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  • The marriage dowries of peasant families of Minho, North of Portugal, in the modern era
    Publication . Araújo, Maria Marta Lobo de; Esteves, Alexandra Patrícia Lopes
    Our study focuses on the dowries of marriage of peasant families of Minho in the Modern Age and seeks to highlight the position of women at an important moment of your life-marriage. How to marry a daughter without a dowry was difficult, the families sought to provide them the best they could, resorting too often to the portion available to do so.
    2013-12Journal article Open access Show more
  • Valorisation of canned sardines and mackerel residues through extraction of bioactive compounds
    Publication . Ferraro, Vincenza; Piccirillo, Clara; Carvalho, Ana P.; Castro, Paula; Pintado, Manuela
    Healthful and valuable compounds can be recovered from the fish canning residues and employed in high-priority fields such as medicine and food, or in other areas such as agrochemical and animal feedings. Proteins, lipids, biopolymers, amino acids and enzymes can be recovered either from wastewaters or from solid residues (head, viscera, skin, tails and flesh) generated along the canning process of sardine and mackerel, throughout the salting, cooking and filleting stages. Sardine and mackerel scales were processed for the recovery of collagen and its hydrolysed derivatives, either enzymatically, such as collagen peptides, or thermally, such as gelatine. The hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate-based materials were extracted from bones throughout calcination, while anti-hypertensive peptides were recovered from flesh or cooking wastewater through enzymatic hydrolysis of muscle proteins. Peptides obtained from hydrolysis showed bioactivity namely high anti-hipertensive property. Collagen and collagen peptides could be employed in cosmetics and biomedicine, while gelatine could be used in low-fat food formulations, due to its fat-like melting properties which can contribute to a smooth and creamy mouth-feel. Hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate could be used for the development of biocompatible bone cement for craniofacial, oral-maxillofacial and orthopaedic defect repair, and coating for femoral components; the ion-exchange properties of hydroxyapatite could make it also suitable for wastewater treatment (heavy metals removal). Finally, anti-hypertensive peptides from flesh residues, as well as collagen peptides (<3000 Da) could be employed in the development of functional foods and drinks formulations. This research shows the opportunities for the valorisation of bioactive compounds from sardine and mackerel canning residues. These are amongst the most consumed fish in the Mediterranean area; moreover, canning is one of the most important and applied methods of preservation. The large quantities of by-products generated have great potentials of valorisation and the extraction of bioactive compounds will also contribute to reduce their impact on the environment.
    2013-12Conference object Open access Show more
  • The efficiency of the dairy sector in mainland Portugal
    Publication . Costa, Leonardo; Sottomayor, Miguel
    A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach is employed to analyse the efficiency of dairy farms in mainland Portugal. The data are a 2010 sample from the European Commission Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of 271 Portuguese mainland dairy farms. In the first stage, a directional input distance function and DEA are used to generate overall inefficiency measures and decompose them for each farm. In the second stage, the inefficiency measures are regressed on environmentaland/or organizational factors to explain efficiency differentials. Despite environmental and/or organizational differences, results indicate that most dairy farms in mainland Portugal can reduce costs by improving allocative efficiency and pure technical efficiency.
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  • Bacteria immobilsation on hydroxyapatite surface for wastewater treatment
    Publication . Pereira, Sofia Isabel Almeida; Piccirillo, Clara; Marques, Ana P. G. C.; Pullar, Robbert C.; Pintado, Manuela M. E.; Castro, Paula M. L.
    Heavy metals pollution in the environment is a big cause of concern, due to the toxicity of the metals themselves. In this work we propose an innovative method for heavy metals removal from contaminated waste water – a combination of hydroxyapatite (already used for water treatment) and microorganisms. Selected bacterial strains were immobilised on the surface of hydroxyapatite of natural origin (extracted from cod fish bones). These systems were used to tested on heavy metals, such as zinc and cadmium, from water solutions. The three strains used were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Microbacterium oxydans and Cupravidus sp.; they were selected as they showed high heavy metal resistance. SEM micrographies were used to study their immobilization on the hydroxyapatite surface. Solutions containing different concentrations of either Zn (II), Cd (II) or both metals at the same time were used. Results showed that the combination of hydroxyapatite and bacteria increases the metal uptake, indicating a synergistic action between the solid support and the bacteria biofilm. Particularly high removal rates were observed for higher heavy metal concentrations and for the Pseudomonas fluorescens strain. This work shows a promising way for environmental remediation, combining products of natural origin with microbiology.
