Editorial - Past and future strategic changes and reviewers’ acknowledgments

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

To whom do we communicate? stage tailoring and framing of health messages in the promotion of fruit and vegetable intake

As campanhas de saúde são amplamente utilizadas para persuadir as pessoas a adoptarem estilos de vida saudáveis, incluindo o consumo de frutas e vegetais. O principal objectivo desta tese foi identificar os mecanismos pelos quais preditores sócio-cognitivos afectam o consumo de frutas e vegetais, utilizando esse conhecimento, e teoria, para o desenvolvimento de mensagens de saúde, avaliando a sua eficácia na promoção deste comportamento. Realizaram-se quatro estudos, descritos em cinco capítulos. As hipóteses formuladas sustentam-se no modelo Health Action Process Approach (Schwarzer, 2008) e na literatura sobre enquadramento de mensagens. Nos estudos descritos nos capítulos 2 e 3 verificou-se a utilidade teórica do modelo para este comportamento e selecionaram-se as crenças mais relevantes para cada constructo, a fim de desenvolver mensagens dirigidas a pessoas em diferentes estádios de mudança. No capítulo 4, demonstrou-se a superioridade de mensagens adequadas ao estádio na promoção da auto-eficácia entre pessoas num estádio não-intencional e intencional, e da intenção e progressão de estádio entre não-intencionais, sustentando a validade dos estádios. Os estudos apresentados nos capítulos 5 e 6, demonstraram o valor da adequação entre o enquadramento da mensagem e a orientação motivacional e as intenções dos destinatários, o qual mostrou variar consoante a qualidade percebida da mensagem. Os contributos aplicados apoiam o uso de teorias psicológicas no desenvolvimento de mensagens de saúde e a adaptação do seu conteúdo e enquadramento de acordo com o estádio de mudança e/ou orientação motivacional da audiência, para maior eficácia na promoção de mudanças nos comportamentos de saúde.Health communication campaigns are ubiquitous in the endeavor of persuading people to adopt healthier lifestyles, including fruit and vegetable intake. The central aim of this dissertation was to identify relevant mechanisms by which key psychological antecedents affect fruit and vegetable intake, using this knowledge and theory to inform the design of health messages, and evaluating their effectiveness in promoting this health behavior. We conducted four studies, which are described in five chapters. The theoretical underpinning of our hypotheses was based on the Health Action Process Approach (Schwarzer, 2008), and on the literature on health message framing. The studies described on chapters 2 and 3 allowed to verify the theoretical model utility in predicting fruit and vegetable intake, and to select relevant beliefs under the theoretical constructs for the development of health messages targeted at people in different stages of change. The study described on chapter 4 demonstrated the superiority of staged-matched health messages for instilling self-efficacy among non-intenders and intenders, and intention and stage progression for non-intenders, supporting the validity of stage assumptions. The two other studies, presented in chapters 5 and 6 demonstrated the value of matching the frame to the recipients´ motivational orientation and baseline intentions, which was shown to vary according to the perceived message quality. The applied contributions support the use of psychological theories for the development of health messages, and matching their content and frame to the recipient stage and/or motivational orientation for increased effectiveness in promoting health behavior change

Concurrent herbivory and metal accumulation: The outcome for plants and herbivores

The effects of metals on plants and herbivores, as well as the interaction among the latter, are well documented. However, the effects of simultaneous herbivory and metal accumulation remain poorly studied. Here, we shed light on this topic by infesting cadmium-accumulating tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), either exposed to cadmium or not, with herbivorous spider mites, Tetranychus urticae or T. evansi during 14 days. Whereas on plants without cadmium T. evansi had higher growth rate than T. urticae, on plants with cadmium both mite species had similar growth rates, which were lower than on plants without metal. Plants were affected by both cadmium toxicity and by herbivory, as shown by leaf reflectance, but not on the same wavelengths. Moreover, changes in leaf reflectance on the wavelength affected by herbivores were similar on plants with and without cadmium, and vice versa. Long-term effects of cadmium and herbivory did not affect H2O2 concentrations in the plant. Finally, plants infested with spider mites did not accumulate more cadmium, suggesting that metal accumulation is not induced by herbivory. We thus conclude that cadmium accumulation affects two congeneric herbivore species differently and that the effects of herbivory and cadmium toxicity on plants may be disentangled, via leaf reflectance, even during simultaneous exposure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multi-approach analysis of the metagenome of a marine sponge containing latrunculin A

