Repositório RCAAP

Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic drug with the ability to inhibit lysine binding at plasminogen receptors, can be used in different settings such as trauma, cardiac surgery, major orthopedic surgery, obstetric when perioperative bleeding is concerned [1]. Effective methods for determination of TXA in biological samples are still required to understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this drug in variable age groups undergoing surgeries with high blood loss [2]. The development and validation of a method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLCMS/MS) to quantify TXA in human plasma is described herein. A simple, inexpensive and efficient sample treatment involving protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing 0.5% (v/v) formic acid was implemented using volumes within the microliter range. Separation was achieved using a hydrophilic interaction based stationary phase and ammonium bicarbonate in the mobile phase that permitted a more efficient separation of the analyte from the matrix interferences, thus reducing matrix effects and increasing method sensitivity. The method was validated according to the European Medicines Agency guideline [3]. Excellent linearity was achieved (r2 > 0.997) for TXA concentrations ranging from 30 to 600 ng mL-1 with LOD and LOQ of 3 and 6 ng mL-1 in plasma extracts, respectively. The developed method proved to be selective, sensitive, accurate (96.4-105.7% of nominal concentration values) and precise (RSD ≤ 4.5%).

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is involved in various physiological processes, including the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. NPY activates different receptors in several brain regions. Recently, Y1 receptor (Y1R) has arisen as a potential regulator in the local control of bone turnover suggesting that an antireceptor strategy may be a useful therapeutic approach to prevent and/or reverse bone loss. BIBP 3226 is a potent Y1R selective antagonist that has been successfully used in in vitro studies showing a positive impact in bone turnover and thus providing good perspectives towards its application as a pharmacological tool for bone regeneration. Hence, the major aim of the present work was to implement a method based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry for quantification of BIBP 3226 in cellular internalization assays. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a reversed phase Kinetex coreshell C8 column at 30 C and elution in isocratic mode using a mixture of acetonitrile and water (30:70, v/v), containing 0.1% (v/v) formic acid, at 0.25 mL min-1. Total run time was 5.0 min, with retention time of 3.7 min for the target compound. The MS/MS was operated in positive ionization mode (ESI+) and data were acquired in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode (m/z 474>167 for quantification and m/z 474>107 for identity confirmation). Calibration curves were linear for concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 30 ng mL-1. BIBP 3226 was quantified in cell extracts obtained from internalization assays performed with bone marrow and breast cancer cells, after solvent evaporation and resuspension in mobile phase. LOD and LOQ were 0.04 and 0.1 ng mL-1, respectively, corresponding to values as low as 0.3 and 0.8 pg per wel

The multidrug therapy with dapsone (DAP) and clofazimine (CLZ) is known as an effective treatment against Mycobacterium leprae. However, the low bioavailability and non-specific distribution can reduce therapy efficacy and produce side effects. The use of nanotechnological approaches was explored as a promising carrier for delivery enhancement of these drugs. Therefore, a simple and precise highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV/Vis detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of DAP and CLZ loaded in solid dispersion and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, respectively, targeting therapy improvement. A reversed phase Kinetex core-shell C18 column at room temperature followed by UV/Vis detection at 280 nm was used for chromatographic separation. The elution was performed in gradient mode using aqueous acetate buffer (50 mol L-1, pH 4.8) and an increasing acetonitrile content from 27 to 63% (v/v), at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. The injection volume was fixed at 20 µL and total run time was 23.0 min, with a retention time of 6.0 min for DAP and 14.0 min for CLZ. The method was validated according to EMA guideline and showed specificity, accuracy (between 99.6 and 114.0% of nominal values) and precision for intra-day (RSD ≤1.8%) and inter-day assays (RSD ≤12.5%). Calibration curves were linear (r2 >0.9979) and LOD ≤0.03 and LOQ ≤0.06 mg L-1 were obtained. Stability was studied after 24 h at room temperature and over three freeze-thaw cycles, and recovery values ≥86.2% were obtained. Precipitation of CLZ was observed at low temperatures (4 °C). Entrapment efficiency in nanoformulations was evaluated as 54.8 ± 0.1% for DAP and 24.9 ± 0.2% for CLZ. The developed method was successfully validated for the simultaneous determination of DAP and CLZ in nanoparticles.

