Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-04-12"
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- Enhancement of acetate-induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by cathepsin D inhibition depends on oligomycin A-sensitive respirationPublication . Alves, Sara; Santos-Pereira, Cátia; Oliveira, Cláudia S. F.; Preto, Ana; Chaves, Susana R.; Côrte-Real, ManuelaColorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Conventional therapies are available with varying effectiveness. Acetate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by human intestinal bacteria, triggers mitochondria-mediated apoptosis preferentially in CRC but not in normal colonocytes, which has spurred an interest in its use for CRC prevention/therapy. We previously uncovered that acetate-induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in CRC cells is significantly enhanced by the inhibition of the lysosomal protease cathepsin D (CatD), which indicates both mitochondria and the lysosome are involved in the regulation of acetate-induced apoptosis. Herein, we sought to determine whether mitochondrial function affects CatD apoptotic function. We found that enhancement of acetate-induced apoptosis by CatD inhibition depends on oligomycin A-sensitive respiration. Mechanistically, the potentiating effect is associated with an increase in cellular and mitochondrial superoxide anion accumulation and mitochondrial mass. Our results provide novel clues into the regulation of CatD function and the effect of tumor heterogeneity in the outcome of combined treatment using acetate and CatD inhibitors.
- Formulation and characterization of non-toxic, antimicrobial, and alcohol-free hand sanitizer nanoemulgel based on lemon peel extractPublication . Ibrahim, Faten Mohamed; Shalaby, Eman Samy; El-Liethy, Mohamed Azab; Abd-Elmaksoud, Sherif; Mohammed, Reda Sayed; Shalaby, Said I.; Rodrigues, Cristina V.; Pintado, Manuela; Habbasha, El Sayed ElRecently, hand sanitization has gained attention for preventing disease transmission. Many on-the-market convenient dermal sanitizers contain alcohol, which can be detrimental to the skin. Therefore, three nanoemulgel formulations (LN-F1, LN-F2, LN-F3) incorporating lemon peel extract (LE), and with various increasing concentrations of xanthan gum as a gelling agent and stabilizer, were developed and characterized as a novel alternative. All formulations showed non-Newtonian shear-thinning flow behavior, particle size values below 200 nm, and increasing zeta potential with higher xanthan gum concentrations. All nanoemulgel formulations exhibited greater in vitro phenolic compound release than free LE. LN-F2 (1.0% LE, 20.0% mineral oil, 20.0% Span 80, 4.0% Cremophor RH 40, 4.0% PEG 400, 0.5% xanthan gum, 50.5% dH2O) was selected as the optimal formulation due to improved characteristics. LE and LN-F2 potential cytotoxicity was assessed on MA-104, showing no significant cellular morphological alterations up to 10 mg/mL for both samples. LN-F2 showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and C. albicans, as well as antiviral activity against phiX 174, but no effect against rotavirus (SA-11). In vivo, LN-F2 presented a removal capacity of 83% to 100% for bacteria and 89% to 100% for fungi. These findings suggest that the formulated nanoemulgel holds potential as a safe and effective antiseptic, providing a viable alternative to commercial alcohol-based formulations.
- States’ extraterritorial jurisdiction for climate-related impactsPublication . Rocha, Armando
- The (de)constructive museum : how to transform the contemporary art museum from a place of harming performed neutrality to a place of honest carePublication . Rath, Valerie; Silva, Ana Luísa dos Santos Diniz daThe (De)Constructive Museum engages in a critical examination of the contemporary art museum's role in the West and its potential for transformation. It attempts a deconstruction of the existing museum paradigm, particularly its colonial legacy, and envisions a reconstruction based on transparency, honesty, and care. Museums, often perceived as neutral, significantly influence the nature of encounters within their spaces and are inextricably tied to colonial power dynamics. This dissertation investigates how contemporary art museums navigate their relational structures and position themselves concerning their institutional, national, and global identities. It explores the transition from a singular, Western-centric perspective to embracing pluralistic knowledges, histories, and identities. To confront the legacy of colonization, the dissertation examines the historical interplay between colonization and museums, emphasizing their role in shaping European superiority over 'the Other'. It reveals how museums contributed to knowledge hegemony, presenting the museum as a neutral entity while concealing the constructed nature of presented narratives. Even without looted objects, the coloniality of power endures within these spaces, necessitating a deep confrontation. Trough the examination of case studies mirroring crucial moments in recent institutional art history, such as the Primitivism exhibition at the MoMA, the Magiciens de la Terre exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, and furthermore the formation of the Guggenheim-complex into a global entity, reveals the inherent bias of art museum spaces as well as their imperative authority to determine the location of culture. These case studies serve as a gateway to capturing the current western cultural landscape. In this context, Documenta15 as a contemporary example offers valuable insights into the complexity of decolonial perspectives and highlights the need to think of decolonial endeavors not as straightforward but as emerging from various centers with varied needs. Within this framework, this dissertation recognizes that the museum is a site of relations and thus an inherently political platform that, by virtue of its practice, always positions itself in relation to global problems such as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, whether active or passive. The concluding chapter outlines guiding principles for envisioning the reconstruction of art museums that starts from and with themselves, into places of transparency, vulnerability and care. This transformative process extends beyond the human realm and fosters an environment that actively listens and thinks with care. In this way, the museum of contemporary art could transform itself into a place of fluid decoloniality and pluralism, returning choice to all who engage with it, while becoming a catalyst for social transformation.
