Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-04-10"
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- Shelf-life management and ripening assessment of ‘hass’ avocado (persea americana) using deep learning approachesPublication . Xavier, Pedro; Rodrigues, Pedro Miguel; Silva, Cristina L. M.Avocado production is mostly confined to tropical and subtropical regions, leading to lengthy distribution channels that, coupled with their unpredictable post-harvest behaviour, render avocados susceptible to significant loss and waste. To enhance the monitoring of ‘Hass’ avocado ripening, a data-driven tool was developed using a deep learning approach. This study involved monitoring 478 avocados stored in three distinct storage environments, using a 5-stage Ripening Index to classify each fruit’s ripening phase based on their shared characteristics. These categories were paired with daily photographic records of the avocados, resulting in a database of labelled images. Two convolutional neural network models, AlexNet and ResNet-18, were trained using transfer learning techniques to identify distinct ripening indicators, enabling the prediction of ripening stages and shelf-life estimations for new unseen data. The approach achieved a final prediction accuracy of 88.8% for the ripening assessment, with 96.7% of predictions deviating by no more than half a stage from their actual classifications when considering the best side of the samples. The average shelf-life estimates based on the attributed classifications were within 0.92 days of the actual shelf-life, whereas the predictions made by the models had an average deviation of 0.96 days from the actual shelf-life.
- Microbots for colonic delivery of PEITC: using INFOGEST to optimize formulation and bioaccessibilityPublication . Sousa, Ana Sofia; Coscueta, Ezequiel R.; Reis, Celso A.; Pintado, ManuelaGlobally, gastrointestinal diseases impact 40% of the population and burden healthcare services. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common disorder affecting over 6 million people worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to control colonic diseases effectively with minimal side effects.Using natural bioactive compounds such as isothiocyanates (ITCs) from cruciferous vegetables has shown promise in treating various diseases. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), an ITC found in watercress, has potential bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Hence, PEITC shows potential as a natural therapeutic strategy for IBD due to its ability to alleviate inflammation and inhibit the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria without harming healthy gut microorganisms. However, further research is necessary to establish PEITC's therapeutic potential for IBD and its impact on gut microbiota and overall intestinal health.Encapsulation technology, crucial for enhancing PEITC's effectiveness and bioavailability in food or nutraceutical matrices, offers promising therapeutic and preventive applications in IBD treatment. Colon-targeted delivery systems are highly effective, especially those activated by gut microbiota. Utilising microbiota and enzymes like β-glycosidase, these systems expressly release drugs in the colon, a strategy ideal for PEITC delivery given its poor water solubility and instability. This research aims to develop a microbot for targeted PEITC delivery to the inflamed colon. It will assess the interaction with gut microbiota and the effectiveness of target functionalities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The delivery system will feature a biodegradable polysaccharide coating, ensuring precise colon targeting. The INFOGEST protocol will simulate human gastrointestinal digestion in vitro, optimising the microbot's formulation and evaluating PEITC bioaccessibility. This preliminary stage will guide the enhancement of microbot design for subsequent in vivo testing.Thus, developing microbots for oral administration will provide practical solutions for preventing and controlling gastrointestinal diseases, particularly IBD, with minimal impact on the patient's quality of life.
- A importância de um website na comunicação B2B no setor da consultoria : o caso da INOVA+Publication . Amorim, Guilherme Torres Mendes Machado; Silva, Susana Cristina Lima da Costa eO propósito deste trabalho é contribuir para a compreensão da importância do website na comunicação B2B no setor da consultoria. Num contexto digital altamente competitivo, os websites ganham uma enorme relevância por serem uma montra digital através da qual as empresas transmitem informação relevante sobre a atividade e se posicionam na mente do consumidor. Neste sentido, faltava responder a uma questão sobre qual é a importância de um website na comunicação B2B no setor da consultoria. Através do estudo de caso da consultora INOVA+, da observação direta decorrida em contexto organizacional e da realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas, conclui-se que a relevância do website reside em possibilitar às empresas transmitir informações e fortalecer a sua credibilidade na indústria, com o propósito de atrair potenciais clientes e de influenciar o processo de tomada de decisão. Esta importância resulta da avaliação de qualidade dos websites institucionais, a qual é baseada em cinco indicadores que influenciam de forma positiva a avaliação realizada pelos clientes acerca deste canal. Estes indicadores são a usabilidade, a satisfação, o conteúdo, a reputação e a atualização. Este trabalho contribui para a construção do conhecimento sobre a relevância de este canal na comunicação B2B no setor da consultoria e proporciona uma visão sobre a perceção dos clientes na avaliação da qualidade dos websites institucionais pertencentes a este setor.
