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- A multinational study of social attitudes, moral beliefs, and personality traits: a network analysis approachPublication . Ramos-Vera, Cristian; Grigoropoulos, Iraklis; Barrientos, Antonio Serpa; Calle, Dennis; Olivera-Cercado, Royer; Hualparuca-Olivera, Luis; Gruda, DritjonThis study investigates psychological variables central to promoting social cohesion and prosocial behavior across cultures. Using network analysis on data from 44,407 participants in 54 countries, we examined relationships among seven constructs: social belonging (SB), individual narcissism (Nrc), national narcissism (NrN), trait optimism (TrO), self-esteem (SE), moral identity (MI), and morality as cooperation (MC). Positive relationships were found among SB, SE, and TrO. Notably, individual narcissism was negatively associated with SB and TrO, highlighting its detrimental impact on social cohesion. Centrality analysis identified moral identity (MI) as the most interconnected variable, linking both forms of narcissism and contributing to greater SB, TrO, and MC. Self-esteem also played a significant role by bridging connections with narcissistic traits. Overall, the findings underscore a distinction between individual and social motives: while narcissists may use self-esteem and moral identity for self-serving purposes, positive traits like social belonging enhance and contribute to societal well-being and progress.
- Listeria monocytogenes gut interactions and listeriosis: gut modulation and pathogenicityPublication . Oliveira, M.; Barbosa, J.; Teixeira, P.Following ingestion via contaminated food, Listeria monocytogenes faces multiple hurdles through the human digestive system, thereby influencing its capacity to cause infection. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted mechanisms employed by L. monocytogenes to overcome gastrointestinal hurdles and interact with the host's microbiota, facing chemical and physical barriers such as saliva, stomach acidity, bile salts and mechanical clearance. Proposed evasion strategies will be highlighted, exploring the bacteriocins produced by L. monocytogenes, such as the well-described bacteriocin Listeriolysin S (LLS), a bacteriocin that inhibits inflammogenic species – Lmo2776, and a phage tail-like bacteriocin, monocin. The competitive dynamic interactions within the gut microbiota, as well as the modulation of microbiota composition and immune responses, will also be explored. Finally, the adhesion and invasion of the intestinal epithelium by L. monocytogenes is described, exploring the mechanism of pathogenesis, biofilm and aggregation capacities and other virulence factors. Unlike previous reviews that may focus on individual aspects of L. monocytogenes pathogenicity, this review offers a holistic perspective on the bacterium's ability to persist and cause infection, integrating information about survival strategies, including bacteriocin production, immune modulation, and virulence factors. By connecting recent findings on microbial interactions and infection dynamics, this review incorporates recent developments in the field and connects various lines of research that explore both host and microbial factors influencing infection outcomes.
- Overview of clams packaging systems sustainabilityPublication . Carneiro, A.; Goes, C. B.; Mota, I.; Ferreira, R.; Cruz, A.; Marcos, Begonya; Sivertsvik, M.; Poças, F.Background: This work analyses the protection requirements and options for primary and transportation packaging of shellfish. It considers the properties of materials and the most recent developments and innovations in the arena created by legislation shaping packaging practices and frameworks of circularity and sustainability. A short review of the environmental profiles of typical packaging systems is provided. Fresh clams must be alive when sold, and the shelf-life period is defined based on the time the clams are alive. This product is highly perishable and valued, and losses and waste must be reduced. Scope and approach: a multidisciplinary approach was followed, bringing together data from the product, material properties, and packaging design. These were integrated in the analysis of the impact of non-fossil plastic alternatives, reusability, recyclability and incorporation of recycled in the clams packaging. This work provides a global view of the packaging system, focusing not only on the materials developments but also on the trends regarding primary packaging, labels, and secondary packaging for transport. Scientific reports from the last 10 years were used as well as an interview with major stakeholders in Europe (a retailer and a packaging supplier). Key findings and conclusions: there are a large body of research dedicated to studying the shelf-life of other bivalves, but studies focusing on clams are scarce. Furthermore, many studies do not consider the FAO recommendations on the need to keep the clams alive up to the purchasing time, and therefore conclusions are biased because they are based on monitoring parameters that are less relevant for this product. Novel packaging materials, such as bioplastics and bio-polymers functionalised with smart components seem very attractive and they have been targeted in several reviews and many published studies. However, results reported show that there is a gap between the performance required and effectively delivered by many of these new developed materials. Much less effort has been dedicated to optimising the more traditional materials, to improve their recyclability, thereby extending the usage cycle to save resources. This research need has been clearly identified for transportation packaging, particularly foamed materials, crucial for thermal insulation, and for nets used for primary packaging of bivalves. Optimisation of the mechanical properties under humid conditions are needed to permit the use of biobased materials, such as cellulosic fibres, as clams nets. MAP technology is not a sustainable solution for increasing the shelf-life of clams. The barrier materials required and the limited recyclability represent an unbalanced environmental impact. A critical analysis of the environmental profiles associated with different packaging systems highlights challenges and opportunities within the industry when addressing sustainability. This review provides insights into current trends, challenges, and future directions in clams packaging, promoting informed decision-making and fostering sustainable practices in the packaging industry.
