification process. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of C/EBPα significantly attenuated VSMC calcification in vitro. Moreover, C/EBPα depletion in VSMCs significantly reduced the mRNA expression of the osteochondrogenic genes, e.g., sex-determining region Y-box 9 (Sox9). C/EBPα overexpression can induce SOX9 overexpression. Similar changes in the protein expression of SOX9 were also observed in VSMCs after C/EBPα depletion or overexpression. In addition, silencing of Sox9 expression significantly inhibited the phosphate- and calcium-induced VSMC calcification in vitro.ConclusionFindings in this study indicate that C/EBPα is a key regulator of the osteochondrogenic transdifferentiation of VSMCs and vascular calcification, which may represent a novel therapeutic target for vascular calcification.

Chemical toxicity prediction based on semi-supervised learning and graph convolutional neural network - Chen, Jiarui; Si, Yain-Whar; Un, Chon-Wai; Siu, Shirley W. I. (Journal of Cheminformatics, 2021)
As safety is one of the most important properties of drugs, chemical toxicology prediction has received increasing attentions in the drug discovery research. Traditionally, researchers rely on in vitro and in vivo experiments to test the toxicity of chemical compounds. However, not only are these experiments time consuming and costly, but experiments that involve animal testing are increasingly subject to ethical concerns. While traditional machine learning (ML) methods have been used in the field with some success, the limited availability of annotated toxicity data is the major hurdle for further improving model performance. Inspired by the success of semi-supervised learning (SSL) algorithms, we propose a Graph Convolution Neural Network (GCN) to predict chemical toxicity and trained the network by the Mean Teacher (MT) SSL algorithm. Using the Tox21 data, our optimal SSL-GCN models for predicting the twelve toxicological endpoints achieve an average ROC-AUC score of 0.757 in the test set, which is a 6% improvement over GCN models trained by supervised learning and conventional ML methods. Our SSL-GCN models also exhibit superior performance when compared to models constructed using the built-in DeepChem ML methods. This study demonstrates that SSL can increase the prediction power of models by learning from unannotated data. The optimal unannotated to annotated data ratio ranges between 1:1 and 4:1. This study demonstrates the success of SSL in chemical toxicity prediction; the same technique is expected to be beneficial to other chemical property prediction tasks by utilizing existing large chemical databases. Our optimal model SSL-GCN is hosted on an online server accessible through: https://app.cbbio.online/ssl-gcn/home.
Keywords: ADMET; Chemical toxicity; Deep learning; Graph convolutional neural network; Mean teacher; Semi-supervised learning; Tox21

Anti-epileptic Kunitz-like peptides discovered in the branching coral Acropora digitifera through transcriptomic analysis - Chen, Hanbin; Siu, Shirley Weng In; Wong, Clarence Tsun Ting; Qiu, Jianwen; Cheung, Alex Kwok-Kuen; Lee, Simon Ming Yuen (Archives of Toxicology, 2022)
Approximately 50 million people are suffering from epilepsy worldwide. Corals have been used for treating epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine, but the mechanism of this treatment is unknown. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome of the branching coral Acropora digitifera and obtained its Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation. Combined with multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, we discovered three polypeptides, we named them AdKuz1, AdKuz2 and AdKuz3, from A. digitifera that showed a close relationship to Kunitz-type peptides. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation indicated that AdKuz1 to 3 could interact with GABAA receptor but AdKuz2–GABAA remained more stable than others. The biological experiments showed that AdKuz1 and AdKuz2 exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing the aberrant level of nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β induced by LPS in BV-2 cells. In addition, the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic effect on zebrafish was remarkably suppressed by AdKuz1 and AdKuz2. AdKuz2 particularly showed superior anti-epileptic effects compared to the other two peptides. Furthermore, AdKuz2 significantly decreased the expression of c-fos and npas4a, which were up-regulated by PTZ treatment. In addition, AdKuz2 reduced the synthesis of glutamate and enhanced the biosynthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In conclusion, the results indicated that AdKuz2 may affect the synthesis of glutamate and GABA and enhance the activity of the GABAA receptor to inhibit the symptoms of epilepsy. We believe, AdKuz2 could be a promising anti-epileptic agent and its mechanism of action should be further investigated.
Keywords: Anti-epileptic; GABAA; Kunitz peptide; Transcriptome