Lung function tests are critical for diagnosis and monitoring of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Monitoring of lung function, in the absence of a healthcare professional, is very challenging but may be obtained through Smart Devices if automated quality assessment systems guarantee the proper technique during the forced expiratory manoeuvre. This paper describes the evaluation of one such system that uses the microphone of smart devices, regarding the initial effort of forced expiratory manoeuvres using the Back Extrapolated Volume. A health professional recorded microphone spirometry in 55 children (5-10 years), using a mobile game engineered for the purpose, and registered its quality. At least one acceptable manoeuvre was achieved for 96% of the children using a featured threshold. Using a stricter threshold of 5% of forced vital capacity, it was possible to ensure at least one acceptable manoeuvre for 69%. While the obtained results are comparable to findings in literature for regular spirometry in this age group, further work is required before we can determine whether the proposed algorithm is effective in real life.

This study aimed at optimizing carotenoid extraction using the macroalga Himanthalia elongata (L.) S.F.Gray as a model. Firstly, traditional extraction procedures were employed, using various solvents and temperatures to enhance the extraction conditions. Once the most effective extraction conditions were identified, the study transitioned to a more efficient and environmentally friendly approach, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). By applying a three-parameter (solid-tosolvent ratio, temperature, and time) Box–Behnken design, the optimal extraction conditions were found to be a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1/13.6 g/mL at 60 ◦C for 15 min. Under these conditions, the predicted and experimental carotenoid contents were 2.94 and 2.12 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, an HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the characterization of carotenoids. βCarotene was the predominant carotenoid in H. elongata, alongside fucoxanthin. The optimized MAE method was applied to other seaweeds, including Fucus vesiculosus L., Codium tomentosum Stackhouse, Gracilaria gracilis (Stackhouse) Steentoft, L.M.Irvine & Farnham, and Eiseinia bicyclis (Kjellman) Setchell. Among all, F. vesiculosus exhibited the highest carotenoid content compared to the others. This study concludes that MAE under optimized conditions is an effective and sustainable approach for carotenoid extraction, providing significant yields of bioactive compounds such as β-carotene and fucoxanthin, which have promising applications in enhancing human health and nutrition.

Environmental health is practiced primarily at the local level; however, many of the skills held by environmental health practitioners (EHPs) are transferable globally. There is currently a shortage of EHPs in many parts of the world and formally recognizing the transferability of skills and knowledge within the profession might encourage people to consider environmental health as a profession, helping to address the shortage. To facilitate this transferability, our global community of practice has mapped the environmental health practice requirements of the U.S., UK, and Australia to enable comparison of each one to the others and demonstrate the level of similarity in practice requirements. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between the various professional bodies that oversee environmental health practice, which would allow qualif ied EHPs to practice in any of these countries. This flexibility would benefit the profession, professional practice, and individuals. MOUs are a way to recognize the similarities and di†erences between practices in these countries and provide pathways to address di†erences when they exist, such as via short courses and work experience. We present data to illustrate our argument that there is much overlap in the practice of EHPs. We see our research as a first step to engage with professional bodies in other countries and to facilitate MOUs between many countries, both to raise the profile of environmental health globally and to provide an attractive pathway for people to consider environmental health as a profession.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) are highly prevalent among supermarket cashiers. These disorders are frequently related to the adoption of awkward postures and manual materials handling. This study aimed to analyze musculoskeletal loadings in supermarket cashiers, considering the handling of different products and different checkout conditions. To accomplish this, we employed an inertial motion capture system to measure full-body kinematics while simulating 19 cashier tasks. The study included five female cashiers from a supermarket in Northern Portugal, ranging in age from 19 to 61 years old. Using joint angles, material load, and muscle function as input parameters, we conducted the musculoskeletal loadings assessment using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) methods. Results showed that RULA scores were higher for the microtasks that involved product scanning. Regarding microstasks analyzed by REBA, the replacement of paper rolls for the receipt machine at the checkout counter yields the highest scores. Based on these findings, there is a compelling need to redesign supermarket checkout workstations to alleviate the physical demands placed on cashiers and to ensure organizational sustainability.