- Recovery of ripening capacity in 'Rocha' pears treated with 1-MCP through the application of 1-NAA: physiological and molecular analysis insightsPublication . Dias, Cindy; Brandao, Teresa R. S.; Salsinha, Ana S.; Amaro, Ana L.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Ferrante, António; Pintado, ManuelaStoring 'Rocha' pear treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in controlled atmosphere is a common commercial strategy to extend pear storage time and prevent postharvest disorders. However, this strategy represents a challenge to the fruit industry because 1-MCP treatment obstructs the normal fruit ripening, potentially affecting the quality to consumers. To explore possible mechanisms to reactivate ripening, 'Rocha' pears treated with 1-MCP were exposed to 2 and 4 mM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1-NAA) and stored at 20 ± 2 °C for 15 days. Typical ripening indicators, such as firmness, skin color, ethylene and aroma volatiles production, sugar content, and the genetic expression of ethylene-related enzymes (ACS and ACO) and receptors (PcETR1, PcETR2, and PcETR5) were determined over the 15 days of storage. A PCA analysis incorporating both physiological and biochemical data showed that 1-NAA promoted the recovery of ripening capacity in 1-MCP treated pears. Treating pears with 1-NAA led to increased activity of genes like PcACS1, PcACS4, and PcETR2, which are involved in ethylene signalling and production. This resulted in higher levels of ethylene and compounds associated with ripening, as well as softer texture, more yellow color, and higher sucrose content. The boost in ethylene-related gene activity likely heightened ethylene sensitivity and production in the treated pears. Consequently, these fruits showed accelerated softening, color change, and aroma development. This suggests that 1-NAA treatment can reverse the ripening inhibition caused by 1-MCP, possibly by enhancing ethylene sensitivity and production. This mechanism could enable consistent ripening of 'Rocha' pears after they are taken out of cold storage, and it may have similar effects on other fruits.
- Health and environmental impacts of shifting to plant-based analogues: a risk-benefit assessmentPublication . Carvalho, Catarina; Correia, Daniela; Costa, Sofia Almeida; Pereira, Rita; Oliveira, Andreia; Pinto, Elisabete; Lopes, Carla; Torres, DuartePurpose: Plant-based analogues (PBAs) simulate animal-based foods’ attributes and can facilitate adherence to flexitarian and vegetarian dietary patterns, which have been associated with health benefits. However, possibly classifying PBAs as ultra-processed (UPF) and excluding healthy animal-based foods (e.g., fish) can result in unintended health risks. This study aims to quantify the health and environmental impact of replacing animal-based foods with PBAs. Methods: Using data from the Portuguese National Dietary Survey (n = 3852 adults; 2015–2016), three substitution scenarios of animal-based foods with PBAs were modelled: vegan (replacing all animal-based foods with PBAs), ovolactovegetarian (replacing meat and fish with PBA), and pescatarian (replacing meat with PBA). Varying degrees of substitution (33%, 50%, 67%, 100%) and two classification approaches for PBAs were explored: UPF or non-UPF. The overall health impact was estimated considering several health outcomes (cancer, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic outcomes) combined through Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The environmental impact was measured through greenhouse gas emissions and land use. Results: Environmental benefits were evident, especially for the vegan scenario. Regarding health impact, the 100% substitution of all animal-based foods (vegan scenario) might represent a risk if PBAs are classified as UPF (∆DALY average = 72,109 years). The highest overall benefit was found for 100% substitution of meat only (pescatarian scenario) independently of considering PBAs as UPF or not (UPF: ∆DALY average = − 40,202 years; non-UPF: ∆DALY average = − 88,827 years). Conclusion: PBAs can be considered feasible alternatives to animal-based foods, and the results emphasise meat substitution as a crucial factor for health and environmental benefits.
