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Veritati

Institutional Repository of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa

 

The Institutional Repository (Veritati) is a reference platform for those who want to access scientific production, as well as master's dissertations and doctoral theses, developed within the scope of the teaching and research activities of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP).

As part of the RCAAP project (Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal), it aims to preserve and disseminate scientific production, thus increasing its visibility and impact.

The Institutional Repository is also integrated into the UCP science management ecosystem, which includes, namely, the Ciência-UCP platform and the Scientific Journals of Universidade Católica Portuguesa portal

Recent Submissions

A meritocracia escolar no 1º ciclo : interpelações às aprendizagens, bem-estar e justiça
Publication . Moreira, Agostinho Coelho; Alves, José Joaquim Ferreira Matias
A sociedade de hoje vive numa contínua busca de melhor e dos melhores. As escolas, enquanto ecossistemas da sociedade, também apresentam um dinamismo onde o mérito é valorizado e premiado. O ensino privado tende a fomentar ainda mais este culto do mérito. No entanto, onde há a valorização daqueles que se distinguem pela excelência, há também um “esquecer” de muitos outros que não conseguem atingir esse nível meritório, segundo os padrões pré-definidos. A pedagogia salesiana considera que “A Educação é assunto do Coração” e propõe uma educação integral que vai para além do conhecimento académico que resulta numa relação afetiva entre educador e educando. A presente investigação procurou perceber, praticamente desde o início do percurso escolar, se a cultura do mérito é promotora de mais e melhores aprendizagens para todos os alunos e se também tem efeitos na perceção do bem-estar e da justiça. A investigação foi realizada num contexto concreto (grande colégio privado, habitualmente no top 10 do ranking nacional de escolas do secundário) e numa faixa etária determinada (alunos do 3º e 4º anos de escolaridade). Além da perspetiva dos alunos sobre os quadros de mérito, o presente trabalho procurou, também, a perceção dos pais sobre este assunto, uma vez que eles são um elemento muito importante em todo este processo e, não esquecendo a centralidade o professor, procurou-se perceber o que estes pensam sobre a temática. Por fim procurou-se perceber como esta prática se articula com a Proposta Educativa das Escolas Salesianas. Tratou-se de um estudo de caso intrínseco com uma abordagem qualitativa combinada com uma abordagem quantitativa. A abordagem qualitativa, através de focus group, foi usada com os alunos e professores e a abordagem quantitativa, através de inquérito, foi aplicada aos alunos e pais. A recolha de todos estes dados decorreu no 3º período do ano letivo 2023-24 e abrangeu um universo de 176 alunos (88 alunos do 3º ano e 88 alunos do 4º ano), os seus pais e professores. Os resultados mostram que, tal como na sociedade, a cultura meritocrática divide as pessoas. São muitos os que a valorizam (porque beneficiários dela), outros muito críticos pelas consequências. Para as escolas e em concreto para a Escola Salesiana onde o estudo foi realizado, são propostas medidas que têm como objetivo minimizar as consequências negativas desta cultura meritocrática, em especial na pedagogia, na relação pedagógica e na classificação/avaliação dos alunos. Esta dissertação é constituída por dois volumes, a dissertação em si e um segundo volume com os anexos.
Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Publication . GBD 2021 Adult BMI; Ng, Marie; Gakidou, Emmanuela; Lo, Justin; Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis; Abbafati, Cristiana; Abbas, Nasir; Abbasian, Mohammadreza; ElHafeez, Samar Abd; Abdel-Rahman, Wael M.; Abd-Elsalam, Sherief; Abdollahi, Arash; Abdoun, Meriem; Abdulah, Deldar Morad; Abdulkader, Rizwan Suliankatchi; Abdullahi, Auwal; Abedi, Armita; Abeywickrama, Hansani Madushika; Abie, Alemwork; Aboagye, Richard Gyan; Abohashem, Shady; Abtahi, Dariush; Abualruz, Hasan; Abubakar, Bilyaminu; Farha, Rana Kamal Abu; Abukhadijah, Hana J.; Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M. E.; Aburuz, Salahdein; Abu-Zaid, Ahmed; Adams, Lisa C.; Adane, Mesafint Molla; Addo, Isaac Yeboah; Adedokun, Kamoru Ademola; Adegoke, Nurudeen A.; Adepoju, Abiola Victor Victor; Adesola, Ridwan Olamilekan; Adeyeoluwa, Temitayo Esther; Adiga, Usha; Adnani, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah; Afaghi, Siamak; Afzal, Saira; Afzal, Muhammad Sohail; Agampodi, Thilini Chanchala; Aghamiri, Shahin; Sobrinho, Cesar Agostinis; Agyemang-Duah, Williams; Ahlstrom, Austin J.; Ahmad, Danish; Ahmad, Sajjad; Fernandes, João C.; Ferreira, Nuno
Background Overweight and obesity is a global epidemic. Forecasting future trajectories of the epidemic is crucial for providing an evidence base for policy change. In this study, we examine the historical trends of the global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity from 1990 to 2021 and forecast the future trajectories to 2050. Methods Leveraging established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, we estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals aged 25 years and older by age and sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2050. Retrospective and current prevalence trends were derived based on both self-reported and measured anthropometric data extracted from 1350 unique sources, which include survey microdata and reports, as well as published literature. Specific adjustment was applied to correct for self-report bias. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models were used to synthesise data, leveraging both spatial and temporal correlation in epidemiological trends, to optimise the comparability of results across time and geographies. To generate forecast estimates, we used forecasts of the Socio-demographic Index and temporal correlation patterns presented as annualised rate of change to inform future trajectories. We considered a reference scenario assuming the continuation of historical trends. Findings Rates of overweight and obesity increased at the global and regional levels, and in all nations, between 1990 and 2021. In 2021, an estimated 1·00 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0·989–1·01) adult males and 1·11 billion (1·10–1·12) adult females had overweight and obesity. China had the largest population of adults with overweight and obesity (402 million [397–407] individuals), followed by India (180 million [167–194]) and the USA (172 million [169–174]). The highest age-standardised prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in countries in Oceania and north Africa and the Middle East, with many of these countries reporting prevalence of more than 80% in adults. Compared with 1990, the global prevalence of obesity had increased by 155·1% (149·8–160·3) in males and 104·9% (95% UI 100·9–108·8) in females. The most rapid rise in obesity prevalence was observed in the north Africa and the Middle East super-region, where age-standardised prevalence rates in males more than tripled and in females more than doubled. Assuming the continuation of historical trends, by 2050, we forecast that the total number of adults living with overweight and obesity will reach 3·80 billion (95% UI 3·39–4·04), over half of the likely global adult population at that time. While China, India, and the USA will continue to constitute a large proportion of the global population with overweight and obesity, the number in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region is forecasted to increase by 254·8% (234·4–269·5). In Nigeria specifically, the number of adults with overweight and obesity is forecasted to rise to 141 million (121–162) by 2050, making it the country with the fourth-largest population with overweight and obesity. Interpretation No country to date has successfully curbed the rising rates of adult overweight and obesity. Without immediate and effective intervention, overweight and obesity will continue to increase globally. Particularly in Asia and Africa, driven by growing populations, the number of individuals with overweight and obesity is forecast to rise substantially. These regions will face a considerable increase in obesity-related disease burden. Merely acknowledging obesity as a global health issue would be negligent on the part of global health and public health practitioners; more aggressive and targeted measures are required to address this crisis, as obesity is one of the foremost avertible risks to health now and in the future and poses an unparalleled threat of premature disease and death at local, national, and global levels.
Porque a dislexia pura é rara: contributo para a inclusão de estudantes com dislexia e algumas comorbilidades no ensino superior
Publication . Almeida, Maria de Fátima
Partindo-se da constatação de que um estudante com diagnóstico de Dislexia raramente terá apenas Dislexia, o presente artigo de revisão descritiva da literatura pretende contribuir para uma melhor compreensão da Dislexia e das suas comorbilidades mais frequentes. A inclusão de estudantes com Dislexia e comorbilidades, nomeadamente no ensino superior, apenas é possível com informação que clarifique o que são e o que é ter estas condições. Para além de abordar o outro lado da Dislexia, que é a Disortografia, o artigo apresenta uma revisão da literatura sobre a Discalculia, a Perturbação de Hiperatividade com Défice de Atenção (PHDA), a Perturbação Específica da Linguagem (PEL) e a Perturbação do Espectro do Autismo (PEA). Aborda as temáticas per se e as dificuldades acrescidas que cada uma traz ao quadro, já complexo, da Dislexia. O artigo não explora a questão, controversa, da comorbilidade da Dislexia com um QI abaixo da média, embora a aflore, mas traz sugestões para futuras investigações que se foquem nesta questão que pode ser relevante para a intervenção.
Effects of conventional hot air dehydration and lyophilization on the total phenolic content and antioxidant potential of broccoli stalk powders
Publication . Machado, Daniela; Soares, Inês; Vedor, Rita; Orvalho, Telma; Alves, Marco; Gomes, Ana Maria
Introduction: The valorization of agro-industrial byproducts plays a key role in promoting sustainability and supporting the development of functional foods (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2019; Ramírez- Pulido et al., 2021). Broccoli stalks, often industrially discarded, are a rich source of bioactive substances, particularly phenolics, with potential health- promoting effects (Yan et al., 2023). Efficient drying methods can transform these byproducts into high-value ingredients, while preserving their bioactive potential (Ramírez-Pulido et al., 2021). Objectives: Evaluate the impact of two drying methods (conventional hot air dehydration and lyophilization) on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of broccoli stalk powders. Conclusions: This work reinforces the potential of broccoli stalks as sources of bioactive substances, especially phenolic compounds. Both drying methods enabled the preservation of bioactive content, fostering the development of functional ingredients and supporting circular economy practices through food waste reduction and sustainable byproduct utilization.
Investigation of Trypanosoma-induced vascular damage sheds insights into Trypanosoma vivax sequestration
Publication . Pereira, Sara Silva; Brás, Daniela; Porqueddu, Teresa; Nascimento, Ana M.; Niz, Mariana De
Multiple blood-borne pathogens infecting mammals establish close interactions with the host vascular endothelium as part of their life cycles. In this work, we investigate differences in the interactions of three Trypanosoma species: T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax with the blood vasculature. Infection with these species results in vastly different pathologies, including different effects on vascular homeostasis, such as changes in vascular permeability and microhemorrhages. While all three species are extracellular parasites, T. congolense is strictly intravascular, while T. brucei is capable of surviving both extra- and intravascularly. Our knowledge regarding T. vivax tropism and its capacity of migration across the vascular endothelium is unknown. In this work, we show for the first time that T. vivax parasites sequester to the vascular endothelium of most organs, and that, like T. congolense, T. vivax Y486 is largely incapable of extravasation. Infection with this parasite species results in a unique effect on vascular endothelium receptors including general downregulation of ICAM1 and ESAM, and upregulation of VCAM1, CD36 and E-selectin. Our findings on the differences between the two sequestering species (T. congolense and T. vivax) and the non-sequestering, but extravasating, T. brucei raise important questions on the relevance of sequestration to the parasite’s survival in the mammalian host, and the evolutionary relevance of both sequestration and extravasation.