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, 2017Marine natural products, such as those encountered in sponges, are a prolific source of drug leads. In cancer treatment, several sponges’ secondary metabolites have shown potent cytotoxic activities. One of those is latrunculin A, a macrolide whose biosynthetic production relying on a hybrid pathway involving polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) is still unknown. Considering the amounting evidence that the sponges’ symbionts are the true producers of these compounds, it is reasonable to search for the biosynthetic gene cluster of latrunculin A in the sponges’ metagenome. To achieve this goal, a multi-approach analysis was conducted in marine sponges’ samples, some of them containing latrunculin A. A sponge’s metagenomic DNA library of 3500 clones was produced. Obtaining high molecular weight metagenomic DNA was a critical point which seems to have conditioned successful vector packaging in λ phage particles. Instead, transformation of the vector into the bacterial host was conducted through electroporation and heat-shock. A preliminary PCR screen of the transformants revealed the presence of PKS genes. In parallel, PCR screening of metagenomic DNA of diverse sponge samples was conducted. Due to the hybrid PKS/NRPS origin of latrunculin A, focus was directed towards the presence of PKS and NRPS genes. Several PCR-amplified sequences exhibited homology to the ketosynthase (KS) domain of PKSs. Specific KS primers were designed to latter screening of the produced metagenomic library. Microbiome profiling of three different sponge samples was achieved through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Even though it was not possible to identify probable latrunculin A’ producers, an analysis of the biosynthetic potential of some of the most abundant symbionts was performed. This demonstrated that further investigation of these sponges for the discovery of novel compounds is promising.Os produtos naturais marinhos, como os encontrados nas esponjas marinhas, são uma prolífica fonte de fármacos. Em particular, no tratamento de cancro, vários metabolitos secundários de esponjas têm mostrado potente atividade citotóxica. Um deles é a latrunculina A, um composto de origem híbrida policetídica e peptídica não ribossomal (PKS/NRPS), cuja via biossintética é ainda desconhecida. Considerando a evidência crescente de que os verdadeiros produtores destes compostos são os simbiontes das esponjas, é lógico procurar o cluster de genes biossintéticos da latrunculina A no metagenoma das esponjas. Para atingir esse objetivo, foi planeada uma abordagem múltipla de análise de amostras de esponjas marinhas, algumas delas contendo latrunculina A. A partir de uma esponja marinha, foi produzida uma biblioteca de ADN metagenómico contendo 3500 clones. A obtenção de ADN metagenómico de alto tamanho molecular foi um ponto crítico que parece ter condicionado o sucesso do empacotamento do vetor no fago λ. Em vez disso, a transformação do vetor no hospedeiro bacteriano foi efetuada por eletroporação e choque térmico. A presença de genes para sintases de polipéptidos na biblioteca foi confirmada por rastreio inicial dos transformantes por PCR. Em paralelo, realizou-se o rastreio por PCR do ADN metagenómico de diversas amostras de esponjas. Devido à origem híbrida PKS/NRPS da latrunculina A, o foco foi direcionado para a presença de genes PKS e NRPS. Diversas sequências amplificadas por PCR demonstraram homologia para com o domínio ketosintase (KS) de sintases de policétidos Primers específicos para KS foram desenhados para posterior uso no rastreio da biblioteca metagenómica produzida. O perfil microbiano de três diferentes amostras de esponjas foi obtido através de sequenciação do gene ARN 16S ribossomal. Apesar de não ter sido possível identificar prováveis produtores de latrunculina A, foi realizada uma análise do potencial biossintético dos simbiontes mais abundantes. Esta demonstrou que parecem promissoras futuras investigações destas esponjas para descoberta de novos compostos

The Your COVID-19 risk assessment tool and the accompanying open access data and materials repositories

In March 2020, the Your COVID-19 Risk tool was developed in response to the global spread of SARS-CoV-2. The tool is an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading SARS-CoV-2. This article describes the development of the tool, the produced resources, the associated open repository, and initial results. This tool was developed by a multidisciplinary research team consisting of more than 150 international experts. This project leverages knowledge obtained in behavioural science, aiming to promote behaviour change by assessing risk and supporting individuals completing the assessment tool to protect themselves and others from infection. To enable iterative improvements of the tool, tool users can optionally answer questions about behavioural determinants. The data and results are openly shared to support governments and health agencies developing behaviour change interventions. Over 60 000 users in more than 150 countries have assessed their risk and provided data.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reducing meat consumption and following plant-based diets: current evidence and future directions to inform integrated transitions

