Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-09-14"
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- Cognitive benefits of exercise: is there a time-of-day effect?Publication . Maeneja, Reinaldo; Ferreira, Inês S.; Silva, Cláudia R.; Abreu, Ana MariaIt is well established that physical activity benefits cognition. Further, the time of day one engages in physical activity has been suggested to influence cognition. Here, we aimed to understand if there is a time-of-day effect (morning or afternoon) of physical activity on cognition, i.e., if exercising in the morning or afternoon might bring greater cognitive benefits. A total of 56 participants were allocated to one of two groups with the same baseline cognitive performance as well as fitness level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire—IPAQ): 27 to the morning intervention (M) group; and 29 to the afternoon intervention (A) group. In both groups, the participants engaged in an intermittent recovery test (Yo-yo), 4 times a week for 12 weeks. All participants were assessed with the d2 Test of Attention and the Borg scale of perceived exertion pre- and post- acute and chronic intervention. After the first bout of exercise and after 12 weeks, we observed cognitive improvements both in the M and A groups. Surprisingly, we do not find differences between the time of day regarding cognitive benefits. Our results do not support the existence of a time-of-day effect for the attentional cognitive benefits of exercise.
- Molecular techniques and target selection for the identification of Candida spp. in oral samplesPublication . Magalhães, Joana; Correia, Maria José; Silva, Raquel M.; Esteves, Ana Cristina; Alves, Artur; Duarte, Ana SofiaCandida species are the causative agent of oral candidiasis, with medical devices being platforms for yeast anchoring and tissue colonization. Identifying the infectious agent involved in candidiasis avoids an empirical prescription of antifungal drugs. The application of high-throughput technologies to the diagnosis of yeast pathogens has clear advantages in sensitivity, accuracy, and speed. Yet, conventional techniques for the identification of Candida isolates are still routine in clinical and research settings. Molecular approaches are the focus of intensive research, but conversion into clinic settings requires overcoming important challenges. Several molecular approaches can accurately identify Candida spp.: Polymerase Chain Reaction, Microarray, High-Resolution Melting Analysis, Multi-Locus Sequence Typing, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-mass spectrometry, and Next Generation Sequencing. This review examines the advantages and disadvantages of the current molecular methods used for Candida spp. Identification, with a special focus on oral candidiasis. Discussion regarding their application for the diagnosis of oral infections aims to identify the most rapid, affordable, accurate, and easy-to-perform molecular techniques to be used as a point-of-care testing method. Special emphasis is given to the difficulties that health care professionals need to overcome to provide an accurate diagnosis.
- Understanding the implementation of retail self-service check-out technologies using necessary condition analysisPublication . Duarte, Paulo; Silva, Susana C.; Linardi, Marcelo Augusto; Novais, BeatrizPurpose Self-service check-out technologies (SSTs) are becoming a trend across different retail settings, allowing companies to gain efficiency and reduce costs. Nevertheless, the success of SSTs implementation is still subject to challenges and uncertainties. This study aims to provide insights for theory and managers on the necessary conditions for the successful implementation of retail SSTs. Design/methodology/approach Based on an online survey, data from 251 participants were collected to understand the factors predicting SSTs adoption and realise what conditions are mandatory for the adoption. partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) were used to analyse the data. Findings According to the NCA analysis results, 12 latent variables were relevant for predicting SSTs adoption, but only seven were necessary conditions for user adoption. Originality/value The complementarity of perspectives for understanding the adoption of SSTs based on the two data analysis techniques provides novel insights into theory and support for retailers' decision-making on self-service technologies (STTs) implementation.
- Mechanisms leading to gut dysbiosis in COVID-19: current evidence and uncertainties based on adverse outcome pathwaysPublication . Clerbaux, Laure Alix; Fillipovska, Julija; Muñoz, Amalia; Petrillo, Mauro; Coecke, Sandra; Amorim, Maria João; Grenga, LuciaAlteration in gut microbiota has been associated with COVID-19. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we outlined three potential interconnected mechanistic pathways leading to gut dysbiosis as an adverse outcome following SARS-CoV-2 presence in the gastrointestinal tract. Evidence from the literature and current uncertainties are reported for each step of the different pathways. One pathway investigates evidence that intestinal infection by SARS-CoV-2 inducing intestinal inflammation alters the gut microbiota. Another pathway links the binding of viral S protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to the dysregulation of this receptor, essential in intestinal homeostasis—notably for amino acid metabolism—leading to gut dysbiosis. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 could induce gut dysbiosis by infecting intestinal bacteria. Assessing current evidence within the Adverse Outcome Pathway framework justifies confidence in the proposed mechanisms to support disease management and permits the identification of inconsistencies and knowledge gaps to orient further research.