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  • Receitas oitocentistas para a conservação de gravuras: "restauração de quadros e gravuras", de Manuel de Macedo
    Publication . Carvalho, Salomé de
    A análise da tratadística revela-se um esforço essencial para o aprofundamento científico da Conservação e Restauro, em particular no que concerne ao conhecimento das técnicas artísticas e técnicas específicas de "restauro". A obra "Restauração de quadros e gravuras", da autoria de Manuel de Macedo (conservador de museu em 1884), publicada em 1885 e muitas vezes mencionada em artigos científicos e trabalhos de investigação, nunca foi devidamente dissecada em todas as suas partes, nem divulgada como pensamos ser seu merecimento, pela valiosa informação que contém, bem como pelo teor descritivo das receitas e processos. É nossa intenção partilhar a informação contida neste documento, num esforço de divulgação da tratadística portuguesa do século XIX. Estruturámos a nossa análise em duas partes, uma primeira dedicada aos critérios e processos relativos à gravura, e uma segunda inteiramente dedicada à pintura a óleo sobre tela, madeira e cobre. Trataremos presentemente da primeira parte.
    2013-12Journal article Open access Show more
  • Terminologia associada à conservação e restauro de pintura
    Publication . Bailão, Ana
    Em Portugal utilizam-se três termos para definir a fase final de uma intervenção de conservação e restauro: reintegração ou integração, pictórica ou cromática, e retoque. Neste artigo é feito um levantamento de algumas fontes bibliográficas de referência, nacionais e internacionais, de forma a se perceber qual dos três termos é o mais utilizado.
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  • Synthesis, characterization and functional properties of galactosylated derivatives of chitosan through amide formation
    Publication . Matute, Ana I. Ruiz; Cardelle-Cobas, Alejandra; García-Bermejo, Ana B.; Montilla, Antonia; Olano, Agustin; Corzo, Nieves
    Low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) and chitooligosaccharide (COS) derivatives were obtained by the introduction of lactobionic acid (LA) through amide formation, obtaining different complexes COS-LA and LMWC-LA (1-5), with a degree of substitution (DS) between 3 and 16%. The synthesis of these derivatives was monitored by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Size Exclusion Chromatography (HPLC-SEC) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) analyses. Different functional properties, solubility, water binding capacity (WBC) and fat binding capacity (FBC), as well as the antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging activity) of these derivatives were evaluated. Solubility, WBC and FBC increased in all of the chitosan derivatives respect to those of the native LMWC or COS. The most substituted derivative (LMWC-LA1, DS 15%) presented the highest value of solubility (14.4mg/mL) while the highest levels of WBC and FBC were obtained for the derivative with a DS of 3% (LMWC-LA5; 4730% and 7100%, respectively). COS and COS-LA presented the best DPPH scavenging abilities, as shown by their low values of EC50 (1.29 and 3.45mg/mL, respectively). An inverse relationship between the DS of chitosan derivatives and antioxidant activity was observed. LMWC-LA5 (3% DS) was the derivative with the highest DPPH activity, being higher than LMWC in all the concentrations assayed (10.2-14.3% and 6.9-13.7%, respectively). Due to their enhanced functional properties, these chitosan derivatives could be considered as very promising for their future use as additives in the food industry (i.e. to bind fat and cholesterol or avoid hardening of foods).
    2013-12Journal article Open access Show more
  • Investigação em história de enfermagem: um contributo do passado para o futuro
    Publication . Ferreira, Amélia; Canastra, Albertina; Esteves, Alexandra
    Sabemos que a enfermagem necessita cada vez mais de investigação, mas poucos são os que recorrem ao método histórico para desenvolver trabalhos, apesar de todos os métodos terem a mesma finalidade – dar credibilidade à investigação. O presente trabalho pretende, através de uma metodologia de pesquisa bibliográfica descritiva, fornecer um panorama dos passos envolvidos na execução de uma pesquisa histórica em enfermagem, realçando a importância deste tipo de pesquisa na descoberta, consolidação e amadurecimento da profissão. Neste tipo de estudo, o papel do investigador é fundamental, pois ele será o principal responsável na recolha de informação. A consciência das dificuldades deve estar presente em todos os momentos, devido à subjetividade inerente, pelo que a reconstrução, o mais aproximada possível, dos fenómenos será essencial para a fidelidade do mesmo. Podemos concluir que a memória da profissão se constrói através da investigação histórica, sendo esta um desafio constante, pois sem passado não há significado para o presente nem se pode desenvolver um sentido próprio, quer como indivíduos quer como profissão.