Feasibility Study on the R&D and Production of VOCs Environmental Protection Equipment - Chen Le Qi (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This study focuses on China's volatile organic compound treatment industry and deeply analyzes the current situation, challenges, and development trends of the volatile organic compound environmental protection industry. This study discusses technological advancements in reducing VOC emissions, environmental regulations' impact, and market demand changes. The market size, growth potential, and primary driving factors were analyzed by studying the business scope and competitive advantages of VOC management companies. Predict the company's operational status, investment return rate, and other related financial data through financial analysis. Finally, emphasis was placed on technological innovation, market positioning, and risk management while pointing out the industry's principal risks and response strategies. The research findings indicate that, in the context of increasing environmental awareness and policy support, China's VOC ecological protection industry has enormous growth potential. The company is expected to achieve significant success in both business and finance through technological innovation and market adaptation. The research and production of VOC environmental protection equipment is feasible
Keywords: China; Equipment; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; VOCs

Examining the Itinerant Support Teachers’ Program in the Implementation of Inclusive Education in Macau - Cheang, Mei Chan (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

EMERGENCY REACTION AND FEARS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS FROM MACAU: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE ERQ-CA AND FSSC-R-SF - Cheang, Kuan Leng (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Macau is often affected by typhoons and rainstorms, especially during summer and autumn, there are also an increasing number of natural disasters due to the current climate change. On top of that, in 2017, tremendous devastation was caused by Typhoon Hato. However, there is only limited research on the psychological impact of natural disasters on Macau residents. This study aims to develop culturally appropriate psychometric instruments to assess fears and emergency reaction in children and adolescents from Macau. By applying this instruments to Macau children and adolescents, the study aims to assess the level of preparedness of children and adolescents in emergencies, fill the research gap, and contribute to future development of courses and training programmes to prepare them for future natural disasters. Specifically, this study aims to adopt the Emergency Reaction Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA) and the Short Form of the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised (FSSC-R-SF) and to examine their psychometric properties with a sample of children and adolescents in Macau. Firstly, the ERQ-CA and FSSC-R-SF were translated into Chinese, and 6 children aged 8-9 were invited to take the Think-Aloud-Protocols (TAP). The content of the questionnaires was suitable for children and adolescents. Secondly, the ERQ-CA and FSSC-R-SF were administered to 262 children and adolescents aged 9-15 who were studying in non-higher education institutions in Macau. The questionnaires were analysed for their reliability and validity. With some adjustments, the two Macau versions of the instruments showed satisfactory psychometric properties regarding construct validity, reliability, and convergent validity. Recommendations for the practical use of the ERQ-CA and the FSSC-R-SF in Macau and future directions are presented
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph; children and adolescents; emergency reaction; fears; natural disasters; psychometric properties

Look Before You Eat: An Augmented Reality Menu - Cheang, Ka Pui (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

從混合性研究中探討澳門長者對睡眠健康認知及其相關之因素 =: Exploring Perception on Sleep Health and its Related Factors among Older People in Macau - A Mixed Methods Study - Cheang, Ka Leng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Social Work (MSW); University of Saint Joseph

澳門幼稚園老師在融合教育班級經營中面對的挑戰 =: The Challenge of Managing Inclusive Education Classrooms Faced by the Kindergarten teachers in Macau - Cheang, Hoi Son (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Park-meter: Designing an Innovative Macau System - Cheang, Chi Tat (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

澳門新入職教師在融合教育的學校中面對的挑戰 =: New Teachers' Challenges in School Which Provided Inclusive Education in Macao - Che, Ka Ian (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Gender Differentiated Parenting and Family Characteristics Affecting Parent-Adolescent Relationship in Macao: Che Iok Seng a.k.a Matthew - Che, Iok Seng (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
This study aims to investigate gender-differentiated parenting and the factors that affect parent-adolescent relationships in Macao families. The study will address the following research questions: A) Does gender-differentiated parenting exist in Macao families? B) How does the academic level of parents relate to conflict resolution and acceptance levels? C) How does the length of time parents have lived together relate to conflict resolution and acceptance levels? D) How does the sibling position of adolescents relate to conflict resolution and acceptance levels? The study employed a quantitative research approach with a purposive and convenient sample of parents with children aged between 12 to 18 years old in Macao. The data were collected using the Parent-Child Interaction Questionnaire—Revised-Parent version (PACHIQ-R-P) through a questionnaire survey from May to August 2022. Out of the 172 completed questionnaires, seven were invalid, resulting in 165 valid questionnaires. The findings showed that gender differentiation in parenting was confirmed, with significant results showing that fathers had lower acceptance and conflict resolution levels when their child was a boy. Mothers showed similar acceptance and conflict resolution levels regardless of their child's gender. Furthermore, the study found that parents' acceptance of their children was influenced by their academic level, length of time living together, and the child's sibling position. This study is the first of its kind in Macao and could provide valuable insights for family and adolescent services in the region
Keywords: Adolescents; Conflict Resolution; Gender differences; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

