Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-08-06"
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- Media capture and transitional settings: towards theoretical and empirical developmentsPublication . Márquez‑Ramírez, Mireya; Ribeiro, Nelson CostaIntroduction to the special issue of "Central European Journal of Communication" on captured media.
- Elevating skincare science: grape seed extract encapsulation for dermatological carePublication . Castro, Maria Leonor; Azevedo-Silva, João; Valente, Diana; Machado, Adriana; Ribeiro, Tânia; Ferreira, João Paulo; Pintado, Manuela; Ramos, Oscar L.; Borges, Sandra; Baptista-Silva, SaraThe skin is the largest organ in the human body and serves multiple functions such as barrier protection and thermoregulation. The maintenance of its integrity and healthy structure is of paramount importance. Accordingly, technological advances in cosmetic sciences have been directed towards optimizing these factors. Plant-derived ingredients have been explored for their bioactivity profiles and sustainable sources. Grape by-products contain a group of bioactive molecules that display important biological activities. Nonetheless, many of these molecules (e.g., phenolic compounds) are unstable and susceptible to degradation. So, their encapsulation using nano/microsystems (i.e., microdispersions) has been explored as a promising solution. In this work, two grape seed extracts were obtained, one from a single grape variety (GSE-Ov) and another from a mix of five grape varieties (GSE-Sv). These extracts were analysed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as well as their chemical composition and molecular structure. The extract that showed the most promising properties was GSE-Ov with a DPPH IC50 of 0.079 mg mL−1. This extract was encapsulated in soy lecithin microdispersions coated with pectin, with an encapsulation efficiency of 88.8%. They showed an in vitro release of polyphenols of 59.4% during 24 h. The particles displayed a zeta potential of −20.3 mV and an average diameter of 13.6 µm. Microdispersions proved to be safe under 5 and 2.5 mg mL−1 in HaCaT and HDF cell models, respectively. Additionally, they demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity against IL-1α when tested at 2 mg mL−1. This work enabled the valorisation of a by-product from the wine industry by using natural extracts in skincare products.
- Degree of contamination of gutta-percha points by Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA) strainsPublication . Teles, Ana Moura; Pina, Cristina; Cardoso, Inês Lopes; Tramontana, Antea; Cardoso, Miguel; Duarte, Ana Sofia; Bartolomeu, Maria; Noites, RitaMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered one of the most harmful bacteria to human health. Dentistry, like all healthcare disciplines, places great emphasis on preventing scenarios that may result in cross-infection. Although various tested and already used materials are suitable for filling the root canal system, Gutta-Percha (GP) remains the preferred and widely accepted gold standard. Objective: We performed an in vitro analysis of the contamination of GP points, regarding the strains of Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and Methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus, using classical microbiology methods and molecular biology techniques. Methods: Gutta-Percha points of two different brands from opened packages (already in use for 1 month) were collected for analysis. The assessment involved incubating the GP points in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) medium to detect microbial growth. Growing microorganisms were plated on a selective and differential chromogenic medium for MRSA/MSSA strains, and the identification of isolates was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). In the case of microbial growth, the GP point was submitted to a disinfection protocol. Results: From the 315 collected GP points, only 6 (1.9%) resulted in being positive for microbial growth. After confirmation by PCR, only one sample of the six GP points was contaminated by MRSA, and the remaining five were MSSA-contaminated. The disinfection protocol was effective in all contaminated GP points. Conclusions: The Gutta-Percha points from opened pre-sterilized packages showed a very low degree of contamination by MRSA/MSSA. However, the detection of MSSA and MRSA strains raises concerns about potential contamination in dental clinic environments, and this risk cannot be considered negligible.
- Captured by elites: the Portuguese media system in liberalism (1820-1926)Publication . Fonseca, IsadoraThis article argues that the concept of ‘captured media’ is invaluable to a deeper understanding of the roles performed by media systems throughout European liberalism and early democratization of nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This case-study explores the structures of the media system during Portuguese Liberalism (1820–1926) in the scope of the Portuguese empire. The concept of the ‘Imperial Public Sphere’ is applied to show how imperial and colonial elites captured the media system to exercise and spread its political and ideological power. As a methodological approach to analyze the roles performed by press, the case-study relies on the model developed by Hallin and Mancini (2004), which is applied to three empirical cases. The use of the concept ‘captured media’ in the field of media history is a contribution to understanding the political roots of the press during colonialism and its legacy to contemporary media systems in Lusophone countries.