Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-09-15"
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- Microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity: a green extraction technology for phenylethyl isothiocyanate from watercress by-productsPublication . Sousa, Ana Sofia; Sousa, Sérgio; Silva, Inês V.; Reis, Celso A.; Coscueta, Ezequiel R.; Pintado, Maria ManuelaWatercress is a cruciferous vegetable and the primary natural source of phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a powerful health-promoting agent. Conventional extraction of PEITC relies on harmful solvents, which limits sustainability. This study introduces a novel, solvent-free method—microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG)—to extract PEITC from watercress by-products (WCBP). Results showed that freezing WCBP is fundamental for effective PEITC extraction via MHG. Using a three-level factorial experimental design, optimal MHG extraction conditions were determined (microwave power: 1.91 W g -1 ; extraction time: 29 min), yielding a PEITC content of 1818.26 μg g -1 WCBP (dry basis), along with extracts rich in polyphenols and possessing antioxidant properties. This work demonstrates that MHG is a sustainable method for extracting isothiocyanates, supporting a zero-waste approach since the clean residue from the extraction process can be reused to obtain new ingredients, thus enhancing resource efficiency and promoting a circular economy in the agro-food industry.
- Silk fibroin microparticles as a candidate for wound healing applications: evaluating the role of adenosinePublication . Bernardes, Beatriz G.; Laurano, Rossella; López-Iglesias, Clara; Magalhães, Rui; Costa, Raquel; García-González, Carlos A.; Oliveira, Ana LeiteIn this study, silk fibroin (SF) aerogel microparticles were developed as a delivery system for adenosine (ADO) to exploit its anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties for wound healing. Supercritical CO2 drying was used to prepare ADO-loaded SF aerogel microparticles with different SF concentrations (3 %, 5 %, 7 % w/v) and SF: ADO ratios (10:1, 5:1, 2:1). Characterization revealed high porosity (91–94 %), interconnected pores, high skeletal density (1.22–1.32 g/cm3) and significant surface area (191–306 m2/g). Notably, the 5 % SF with a 5:1 SF:ADO ratio emerged as the most promising formulation, exhibiting excellent morphological and biological properties (91 % porosity, 1.31 g/cm3 skeletal density, and 191 m2/g surface area). In vitro studies on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), keratinocytes (HaCaT), and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) demonstrated enhanced viability and proliferation in HDF and HaCaT cells. Specifically, the 5 % SF 5:1 and 5 % SF 2:1 formulations significantly boosted proliferation (over 100 % compared to control) for up to 7 days, highlighting their potential. While HDMECs showed sensitivity to higher ADO concentrations (observed with the 5 % SF 2:1 formulation), the 5 % SF 5:1 formulation achieved the most balanced cellular response across all cell types, underscoring the importance of precise dosage. These findings support the potential of ADO-loaded SF aerogel microparticles in tissue regeneration applications. Further in vivo studies are needed to validate thera- peutic efficacy and benchmark against existing wound healing treatments.
- Reformas na medida de segurança de internamento : o papel da lei n.º 35/2023, de 21 de julhoPublication . Calheiros, Mariana Moreira da Silva; Freitas, Pedro Miguel FernandesA presente dissertação aborda a temática da medida de segurança de internamento, tendo por base o seu regime previsto nos art. 91.º a 99.º, do CP e as alterações introduzidas pela nova Lei de Saúde Mental, a Lei n.º 35/2023, de 21 de julho. A nossa abordagem consistiu na análise às alterações introduzidas pela nova Lei de Saúde Mental, com um especial foco nos limites temporais e na alteração ao art. 92.º, n.º 3, do CP, que antes desta revisão permitia que a medida de internamento pudesse ser prorrogada pelo tempo necessário até cessar a perigosidade do agente e que dava origem à possibilidade de estarmos perante penas perpétuas. Além disso, dedicámos um capítulo inicial relativo à saúde mental e outro capítulo em que analisamos os inimputáveis em razão de anomalia psíquica na sua dimensão sociodemográfica e forense. Com o nosso estudo procuramos destacar os problemas que este regime ainda possui e propor a implementação de melhorias fundamentais.
- Não acredites em tudo o que vês : as deepfakes de conteúdo íntimo não consensuaisPublication . Vieira, Ana Raquel Lopes Lobato Vaz; Freitas, Pedro Miguel FernandesA Inteligência Artificial é um dos assuntos do momento, sobretudo devido aos avanços significativos alcançados pela indústria. Embora esta tecnologia proporcione grandes benefícios para a sociedade, também pode ser potencialmente perigosa. E as deepfakes não consensuais de conteúdo íntimo, que têm repercussões nefastas na vida das vítimas, são um exemplo desses perigos. A necessidade de combater essa nova forma de violência digital originou o art. 5.º, n.º 1, al. b), da Diretiva (UE) 2024/1385. Esse artigo criminaliza a criação e posterior divulgação pública, sem consentimento, de conteúdos gerados ou manipulados que representem uma pessoa a participar em atividades sexuais explícitas. Portugal, enquanto Estado-Membro da União Europeia, terá de transpor a Diretiva e, nesse sentido, é fundamental verificar se o nosso ordenamento jurídico dá uma resposta satisfatória a essa obrigação ou se, pelo contrário, é necessário criar um tipo legal.
- Trend analysis of self-harm behaviors and stress management skills in adolescents between 2018, 2022, and 2024: a comprehensive ecological modelPublication . Gaspar, Tania; Serafim, Cheila; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Carvalho, MarinaHighlights: Non-suicidal self-harm behavior (NSSHB) reflects both individual distress and systemic gaps in psychosocial support, underscoring the importance of ecological and multilevel prevention strategies. Stress management skills are a central vulnerability factor, consistently lower among adolescents with NSSHB, and strongly influenced by family, school, and mental well-being contexts. Strengthening coping resources through supportive family and school environments emerges as a crucial pathway for reducing NSSHB and promoting adolescent resilience during and beyond public health crises. Background/Objectives: Although non-suicidal self-harming behaviors (NSSHBs) are increasingly recognized as both a symptom and risk factor in adolescent development, few studies have explored their biopsychosocial correlates, such as stress management, quality of life, family and peer support, and school-related factors, within a longitudinal framework. The present study aims to explore self-harm behaviors among adolescents from an ecological and biopsychosocial perspective over three distinct time points: pre-pandemic (2018), during the pandemic (2022), and post-pandemic (2024). Methods: The total sample comprised 12,233 adolescents, with 5695 in 2018, 5931 in 2022, and 607 in 2024. The percentage of adolescents reporting self-harm behaviors increased from 18.0% in 2018 to 21.8% in 2022 and slightly decreased to 20.2% in 2024. Results: Results show that, in both groups, stress management skills were positively predicted by family support, teacher relationship, quality of friendship, and future expectations, and they were negatively predicted by psychosomatic symptoms. The explained variance (adjusted R2) was consistently higher in the self-harm behavior group. The findings confirm that NSSHB is not only a symptom of individual distress but also a marker of insufficient psychosocial support and coping resources. Conclusions: Stress management skills emerged as a key vulnerability domain and were consistently lower among adolescents with NSSHB. Family support, school relationships, and mental well-being were central predictors of coping skills, reinforcing the relevance of multilevel, ecological approaches to prevention and intervention.