The Understanding and the Attitudes Toward Life Education Among Macau Citizens: A Case Study - Che, Iok Seng (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Social Work (MSW); University of Saint Joseph

Nowcasting Gross Domestic Product and Gross Gaming Revenue of Macau: a Theoretical and Conceptual Framework - Chau, Manuel; Lei, Weng Chi (The 5th Academia-Industry Exchange Institute of International Business & Governance (IIBG) Symposium 2021, 2021)
This paper aimed to build up the theorical and conceptual understanding of future forecasting study of Macau’s GDP and Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) by co-movement of economic indicators. Macau GDP and GGR showed co-movements with a number of time series economic indicators, including China’s exports and imports, China’s manufacturing PMI, non-manufacturing PMI, China's electricity production growth, share price of some Macau’s gaming operators, etc. These time series data can be found in statistics departments of China, Macau and Hong Kong, stock exchanges, and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO). Burns and Mitchell’s study in 1946 identified co-movements between economic indicators and being further carried out and developed leading, coincident and lagging indicators, which is essential for future econometric models and nowcasting techniques developments to study these co-movements. In particular, with the proper application of nowcasting techniques, future studies can exploit the data of leading and coincident economic indicators to forecast Macau’s GDP and GGR within an acceptable level of error. Since Macau is a “monotown,” where the gaming revenue makes a significant contribution to the economy. The forecasting of gaming revenue is crucial as it aids the gambling and tourism industries in preparing supply and provides information to policymakers to plan for the near future. This research also contributes to understand Macau’s economy by investigating its internal and external economic variables.

Virtual Guia Fortress: A 3D-printed eXtended Reality Playset - Chau, Iok Fong; Cardoso, Jorge C. S.; Estadieu, Gerald (Entertainment Computing – ICEC 2021, 2021)

Modular 3D-Printed Tangibles for Children’s VR Toys - Chau, Iok Fong (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

An Investigation on Macao Children with ASD and their Families needs on Social Support - Chau, Chin Fong (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Social Work (MSW); University of Saint Joseph

澳門小學教師與資源教師合作現況與挑戰 - Chao, Cheng I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Experience the Past in the Present with Immersive Technologies - Chang, Tin Lan; Martins de Abreu, F. (Multimodus’22 - 1st International Conference on Sound and Image in Art & Design, 2022)
Countless historical sites worldwide have become unrecognisable based on their historical context. Many are cultural heritage structures with significant historical and aesthetic importance. The majority have not been well preserved; worse, some were demolished (Stenning, 2015). Furthermore, structures are part of a dynamic and changing environment, and their location within the original landscape is not always clear. People have gradually forgotten cultural traditions as environments where historical stories took place, and the look and feel have been corrupted. Immersive Virtual Reality (V.R.) allows us to relive and explore the past. However, in the Pearl River Delta Region, specifically Macau S.A.R., V.R. is still in its infancy and is not frequently used for reproducing historical sceneries. Our research focuses on reproducing heritage structures and scenery based on scarce historical information. It shows how to incorporate facts and memories into the design and create engaging, immersive experiences in V.R. scenery that takes place, both inside and outside of a cultural heritage site that has lost its original appearance. Following this, a prototype was created with specific parameters relating to past and present sceneries. We partially reproduced an existing building complex currently being used for creative and commercial purposes, but it was a shelter for the poor and a house for old ladies to live in. There were not enough facts or images linked to the inner space in the past. Inadequate information allows audiovisual scene creators to be more imaginative. The prototype focuses on a functional design that integrates cultural traits tied to local industries. The researcher used image processing software, and web 3D tools (A-Frame 1.1.0). Users can navigate by virtually “walking” and starting the visual tour; simultaneously, the story unfolds as the timeline progresses. After entering, the users jump from the present to a specific era in the past. With audio guidance, users enter the private space, shared areas, working space, etc. Users can interact with objects from the virtual scenes while the interface displays relevant audiovisual introductions. Users could utilise the virtual system to learn how the old ladies led their daily lives in the Pearl River Delta Region and grasp the local single ladies’ group lifestyle at a specific time in the past (Kwong, 2020). The interactive experience enhances the users’ interest; additionally, the users become more familiar with the region’s traditional customs. With this approach, we can create old stories using modern technology. A-Frame provides users with great convenience and can be used by any Internet browser without relying on professional V.R. devices. The content from this usage provides a greater understanding of our heritage buildings and their historical context to the wider community. This could be used in other heritage sites worldwide to reproduce and maintain structural qualities over time. This immersive experience could be a means to navigate the past while in the present. This application could benefit exhibition developers, and visitors, notably in exhibition guided tours, virtual tours inside museums, or educational assisted historical storytelling.