This paper presents a novel data quality score designed to address the challenges of ensuring high-quality data in Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. Given the growing reliance on IoT systems and the volume of data they generate, maintaining data quality is essential for reliable decision-making and effective analytics. The proposed score synthesizes key data quality dimensions, providing a comprehensive measure of data quality that can be applied across various IoT contexts. The results obtained for a public dataset on a water pumping system show the applicability and flexibility of the proposed data quality score. This work contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve data management in IoT environments, ultimately supporting the development of robust, data-driven solutions.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of fungi, such as Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillium spp., which has been found to have a wide number of potentially deadly toxic effects, and can enter the human organism through a variety of means. It then finds its way into the bloodstream and, after a lengthy process, is eventually excreted through the urine. It can thus be detected in its original form not only in blood samples but also in this biological medium. As such, and in an attempt to evaluate the exposure of the Portuguese population to this mycotoxin, morning urine samples were collected during the Winter of 2007, from each of five geographically distinct Portuguese locations — Bragança, Porto, Coimbra, Alentejo, and Algarve — and subjected to extraction by immunoaffinity columns and to OTA quantification through liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. Prevalent incidence was higher than 95% with Coimbra being the exception (incidence of 73.3%). In nearly all locations, the OTA content of most samples was found to be above the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.008 ng/ml. Indeed, excluding Coimbra, with an OTA content level of 0.014 ng/ml, all regions featured content values over 0.021 ng/ml.

Anticoagulants, including warfarin, are often administered to patients who are exhibiting early symptoms of thromboembolic episodes or who have already experienced such episodes. However, warfarin has a limited therapeutic index and might cause bleeding and other clinical problems. Warfarin inhibits the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), an enzyme essential for activating vitamin K, in the coagulation cascade. Genetic factors, such as polymorphisms, can change the natural function of VKORC1, causing variations in the medication reaction among individuals. Hence, before prescribing warfarin, the patient’s genetic profile should also be considered. In this study, an electrochemical genosensor capable of detecting the VKORC1 1639 G>A polymorphism was designed and optimized. This analytical approach detects the electric current obtained during the hybridization reaction between two 52 base pair complementary oligonucleotide sequences. Investigating public bioinformatic platforms, two DNA sequences with the A and G single-nucleotide variants were selected and designed. The experimental protocol of the genosensor implied the formation of a bilayer composed of a thiolate DNA and an alkanethiol immobilized onto gold electrodes, as well as the formation of a DNA duplex using a sandwich-format hybridization reaction through a fluorescein labelled DNA signalling probe and the enzymatic amplification of the electrochemical signal, detected by chronoamperometry. A detection limit of 20 pM and a linear range of 0.05–1.00 nM was obtained. A clear differentiation between A/A, G/A and G/G genotypes in biological samples was successfully identified by his novel device.

Apesar da luta pela igualdade de género a que se tem assistido ao longo das últimas décadas, e de todas as conquistas da mulher, as posições de liderança e gestão nas organizações continuam a ser maioritariamente ocupadas por homens. Aquando da sua ascendência na hierarquia organizacional, a mulher atinge um “telhado de vidro” que condiciona o seu sucesso profissional e coloca em causa o equilíbrio entre a sua vida pessoal e profissional. Isto porque as organizações não são neutras em termos de género, possuindo estereótipos desta índole integrados estruturalmente, perpetuados através da comunicação explícita e implícita das organizações. Para combater a segregação vertical e horizontal, é fundamental a legislação e medidas organizacionais, bem como a educação e formação dos indivíduos, de forma a promover a desconstrução de estereótipos e preconceitos associados à mulher no mundo organizacional. Assim, o presente trabalho argumentará como a desigualdade de género está presente no seio das organizações.

