Browsing by Author "Monteiro, Marta"
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- Circular animal protein hydrolysates: a comparative approach of functional propertiesPublication . Monteiro, Marta; Rodrigues-dos-Santos, Luciano; Filipa-Silva, Andreia; Marques, Diana A.; Pintado, Manuela; Almeida, André; Valente, Luisa M. P.The growing demand for nutraceuticals has driven interest in upcycling low-value proteins from processed animal by-products and insect larvae into functional protein hydrolysates. This study evaluated five such hydrolysates in comparison to a high-value commercial reference (CPSP90), assessing the proximate composition, amino acid profile, molecular weight distribution, antioxidant activity, and bacterial growth dynamics. Results revealed a wide variability in the composition and bioactivity, driven by the raw material and processing conditions. All hydrolysates displayed a medium to high crude protein content (55.1–89.5% DM), with SHARK being the most protein-rich. SHARK and SWINE hydrolysates were particularly rich in collagenic amino acids, while FISH and CPSP90 contained higher levels of essential amino acids. FISH and INSECT demonstrated the strongest antioxidant activity, with INSECT also showing the highest protein solubility. INSECT and SWINE further displayed mild, selective antibacterial effects, indicating a potential for disease mitigation. Conversely, SHARK and FISH supported opportunistic bacteria growth, suggesting a potential use as nitrogen sources in microbial media. These findings highlight the nutritional and functional versatility of animal-derived protein hydrolysates and support their integration into sustainable feed strategies within a circular bioeconomy.
- From problem structuring to optimization: a multi-methodological framework to assist the planning of medical trainingPublication . Cardoso-Grilo, Teresa; Monteiro, Marta; Oliveira, Mónica Duarte; Amorim-Lopes, Mário; Barbosa-Póvoa, AnaMedical training is an intricate and long process, which is compulsory to medical practice and often lasts up to twelve years for some specialties. Health stakeholders recognise that an adequate planning is crucial for health systems to deliver necessary care services. However, proper planning needs to account for complexity related with the setting of medical school vacancies and of residency programs, which are highly influenced by multiple stakeholders with diverse perspectives and views, as well as by the specificities of medical training. Aiming at building comprehensive models with a potential to assist health decision-makers, this article develops a multi-methodological framework to assist the planning of medical training under such a complex environment. It combines the structuring of the objectives and specificities of the medical training problem with a Soft Systems Methodology through the CATWOE (Customer, Actor, Transformation, Weltanschauung, Owner, Environment) approach, and the formulation of a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model that considers all relevant aspects. Considering the specificities of countries based on a National Health Service structure, a multi-objective planning model emerges, informing on how many vacancies should be opened/closed per year in medical schools and in each specialty. This model aims at (i) minimizing imbalances between medical demand and supply; (ii) minimizing costs; and (iii) maximizing equity across medical specialties. A case study in Portugal is explored so as to illustrate the applicability of the proposed multi-methodology, showing the relevance of proper structuring for planning models having the potential to inform health decision-makers and planners in practice.
- Locally-sourced animal protein hydrolysates in high-plant-protein diets can promote European seabass growth and nutrient utilization, reducing reliance on fishmealPublication . Rodrigues-dos-Santos, Luciano; Basto, Ana; Monteiro, Marta; António, Carla; Rodrigues, Ana M.; Sá, Tiago; Velasco, Cristina; Martins, Rui; Rosa, Ana; Pintado, Manuela; Almeida, André; Valente, Luisa M. P.Upcycling meat and fish by-products into bioactive protein hydrolysates promotes zero-waste practices within the circular bioeconomy and provides locally-sourced alternatives to replace fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds. In this study, novel hydrolysates were developed from blue shark skin, fish by-products, and swine processed animal protein, aiming to reduce the high-quality FM inclusion in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) diets. Four isoproteic (53%) and isolipidic (18%) plant-based diets were formulated: a control (CTRL) diet containing 12.5% FM was compared to three experimental diets, including 3% of each hydrolysate at the expense of FM-protein: SHARK, FISH, and SWINE. Seabass juveniles (13 g) stocked in 160 L tanks (3.9 kg/m3) were fed the diets in triplicate, three times daily until satiety, for 89 days. All diets were equally well accepted, promoting similar feed intake, daily growth index (1.6), and efficient feed conversion ratio (1.0–1.1). All fish at least quadrupled their initial size, but those fed the SWINE diet showed the highest body weight (55 g) and significantly higher condition factor (1.22), hepatosomatic index (HSI) (1.6), and viscerosomatic index (VSI) (8.4). Intestinal integrity remained similar across treatments, and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein and fat were above 96%. Iron (Fe) ADC was at least doubled with hydrolysates inclusion. Whole-body and muscle composition were similar across groups. However, the muscle metabolome of the SHARK-fed fish exhibited higher levels of glycolytic intermediates and lower levels of glucogenic amino acids (AAs) and fumarate, suggesting an increased catabolic activity. However, these changes were not reflected in fish growth performance or muscle flesh quality, which remained similar among treatments.