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Percorrer I. Componente Universitária por Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) "03:Saúde de Qualidade"
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- Activity induced genes expression is impaired in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxiasPublication . Torquato Afonso, Inês; Vilhena Catarino Brito, David; Bading, Hilmar; Nóbrega, ClévioPolyglutamine Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of 6 incurable genetic disorders, caused by an expansion of the trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine in their causative genes, which produces a protein with an expanded glutamine region. This project focuses on the study of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and type 3 (SCA3) (1), which are rare dominantly inherited disorders that primarily impair the cerebellum therefore leading to motor ataxia. Activity-induced inhibitor of death (AID), are a group of pro-survival 9 genes which were found to be neuroprotector in several neurological disorders, including stroke, glaucoma, AD, HD, and ALS (2). In this project, we aim to investigate about the relevance of the expression of AID genes for cerebellum function and whether their expression levels are impaired in SCA2 and SCA3
- Adaptation and validation of the perceived restorativeness scale (PRS) for the portuguese population: a study on the assessment of the restorative effect of environmentsPublication . Sousa, Cátia; Silva Fernandes, Maria Jacinta; Encarnação, Tiago; Gonçalves, GabrielaThe relationship between natural environments and psychological well-being has gained increasing attention in environmental and health sciences. However, there is still a lack of robust quantitative instruments to assess the restorative potential of different environments. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Portuguese version of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), an instrument based on Attention Restoration Theory that evaluates the perceived restorative qualities of environments. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on data from 410 participants. The results supported a refined 20-item version of the scale, comprising four factors—being away, fascination, compatibility, and legibility—with good internal consistency and acceptable model fit. Measurement invariance analysis confirmed configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender. In Study 2, a separate sample of 212 participants completed the PRS along with additional validated measures: the Sublime Emotion toward Nature Scale (SEN), an aesthetic evaluation of landscapes, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The PRS showed strong convergent and discriminant validity and significantly predicted restorative outcomes. These findings support the psychometric adequacy of the Portuguese PRS and its relevance as a valid tool for assessing perceived restorativeness in both natural and built environments. The scale may inform future research and public policies aimed at designing spaces that promote psychological restoration and mental well-being.
- Decent work and burnout: the moderating role of career callingPublication . Faria, Liliana; Porto, SofiaBurnout is a critical issue in occupational mental health, and decent workis recognised as a key factor in promoting employee well-being. Drawingon the Psychology of Working Theory and Conservation of ResourcesTheory, this study examined whether Career Calling, as a personalresource, moderates the relationship between Decent Work andBurnout among Portuguese workers. A cross-sectional online surveywas conducted with 173 participants, and data were analyzed using thePROCESS macro. Results indicated a significant negative relationshipbetween Decent Work and Burnout, with Career Calling moderating thisassociation: its protective effect was stronger when decent workconditions were adequate. These findings highlight the importance ofprioritising decent work as the primary strategy to prevent burnout, whilesupporting the development of Career Calling as a complementaryresource to enhance resilience, engagement, and meaning in work.
- Development and psychometric validation of the Minho suture assessment scale (Minho-SAS) for medical studentsPublication . Gonçalves, Nuno Silva; Sousa, Rita Matos; Collares, Carlos; Pereira, Vítor Hugo; Pêgo, José Miguel; Anderson, M. BrownellIntroduction: Even though mastery of suturing is a core technical skill in surgical education, existing tools for its assessment often lack psychometric validation or are not specifically designed for undergraduate training. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Minho Suture Assessment Scale (Minho-SAS), a structured instrument to evaluate fundamental suturing competencies in medical students. The research question was whether the Minho-SAS demonstrates validity and reliability as a psychometric tool. Methods: The development process involved collaboration with multidisciplinary surgical teams and experienced practitioners to ensure content validity. Data from a cohort of medical students were utilized for psychometric evaluation. Dimensionality was assessed using parallel analysis, Bayesian information criterion, unidimensional congruence, item unidimensional congruence, explained common variance, item explained common variance and mean of item residual absolute loadings. Validity based on internal structure was assessed with Rasch model analysis and factor analysis from the tetrachoric correlation matrix. Reliability was assessed using Rasch model standard errors of measurement to obtain a conditional reliability curve and Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega internal consistency coefficients. Results: Analyses supported a unidimensional structure for the Minho-SAS. The single-factor solution explained 39.96% of variance, and Rasch measures accounted for 29.15% (16.43% by persons, 12.72% by items). Residual correlations, factor loadings, and item fit statistics were within acceptable ranges. Reliability indices were satisfactory: Rasch reliability = 0.706; McDonald's omega = 0.889; Cronbach's alpha = 0.883. Conclusion: The Minho-SAS is a robust instrument specifically tailored for assessing fundamental suturing skills among medical students. Rasch model analysis yielded less favorable results than factor analysis, yet still acceptable. While demonstrating considerable potential, further exploration of Minho-SAS across diverse populations and educational settings is crucial to affirm its broader applicability and impact in medical education and clinical practice.
