Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-08"
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- La peur petit chasseur de Laurent AchardPublication . Natálio, CarlosAnálise fílmica do filme "La Peur Petit Chasseur" de Laurent Achard. Material Pedagógico produzido no contexto do Projeto Europeu "Histórias Curtas Grandes Questões", financiado pelo programa MEDIA e pelo ICA.
- Empatia e moral – que relação na trança da evolução biológica e da evolução cultural?Publication . Gaspar, Augusta
- Towards an in-depth understanding of physical activity and eating behaviours during COVID-19 social confinement: a combined approach from a portuguese national surveyPublication . Silva, Marlene Nunes; Gregório, Maria João; Santos, Rute; Marques, Adilson; Rodrigues, Bruno; Godinho, Cristina; Silva, Catarina Santos; Mendes, Romeu; Graça, Pedro; Arriaga, Miguel; Freitas, GraçaRapid worldwide decreases in physical activity (PA), an increase in sedentary behaviour (SB) and poorer dietary patterns have been reported during COVID-19 confinement periods. However, as national variability has been observed, this study sought to describe PA, SB and eating patterns, and to explore their gender as well as other socio-demographic correlates and how they interrelate in a representative sample of Portuguese adults during the COVID-19 first mandatory social confinement. The survey was applied online and by telephone to 5856 adults (mean age = 45.8 years; 42.6% women). The majority reported high (46.0%) or moderate (20.5%) PA levels. Men, younger participants, those with higher education levels and a favourable perception of their financial situation reported higher PA levels, with the opposite pattern for SB. Physical fitness activities and household chores were more reported by women, with more strength training and running activities reported by men. Regarding eating behaviours, 45.1% reported changes, positive (58%) and negative (42%), with 18.2% reporting increases in consumption of fruit, vegetables, and fish and other seafood consumption, while 10.8% (most with lower educational level and less comfortable with their income) reported an increase in consumption of ready-to-eat meals, soft drinks, savoury snacks, and take-away and delivered meals. Two clusters—a health-enhancing vs. risky pattern— emerged through multiple correspondence analysis characterized by co-occurrence of high vs. low PA levels, positive vs. negative eating changes, awareness or not of the COVID-19 PA and dietary recommendations, perceived financial situation, higher vs. lower educational level and time in social confinement. In conclusion, while in social confinement, both positive and negative PA and eating behaviours and trends were displayed, highlighting the role of key sociodemographic correlates contributing to healthy vs. risky patterns. Results may inform future health interventions and policies to be more targeted to those at risk, and also advocate the promotion of PA and healthy eating in an integrated fashion.
- Kiem Holijanda de Sarah VeltmeyerPublication . Natálio, CarlosAnálise fílmica do filme “Kiem Holijanda” de Sarah Veltmeyer". Material Pedagógico produzido no contexto do Projeto Europeu "Histórias Curtas Grandes Questões", financiado pelo programa MEDIA e pelo ICA.
- Carob bean (Ceratonia siliqua L.): a new perspective for functional foodPublication . Brassesco, María Emilia; Brandão, Teresa R. S.; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Pintado, ManuelaBackground: Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an evergreen tree that belongs to the Leguminosae family and is typical of the Mediterranean basin. It is well known for its valuable locust bean gum obtained from carob seeds. However, the food industry can obtain different carob products from carob fruit after processing. Carob products are good sources of dietary fibre, sugars, and a range of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and D-pinitol. Scope and approach: Bioactive compounds present in carob fruit and its derived products help control many health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders due to their anti-hyperglycaemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. So, carob products have a great potential to be used as a functional food ingredient. Key findings and conclusions: This article focuses on carob characteristics and processing, chemical composition, health benefits, and applications in food formulations to explore the potential of carob in developing a wide variety of health-beneficial food products.
- Ecology as a new foundation for natural theologyPublication . Lind, Andreas Gonçalves; Nobre, BrunoThe erosion of metaphysics that began in Modernity has led to the discredit of the whole project of natural theology as a means to reach God, establish the classical divine attributes, and account for divine action. After the deconstruction of classical metaphysics propelled by thinkers associated with the Protestant tradition and by philosophers affiliated with the Nietzschean critique, it may appear that only an apophatic approach to God would then be possible. However, the attempt to establish a consensual foundation for the theological discourse has not lost its relevance. In this sense, the attempts to revitalize natural theology are most welcome. It would be naive, however, to think that approaches to natural theology based on classical metaphysics will easily gather consensus. This will not happen. The departing point for a renewed and credible approach to natural theology cannot be the theoretical universal reason associated with Modernity, which is no longer acknowledged as a common ground. As such, a viable approach to natural theology has to find a new consensual starting point. The goal of this article is to argue that the emergence of a new ecological urgency and sensibility, which nowadays gather a high degree of consensus, offers an opportunity for the renewal of natural theology. It is our aim: (i) to show the extent to which God grounds the intrinsic value of nature, which, as such, deserves respect, and (ii) to suggest that the reverence for nature may naturally lead contemporary human beings to God.
