Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-04"
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- Il Colosso: un originale o un imbróglio?Publication . Aguiar, Maria
- Generalized problematic internet use, use of social networks, and appearance schemas in late adolescencePublication . Maia, B. Rodrigues; Moreira, H.; Macedo, A.; Pereira, A. T.Introduction: Research on the association between internet use and concerns about body image is still scarce. Objectives: To explore the associations between generalized problematic internet use, number of social networks, and appearance schemas. Methods: 216 Portuguese late adolescents (89.3% females), with a mean age of 18.62 years old (SD = .488, range: 18-19) filled in an internet patterns of use questionnaire, the Generalized Problematic Interne Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2) and The Appearance Schemas Inventory-Revised (ASI-R). Results: A total of 99.6% of the students use social networks. Subjects were divided into three groups (group1: 1-2 social networks; group 2: 3 social networks, and group 3: >3 social networks). There was a statistically difference in Motivational Salience scores (ASI-R) for the three groups [F (2, 503) = 6.0, p = .003]. Post-hoc comparisons indicated that the mean score for group 3 (M = 28.29, SD = 4.95) was significantly different from group 1 (M = 26.69, SD =4.55), and from group 2, (M = 26.87, SD =4.95). Generalized problematic internet subscales (Mood Regulation, Self-Deficient Regulation, and Negative Consequences) and total score were significantly correlated with both dimensions of ASI-R: Self-Evaluation Salience (coefficients varied from r = .31** to r = .47**) and Motivational Salience (from r = .14*, to r = .31**). Conclusions: Generalized problematic internet use and the number of social networks are associated with adolescent’s cognitive-behavioural investment in one’s own appearance. Study carried out under the strategic project of the Centre for Philosophical and Humanistic Studies (CEFH) UID/FIL/00683/2019, funded by the FCT.
- Opposition to immigration and (anti-)environmentalism: an application and extension of the social dominance-environmentalism nexus with 21 countries in EuropePublication . Graça, JoãoThe social dominance–environmentalism nexus proposes that orientations for inequality and domination are expressed both in human–human and human–nature relations. In two studies, the present work applies and extends this proposition to understand endorsement of environmental values, concern with climate change, support for climate policies, and responsibility for climate action. In study one, using a representative random sample from Portugal (N = 1270, 53.3% female; European Social Survey, ESS8), social dominance orientation showed unique associations with concern with climate change. Moreover, opposition to immigration (as expression of anti-egalitarianism in intergroup relations) showed unique associations with all four measures of environmentalism. In study two, multi-level analyses using representative random samples from 20 other countries in Europe (N = 38830, 51.5% female; ESS8) confirmed the associations between opposition to immigration and environmentalism, controlling for a set of sociodemographic covariates, political orientation, and nesting at the country level. However, there were differences in the strength and direction of these associations based on country levels of societal development (i.e., Human Development Index; HDI). These differences reinforce the notion that context or situational variables may shape the links between diverse expressions of (anti-)egalitarianism and (anti-)environmentalism. Inputs for applied research on hierarchy-affirming tendencies toward others and the natural environment are proposed and discussed.
- SARS-CoV-2: sir model limitations and predictive constraintsPublication . Telles, Charles Roberto; Lopes, Henrique; Franco, DiogoBackground: The main purpose of this research is to describe the mathematical asymmetric patterns of susceptible, infectious, or recovered (SIR) model equation application in the light of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) skewness patterns worldwide. Methods: The research mod-eled severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) spreading and dissemination patterns sensitivity by redesigning time series data extraction of daily new cases in terms of deviation consistency concerning variables that sustain COVID-19 transmission. The approach opened a new scenario where seasonality forcing behavior was introduced to understand SARS-COV-2 non-linear dynamics due to heterogeneity and confounding epidemics scenarios. Results: The main research results are the elucidation of three birth-and death-forced seasonality persistence phases that can explain COVID-19 skew patterns worldwide. They are presented in the following order: (1) the environmental variables (Earth seasons and atmospheric conditions); (2) health policies and adult learning education (HPALE) interventions; (3) urban spaces (local indoor and outdoor spaces for transit and social-cultural interactions, public or private, with natural physical features (river, lake, terrain). Conclusions: Three forced seasonality phases (positive to negative skew) phases were pointed out as a theoretical framework to explain uncertainty found in the predictive SIR model equations that might diverge in outcomes expected to express the disease’s behaviour.
- Cultura profesional y TIC en la formación del profesorado en tiempos de crisis: la percepción de los docentesPublication . Núñez, Quintín Álvarez; López Gómez, Silvia; Parada Gañete, Ana; Gonçalves, DanielaEn este artículo analizamos algunas razones básicas que explicarían las dificultades que el profesorado y los centros de Primaria han tenido para adaptarse a los cambios producidos por la pandemia. Para ello, nos basaremos en los resultados de dos investigaciones del grupo Stellae (USC). De la primera, utilizaremos los datos de las entrevistas a docentes de las Facultades de la USC que imparten la titulación de Magisterio, recogiendo sus percepciones sobre la construcción del conocimiento y la cultura profesional. De la segunda, usaremos los resultados de las entrevistas a un grupo de profesores especialistas en TIC, junto con las entrevistas realizadas a docentes de dos centros seleccionados por sus buenas prácticas, analizando sus percepciones sobre el uso escolar de las TIC y los Materiales Didácticos Digitales. Terminaremos con un breve análisis de cómo han de cambiar los procesos de formación docente, para hacer frente a las incertidumbres y nuevos desafíos que afronta la escuela en tiempos de crisis.