- Drug-related glomerular phenotypes: a global pharmacovigilance perspectivePublication . Baptista, Alexandre; Macedo, Ana; Marreiros, Ana; Coelho, André; Perazella, Mark A.Abstract: Introduction: Adverse drug reactions are a significant problem in modern society, stemming from the increase in prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, and overall polypharmacy. Glomerular disorders are one of the frequently reported renal conditions associated with medication use. VigiBase is a significant tool for evaluating events associated with drug use, and, to the authors’ knowledge, no study has yet assessed this database to identify the primary medications associated with glomerular disorders. Materials and Methods: We collected data from VigiBase for 54 years and evaluated data based on global frequencies, disproportionality (IC025 values), nephrotoxic potential, and physiopathological mechanisms. Results: Over the evaluation period, 33.932.051 spontaneous notifications of adverse drug reactions reported in VigiBase were assessed, from which 106.775 notifications of drug-associated glomerular disorders were extracted. The isolated medications were classified as ‘potential nephrotoxins’ (47.0%), with 40% of the medications lacking scientific references to report any association with the development of glomerular disorders. Among the evaluated medications, Inotersen (IC025 of 8.3), Penicillamine (IC025 6.8), Bevacizumab (IC025 5.9) and Lenvatinib (IC025 5.4) were identified as having the strongest association with these glomerular disorders. For medications classified as ‘non-nephrotoxic’, a high disproportionality index was observed, suggesting drugs that might be considered as new potential nephrotoxins. Conclusions: Drug-induced glomerular disorders were significantly associated with medications that had no established nephrotoxic role but demonstrated a high disproportionality index in VigiBase. These newly alleged nephrotoxic drugs warrant further evaluation in dedicated studies to assess their true nephrotoxic potential.
- Embedding a real-time strawberry detection model into a pesticide-spraying mobile robot for greenhouse operationPublication . Amraoui, Khalid El; Ansari, Mohamed El; Lghoul, Mouataz; Alaoui, Mustapha El; Abanay, Abdelkrim; Jabri, Bouazza; Masmoudi, Lhoussaine; LUÍS VALENTE DE OLIVEIRA, JOSÉAbstract: The real-time detection of fruits and plants is a crucial aspect of digital agriculture, enhancing farming efficiency and productivity. This study addresses the challenge of embedding a real-time strawberry detection system in a small mobile robot operating within a greenhouse environment. The embedded system is based on the YOLO architecture running in a single GPU card, with the Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) representation being employed to accelerate the detection process. The experiments conducted in this study demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of over 97%, processing eight frames per second for 512 × 512 pixel images. These results affirm the utility of the proposed approach in detecting strawberry plants in order to optimize the spraying process and avoid inflicting any harm on the plants. The goal of this research is to highlight the potential of integrating advanced detection algorithms into small-scale robotics, providing a viable solution for enhancing precision agriculture practices.
