Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-12-30"
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- Nanoencapsulation and bioaccessibility of polyphenols of aqueous extracts from Bauhinia forficata linkPublication . Souza, Bárbara Verônica Cardoso de; Sousa, Mariana de Morais; Sattler, José Augusto Gasparotto; Santana, Ana Cristina Sousa Gramoza Vilarinho; Carvalho, Rusbene Bruno Fonseca de; Neto, José de Sousa Lima; Borges, Fernando de Matos; Numa, Iramaia Angelica Neri; Ribeiro, Alessandra Braga; Nunes, Lívio César CunhaBauhinia forficata Link is a plant rich in polyphenols that has been used mainly for its hypoglycemic activity, which is related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. However, the beneficial effect of these bioactive compounds is directly dependent on their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, requiring processing techniques that can improve and preserve their biological activities. This work aimed to obtain nanocapsulated extracts from the infusion (ESIN) and decoction (ESDC) of B. forficata Link leaves, by spray drying. The encapsulating agents used were maltodextrin and colloidal silicon dioxide. The nanocapsules were characterized by HPLC-PDA-ESI-IT-MSn, evaluated the bioaccessibility of polyphenols after simulated digestion and their antioxidant activity. Additionally, an extensive physicochemical characterization of the nanocapsulated extracts was carried out and their stability and technological parameters were evaluated. The ESIN and ESDC extracts had yields of 57.3 % and 62.7 %, with average nanocapsules sizes of 0.202 μm and 0.179 μm, low humidity and water activity (<0.5), powder density and proper flow properties (Hausner ratio ≤ 1.25; Carr index 18–19 %). Scanning electron microscopy showed a spherical and amorphous morphology and low viscosity, which may have favored the solubility profile. The phenolic compounds of the nanocapsules degraded after 400 °C, showing high thermal stability. The infrared spectra identified the presence of maltodextrin and phenolic compounds and that there were no reactions between them. Chromatography confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonols and their O-glycosylated derivatives, as well as carbohydrates, probably maltodextrin. Simulated in vitro digestion showed that polyphenols and flavonoids from ESIN and ESDC nanocapsules were bioaccessible after the gastric phase (49.38 % and 64.17 % of polyphenols and 64.08 % and 36.61 % of flavonoids) and duodenal (52.68 % and 79.06 % of polyphenols and 13.24 % and 139.03 % of flavoids), with a variation from 52.27 % to 70.55 % of the antioxidant activity maintained, by the ORAC method, after gastric digestion and still 25 %, after duodenal. Therefore, the nanoencapsulation of extracts of B. forficata is a viable option for the preservation of their bioactive compounds, making them bioaccessible and with antioxidant activity, which make them suitable for incorporation into various nutraceutical formulations, such as capsules, tablets and sachets.
- Editorial: V14 N3Publication . Ribas, Daniel; Natálio, Carlos; Amorim, João Pedro
- Introduction: animation between theory and practicePublication . Kunz, Sahra; Cordas, EkaterinaThe materials presented in this dossier aim to open a discussion on the present and future(s) of animation and invite the readers to look critically at the role of the medium in the contemporary world. By including articles from scholars and visual essays from artists, we would like to make a statement that animation studies should acknowledge both theory and practice. Animation film, throughout the years, has fought for its place within academia, and the discourse surrounding it should be rich and intermedial. With this approach, we intend to articulate that through different ways of producing knowledge and fostering interdisciplinarity, we instigate powerful and fruitful discussion that advances the medium.
- Serious games for physical rehabilitation: aesthetic discrepancies between custom-made serious games and commercial titles used for healthcarePublication . Vieira, Catarina; Perrotta, André; Pais-Vieira, CarlaSerious games are videogames that are used with purposes that go beyond the mere entertainment of the player. Among their many applications, healthcare is one of the most prominent ones, as serious games can have a wide range of uses within this field, namely physical rehabilitation of patients. For this purpose, both custom-made serious games and commercial entertainment titles, such as those for Nintendo Wii, can be used. However, while custom-made serious games appear to be more clinically effective, patients seem to prefer the gaming experience of playing a commercial title. This paper aims to compare the game goals and the aesthetics of Wii Sports (a commercial title used in the context of physical rehabilitation) with custom-made serious games that have obtained clinically significant results in upper limb rehabilitation, in order to try and understand what can be done to bridge the gap between these two approaches.