- New prospects in skin regeneration and repair using nanophased hydroxyapatite embedded in collagen nanofibersPublication . Ribeiro, Nilza; Sousa, Aureliana; Cunha-Reis, Cassilda; Oliveira, Ana Leite; Granja, Pedro L.; Monteiro, Fernando J.; Sousa, SusanaThis study reflects an exploitation of a composite matrix produced by electrospinning of collagen and electrospraying of nanophased hydroxyapatite (nanoHA), for skin regeneration applications. The main goal was to evaluate the effect of nanoHA, as source of localized calcium delivery, on human dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) growth, proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix production. This study revealed that calcium ions provided by nanoHA significantly enhanced cellular growth and proliferation rates and prevented adhesion of pathogenic bacteria strains typically found in human skin flora. Moreover, hMSCs were able to differentiate in both osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. Rat subcutaneous implantation of the membranes also revealed that no adverse reaction occurred. Therefore, the mechanically fit composite membrane presents a great potential to be used either as cell transplantation scaffold for skin wound regeneration or as wound dressing material in plastic surgery, burns treatment or skin diseases.
- Utilização de bicarbonato de sódio no preenchimento de cateteres de hemodiálisePublication . Ferreira, Raul; Reis, Carla; Neves, Vasco; Oliveira, IreneUma das principais causas de morbilidade e mortalidade em utentes submetidos a Hemodiálise, é a disfunção do acesso vascular devido a infeções e/ou formação de trombos. O uso de solução heparinizada é o método mais usado na manutenção da permeabilidade dos cateteres remontando à década de 70. A sua utilização de forma sistemática, tem ocultado os seus efeitos negativos, sendo esta intervenção alvo de alguma controvérsia nas últimas décadas. Após reflexão da prática baseada na evidência, surge como alternativa o uso de BICARBONATO DE SÓDIO, devido às suas propriedades anticoagulantes e anti-infeciosas, tornando-se essencial para a promoção de cuidados com qualidade e obtenção de ganhos em saúde.
- A pobreza em Portugal: trajetos e quotidianosPublication . Diogo, Fernando; Palos, Ana Cristina; Rodrigues, Carlos Farinha; Pereira, Elvira; Ribeiro, Fernando Bessa; Branco, Francisco; Trevisan, Gabriela; Fernandes, Lídia; Silva, Osvaldo; Perista, Pedro; Amaro, Inês
- Fermentation strategies for production of pharmaceutical terpenoids in engineered yeastPublication . Carsanba, Erdem; Pintado, Manuela; Oliveira, CarlaTerpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a broad and diverse class of plant natural products with significant industrial and pharmaceutical importance. Many of these natural products have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antimalarial effects, support transdermal absorption, prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, and have hypoglycemic activities. Production of these compounds are generally carried out through extraction from their natural sources or chemical synthesis. However, these processes are generally unsustainable, produce low yield, and result in wasting of substantial resources, most of them limited. Microbial production of terpenoids provides a sustainable and environment-friendly alternative. In recent years, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has become a suitable cell factory for industrial terpenoid biosynthesis due to developments in omics studies (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics), and mathematical modeling. Besides that, fermentation development has a significant importance on achieving high titer, yield, and productivity (TYP) of these compounds. Up to now, there have been many studies and reviews reporting metabolic strategies for terpene biosynthesis. However, fermentation strategies have not been yet comprehensively discussed in the literature. This review summarizes recent studies of recombinant production of pharmaceutically important terpenoids by engineered yeast, S. cerevisiae, with special focus on fermentation strategies to increase TYP in order to meet industrial demands to feed the pharmaceutical market. Factors affecting recombinant terpenoids production are reviewed (strain design and fermentation parameters) and types of fermentation process (batch, fed-batch, and continuous) are discussed.
- Increased extracellular polymeric substances production contributes for the robustness of aerobic granular sludge during long-term intermittent exposure to 2-fluorophenol in saline wastewaterPublication . Oliveira, Ana S.; Amorim, Catarina L.; Mesquita, Daniela P.; Ferreira, Eugénio C.; Loosdrecht, Mark van; Castro, Paula M. L.Industrial effluents often contain organic pollutants and variable salinity levels, making their treatment challenging. The high content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is thought to protect the microbial communities from stressful conditions. Ammonium and phosphate removal, EPS production, and granular morphology were assessed in a lab-scale AGS reactor operated during 138 days at continuous low or moderate salinity levels (1.41–6.46 g/L of NaCl) and intermittent short-term loadings of a fluoroorganic pollutant, 2-fluorophenol (2-FP, 20 mg/L). 2-FP was not degraded throughout operation. Ammonium removal efficiency was drastically affected whenever 2-FP stressor was present, decreasing from 99 % to non-detectable conversion levels, but completely recovering after 2-FP feeding ceased. Phosphate removal, initially disturbed by exposure to stress conditions, recovered with time, even when stressors were still present. Complete phosphate removal did not occur in periods when nitrite temporarily accumulated after nitrification started to recover. EPS composition and concentration in AGS varied during operation, initially decreasing from 133 to 34 mg/g VSS of AGS, during the stress phases but recovering thereafter to 176 mg/gVSS of AGS. Breakage of granules into smaller ones occurred at two different operational moments due to stressors presence. The presence of 2-FP and moderate salinity levels in wastewater had more immediate detrimental effects on nutrients removal than on EPS production. The AGS system capacity to recover the nutrient removal performance and EPS production, after the withdrawal of 2-FP from the inlet stream reinforced its robustness to deal with industrial wastewaters.