- Home mechanical ventilation in adults: clinical practice recommendations from the Portuguese respiratory society home mechanical ventilation assemblyPublication . Ribeiro, Carla; Gomes, Rita; Carreiro, Alexandra; Vieira, Ana Luísa; Seabra, Bárbara; Conde, Bebiana; Nogueira, Carla; Jácome, Cristina; Lages, Joana; Aguiar, Margarida; Grafino, Mónica; Pamplona, Paula; Cysneiros, Ana; Durães, Célia; Rodrigues, Cidália; Pimenta, Cidália; Cristóvão, Cristina; Rodrigues, Daniela; Ferreira, Diva; Gonçalves, Filipe; helena Chaves Ramos; Cravo, João; Silva, João Paulo; da Silva Cunha Granatin, Karl Jonathan; Méndez, Lucía; Zeller, Mafalda Van; Araújo, Márcia; Barata, Margarida; Raposo, Margarida; Redondo, Margarida; Jacob, Maria; Araújo, Maria João; Gonçalves, Miguel R.; Guia, Miguel; Faria, Nuno; Viegas, Pedro; Conde, Sara; Drummond, Marta; Pinto, PaulaBackground: The use of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has been increasing worldwide, driven by widening of clinical applications and improved patient survival rates. In Portugal, recent data indicate an even faster growth, although national HMV recommendations have remained unchanged for 25 years. Research question: We aimed to provide an update in clinical practice guidelines for HMV in adults, applicable to the Portuguese context, grounded on the latest available evidence and experts' opinion. Study design and methods: A multidisciplinary panel with experience in HMV in the adult population was assembled. A comprehensive literature search was conducted during March 2023 regarding specific topics: equipment, ventilatory modes and interfaces, HMV initiation, follow-up and monitoring, disease specificities (neuromuscular diseases, obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, restrictive chest wall diseases; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other diseases), home mechanical invasive ventilation, and palliative and end of life care. A 2-round Delphi process was conducted to establish consensus among panel members. A minimum agreement threshold of 80% was required. Results: Out of 88 recommendations initially included in the Delphi process, 61 were selected by consensus. Conclusion: Final recommendations grounded in the current level of evidence are outlined, and the key limitations and proposals for future research are discussed.
- The interplay of personality traits and early life experiences in predicting delinquent behaviorsPublication . Bonfá-Araujo, Bruno; Baptista, Makilim Nunes; Pechorro, Pedro; Maroco, João; Franco, Víthor Rosa; Nunes, Cristina; Jonason, Peter K.This study explores the interplay between family bonds, attachment styles, emotional regulation, dark personality traits, and delinquent behaviors. We assessed 336 Brazilians (M = 24.61, SD = 8.30), using network analysis. Participants were assessed using the Proposed Specifiers for Conduct Disorder, Parental Bonding Instrument, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, The Brazilian Adult Attachment Scale, The Short Dark Tetrad, and the Self-Report Delinquency Scale. Our findings suggest that attachment and family bonds influence emotional regulation, affecting delinquent behaviors. Dark personality traits are strong predictors of delinquent behaviors. We highlight the importance of early life experiences and personality in understanding delinquent and antisocial behaviors.
- Linguistic loops and geometric invariants as a way to pre-verbal thought?Publication . Corradetti, Daniele; Alessio MarraniWe introduce the concepts of linguistic transformation, linguistic loop and semantic deficit. By exploiting Lie group theoretical and geometric techniques, we define invariants that capture the structural properties of a whole linguistic loop. This result paves the way to a totally new line of research, employing tools from Lie theory and higher-dimensional geometry within language studies. But, even more intriguingly, our study hints to a mathematical characterization of the meta-linguistic or pre-verbal thought, namely of those cognitive structures that precede the language.
- Methylation status of the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter in parotid tumours and adjacent parotid gland tissue: a pilot study on the implications for recurrence and development of malignancyPublication . Paiva Correia, Antonio; Apolónio, Joana; Nadal, Alfons; Brandão, José Ricardo; Silva, Nádia; Machado, Bianca; Archilla, Ivan; Castelo-Branco, Pedro; Hellquist, HenrikBackground/Objectives: The methylation of the hypermethylated oncological region (THOR) of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) may forecast tumour aggressiveness. This pilot study aimed to evaluate THOR methylation as a potential biomarker for recurrence/malignant transformation in salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas (PA). Methods: THOR methylation was assessed by quantitative pyrosequencing in 96 parotid tissue samples (benign and malignant), including non-neoplastic parotid tissue, PA, recurrent PA (rPA), and carcinomas, along with their adjacent tissues. TERT promoter mutations (TPMs) were analysed by Sanger sequencing. Results: THOR methylation significantly differed across the seven groups. Malignant tissues showed higher THOR methylation than non-neoplastic tissues, whereas benign tumours showed no significant difference from non-neoplastic tissue. THOR methylation in rPA was closer to carcinoma than to normal tissue, similar in rPA and tissues adjacent to rPA, and higher in tissues adjacent to carcinomas than in non-neoplastic tissues. A subset of PA-adjacent tissues showed epigenetic alterations, suggesting an increased risk of recurrence or malignant transformation (5–15%). No TPMs were detected. Conclusions: THOR methylation may add information to differentiate normal from carcinogenic tissues and, as such, may be included in a biomarkers panel. Epigenetic alterations in PA-adjacent tissues with normal histology highlight the need for improved diagnostic markers.
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