- Lindseth & Norberg's phenomenological hermeneutical method: a synthesisPublication . Medeiros-Garcia, Lurdes; Deodato, Sérgio; Amendoeira, José
- Age-related gastrointestinal alterations affect adipolysis induced by dairy and hybrid high-protein yogurts in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytesPublication . Gigante, Mirna Lúcia; Baptista, Débora Parra; Silva, Kívea Kássia de Paiva e; Machado, Manuela; Costa, Eduardo M.; Pintado, Manuela
- Lentil-based muffin in vitro digestion: unraveling nutritional insightsPublication . Geraldo, Rafaela A. F.; Machado, Manuela; Silva, Sara; Costa, Eduardo M.; Santos, Carla S.; Pinto, Elisabete; Pintado, Manuela; Vasconcelos, Marta W.
- Comparison between different enzymatic inhibition methods in the standardized gastrointestinal model (INFOGEST): a case study of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom biomassPublication . Araújo-Rodrigues, Helena; Salsinha, Ana Sofia; Coscueta, Ezequiel R.; Relvas, João Bettencourt; Tavaria, Freni K.; Pintado, Manuela E.Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) is one of the most cultivated and consumed mushrooms worldwide, playing crucial roles in human health (e.g., prebiotic and immunomodulatory)1. Mushroom biomass (MB) combines the mycelium and young fruiting bodies1,2. Both parts possess numerous bioactive compounds such as α- and β-glucans1. A possible synergetic effect between their distinct macromolecules has been proposed2. The authors characterized the PO biomass composition for the first time. The results suggested an interesting nutritional profile, where the main differences between PO biomass and fruiting body are the higher α-glucans (77.49%) content and lower concentration of β-glucans (2.96%), free sugars (0.34%), protein (4.62%) and ashes (1.36%). However, it is imperative to assess the influence of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) on their bioactive compounds, especially α-glucans. Accordingly, the standardized GIT model (INFOGEST) was used3. Samples were taken from oral, gastric, and intestinal phases to better assess the impact of different GIT phases. The results indicated a loss of approximately 19 and 44% of α-glucans in the oral and intestinal phases. However, we identified some issues, mainly linked to the difficulty in collecting homogenous samples (high variability and time-demanding) and non-enzymatic inactivation. During the INFOGEST protocol, enzymatic inactivation may overestimate the enzymatic activity, playing a key role in the bioactive compound quantification. In this context, we tested different enzymatic inhibition approaches to select the method that allows a more realistic macromolecule quantification. We selected temperature and pH for all enzymes and specific inhibitors (enzymes or other specific reagents) for each GIT enzyme (oral: α-amylase inhibitor from Triticum aestivum; gastric: pepstatin A and orlistat; intestinal: 4-bromophenylboronic acid, pefabloc SC and Na2CO3). Oral, gastric and intestinal phases were analyzed with independent GIT simulations to minimize heterogeneity. The influence of the freezing or freeze-drying process was also evaluated. The impact on GIT α-amylases, proteases and lipases inhibition was monitored by analyzing α-glucans content, fatty acid, protein and peptide profiles. Overall, the results corroborated the importance of enzymatic inactivation. The protein and peptide profiles did not suggest key differences between inhibition methods. A significantly higher concentration of α-glucans was quantified, but no significant differences were generally found between different inactivation methods in this bioactive molecule. In some GIT phases, freeze-drying seems to have a negative impact on α-glucan content and especially on total phenolics (TP) and antioxidant activity. pH showed the most negative effect on TP and antioxidant activity, while temperature usually appears not to influence these parameters.