Background: There is increasing consensus that transitioning towards reduced meat consumption and more plant-based diets is a key feature to address important health and sustainability challenges. However, relevant evidence that may inform these transitions remains fragmented with no overarching rationale or theoretical framework, which limits the ability to design and deliver coordinated efforts to address these challenges. Scope and approach: Eleven databases were systematically searched using sets of keywords referring meat curtailment, meat substitution and plant-based diets, as well as consumer choice, appraisal or behavior (2602 articles selected for title and abstract screening; 161 full-texts assessed for eligibility; 110 articles selected for extraction and coding). Barriers and enablers were identified and integrated into an overarching framework (i.e., COM-B system), which conceptualizes behavior as being influenced by three broad components: capability, opportunity and motivation. Key findings and conclusions: This review mapped potential barriers and enablers in terms of capability, opportunity, and motivation to reduce meat consumption and follow more plant-based diets. These included lack of information for consumers and difficulty to acquire new cooking skills (barrier, capability), changes in service provision in collective meal contexts (enabler, opportunity), and positive taste expectations for plant-based meals (enabler, motivation). Evidence on variables referring to the motivation domain is clearly increasing, but there is a striking need for studies that include capability and opportunity variables as well. The results of this review are relevant to a variety of fields and audiences interested in promoting sustainable living and health improvements through dietary choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A fertile ground for ambiguities: casual sexual relationships among Portuguese emerging adults

Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are frequent relationship experiences in young adulthood that provide opportunities for many to explore sexual relationships and to construct their sexual identity. Empirical research on casual sex is still lacking outside North-American countries, despite evidence pointing to the need to contextualize sexual interactions in their own sociocultural context. In order to better understand casual sexual relationships, these should be examined in with novel samples in other countries where a “hookup culture” as it is described in the North-American university campus is apparently absent. Through a qualitative study, we explored what casual sexual relationships consist of according to the perceptions of Portuguese college students (N = 35). The thematic analysis of eight focus group interviews resulted in the generation of six themes, three of which are presented here: (1) What CSRs are, regarding features and types of CSRs, (2) Why individuals engage in CSRs, focusing on positive and negative motivations, and (3) What one gets from CSRs, focusing on positive and negative outcomes of CSRs. Our findings showed that Portuguese emerging adults are familiarized with CSRs, particularly with one-night stand, friends with benefits and “curte”/hookup. Sexual interactions associated with other CSRs, such as booty call or fuck buddies, were mentioned but rarely associated with a distinctive label and established characteristics. Participants described the CSRs in a partially overlapping manner presenting some areas of ambiguity, such as with regard to sexual exclusivity and still-unlabeled sexual interactions. CSRs are generally evaluated as positively motivated and mainly beneficial. This study adds to the literature around casual sexual relationships by exploring and describing CSRs in a different sociocultural context, as well as indicating directions for future research in order to better prepare and empower young adults in their sexual and relational trajectories.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Immune engagement thresholds for CD8+ T CELL control of yherpesvirus-driven B CELL

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biomédicas (Ciências Biopatológicas), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, 2014Gamma-herpesviruses (γHVs) are oncogenic pathogens that drive the proliferation of latently infected cells in germinal centres to achieve long-term persistence in memory B cells in face of host competent immune responses. Persistence relies on a dynamic balance between virusdriven B cell proliferation and control by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). If this virus-host equilibrium is disrupted, as is the case when CD8+ CTL function is compromised, latently infected B cells can proliferate unchecked leading to the development of lymphoproliferative diseases. Viral latency epitopes presented in infected cells have been successfully exploited to prevent or treat γHV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders by adoptive CTL transfer in the transplantation setting. However, extending this approach to other γHV-associated tumours and to the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines remains challenging. The narrow species tropism of human γHVs severely restricts in vivo analysis. Hence, an important unknown is how in vitro CD8+ CTL killing correlates with effective in vivo immune protection. The aim of this thesis was to identify immune engagement thresholds for effective in vivo CD8+ CTL control of virus-driven B cell proliferation. Infection of laboratory mouse with murid herpesvirus-4 (MuHV-4) was used as an experimental model to investigate, for a single latently expressed epitope, how MHC class I binding and CD8+ T cell functional avidity impact on infection control. The ability of MuHV-4 recombinants that differed only in latency epitope presentation to elicit epitope-specific CD8+ CTL responses and to drive the proliferation of latently infected B cells was assessed. CD8+ CTL control of latency amplification in GC B cells was critically dependent on strong epitope binding to MHC class I. By contrast, CD8+ T cell recognition was effective over a broad range of functional avidities before control of virus-driven lymphoproliferation failed, thus showing relatively good tolerance for sub-optimal T cell receptor engagement. In summary, this study identified critical MHC class I and CD8+ T cell engagement thresholds for in vivo CD8+ CTL control of virus-driven B cell proliferation. Defining in vivo thresholds of immune engagement for the effective control of γHV persistent infection is fundamental for the development of successful immunotherapies and vaccines.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Líder versus Mentor. Suporte formal e informal como instrumento de redução de saídas extemporâneas.