Experience the Past in the Present with Immersive Technologies Case Study: “The Old Ladies’ House”, Albergue, Macau - Chang, Tin Lan (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

Family Support, Job Insecurity, Coronavirus Stress and Leadership Styles Effects on Burnout and Work Engagement in Hospitality during Covid-19 Pandemic in Macau - Chang, Pou I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); University of Saint Joseph

The Impacts of Burnout and Work Engagement on Performance: a Study of a Surveillance Team - Chang, Pou I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

臺灣地區融合教育政策與實施對澳門融合教育推行啟示之研究 - Chang, Hei Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) MANAGEMENT IN MACAO: MONITORING PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10 AND PM2.5) AT THE RENOVATION SITE IN LARGE SHOPPING MALLS - Chan, Weng Ian (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
"Over time, the large shopping malls in Macao will require some changes to improve space utilization, resulting in renovation projects that affect indoor particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations. Employees work long hours in an environment where the ambient air quality is poor, directly affecting their work efficiency. Nonetheless, the concentration of PM produced by the interior renovation of shopping malls has yet to receive particular attention. Therefore, this study will investigate IAQ, in particular, PM10 and PM2.5 in large-scale shopping mall renovation projects in three different indoor locations (i.e., public, renovation, and construction areas) to understand the causes of indoor PM10 and PM2.5. This study will collect on-site PM data for analysis, examine whether the current control measures are appropriate and propose some improvements. The data collected will be compared with IAQ standards from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG), specifically PM concentrations. The research results can provide a reference guide for decision-makers, management, construction teams, design consultant teams and renovation teams of large-scale projects. In addition, the monitoring of IAQ can ensure a comfortable environment for employees and customers."
Keywords: Construction Dust; Health Exposure; PM Monitoring; Particulate Matter; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Environmental Sciences and Management (MESM); University of Saint Joseph

THE USE OF AI TECHNOLOGY IN MACAO JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY - Chan, Weng Fai (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most advanced technology nowadays and has already been adopted by the media industry globally. Some research has stated that journalists use these technologies to improve their work. Studies found that the extent to which journalists use these technologies depends on the size of their organization and regional circumstances. This study explores how interviewed Macao journalists integrate AI tools into their work, focusing on text processing, translation, and idea generation to improve efficiency and creativity. In addition, respondents expressed that there is not enough information about AI for a small place like Macao. And the problem of application in a “three primary written languages and four spoken languages” environment. At the same time, respondents’ concerns about AI’s accuracy, reliability, and impact on journalistic professionalism are discussed, emphasizing the need for credible and trustworthy AI outputs. This study reveals a significant difference in AI tool adoption between Chinese and Portuguese respondents, with the former group showing a higher inclination towards using these technologies. Therefore, further research is suggested. In the absence of media competition in Macao, the use of AI and its knowledge is spread by journalists sharing it among different organizations, and there seems to be no official decision on the use of AI by media organizations in Macao
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph; generative AI; journalism; journalists; media; multicultural; multilingual; newsroom