The digital transformation faces great security challenges. In particular, the Internet of Things (IoT), a concept that expresses the interconnection of physical objects with the Internet, is exposed to several threats. The growing number of cyber attacks targeting IoT systems restates the need for a reliable detection of malicious network activity, to mitigate its impact. The application of Machine Learning (ML) to IoT intrusion detection is a promising approach to tackle the increasingly more complex threats. This project presents a continuously improving Network-based Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) based on user feedback. The system consists of three modular applications and employs an adapted Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) methodology to incrementally improve the detection with the alerts validated by end users. The binary and multi-class classification performances of the developed DRL model, a Support Vector Machine (SVM), a Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), an Isolation Forest (iForest) and a Local Outlier Factor (LOF) were evaluated on several subsets of the IoT-23 dataset. The obtained results indicate that the DRL model requires a large quantity of balanced data to be effective, whereas iForest and LOF are more suitable for a smaller quantity of unbalanced data. Overall, SVM, LightGBM and XGBoost obtained similar results. LightGBM achieved the most reliable performance.

Este trabalho está a ser realizado no âmbito da obtenção do Mestrado em Ensino de Inglês no 1º Ciclo de Ensino Básico onde o objetivo é explorar a conexão entre os 1.º e 2.º Ciclos básicos de aprendizagem. O documento tem como título “A transição e as mudanças entre o 1.º e 2.º ciclos de escolaridade com foco nos alunos e docência” onde se procura aprofundar o tema da passagem de ciclos escolares, nomeadamente a passagem do 1.º Ciclo para o 2.º Ciclo de Ensino e com especial enfoque no tema como a interdisciplinaridade para o ensino, e outros temas como a disparidade de conhecimentos relativa à mudança de ciclo, tanto como, a dificuldade de adaptação dos alunos a esta transição. Tudo se projetará em diferentes fases de observação, escrita e análise com o propósito de recolher dados para chegar aos meus objetivos finais de trabalho. Dentre esses apresentam-se as expectativas dos alunos consoante a mudança de ciclo comparando-os com a realidade, através de diversas pesquisas e aprofundamento sobre o tema em questão, as visões de docentes perante estas mudanças escolares e a interdisciplinaridade como ferramenta e apoio à aprendizagem e como a interdisciplinaridade está presente nos meios de ensino-aprendizagem. Os recursos a serem explorados no tratamento de dados que estarão presentes neste documento serão a análise qualitativa e quantitativa, a análise documental através de pesquisas de documentos e conhecimentos sobre o tema de estudo, a realização de inquéritos e desenvolvimento de focus groups, a docentes e alunos, respetivamente. Seguido destes, espera-se a formação de perspetivas e conclusões pertinentes para dar resposta aos objetivos e questões desenvolvidas e pensadas em prol deste tema.

Este estudo analisa o potencial da música como ferramenta pedagógica para apoiar a aprendizagem de inglês como língua estrangeira entre alunos do ensino básico em Portugal, com base numa experiência de prática de ensino supervisionada. Os estudos referenciados permitem entender a relação existente entre a música e a linguagem e apresentar os benefícios que a música tem no ensino e aprendizagem. Neste sentido, é demonstrado como este elemento proporciona um ambiente pedagógico mais dinâmico e motivador, como desperta a atenção dos alunos e fomenta a assimilação do vocabulário e estruturas frásicas, contribuindo para uma aprendizagem significativa. As metodologias de investigação aplicadas são de variável mista, pelo envolvimento ativo da investigadora neste processo e pela diversidade de instrumentos utilizados para a recolha de dados, sendo neste âmbito os seguintes: a) registos das práticas (fotografias e vídeos); b) diário de bordo; c) inquérito por questionário a alunos. Deste modo, os resultados evidenciam o impacto positivo da música na motivação, retenção do vocabulário e desenvolvimento das competências linguísticas dos alunos.