- Leader expressed humility: a meta-analysis and an agenda for future researchPublication . Silard, Anthony; Miao, Chao; Rego, Arménio; Akkan, Eren; Yoon, David; Qian, ShanshanThis study meta-analyzes the empirical evidence on the topic of leader humility. Our findings suggest that leader humility makes unique contributions to explaining key followers’ outcomes beyond those provided by transformational leadership. We also find significant overlap between leader humility and authentic leadership, yet leader humility has incremental validity in predicting several outcomes. We analyze two theoretically driven moderators: individualism vs. collectivism, and high- vs. low- religiosity, and find that both emerge as moderating the relationships between leader humility and several outcomes. These findings suggest that when constructs such as leader-expressed humility, dispositional humility, honesty-humility, and humility as a component of servant leadership are conflated under the expression “leader humility”, the granularities inherent to each one of these constructs are hidden, with negative consequences for the validity of the empirical landscape. We conclude with theoretical implications of our meta-analysis for the leader humility literature and make suggestions for future research.
- Self‐management in children and adolescents with chronic illness: an evolutionary analysis of the conceptPublication . Catarino, Marta; Macedo, Lúcia; Santos, Joana; Charepe, Zaida; Festas, ConstançaAim: To increase conceptual clarity regarding the self-management of school-age children and adolescents with chronic illnesses in a community context. Design: Concept Analysis: Rodgers' evolutionary approach. Data Sources: Search conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Nursing and Allied Health Collection, Academic Search Complete, Cochrane, Web of Science, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis. Thirty-one articles were identified, published between 2004 and 2023. Reporting Method: Followed the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research guidelines—Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. Results: Self-management in children and adolescents with chronic illness, in school age, in a community context, consists of a process of acquiring knowledge and beliefs that promote the self-efficacy of this population in developing skills to face needs inherent to the health condition. Conclusion: Promoting self-management goes beyond simply educating for skill acquisition. Participants with stronger beliefs in their ability to control their behaviours are more successful in self-management. The activation of resources that position the child as an agent of change is recommended. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: It contributes to the development of strategies that promote self-management across different healthcare disciplines, focusing on education and change, but also on psychological encouragement to foster confidence in change. Impact: Competent self-management during childhood promotes autonomy, empowerment, and control of the condition, with consequent physical and emotional well-being, quality of life, family stability, and social development. No Patient or Public Contribution:There was no direct contribution from patients or the public in this work (literature review).