- The application of a static in vitro digestion model adapted to the general older adult population (INFOGEST) as an assistance tool for the development of food formulations adapted to the elderly: Diet65+ projectPublication . Salsinha, Ana Sofia; Correia, Marta; Silva, Beatriz; Azevedo, Miguel; Pintado, ManuelaAccording to the United Nations data, the proportion of older people - individuals aged 65 years and over (65+) - is growing faster than any other age group. Indeed, the number of people aged 65+ worldwide is expected to more than double by 2050. In Portugal the National Statistics Institute, estimates that this percentage will reach 3 million individuals in 2050. These demographic changes require societal and governmental responses to adequately address the challenges that are inherently associated with aging. In the elderly, taste, smell, vision, hearing, and touch undergo significant changes, with dysgeusia and hyposmia beginning around 60 years of age and progressively worsening with age. In addition, poor sensory stimulation can compromise some metabolic processes since salivary, gastric, and pancreatic secretions are induced by this initial sensory system. Some degree of gastrointestinal function impairment is also characteristic amongst the elderly and are generally assumed to be a decrease in the secretion of enzymes, juices, and mucus, as a result of atrophic gastritis and the consequent inability to produce gastric acid (hypochlorhydria) impairing the absorption of nutrients as well as promoting bacteria overgrowth [1]. The Diet65+ project - High nutritional and functional value food products integrated with tradition and sustainability adapted to elderly +65 consumer-, intends to develop food products tailored and fully adapted to preserved food’s taste, color, and flavor, enhancing the palate and enabling more adaptability, towards a nutritional pattern fulfilling 65 years plus (65+) individual specific nutritional requirements but, at the same time respecting individuals’ taste and dietary habits. These nutritional enhanced and adapted products will encompass organic food items developed in line with 65+ consumers' traditional dietary habits. In this context, a variety of food formulations were developed and in a first step the impact of the gastrointestinal tract is being assessed using a static in vitro digestion model adapted to the general older adult population (INFOGEST consensus) [2]. The use of an in vitro digestion model adapted for older people is of extreme relevance in understanding the fate of food in this specific population, facilitating the development of foods adapted to their nutritional needs. This first screening, using this type of in vitro model will allow the understanding of the feasibility of the food formulations developed to fulfill the mentioned dietary requirements in terms of both high fiber and protein requirements. These results will have a determinant role in selecting the best food formulations to be used in further clinical trial studies.
- Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Francis Burnout inventory in the Portugal contextPublication . Fabri, Janaína M. G.; Roldão, Liliana; Miguel, Susana; Caldeira, Sílvia; Pereira, Eliane R.
- A perceção dos docentes sobre a Perturbação de Hiperatividade/Défice de Atenção e as suas práticas no contexto escolarPublication . Pereira, Fátima Alexandra Azeredo; Dias, Paulo César AzevedoA Perturbação de Hiperatividade/Défice de Atenção (PHDA), é um distúrbio no desenvolvimento que acarreta sintomas de desatenção, impulsividade e hiperatividade. Apresenta impacto na vida académica do aluno através de comportamentos desadequados, pelo que a perceção dos professores e as suas práticas têm um papel decisivo. Este estudo aborda e questiona a perceção dos professores sobre a PHDA, assim como, as estratégias e práticas inclusivas utilizadas no 1ºciclo do ensino básico. Aplicou-¬se um questionário sociodemográfico, um questionário sobre a PHDA em contexto escolar e o questionário sobre estratégias de ensino e gestão do comportamento a uma amostra de 208 docentes do 1ºciclo. Os dados recolhidos foram tratados através do SPSS versão 23. Nos resultados verifica-¬se uma relação entre a crença de que a PHDA desaparece com o tempo e as características da PHDA que mais perturbam a vida escolar das crianças. com várias estratégias. Foi encontrada ainda uma relação entre os anos de serviço com as suspeitas de PHDA e a experiência, com crianças diagnosticadas com as práticas que pensam que devem fazer. Na perceção em função do género, encontrou-se diferenças com as professoras a apresentar pontuações superiores. Deste modo, encontrou-se, uma relação negativa entre repreender verbalmente, e atribuir consequências ao mau comportamento com as práticas. A consciencialização dos sintomas da PHDA, permite uma intervenção antecipada e a escassez da exclusão social no ambiente escolar. Esta investigação foi crucial para perceber de que forma a perceção dos docentes e as suas estratégias evoluíram ao logo do tempo.