Higher education institutions play an important role as they prepare the professionals, decision-makers, and democratic citizens of the future. In Allied Health education, it is crucial to develop a professional that, in addition to the technical and clinical content, also have a critical sense regarding environmental and social aspects. This study aims to survey medical imaging and radiotherapy (MIR) students’ perceptions and knowledge about environmental sustainability in MIR education and practice.

The growing urgency of the climate crisis has heightened the importance of integrating sustainability into health education. Allied health professionals are well positioned to lead sustainable healthcare efforts, yet evidence suggests a persistent gap between student awareness and formal training. This study explored the perspectives, knowledge, and attitudes of Portuguese allied health students regarding sustainability. An online and anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate and graduate students across multiple allied health disciplines. The questionnaire assessed general knowledge, perceptions of curricular integration, and attitudes toward sustainable clinical practice. A total of 247 (response rate of 8.23%) students participated, with the majority expressing high concern about climate change and strong support for environmentally responsible healthcare. However, the results revealed inconsistent awareness of healthcare’s environmental footprint and a limited exposure to structured sustainability education. Friedman tests indicated significant variability in students’ knowledge, perceived responsibility, and curricular experiences. Students identified priority themes for curricular inclusion—such as the environmental impact of the health system—and recognized their alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The findings highlight the need for the systematic, competency-based integration of sustainability into allied health curricula to support a climate-resilient and ecologically responsible future healthcare workforce.

O Observatório do Desporto Infantojuvenil do Município de Gondomar tem como objetivo utilizar a investigação e a proximidade com a comunidade enquanto estratégias basilares para que existam experiências desportivas mais positivas. Não obstante, detetam-se diversos desafios na realidade atual. Presentemente, verifica-se que (a) apenas realizar ações de formação sobre o desenvolvimento de jovens é insuficiente para desencadear mudanças de comportamento nos diversos agentes desportivos e decisores políticos; (b) o treinador é um dos agentes responsáveis pela promoção do desenvolvimento positivo de jovens através do desporto, mas existem outros igualmente importantes como os pais, dirigentes e os próprios atletas; e que (c) é necessário avaliar o impacto das ações de formação no âmbito do desenvolvimento positivo de jovens através do desporto. Neste sentido, o Observatório do Desporto Infantojuvenil do Município de Gondomar pretende analisar a eficácia de ações de formação contínua centradas no desenvolvimento positivo de jovens através do desporto nas práticas dos agentes desportivos, bem como promover mudanças estruturais e estruturantes no sistema desportivo. Para este efeito, estão a ser (1) desenvolvidos indicadores de desporto infantojuvenil de qualidade, contextualizados às especificidades do município de Gondomar; (2) construídos instrumentos de avaliação que permitam compreender o grau de implementação desses indicadores; (3) definidas recomendações para os clubes desportivos que pertencem ao município; e (4) promovidas ações de formação dirigidas a pais, treinadores e dirigentes, e avaliado o seu impacto em termos de mudanças de comportamento destes agentes. Espera-se que esta abordagem do topo (i.e., recomendações de um município) para a base (i.e., práticas de agentes desportivos) possa otimizar a utilidade das ações de formação contínua e tornar o desenvolvimento positivo de jovens através do desporto efetivo. Mediante o exposto, este congresso (https://www.cm-gondomar.pt/eventos/i-congresso-o-desporto-infantojuvenil-em-gondomar-o-desenvolvimento-da-jovem-atleta/) visa apresentar-se como um espaço de debate e discussão, com uma periodicidade anual, que possa instigar mudanças no sistema desportivo, aferir as necessidades formativas dos agentes desportivos e promover uma avaliação concertada da eficácia das medidas adotadas neste contexto.

O uso de metodologias ativas na educação traz inúmeras potencialidades para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Neste âmbito, a presente comunicação emerge do projeto de intervenção “Origens do mar: entre marés e memórias”, desenvolvido no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, no âmbito da Prática Educativa Supervisionada do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Neste artigo, destaca-se a unidade de aprendizagem subordinada à questão: “Qual a importância do mar?” em que se pretendeu sensibilizar os alunos para a relevância do mar, recorrendo à metodologia ativa de Rotação por Estações. A atividade foi organizada em quatro estações, integrando diferentes áreas do saber. A Investigação-Ação foi a metodologia de investigação selecionada e utilizaram-se vários instrumentos e técnicas de recolha de dados, nomeadamente as narrativas reflexivas, as notas de observação e as produções dos alunos. Os resultados evidenciaram um elevado envolvimento dos alunos e valorização do mar como património natural e cultural, potenciando aprendizagens ativas, significativas e interdisciplinares, bem como o desenvolvimento de competências de pensamento crítico, expressão oral e escrita, raciocínio lógico, criatividade e trabalho colaborativo. Conclui-se que a metodologia é uma estratégia eficaz, centrada no aluno, atenta à diversidade e adequada aos desafios da educação do século XXI.

Esta comunicação problematiza o conceito de avaliação pedagógica e os seus princípios, trazendo o que as autoras denominam de avaliação responsiva. Além disso, pretende compreender a sua utilização em contexto de sala de aula, nomeadamente em contexto de formação inicial docente, nas práticas de estágio supervisionado, a partir de um universo restrito de documentos orientadores sobre as práticas avaliativas do processo de ensino e aprendizagem (Plano de unidade curricular e Projeto de curso), disponíveis nos sites das universidades públicas do Brasil e de Portugal para refletir sobre a orientação para essas práticas, e em que medida elas avançam para a prática de avaliação responsiva. A metodologia utilizada para esse percurso é a revisão narrativa, cuja análise da literatura e documentos legais e institucionais são da interpretação e análise crítica pessoal das autoras, a partir do que consideram avaliação responsiva. Os dados foram recolhidos em sites de cinco universidades públicas das diferentes regiões brasileiras e portuguesas, seguindo determinados critérios. Os resultados permitem concluir que há uma tentativa de renovação de concepções teórico-práticas e ferramentas de avaliação, incluindo as digitais, porém, verifica-se ainda uma resistência na conceção e momento que se avalia, distante de uma prática responsiva.

A metodologia ativa de Rotação por Estações promove a construção ativa do conhecimento, estimulando a autonomia e a participação dos alunos. Esta comunicação insere-se no projeto “Aprender com Respeito”, desenvolvido no âmbito da Prática Educativa Supervisionada numa turma do 2.º ano do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. A unidade de aprendizagem “Porque devemos respeitar os animais?” teve como objetivo sensibilizar os alunos para a educação ambiental e o respeito pelas espécies em vias de extinção, promovendo simultaneamente competências transversais. Organizaram-se quatro estações, cada uma com tarefas interdisciplinares e cognitivamente desafiantes: criação de slogans e cartazes, exploração musical, resolução de um puzzle lógico-matemático com planisfério e representação gráfica com proposta de ação concreta. Após a realização das tarefas, houve partilha coletiva e reflexão orientada. A investigação seguiu uma metodologia de investigação-ação, recorrendo à observação participante, registos reflexivos, trabalhos dos alunos e recursos audiovisuais. Os resultados evidenciam o aumento do interesse e motivação dos alunos, bem como o desenvolvimento de competências como a criatividade, cooperação, pensamento crítico e consciência ambiental. Este estudo reforça o potencial da Rotação por Estações como abordagem inovadora que responde aos desafios educativos atuais, promovendo aprendizagens significativas e interdisciplinares.