The Effects of Distributive Justice, Perceived Organizational Support, Job Satisfaction and Caring Climate on Insurance Agents’ Turnover Intention: Mediating role of Affective Commitment and Its’ Implication For Insurance Company Management - Chan, Wang Cheong (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
The insurance companies in Macau are potentially facing a crisis of high turnover rates, exacerbated by the limited studies conducted on the insurance industry to address this issue, as the gaming and travel industries are currently experiencing a significant demand for human resources due to economic recovery. In light of this, a study was conducted to better understand the attitudes of 105 currently employed insurance agents in Macau insurance companies, specifically their commitment and thoughts of staying or leaving their employers. The study examined several independent variables (distributive justice, perceived organizational support (POS), job satisfaction, and caring climate) in relation to insurance agents’ turnover intention and the role of affective commitment. The aim was to determine the association between these variables and turnover intentions among insurance agents. The snowballing methodology was employed to effectively engage with the insurance agents and gain insights into their perspectives. The results of the statistical analysis revealed positive correlations between all independent variables and affective commitment. Job satisfaction and POS were identified as strong positive predictors. Additionally, mediated regression analyses demonstrated that affective commitment significantly mediated the relationship between all independent variables and turnover intention. Finally, the study provides implications for insurance company management to address and reduce the high turnover rate. Furthermore, the importance of future orientation is further discussed
Keywords: Affective commitment; Distributive justice; Insurance company; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Organisational Psychology (MOP); Turnover intention; University of Saint Joseph

How social media affects the purchase intentions of female consumers in Macao - watching beauty and cosmetics product experience videos on YouTube - Chan, Velda; Silva, Susana C.; Lampo, Alessandro (Revista Gestão em Análise, 2022)
YouTube has become increasingly popular for marketing purposes. As corporate and user-generated content is widely available on this platform, beauty-related professionals need to understand how to create videos that make their products more appealing and stand out from the clutter. In this study, we examine four factors (i.e., perceived usefulness of the information, perceived credibility of the information, attitude toward the purchase, and perceived video characteristics) that affect the purchase intentions of female consumers. After viewing beauty-related videos, a sample of 204 female consumers was analyzed by structural equation modeling. The findings showed that videos with more views, likes, and comments tend to have a greater effect on the respondents' intentions to purchase. Also, the factors of perceived usefulness of the information, perceived credibility of the information, and attitude toward the purchase exhibited a significant effect on the intention to buy beauty-related products. The result showed that perceived video characteristics (such as quality and visuals) did not significantly influence the purchase intention, however, there is evidence that this factor should not be ignored by content creators. Finally, our research provides insights, strategies, and future directions for industry practitioners and marketers.
Keywords: YouTube beauty products; YouTube marketing; beauty and cosmetics marketing; purchase intention

How Social Media Affects the Purchase Intentions of Female Consumers in Macao: Watching Beauty and Cosmetic Product Experience Videos on Youtube - Chan, Velda (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

METAVERSE: A STUDY OF CONSUMER PERSPETIVE IN MACAU - Chan, Vanda Cardoso (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Technology is an essential and valuable tool nowadays. New technology and innovations are introduced to the public day by day. Metaverse will be a new trend, as the Macau government has been trying to promote this technology since the COVID-19 pandemic is still here. Before this technology goes deeply to the public, this paper attempts to examine the consumer’s perspective of Metaverse and understand the cognition of Macau people about Metaverse. And bring out what factors and conditions will make them accept this technology. A qualitative research method will address the questions and problem to understand consumer perspectives towards this technology. Entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals will be invited to take part in this research. Ten interviews will be carried out in this research for data analysis, which may provide a board overview of this technology in Macau and give recommendations to local entrepreneurs. In conclusion, consumers think it is still not a well-developed technology and is not globally used at this stage. In contrast, if this technology is ready-to-use, it will be a helpful assistant in their businesses. They expect the metaverse to be fully developed in ten or more years
Keywords: Consumer perspective; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph; augmented reality; extended reality; marketing strategy; virtual reality