- O papel da cidadania no procedimento administrativo num contexto de proteção ambientalPublication . Milho, Rui Marcelo Garcia; Rocha, Armando Luís SilvaNesta dissertação, será abordada a questão relativa ao papel dos sujeitos na defesa do Ambiente, proporcionando uma reflexão sobre a importância da informação ambiental e o seu acesso, no contexto atual e de constante evolução em que vivemos. Será evidenciado qual o caminho a trilhar no acesso à informação ambiental, a importância da participação dos sujeitos, as obrigações do Estado perante o Ambiente e, por fim, de modo a encontrar soluções para os problemas suscitados nesta temática, a importância das ONGA na salvaguarda deste bem jurídico e na agilização de todo o procedimento informativo e participativo. Para o efeito, será ainda analisada legislação fundamental neste tema, designadamente, a Convenção de Aarhus, a Lei n.º 26/2016, de 22 de Agosto, a Diretiva 2003/4/CE, do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 28 de janeiro e a Lei n.º 35/98, de 18 de Julho, que nos irão dar a conhecer os esforços levados a cabo ao longo dos últimos anos na concretização da causa ambiental.
- Ações de lealdade : da sua admissibilidade e relevância na sociedade anónimaPublication . Caiado, José Afonso dos Santos; Pereira, Jorge Manuel Brito deA presente dissertação tem como objetivo aferir a admissibilidade e relevância das ações de lealdade em Portugal. Para este efeito, damos especial atenção à alteração ao Código dos Valores Mobiliários, que veio instituir o regime das ações com voto plural nas sociedades cotadas. Fazemos ainda uma análise dos riscos e benefícios das ações de lealdade, não descartando a sua eventual aplicação (futura) às sociedades não cotadas.
- ESPECT-ATRIZES: cruzamentos entre Teatro do Oprimido, neurociência e estudos de recepçãoPublication . Chagas, Lorena de Oliveira; Sá, Cristina; Baltazar, AndréEste artigo apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica, trazendo uma reflexão sobre o cruzamento entre Estudos de Recepção teatral, em uma perspectiva neurocientífica, com práticas artísticas e pedagógicas do Teatro do Oprimido (Boal, 1993), de modo a contribuir de forma robusta com os estudos sobre o impacto dessas práticas em seus participantes, sejam eles artistas criadores ou espect-atores. A construção do artigo revisita a bibliografia sobre o tema, analisa um workshop realizado na Universidade Católica Portuguesa e elenca metodologias possíveis de Estudos de Recepção em teatro para tais fins, partindo de uma pesquisa maior em andamento. Nota-se que, apesar de palavras como “opressão” e “empoderamento” aparecerem com frequência em estudos, faz-se necessário aqui refletir sobre seus significados, de modo a diferenciá-los do uso comum e cotidiano e mesmo de suas apropriações pelo neoliberalismo. Partimos da discussão levantada pela teórica Liz Tomlin (2019) de que devemos buscar um caminho artístico em que ainda podemos criar espetáculos politicamente empenhados sem, no entanto, deixar de respeitar as subjetividades da espectatorialidade, ou a Emancipação do Espectador (Rancière, 2019). Consideramos também os estudos de Flávio Desgranges (2020), que define como essencial o espectador, para que sejam efetivadas transformações no teatro, uma vez que não há teatro sem espectadores. Concluímos que a neuropsicologia e a neurociência, além dos estudos em empowerment, mostram ferramentas que podem ser fortes aliadas em workshops e práticas artísticas baseadas na estética do Oprimido.
- The human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environmentPublication . Botelho, Daniela Dutra da Rosa e; Rocha, Armando Luís Silva