- Masc : o corpo masculino e a masculinidade na fotografia gayPublication . Pinho, Miguel Rocha de; Crespo, Nuno Alexandre CoimbraEsta dissertação é uma base teórica que suporta e alicerça a série fotográfica MASC. O tema desta dissertação e da série é a representação da masculinidade e do corpo masculino dentro da comunidade homossexual. Para a investigar, estudam-se os conceitos de masculinidade e homossexualidade, como têm evoluído ao longo da história e como a sua solidez na sociedade tem exigido dos homens gay a conformação a certos parâmetros rígidos, que resulta numa espécie de mentalidade opressiva que toma o homem gay como opressor e oprimido, causada por uma ansiedade resultante da não conformidade de género que vem desde a infância. Explora-se o trabalho de fotógrafos homossexuais que também abordaram estas temáticas, como Robert Mapplethorpe, Peter Hujar e Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Finalmente, apresenta-se a série fotográfica MASC e compara-se com os artistas anteriormente falados, procurando questionar o que é performativo na masculinidade do homem gay e pôr em causa essa exigência de identificação e conformação a que o homem gay é sujeito.
- The role of domestic law in determining deductibility of interest : from arm’s length principle to comprehensive interest barriersPublication . Jawa, Joana Sara Akram; Santos, Leonardo João Marques dosIn corporate income tax there is a fundamentally different tax treatment of equity investments and loan financing. The problem dealt with in this master thesis stems from the rule that interest is deductible in computing the taxable income, unless the interest is caught by thin capitalization rules or other anti-abuse provisions. In an international context, from a tax point of view, it may be more advantageous to arrange fund for a company by ways of loan rather than resorting to an equity contribution. Multinational groups can take advantage of this contrast and plan their worldwide leverage to minimize their overall tax liability. Following the increasing awareness of national tax authorities and international institutions on this subject, this has led international institutions to recommend the introduction of new rules referred in this study as “Comprehensive Interest Barriers”. This master dissertation study hasthe purpose to assess Comprehensive Interest Barriers in light of Article 9 OECD Model Convention. In literature, there has been conflicting ideas regarding the interaction of these rules with the OECD Model Convention, particularly with Article 9. Within this context, the OECD released a public discussion draft, which contains proposed amendments on the commentaries of Article 9 in order to clarify its application. This study will demonstrate how, with the proposed amendments, the OECD is able to restore the certainty in the international playing field. On the basis of this conclusion, this study will come up with a potential “price to pay” for that said certainty and all the consequences attached to it.
- Identificação de contactos da pessoa com tuberculose : uma intervenção de enfermagem comunitáriaPublication . Lopes, Maria Cristina Maia Varela; Resende, Ana Maria Vieira Soares deA Tuberculose (TB), sendo uma doença tão antiga quanta a espécie humana, mantem-se como uma das principais causas de morbilidade e mortalidade por um agente infecioso em todo o mundo. Esta situação, agravada pela pandemia COVID-19, induziu a que pela primeira vez em mais de dez anos, se tivesse registado um aumento da taxa de mortalidade por esta doença. (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Identificar precocemente novos casos da doença, conter a transmissão na comunidade e rastrear as pessoas expostas, para exclusão da infeção latente, estão entre as estratégias essenciais para o controlo da TB, seja a nível nacional como mundial. Assim, é facilmente percetível, que os contactos de uma pessoa com TB constituem um grupo de alto risco. Deverão, como tal, ser orientados para a descoberta sistemática e deteção precoce de casos ativos ou latentes através do rastreio, na persecução do objetivo final que será o início do tratamento ou profilaxia o mais precocemente possível, interrompendo a transmissão da doença e dando cumprimento ao preconizado pelo Plano Nacional para a Tuberculose (PNT). Atrasos na deteção de casos de TB e rastreios de contatos tardios ou incompletos, invariavelmente conduzirão a surtos de TB. O presente documento representa uma recensão reflexiva do projeto de intervenção comunitária desenvolvido numa Unidade de Saúde Pública (USP), na Região de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, entre 6 de setembro e 18 de dezembro de 2021, e cuja finalidade foi contribuir para a otimização da identificação de contactos, no âmbito do inquérito epidemiológico à pessoa com TB a concretizar pela equipa de enfermagem da USP. Este projeto assenta no Modelo de Promoção da Saúde de Nola Pender e encontra-se suportado na metodologia do Planeamento em Saúde, segundo Tavares (1990), como tal desenvolvido de acordo com as suas etapas e linhas orientadoras. O percurso percorrido, contribuiu e proporcionou o desenvolvimento de competências específicas de Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Saúde Comunitária e de Saúde Pública e de Mestre.