- Cytotoxicity of frutalin on distinct cancer cells is independent of its glycosylationPublication . Oliveira, Carla; Freitas, Ana Isabel; Campos, Nair; Saraiva, Lucília; Domingues, LucíliaFrutalin is a plant lectin with beneficial immunobiological action, although the access to its active form is still restricted. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap on isoform activity and glycosylation impact on its bioactivity, and recombinant production protocols were seen as ineffective. Here, a simpler and faster production and purification protocol was developed, attaining a yield of purified frutalin 3.3-fold higher than that obtained previously. Hemagglutination assays confirmed that this frutalin isoform could not agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes, while maintaining the native tetrameric structure, as indicated by DLS analysis, and strong interaction with methyl-alpha-galactose, in fluorescence spectroscopy studies. The cytotoxicity of the recombinant frutalin isoform was shown in a broad panel of human cancer cells: colon (HCT116), melanoma (A375), triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and ovarian (IGROV-1). Treatment with 8.5–11.8 µM TrxFTL reduced proliferation of all cancer cells to half in 48 h. This anti-proliferative effect encompasses the p53 pathway since it was significantly reduced in p53-null colon cancer cells (HCT116 p53−/−; GI50 of 25.0 ± 3.0 µM), when compared to the isogenic p53-positive cells (HCT116 p53+/+; GI50 of 8.7 ± 1.8 µM; p < 0.002). This recombinantly produced frutalin isoform has relevant cytotoxic effect and its biological activity is not dependent on glycosylation. The developed E. coli production and purification protocol generates high yield of non-glycosylated frutalin isoform with potent cytotoxic activity, enabling the development of novel anticancer p53-targeting therapies.
- Omega-3- and resveratrol-loaded lipid nanosystems for potential use as topical formulations in autoimmune, inflammatory, and cancerous skin diseasesPublication . Caldas, Ana R.; Catita, José; Machado, Raul; Ribeiro, Artur; Cerqueira, Fátima; Horta, Bruno; Medeiros, Rui; Lúcio, Marlene; Lopes, Carla M.Resveratrol (RSV) and omega 3 (!3), because of their biological favorable properties, have become subjects of interest for researchers in dermocosmetic and pharmaceutical industries; however, these bioactives present technological limitations that hinder their effective delivery to the target skin layer. To overcome the stability and skin permeation limitations of free bioactives, this work proposes a combined strategy involving two different lipid nanosystems (liposomes and lipid nanoparticles) that include ω3 in their lipid matrix. Additionaly, RSV is only encapsulated in liposomes that provid an adequate amphiphilic environment. Each formulation is thoroughly characterized regarding their physical–chemical properties. Subsequently, the therapeutic performance of the lipid nanosystems is evaluated based on their protective roles against lipid peroxidation, as well as inhibition of cicloxygenase (COX) and nitric oxid (NO) production in the RWA264.7 cell line. Finally, the lipid nanosystems are incorporated in hydrogel to allow their topical administration, then rheology, occlusion, and RSV release–diffusion assays are performed. Lipid nanoparticles provide occlusive effects at the skin surface. Liposomes provide sustained RSV release and their flexibility conferred by edge activator components enhances RSV diffusion, which is required to reach NO production cells and COX cell membrane enzymes. Overall, the inclusion of both lipid nanosystems in the same semisolid base constitutes a promising strategy for autoimmune, inflammatory, and cancerous skin diseases.
- Super unidade superjednostka de Teresa CzepiecPublication . Natálio, CarlosAnálise fílmica do filme “Super Unidade” / Superjednostka” de Teresa Czepiec. Material Pedagógico produzido no contexto do Projeto Europeu "Histórias Curtas Grandes Questões", financiado pelo programa MEDIA e pelo ICA.
- Associations between burnout and personal and professional characteristics: a study of Portuguese teachersPublication . Dias, Paulo César; Peixoto, Ricardo; Cadime, IreneRecent research has suggested that teachers’ burnout is growing and, consequently, affecting their overall satisfaction with life and professional involvement. The goal of this study was to assess burnout in Portuguese teachers and to explore whether burnout levels are associated with teachers’ personal and professional characteristics. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) were used to collect data from a sample of 262 teachers, who were mostly female (66.0%), were aged between 26 and 63 years (mean = 44, SD = 7.95), and had an average of 18 years of experience in teaching regular classes (SD = 9.22) and an average of 2 years of experience in special education (SD = 4.97). The results suggested the adequate psychometric properties of the OLBI in Portuguese teachers. Moreover, the older the teachers were, the higher the levels of burnout they reported. Burnout was positively associated with the number of years of experience but only in regular education teachers. Although no differences in burnout as a function of experience in inclusive classrooms were found, a positive correlation of teachers’ burnout with the number of students with special needs in the classroom was identified. The results are discussed according to the literature, and suggestions for future studies are presented.