Browsing by Author "Rodrigues, Mariana"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Adaptation and preliminary validation of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) using the Structured Interview Guide (SIGMA) for European PortuguesePublication . Guiomar, Raquel; Samarra, Sara; Rodrigues, Mariana; Martins, Andreia; Martins, Vera; Jesus, Mariana; Fernandes, Filipe; Alves, Inês; Silva, Tânia; Ganho-Ávila, AnaThe Montgomery-angstrom sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is considered one of the gold-standard measures to assess depression severity. To standardise the MADRS administration, a structured interview was developed (SIGMA). This study aims to translate and validate the SIGMA for European Portuguese. Twenty patients (80% women) were interviewed by ten dyads of raters (trained clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) using the European Portuguese version of the MADRS and its structured interview SIGMA. There was no significant difference in the total MADRS score between raters (interviewers and observers). The intraclass correlation for the total score between raters using the SIGMA was excellent (r = .98; p < .001). All items had excellent to good item-level intraclass correlation, and the internal consistency by rater role was good. The European Portuguese version of the SIGMA showed good preliminary psychometric properties (reliability and internal consistency). Our results suggest that the SIGMA is a useful and robust interview guide for assessing the ten depression symptoms in the MADRS, regardless of the rater clinical background.
- Enhancing cellulose and lignin fractionation from acacia wood: optimized parameters using a deep eutectic solvent system and solvent recoveryPublication . Magalhães, Solange; Aliaño González, María José; Rodrigues, Mariana; Fernandes, Catarina; Mendes, Cátia V. T.; Carvalho, Maria Graça V. S.; Alves, Luís; Medronho, Bruno; Rasteiro, Maria da GraçaCellulose and lignin, sourced from biomass, hold potential for innovative bioprocesses and biomaterials. However, traditional fractionation and purification methods often rely on harmful chemicals and high temperatures, making these processes both hazardous and costly. This study introduces a sustainable approach for fractionating acacia wood, focusing on both cellulose and lignin extraction using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and levulinic acid (LA). A design of experiment was employed for the optimization of the most relevant fractionation parameters: time and temperature. In the case of the lignin, both parameters were found to be significant variables in the fractionation process (p-values of 0.0128 and 0.0319 for time and temperature, respectively), with a positive influence. Likewise, in the cellulose case, time and temperature also demonstrated a positive effect, with p-values of 0.0103 and 0.028, respectively. An optimization study was finally conducted to determine the maximum fractionation yield of lignin and cellulose. The optimized conditions were found to be 15% (w/v) of the wood sample in 1:3 ChCl:LA under a treatment temperature of 160 degrees C for 8 h. The developed method was validated through repeatability and intermediate precision studies, which yielded a coefficient of variation lower than 5%. The recovery and reuse of DES were successfully evaluated, revealing remarkable fractionation yields even after five cycles. This work demonstrates the feasibility of selectively extracting lignin and cellulose from woody biomass using a sustainable solvent, thus paving the way for valorization of invasive species biomass.