- Futile therapeutic nursing interventions in adult intensive care: a descriptive studyPublication . Vieira, João Vitor; Oliveira, Henrique; Deodato, Sérgio; Mendes, FelisminaBackground: Despite the progress made in recent decades on the phenomenon of futility in adult intensive care, recognizing it during clinical care practice remains a complex and sensitive process, during which questions are often raised for which concrete answers are difficult to find. Aims: To analyze the frequency with which futile nursing interventions are implemented in critically ill patients admitted to adult intensive care in specific situations and how often futile autonomous and interdependent nursing interventions are implemented in the same population, as perceived by adult intensive care nurses. Research design: Cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study, which employed a questionnaire constructed specifically for this research to assess the perception of therapeutic futility in nursing in adult intensive care. Following an evaluation of the psychometric properties, the questionnaire was made available in an electronic format on the EUSurvey platform between August and October 2024. The data was analyzed between November 2023 and March 2024 using the statistical software packages SPSS and R. Participants and research context: A simple random sample of nurses working in level II and level III intensive care units in Portugal. Ethical considerations: Research ethical approvals were obtained, and the participants provided informed consent. Findings/results: Four hundred and fourteen valid questionnaires were obtained. The results allow the identification of thirty-three statistically significant associations, the inference of intervals for the mean and median for the perception of futility of nursing interventions with a 95% confidence interval, and enable the hierarchization of nursing interventions implemented in critically ill patients admitted to adult intensive care units according to the nurses’ perception of their futility. Conclusion: There is a balance in nurses' perception of the futility of their interventions in the specific situations analyzed. There is statistically significant evidence that interdependent nursing interventions are, in general, more frequently perceived as futile when compared to autonomous nursing interventions.
- Almost different, but not quite: neoliberal discourses on the MahābhārataPublication . Oliveira, João PedroThis paper analyses a corpus of contemporary English-language adaptations of the Mahābhārata sold via Amazon India and takes a qualitative discourse analysis approach to describe and sort out the linguistic, narrative and discursive techniques that most writers use in their biographical notes and novels’ summaries to make their works commercially appealing. I conclude that most authors claim to come from a technological background and adhere to a neoliberal and exclusivist nationalistic ideology. They claim to be doing something entirely innovative and, by falsifying past interpretations of the epic influenced by (post-)Orientalist scholarly and Westernised left-wing Indian discourses, to unveil the “lost secrets” which were already present in the canonical Sanskrit version of the epic. By working as a historical account of the past and as a mythic blueprint for contemporary individual, social and national lives, the Mahābhārata is represented as a connecting point between the precolonial Indian Golden Age and postcolonial neoliberal India, which is depicted as reviving that Golden Age.
- Dynamics and interrelationships between antibiotic resistance, organic micropollutants and bacterial communities in full-scale rural constructed wetlandsPublication . Teixeira, A. Margarida; Matos, Diana; Coelho, Norberta; Halwatura, Lahiruni M.; Vaz-Moreira, Ivone; Castro, Paula M. L.; Aga, Diana S.; Manaia, Célia M.Constructed wetlands systems (CWs) are increasingly regarded as promising alternatives or complements to conventional wastewater treatment processes. However, the fate of chemical and biological contaminants in realworld treatment processes is understudied in this type of systems. This study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the response of three horizontal subsurface flow CWs, in Northern Portugal, planted with Phragmites australis, in operation for >7 years, to reducing the load of fecal contamination, antibiotic resistance genes and organic micropollutants (OMPs). Influent, effluent and sediments samples (n = 36) were examined for abundance of cultivable Escherichia coli and total coliforms, total bacteria (16S rRNA gene), 10 genetic biomarkers associated with anthropogenic contamination (uidA, crAssphage, intI1, sul1, ermB, ermF, mefC, qacEΔ1, tetX and aph(3″)-Ib) by quantitative PCR, non-target LC-MS of OMPs and 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community analysis. The three CWs showed reduction values (log-units/mL) up to 4.8 of E. coli and 3.6 of biomarkers, with the highest values observed in warmer periods. No evidence of for the accumulation microbiological contaminants in the sediments was observed. Among the 59 OMPs detected, reduction rates varied, and the concentration of the most abundant pharmaceutical compounds in the final effluent varied –reaching ng/L concentrations of ~36 000 for fenofibric acid, ~14 000 for acetaminophen, ~3000 for oxazepam and ~2000 for irbesartan, which can be considered high to discharge in the receiving environment. The bacterial community was dominated by members of the class Gammaproteobacteria, with treatment contributing to significant reduction of the relative abundance of members of the classes Clostridia, Bacilli and Actinomycetes. Compared with wastewater, sediments had significantly higher relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria. The study confirms that CWs are an adequate alternative for the treatment of domestic wastewater in small communities, although it warns of the need for regular monitoring and adjustment of treatment conditions, especially during cooler periods.