澳門小學階段新入職教師在融合教育中的挑戰 =: Challenges Encountered by Newly Recruited Teachers in Inclusive Education of Primary Schools in Macau - Chan, Pan Pan (University of Saint Joseph, 2020)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND RESILIENCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MACAO - Chan, Ngan Ieng (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
School-age children and adolescents face several psychological conditions frequently associated with negative consequences on behavioral and mental problems. Their level of mental resilience may affect their responses to academic or interpersonal issues and coping with challenges, which in turn affects their mental health. This study aims to characterize the current status of the psychopathology and resilience of secondary students and to analyze the relationship between psychopathology and resilience in a sample of 80 girls aged 12–18 was selected by cluster sampling from one private secondary school with six grades in Macao. In this study, we used the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) to assess behavioral and emotional problems and the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents to assess resilience. A total of 78 valid questionnaires were obtained for CBCL, 78 for TRF, 80 for YSR, and 77 for Resilience Scale and data were analyzed by using SPSS. The results reveal that clinical prevalence of Total Problems (YSR, 27.5% > CBCL, 19.2% > TRF, 15.4%) and Internalizing Problems (YSR, 22.5% > CBCL, 17.9% > TRF, 11.5%) from the perspective of adolescents was higher than that from the perspectives of parents and teachers. Senior students exhibited higher frequency on the borderline clinical range than Junior students. (χ2(2, N=80) =14.56, p<.001). The average score of resilience is 3.24±0.51, which is above the middle level. Regarding the YSR scale and Resilience scale, we found that the score of Affect Control is significantly negatively correlated with the score of Internalizing Problems (r = -.354, p<.01). Family Support is also significantly negatively correlated with the score of Internalizing Problems (r = -.302, p<.01). Good affect control and family support can reduce various emotional and behavioral problems. The results of the study found the resilience level can negatively affect internalizing problem behaviors and externalizing problem behaviors. The results are promising and can give clues for preventing and promoting measures regarding mental health issues to both family and school education contexts, as creating a sustainable development strategy of improving adolescents’ mental resilience quality
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph; psychopathology; resilience; secondary students

The attractiveness of Taobao: why do people always come back despite negative feedback - Chan, Nga Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Online shopping in Macau has developed rapidly in recent years. And the success of Taobao is significantly hard to not notice. Its’ sales are breaking the record every year. However, there are a lot of negative comments towards Taobao. Various researches and data have shown that live-streaming is one of the biggest contributions towards Taobao’s sales and record breaking. This research aims to investigate deeply to understand how Taobao counters those issues and the role of live-streaming in relation to it. Based on a review of the literature in the relevant areas , qualitative methodology is adopted after thorough considerations. A small sample size of 10 were selected to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews and the participants agreed to respond to answer the original interview questions and the follow-up questions. Analysis of the responses demonstrated e-customer service is the most influential variable towards repurchase intention. Live-streaming strategy can effectively and directly reduce constomer’s uncertainty of products and increase the efficiency of responsiveness. And product uncertainty and responsiveness speed are variables that impact purchase intention. The result demonstrated live-streaming's effectiveness in combating multiple negative aspects of Taobao and strengthening the positive aspects. On this basis, live-streaming is an impactful method to combat Taobao. In addition, e-service in terms of sufficiency of the staff’s communication skill have been found important towards customer’s satisfaction. A gap related to such an issue has been recommended in the further research recommendations along with other factors or sample groups, which are needed to explore deeply in the future
Keywords: Authenticity; Customer satisfaction; E- Service quality; Repurchase intention; Taobao; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

A Qualitative Research on Tutors' Attitudes Towards the Implementation of the Emotional Eduation in Macau Nurseries =: 澳門托兒所導師對幼兒情緒教育態度的質性研究 - Chan, Man Leng (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

A Financial Valuation of Alibaba Group Holding Limited - Chan, Man Hong (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

IoT Application into Macau Secondary School - Chan, Long Wai (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

Work-Life Balance and Life Satisfaction in Macao: The Mediating Effect of Work Satisfaction - Chan, Lok Man (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

澳門私立融合教育學校中資源教師現況與問題之研究 =: A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE CURRENT SITUATION AND FACING PROBLEMS OF RESOURCE TEACHERS IN PRIVATE INCLUSIVE EDUCATION SCHOOLS IN MACAO - Chan, Lok In (University of Saint Joseph, 2023)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph; 澳門; 私立融合教育學校; 融合教育; 資源教師

