Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2016-01"
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- Editorial #5Publication . Baptista, Tiago; Viegas, Susana; Ferreira, Carolin Overhoff; Piçarra, Maria do Carmo; Castro, Teresa; Ribas, Daniel
- Effect of chronic consumption of blackberry extract on high-fat induced obesity in rats and its correlation with metabolic and brain outcomesPublication . Meireles, Manuela; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M; Marques, Cláudia; Norberto, Sónia; Freitas, Joana; Fernandes, Iva; Mateus, Nuno; Gomes, Ana Maria; Faria, Ana; Calhau, ConceiçãoFlavonoids have been presented as potential protectors against metabolic and cognitive dysfunction. However, mechanisms underlying these 'claims' have not been sufficiently explored. To analyse the effect of long-term supplementation with blackberry extract (BE) in the context of a high-fat or a standard diet, Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6) fed with a standard or a high-fat diet, with or without BE supplementation at 25 mg per kg body weight per day. A high-fat diet significantly impaired glucose tolerance and increased body weight, caloric ingestion, very-low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and cholesterol. Furthermore, it was observed that a high-fat diet increased dopamine content in the prefrontal cortex and decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels both in the prefrontal cortex and in plasma. BE supplementation only affected some of these aspects. BE slightly improved glucose metabolism and significantly decreased levels of lactate, independent of diet. BE decreased levels of BDNF and also interacted with the dopaminergic system, increasing dopamine turnover in the striatum, and reverting dopamine content induced by a high-fat diet in the prefrontal cortex. This study shows that, despite some particular benefits of anthocyanin supplementation, some long-term effects may not be desirable and further studies are needed to optimize ingestion conditions.
- Fermentation of bioactive solid lipid nanoparticles by human gut microfloraPublication . Madureira, Ana Raquel; Campos, Débora; Gullon, Beatriz; Marques, Cláudia; Rodríguez-Alcalá, Luís M.; Calhau, Conceição; Alonso, Jose Luis; Sarmento, Bruno; Gomes, Ana M.; Pintado, M. E.Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) can be used for oral delivery of phenolic compounds in order to protect them from the harsh conditions of digestion and improve their bioavailability in the intestinal epithelium. Recently, the production and characterization of SLNs loaded with rosmarinic acid (RA) and herbal extracts was performed for future use as functional food ingredients. Diet components have been shown to have a huge impact on gut microbiota viability and metabolic activity. Hence, SLNs loaded with RA, sage and savoury extracts have been evaluated for their effect on intestinal microbiota growth and the metabolic products generated. Fermentations in anaerobic batch cultures using volunteer human faeces were performed during 24 h. Dynamic bacterial population changes were analysed using PCR-real time, as well as the generation of fatty acids and the quantification of phenolic compounds by analytical methods. Solid lipid nanoparticles released phenolic compounds at non-inhibitory bacterial growth concentrations. Released herbal extract phenolic compounds showed a beneficial effect on gut microbiota growth (e.g. bifidogenic effects) and were used as substrates. Acetate, formate, lactate and butyrate were produced in higher concentrations. The released phenolic compounds also induced PUFA and trans fatty acids metabolic activity, the production of saturated fatty acids, as well of potential beneficial conjugated linoleic acid isomers. Solid lipid nanoparticles modulate gut microbiota and metabolic activities.
- Redes de justiça e conhecimento da cidade medieval portuguesa: o exemplo de Lisboa (séculos XII-XV)Publication . Farelo, MárioEste trabalho pretende caraterizar o sistema judicial na Lisboa medieval. A análise do seu processo de criação e de desenvolvimento ilustram o quanto o mesmo foi devedor das conjunturas que envolveram as jurisdições régias e municipais existentes na cidade, desde um período de formação e consolidação nos séculos XII a XIV à sua complexificação no âmbito da afirmação de Lisboa como futura cabeça do Império português.