- Dique de borracha na diminuição de microrganismos nos aerossóisPublication . Cardoso, Miguel Agostinho; Milheiro, André; Cruz, Bárbara; Noites, Rita; Duarte, Ana SofiaObjetivos: Avaliar se o dique de borracha interfere na disseminação de microrganismos em aerossóis gerados durante o uso de instrumentos rotatórios no tratamento de cáries. Materiais e métodos: Foram realizados 20 tratamentos de cárie, sendo dez com dique de borracha (DB) e dez sem dique de borracha (SDB). Foram utilizados três pontos de recolha: operador (DB n=10; SDB n=10), assistente (DB n=10; SDB n=10) e bandeja (DB n=10; SDB n=10). Em cada local foram aplicadas duas placas de Petri: (Ágar Trypticase Soy fluconazol) para selecionar bactérias e (Ágar Sabouraud Dextrose ampicilina) para selecionar fungos. Houve um tempo de exposição de 15 min durante o uso dos instrumentos rotatórios. As placas foram incubadas durante 24h e as unidades formadoras de colónias (UFC) foram contadas e comparadas usando estatísticas de sobrevivência (p<0,05). Na fase final do estudo, os isolados clínicos foram identificados por sequenciação parcial de nucleotídeos da subunidade ribossomal. Resultados: Uma maior contagem de UFC foi obtida nos grupos em que não foi utilizado dique de borracha em comparação àqueles em que foi aplicado dique de borracha (p=0,022). Embora não tenham sido observadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os pontos de recolha no operador e no assistente, na bandeja, o grupo onde foi utilizado dique apresentou menor número de UFC em relação ao grupo sem dique (p=0,004). A sequenciação nucleotídica permitiu identificar Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus e Bacillus. Conclusões: Este estudo experimental enfatiza a importância do uso do dique de borracha durante os procedimentos clínicos que utilizam instrumentos rotatórios, reduzindo o risco de contaminação por aerossóis, além de promover a segurança do paciente durante o tratamento.
- Towards an interpretation of the Portuguese cultural tourist: motivations and constraintsPublication . Ramires, Ana; Monteiro, Anabela; Lopes, Sofia; Sousa, Sara Rodrigues de; Leite, ÂngelaThe importance of cultural tourism for the development of tourist destinations has created a need for knowledge on both supply and demand sides, related to the motivations and constraints which can affect the decisions of the cultural tourist. The aim of this study is to develop and validate for the Portuguese tourists two scales to measure motivations to travel and its constraints, considering theories of needs and constraints, and to examine differences according to tourists’ socio-demographic characteristics. The scales were determined using a non-linear principal component analysis followed by bootstrap confirmatory factor analysis, and differences were examined using parametric tests. A six-dimensional model for motivations and a five-dimensional model for constraints were validated, both with good overall fit. Motives linked to culture, intellectual curiosity and cultural knowledge stand out with high levels of relevance. Lack of resources and other commitments are the most important constraints. Significant differences were found in almost all characteristics. The results reveal influential dimensions on travel decisions which are of utmost importance for the design of the cultural offer of destinations.
- Implementação do RESCUR com crianças e adolescentes surdos: perceção de professores, pais e alunos sobre o impacto ao nível do bem-estar e das aprendizagensPublication . Freitas, Eunice; Simões, Celeste; Mineiro, Ana; Beato, AnaA resiliência é um conceito dinâmico e interativo que se refere à capacidade de o indivíduo se ajustar e recuperar perante vários tipos de adversidades ou dificuldades mais ou menos prolongadas no tempo. Implementar programas preventivos e promotores de resiliência revela-se, assim, fundamental na infância e na adolescência, principalmente em crianças vulneráveis. O presente estudo procurou explorar a perceção de 37 crianças e adolescentes surdos, com idades compreendidas entre os 3 e os 15 anos, e respetivos pais e professores acerca do impacto da adaptação e implementação do Currículo Europeu para a Resiliência (RESCUR). Neste estudo qualitativo foram realizados grupos focais com as crianças e adolescentes e entrevistas com os pais e professores. Os dados foram sujeitos a análise temática. Os resultados revelam melhorias significativas ao nível do bem-estar individual e social e da aquisição de competências relacionais, comunicacionais e académicas. Estes resultados demonstram a importância de promover a resiliência e aprendizagens específicas, adaptadas ao contexto da surdez, que possibilitem a estas crianças e adolescentes uma aprendizagem integral.