Browsing by Author "Moreira, P."
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- Analytical characterization of copper-based metal sculptures in Portugal in 1880-1990: the artwork of Soares dos ReisPublication . General-Toro, P.; Bottaini, C.; Bordalo, R.; Nocco, C.; Brunetti, A.; Carvalho, S.; Moreira, P.; Vieira, E.António Soares dos Reis (1847-1889) is considered one of the most important Portuguese sculptors of the 19th century. His work marked the end of Portuguese Romanticism and the beginning of Naturalism. Due to his premature death, his artistic production can be considered modest but of the highest technical quality. Since the sculptor did not leave documents that can help to the understanding of his artistic creative process the main sources are the artworks. Although it is currently possible to find a significant amount of his artwork in bronze, the number of metal casts made during the artist's life is very limited. Accordingly, there are only a few sculptures in bronze made during his lifetime. Instead most of his bronze sculptures, the major part displayed both in museums and outdoors, dates from the 20th century, spanning from the first decades to the 1990s. The study, supported by the Portuguese ERIHS.PT platform, focused on six sculptures using an integrated multi-analytical approach combining by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence analysis (EDXRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy to characterize the sculptures with the aim to determine their elemental composition and technological features. Also, a Monte-Carlo approach was used to further a non-destructive study of the metal layers. The main results of this study allowed to obtain the characterization of the bulk metal and its patina and to distinguish the corrosion patterns from internal and external environments. This study will also enable to get a deeper knowledge on evolution of the Portuguese art foundry industry, namely materials, and technical changes between the late 19th century and the 20thcentury.
- Biovalorization of technical lignins for added-value products and applicationsPublication . Duarte, J. C. Cardoso; Malcata, F. Xavier; Moreira, P.; Almeida-Vara, E.; Sena-Martins, G.Lignin is an abundant non-toxic amorphous natural polymer. Nowadays it is available a great variety and large amounts of technical lignins as by-products from the pulp and paper industries. Some successful biotechnological applications of enzymatically modified lignins are described in the literature, namely for the production of lignin based copolymers, binders for wood composites, chelating agents, compositions for treating porous materials, coatings, paintings and others. From a new species from Bjerkandera genus which exhibits high decolourisation activity on Poly R-478 and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dyes, was isolated, purified and identified the main enzyme responsible for Remazol Brilliant Blue R dye decolourisation. Such an enzyme is able to oxidise manganese, as well as VA and DMP in manganese-independent reactions; the enzyme substrate range for oxidation of several phenolic and non-phenolic aromatic compounds was determined. This enzyme was tested for transformation of a lignin fraction obtained from straw pulping. Characterisation by gel filtration chromatography of the evolution of the molecular mass distribution of the lignin fragments generated by said enzyme indicated that this enzyme is able to interact directly with lignin in the absence of other mediators.
- Characterisation of a fungal isolate able to decoulorise RBBR dyePublication . Moreira, P.; Almeida-Vara, E.; Sena-Martins, G.; Duarte, J. C.; Malcata, F. Xavier
- Esculturas de Soares dos Reis: análise de características metálicas e corrosão para a preservação artística em ligas de cobrePublication . General-Toro, P.; Bottaini, C.; Bordalo, R.; Moreira, P.; Vieira, E.As esculturas de António Soares dos Reis (1847-1889) representam um acervo inestimável no contexto do património escultórico português do século XIX. No entanto, as suas obras em metal nunca tinham sido estudadas desde o ponto de vista analítico. A degradação de obras esculturais metálicas, causada por fatores intrínsecos e ambientais (impulsionados pelas alterações climáticas), torna necessário o estudo do metal utilizado nas esculturas, bem como as pátinas artificiais e naturais que surgem na superfície. Um estudo analítico de treze esculturas de Soares dos Reis, executado pelo Laboratório HERCULES, permitiu determinar a composição do metal e a tecnologia e práticas de fundição portuguesa, assim como o tipo de corrosão que sofrem estas obras. Os resultados possibilitam estabelecer estratégias de conservação e salvaguarda para melhor proteger este importante patrimônio, não apenas nas obras de Soares do Reis, mas para a escultura em metal em geral.
- The influence of socioeconomic factors and family context on energy-dense food consumption among 2-year-old childrenPublication . Vilela, S.; Oliveira, A.; Pinto, E.; Moreira, P.; Barros, H.; Lopes, C.BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adverse effect on health has been described for a high consumption of energy-dense food, among children and adults. Limited research has been performed among pre-school children. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between socioeconomic characteristics and family structure, and the consumption of energy-dense food among 2-year-old children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study sample includes 808 2-year-old children from the Portuguese birth cohort Generation XXI with information on food consumption. Data were obtained from questionnaires administered by interviewers to parents. Based on a food frequency questionnaire, four groups of energy-dense food were defined: soft drinks (sweetened drinks), sweets (chocolate and candies), cakes (creamy and not creamy cakes and sweet pastry) and salty snacks (crisps, pizza and burger). Multinomial logistic regression models (odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals) were fitted to estimate the associations. RESULTS: Intakes of energy-dense food were much lower than in similar aged children in other Westernized countries. Maternal age and education, grandparents' education, household income and maternal occupation were inversely associated with the consumption of energy-dense food, particularly soft drinks and sweets. Children with older siblings were more likely to have a daily consumption of any energy-dense food. Few significant associations were found between socioeconomic characteristics and family structure and consumption of cakes and sweets less than once a week. CONCLUSION: High socioeconomic characteristics were associated with lower consumption of energy-dense food by 2-year-old children, mainly soft drinks and sweets. This influence is not only from parents' background but also from the preceding generations.