Influence of Parenting Styles Across Generations in Chinese Families in Macao - Chan, Lai Teng (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF BASIC FAMILY RELATIONS INVENTORY (BFRI) IN MACAO - Chan, Kuai Ian (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
By discussing various aspects of family functioning, including the intricate nature of family functioning, family dynamics’ impact on adolescent growth and lifelong development, and the COVID-19’s effects on family relationships, it reveals the importance and necessity of assessment instruments in the field of family counselling. And concerning the gap between family research and clinical practice as well as the absence of a singular tool capable of evaluating various family functions comprehensively in the Macao context, the study introduced the Basic Family Relations Inventory (BFRI; or ‘Cuestionario de Evaluación de las Relaciones Familiares Básicas’, CERFB), a self-reported questionnaire based on Linares’ Basic Family Relations Theory. This valuable tool consists of 25 items, assessing simultaneously the quality of family relationships in two basic dimensions—marital and parental functioning. This study aimed to develop the Chinese version of the BFRI and investigate its psychometric properties in the context of Macao. By employing a quantitative research approach, it evaluated the normal distribution, exploratory factor analysis and reliability of the BFRI in a non-clinical snowball and convenience sample of 165 participants with at least one biological child from 12 to 18 years old. In the exploratory factor analysis, the initial factor extraction resulted in four components, reflecting both marital and parental items. This suggested potential overlap and interconnectedness between the marital and parental subsystems. Subsequent analysis identified a three-factor solution, separating marital, negative parental, and positive parental components. This aligned with the factor structure of the original Spanish version of the BFRI. A two-factor solution was also explored, replicating findings from the previous Italian and Portuguese validation of the BFRI despite some inconsistencies in item alignment. The EFA results revealed that the three-factor structure of the Chinese version of the BFRI was the best fitting model for the Macao population. Reliability analysis, assessed through Cronbach’s alpha, indicated satisfactory internal consistency of the scales. The results of the analyses demonstrate promising psychometric properties, supporting the tool’s effectiveness in assessing marital and parental relationships in a Macao population. The study contributed to the development of the valuable family assessment instrument. It suggested that the Chinese version of the BFRI could serve as a useful instrument to concurrently assess the quality of marital and parental relationships and systematically collect the data of family functioning in both dimensions. It’s also believed that this instrument could benefit the evaluation of family dynamics and comprehension of family relations not only in family research studies, but also in counselling intervention and clinical therapy, preventing risks to the health of children as well as promoting healthy family contexts in Macao
Keywords: Basic Family Relations Inventory (BFRI); Marital relationship; Parental relationship; Psychometric properties; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph

Online Gaming with Digital Currencies: A Comparative Legal Study - Chan, Ka Yuen (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Lusophone and International Public Law(MLIPL); University of Saint Joseph

The Strategy Christian Chruches Use in Marketing and Building Brand in Macau: A Case Study of Macau Baptist Church - Chan, Ka Yue (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This research chooses Macau Baptist Church in Macau as the research object, studying the brand and marketing strategy adopted by the church and determining what is essential for Christian churches when they do marketing to build brand awareness. Branding is essential in church communication mechanisms to recruit members and build loyal membership to reach sustainability. This topic is a relatively new study in the research field; the Macau Baptist Church case filled the gap of lack of Asia sampling and provided the perspective from the Baptist in branding church. The research sets off to answer the question of what marketing strategies Christian churches in Macau can adopt to build brand awareness, adopting a qualitative case study research method. The primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with leaders involved and included in the marketing effort of recruitment and evangelisation in Macau Baptist Church. Secondary materials are analysed and collected through printed materials published by Macau Baptist Church, an online social media platform and monthly meeting minutes. Participant observation notes are used in the process of analysing the effectiveness of the strategy used by the church. In branding a Christian church, the key is to understand and accurately interpret the church identity and build a God-centred church to help attendees have a strong relationship with God with the a posteriori of understanding the word of God. A priori experience with God through the services and evangelical campaigns hold by the church. Then, the vision and mission, goal setting, review, and reform will be determined so the church can sustain itself in modern days and achieve church growth
Keywords: Asian church marketing; Church branding; Church marketing; Theses and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

Exploring the Impact of the Metaverse on Macau's Fashion Industry Development - Chan, Ka I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
The emergence of the virtual world through social media, technical advancements, digital fashion, and the concept of the Metaverse begs the question of whether Macau's fashion sector can transfer to the virtual sphere. Macau fashion designers have different needs for virtual fashion vs traditional fashion manifestations. The designer's experience, Macau residents' interest in the virtual world and metaverse, and communication inside the metaverse all play an important role in this study. This research study shows our design work, analysis, and conclusions, which explain the concepts and research incorporating the Metaverse virtual platform, virtual characters, user interaction for various target groups, and survey feedback. This detailed research provides a deeper understanding and insights into the Metaverse concept's usefulness in marketing Macau fashion businesses and providing essential information to local Macau fashion designers, fashion industry experts, and Macau people. According to preliminary investigation, utilising avatars and virtual fashion in the virtual world is a novel and promising way for fashion brand operations and expansion. This technique provides cost savings, endless creative options, and effective brand messaging, with the opportunity to predict future virtual fashion trends while keeping a real retail presence
Keywords: Communication; Digital Fashion; Macau's Fashion Industry; Metaverse; Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph; Virtual World