- Digital wine marketing: social media marketing for the wine industryPublication . Viana, Natália AndradeThe wine industry recognizes the increasingly relevant role of digital marketing as a valuable and appropriate tool to reach (adult) consumers. This paper intends to trace a brief analysis about Digital Wine Marketing and Social Media Marketing contribution for the Wine Industry to increase brand awareness and sales and develop a short guidance to digital marketing as well. When consumers search for wine and wineries on internet they are bombarded with an massive volume of brand messages, meaning that delivering creative, polished content is key if a brand wants to capture people's attention. So, make a good wine is a important part of the work, but after this is necessary to give it the presentation it deserves, communicating accurately to consumers and have in mind that digital marketing activities are in a state of evolutionary development, where new trends are likely to occur rapidly and wineries have to adapt.
- Utopias neognósticas do pós-humano na cibercultura. Para uma leitura filosófico-teológicaPublication . Duque, João ManuelPropõe-se um exercício de cibercrítica teológica, ou seja, uma análise crítica das tendências pós-humanas inerentes à cibercultura. Partindo do pressuposto de que a cibercultura é atualmente a cultura dominante e de que muitos dos seus elementos possuem caraterísticas gnósticas, são estudadas algumas das suas teorizações mais radicais, em que esse gnosticismo se manifesta de modo mais evidente. Ao desafio do pós-humanismo inerente a certas utopias da cibercultura é contraposta a noção judaico-cristã de pessoa, como base de uma antropologia anti-gnóstica.
- EditorialPublication . Caldas, Alexandre Castro; Martins, Fernando Mena; Santos, Maria Emília
- Learning and teaching using digital books: opportunities and constraintsPublication . Gonçalves, Daniela; Almeida, Susana deIt is increasingly noticeable that society is constantly evolving in a complex way and school life reflects this strong influence. Therefore education also becomes a very complex and everchanging organization. This social scenario urges us to focus on the quality of education, placing the teacher at its core and on the quality of the pedagogical intervention. This leads us to some questions: Do teachers reflect on their teaching? Do teachers question the way they teach? Do teachers justify the use of the teaching materials they select? What about the methods they use? Do they identify the results of their teaching? Taking into account the teaching strategies that they use and the learning process, do teachers question those results and how to improve? With these concerns, it is essential to link the use of strategies that assume the effective and enriching development of theoretical and practical interaction processes to the learning and teaching using digital books: opportunities and constraints. It is in this context that we will present the main results of a qualitative research held in a public school. Twelve teachers of the first cycle of basic education have participated in this study.
- Antigas impregnações a óleo aplicadas no reverso de pintura sobre tela. O estudo científico dos materiais encontrados numa pintura portuguesaPublication . Teixeira, Andréa; Calvo, Ana; Aguiar, MariaTestemunho de intervenções históricas de restauro, o suporte da pintura sobre tela “O Cavaleiro da Ordem de Malta”, datada do século XVIII, foi alvo da aplicação, pelo seu reverso, de camadas de impregnação à base de óleo e pigmentos. O estudo científico das camadas de impregnação, com o recurso à microscopia ótica (MO) de reflexão, com luz polarizada e com radiação ultravioleta (UV), cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa (GC-MS), micro-espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (micro-FTIR) e microscopia eletrónica de varrimento acoplada a espectrometria de raios X por dispersão de energia (SEM-EDX), possibilitou a identificação de duas camadas compostas por diversos pigmentos aglutinados em óleo de linhaça e ainda a presença de resina colofónia, cola animal e amido.
- Stigma among nursing students: before and after contact with people with mental disordersPublication . Gil, Isabel Maria de Assunção; Santos, José Carlos Pereira dos; Loureiro, Luís Manuel de JesusObjective: to examine nursing students’ attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and the mentally ill and the effect of clinical training on these beliefs and attitudes by comparing stigma before and after clinical teaching. Method: this is a pre-experimental study and the sample comprised 89 students on an undergraduate Nursing course, in Portugal, in 2010. Data were collected using a Mental Illness Beliefs Inventory and the translated and adapted Portuguese version of the Opinions about Mental Illness Scale. Results: the results related to beliefs and attitudes before and after clinical training reveal a statistically significant effect on the belief in incur-ability and the attitude towards social restriction. Conclusion: the clinical training contributes to a more positive outlook in nursing students’ beliefs and attitudes.