    2013-12Journal article Open access Show more
  • Identificação de Necessidades de Intervenção Psicológica: um estudo piloto no ensino superior
    Publication . Pinto, Joana Carneiro; Pinto, Helena Rebelo; Faria, Liliana; Taveira, Maria do Céu
    Diversos estudos têm demonstrado que os serviços de aconselhamento psicológico têm um papel preponderante na promoção do bem-estar, satisfação e sucesso, ao nível pessoal, académico, e profissional (Bishop, 1990; RESAPES, 2002). No entanto, nem sempre as instituições de ensino superior investem na criação destes serviços e, por vezes, a sua presença e disponibilidade não assegura a sua procura, dado que nem sempre os alunos os percecionam como um recurso eficaz e credível de apoio às suas necessidades (Giovazolias, Leontoponlan, & Triliva, 2010). O presente estudo visa explorar as necessidades de intervenção psicológica de 157 estudantes da Faculdade de Ciências Humanas da Universidade Católica Portuguesa de Lisboa. Para o efeito, são exploradas as preocupações e necessidades pessoais, de carreira e de aprendizagem, bem como as preferências relativamente ao apoio pretendido ou previamente recebido, através do Questionário de Identificação de Necessidades de Intervenção Psicológica (Gallagher, Golin, & Kelleher, 1992; tradução de Pinto, 2010). Os resultados obtidos indicam que os participantes necessitam de mais informação ou apoio nas seguintes áreas: (i) aumentar a autoconfiança, (ii) aumentar a motivação, (iii) medo de falhar, (iv) controlar a ansiedade e o nervosismo, (v) estratégias de procura de emprego, (vi) escolha de uma carreira, e (vii) competências de gestão de tempo. Verifica-se ainda uma preferência, relativamente ao apoio pretendido, pelas modalidades de aconselhamento individual e em grupo. Existem diferenças em função do sexo e da média atual no curso. Retiram-se implicações para a disponibilização de sistemas, estratégias e atividades de apoio psicológico dirigidas aos alunos, que possam responder de forma adequada às suas diferentes preocupações. Antecipa-se ainda que seja possível, no futuro, o desenvolvimento de programas de formação e treino de profissionais de psicologia que concorram para o desenvolvimento de respostas técnica e cientificamente fundamentadas congruentes com as necessidades identificadas.
    2013-12Conference object Open access Show more
  • Respiratory function in healthy first-degree relatives of asthmatic adolescents
    Publication . Pereira, C.; Veiga, N.; Barros, H.
    Asthma is a complex disease associated with biological and physiological phenotypes. The objective of this study was to compare the respiratory function in healthy first-degree relatives of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents. We used a cross-sectional approach to assess 101 family cases (presence of one or more adolescents classified as asthmatic) and 275 stable families (families without adolescents classified as asthmatic). We obtained a final sample of 822 relatives. The respiratory function was evaluated by the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), and the forced vital capacity (FVC), using the Microlab 3300® Spirometer. A self-administered questionnaire was used to record upper and lower airway symptoms, allergic symptoms and medical history. To compare continuous variables, the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied when variables did not follow a Gaussian distribution and the variances were not homogeneous. A linear regression adjusted for age, gender and height was also applied to compare the lung function between asthmatic and non-asthmatic relatives. Parents of asthmatic adolescents had significantly lower values of the lung function than both parents together and mothers of non-asthmatics (84.6 vs. 97.6, p <0.01, for FEV and 84.3 vs. 97.9, p <0.01, for FVC, and 97.3 vs. 109.7, p <0.01, for FEV and 89.5 vs. 105.5, p <0.01, for FVC, respectively). Also, siblings of asthmatic adolescents had lower FEV (98.6 vs. 109.4, p <0.01) and FVC values (85.9 vs. 102.7, p <0.01). The healthy first-degree relatives of asthmatic adolescents have worse respiratory function than those of non-asthmatic adolescents. Asymptomatic relatives of asthmatics can have physiological characteristics that may reveal the phenotypic pattern of the disease.
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