Integrating Internal Corporate Communication (ICC) Strategies to Enhance Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management: Chan Ka I - Chan, Ka I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2024)
This dissertation examines the relationship between internal corporate communication (ICC)strategies and occupational safety and health (OSH) Management practices in Macau's hospitality industry. The primary objective is to investigate how communication approaches can enhance workplace safety protocols and improve OSH outcomes for corporations in the leisure and entertainment sectors. The study aligns with Macau's several policies and economic development on promoting health and safety. It highlights the critical role of OSH Management in the post-COVID-19 business environment, influencing consumer choices and industry practices. The mixed-methods research identified critical success factors, including aligning OSH goals with corporate objectives, utilizing diverse communication platforms, and establishing a safety culture. Areas for improvement were also uncovered. The findings provide valuable insights for hospitality organizations, emphasizing the critical role of internal communication in driving effective OSH Management. By integrating communication strategies with OSH initiatives, organizations can cultivate a robust safety culture, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance employee well-being and customer satisfaction - key factors for long-term business success
Keywords: Communication; Hospitality; Occupational Safety and Health; Organization; Theses and Dissertations Master of Business Administration (MBA); University of Saint Joseph

澳門戲劇教育發展的演變及挑戰: 以澳門演藝學院戲劇學校為研究對象 =The Growth and Challenges of Theatre Education in Macau: A Case Study of The School of Theatre at the Macao Conservatory - Chan, Ka I. (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of History & Heritage Studies (MHHS); University of Saint Joseph

Project-based Learning in the Subject of General Studies in a Grade Five Class: A Case Study Approach - Chan, Ka Ho (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Education (MED); University of Saint Joseph

Interaction Design for a Contemporary Learning and Teaching Environment: Promoting Independent Learning at the Primary Level - Chan, Ka Chi (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Design (MDG); University of Saint Joseph

Interaction design for a contemporary learning and teaching environment: promoting independent learning at the primary level - Chan, Ka Chi (USJ Theses and Dissertations, 2022)
The world is perpetually changing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that the future is full of unforeseen challenges and potentialities. What are the implications of the advancement in technology on education? How are teachers coping with contemporary educational expectations? Is there a need to redesign the learning environment? What is the exact nature of the forces driving such a change? Is there anything we can learn from successful innovations around the globe? The goals of this dissertation include designing a learning/teaching app and redesigning classroom furniture for primary-level education. A design thinking methodology is used, working through the phases of empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing the two potential designs
Keywords: Design; Interaction analysis in education; Interactive multimedia

Factors influencing disability inclusion practice on social media - Chan, Joye Wai Peng; Phillips, Jenny O.L. (Association for Computing Machinery, 2023)
Digital inclusion in Macao is in the very beginning stage, and disability inclusion practice on social media in producing and promoting accessible social media content and needs is hard to find. This study aims to analyse the factors that influence communication staff's practice of disability inclusion on social media by using the combined employee behaviour and communication process model to provide suggestions to management who wants to promote disability inclusion practice on social media.The Service Centre for the Deaf of the Macau Deaf Association (MDA) was selected as the object for this case study. The online social media used for MDA's communication was analysed, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with members of the Association were conducted. The research findings showed that, except for the reward structure, factors examined from the work environment in terms of organisation, supervision and co-workers; communication staff themselves; outcomes of accessible social media communication; audience and feedbacks show relations with disability inclusion practices on social media. The delivery of inclusive culture, the influential power of disability stakeholders and the positioning of social media platforms are the key influencing factors.The interesting part of this study is that people without disabilities seem to be excluded from the disability inclusion practice carried out on MDA's Facebook. Their social media content is highly accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences yet seems not to involve the general public. The study object is a good model for producing accessible content, yet the optimisation of promoting social media accessibility needs further exploration.
Keywords: Accessible Social Media (ASM); Disability Employment; Disability Inclusion; Macau Deaf Association

The Perception of Skirt Wearing and Masculinity in Contemporary Society: A Case Study in São Paulo, Brazil and Shanghai, China - Chan, Jose Manuel Enesoe (University of Saint Joseph, 2022)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Communication and Media (MCM); University of Saint Joseph

Existential Psychotherapy and Irvin D. Yalom’s Perspective: A Systematic Literature Review - Chan, In Leng (University of Saint Joseph, 2021)
Keywords: Thesis and Dissertations Master of Couselling and Psychotherapy (MCP); University of Saint Joseph