Numa organização em que as pessoas são o coração para que esta mantenha o seu bom funcionamento, importa perceber se na presença de um conflito, os militares acabam por ceder e terminar o seu vínculo contratual com a Marinha. Assim, o objeto de estudo deste trabalho é o conflito trabalho-família nos militares em Regime de Contrato na Marinha Portuguesa. Para tal, a investigação esteve assente no raciocínio indutivo, tendo-se adotado uma estratégia qualitativa, recorrendo-se a entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas a tutores e tutorandos da categoria de oficial do Programa de Tutoria da Marinha Portuguesa iniciado em 2017. Com os objetivos propostos para o trabalho, pretende-se aferir se o esforço conjunto entre o líder e o mentor, pode auxiliar na resolução ou atenuação do conflito trabalho família. Com as condicionantes inerentes á vida militar, o conflito trabalho-família está sempre presente na vida de cada um, sendo que em muitos casos se encontra numa forma adormecida. Considera-se que para fazer face às dificuldades de um conflito, o papel do líder em conjunto com o mentor contribuirá de forma positiva para a sua atenuação. Numa altura em que a Marinha vê reduzido o seu número de efetivos, importa que tanto o líder como o mentor colaborem ativamente para motivar os seus militares, mantendo-os empenhados e eficientes na execução das suas tarefas, podendo este papel fazer a diferença para o militar decidir manter ou cessar o seu contrato com a organização.Abstract: In an institution where people are the heart to maintain its proper functioning, it is important to realize that in the presence of a conflict, the military will eventually give in and end its contractual relationship with the Navy. Thus, the object of study of this work is the labor-family conflict in the military under Contract Regime in the Portuguese Navy. For this, the research was based on inductive reasoning, adopting a qualitative strategy, resorting to semi-structured interviews with tutors and tutorandos of the officer category of the Portuguese Navy Tutoring Program started in 2017. With the objectives proposed for the work, it is intended to assess whether the joint effort between the leader and the mentor, can help in the resolution or mitigation of the work-family conflict. With the conditions inherent in military life, the work-family conflict is always present in the life of each one, being in many cases in a dormant form. It is considered that in order to face the difficulties of a conflict, the role of the leader together with the mentor will contribute positively to its attenuation. At a time when the Navy has reduced its numbers, it is important that both the leader and the mentor collaborate actively to motivate their military, keeping them committed and efficient in the execution of their tasks, and this role may make a difference for the military. to suspend or terminate his contract with the institution.N/

The effect of mobile text messages and a novel floss holder on gingival health: a randomized control trial

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using mobile text messages and a novel floss holder as compared to finger flossing or the novel floss holder alone, on the psychological, behavioral, and clinical parameters of patients with gingivitis.Methods: A total 165 adults were assessed for eligibility and 144 met the criteria for randomization into three groups: Finger Floss (FF, n=43), Novel Floss Holder (NFH, n= 40), and Novel Floss Holder plus Text Messages (NFH+TM, n= 61) following a dental hygiene consultation appointment. Gingival bleeding points were measured on probing (BOMP) at baseline and four months later by a calibrated dental hygienist, blinded to the experimental groups. Participants also self-reported their oral hygiene behaviors, and indicated psychological determinants of behavior change prior to the dental hygiene consultation and at four months. Descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare groups over time.Results: Two subjects dropped out of the study making the total number of participants 142. At the four month follow-up, the NFH group and the NFH+TM groups demonstrated significantly higher levels of self-reported flossing, action self-efficacy, intention, action planning, and action control. The NFH+TM group showed lower levels of bleeding and higher levels of oral hygiene and recovery self-efficacy than the other groups, in addition to higher levels of maintenance self-efficacy as compared to the FF group.Conclusions: The use of a novel floss holder, NFH, was shown to improve the behavioral and psychological determinants of periodontal health four months after introduction of the device. However the clinical measures of BOMP only improved significantly when used in conjunction with text messages (NFH+TM). The use of a consciousness awareness technique,TMs, in combination with a novel device, may help patients to reach therapeutic objectives and contribute to the management of periodontal pathologies such as gingivitis.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio