Biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens

The formation of biofilms on heat exchange surfaces was studied using water contaminated with Pseudomonas fluorescens. The rate of deposition and the maximum amount of deposit decrease as the fluid velocity increases. The processes occurring at the interface and in the biofilm appear to govern the build-up of the deposit. together with the removal (shear stress) mechanism. Values of the attachment and biological growth rates were calculated from the changes observed in the biofilm thermal resistances after suppressing the addition of nutrients to the flowing water. In both cases there is a decrease for higher velocities.JNICT. Portugal. through Project no. 8750

Serious games for the human behaviour analysis in emergency evacuation scenarios

This paper describes an experiment designed to elicit human behaviour when facing the urgent need of exiting an unknown building. This work is part of a larger effort to devise the methodological approach underlying the implementation of simulation of pedestrians and elicitation of their emergent dynamics, an experimental framework coined SPEED. To validate our experimental setup, a group of 16 experts on fire safety, emergency planning and building evacuation were consulted. The experts were solicited to answer a questionnaire, rating their gaming experiences and validating the questions in the form to be presented to subjects. Their comments were valuable inputs used in the development of the experiment described in this paper. A sample of 62 subjects was then used to test our approach, which consists in having the subjects answering a questionnaire and later on playing a Serious Game resorting to the Unity3D game engine. Some specific scenarios were carefully designed and presented to subjects, both in the questionnaire and in the game environment to maintain consistency of answers. Preliminary results are promising, showing that the challenge made players think about the various situations that might happen when facing an emergency. They are also implied to reason on their stream of decisions, such as which direction to take considering the environment and some adverse situations, such as smoke, fire and people running on the opposite direction of the emergency signage.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing the in vitro digestion of lactoferrin-curcumin nanoparticles using the realistic gastric model

Nanosized delivery systems have been the subject of research and discussion in the scientific community due to their unique properties and functionality. However, studies reporting the behaviour of nanodelivery systems under dynamic in vitro digestion conditions are still very scarce. To address this gap, this study aims to assess the dynamic in vitro gastric digestion of lactoferrin/curcumin nanoparticles in the realistic gastric model (RGM). For this purpose, the INFOGEST standard semi-dynamic digestion protocol was used. The nanosystems were characterized in terms of hydrodynamic size, size distribution, polydispersity index (PdI), and zeta potential using dynamic light scattering (DLS), before and during the digestion process. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was also used to examine particle aggregation. In addition, the release of curcumin was evaluated spectroscopically and the intrinsic fluorescence of lactoferrin was measured throughout the digestion process. The protein hydrolysis was also determined by UV-VIS-SWNIR spectroscopy to estimate, in real-time, the presence of free NH2 groups during gastric digestion. It was possible to observe that lactoferrin/curcumin nanoparticles were destabilized during the dynamic digestion process. It was also possible to conclude that low sample volumes can pose a major challenge in the application of dynamic in vitro digestion models.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In vitro digestion and storage stability of riboflavin-loaded WPI nanostructures towards foods fortification

The consumption of fortified foods incorporating bioactive compounds as a way to promote a healthier lifestyle has gain particular interest in research community and food industry. However, due to their chemical instabilities, bioactive compounds bioavailability can be compromised during post-processing, storage, and digestion. Their encapsulation/association in nanostructures offers a good strategy to enhance bioactive compounds bioavailability. Whey protein isolate (WPI) nanostructures were developed to associate riboflavin (Rb), aiming at its incorporation in foods, and their storage stability and digestion behavior were evaluated. Rb bioaccessibility was determined through spectrofluorimetry by quantifying Rb concentration in the soluble fraction after digestion, that was performed using INFOGEST static in vitro gastrointestinal model. Also, storage stability was evaluated by assessing nanostructures size and polydispersity (PdI) through dynamic light scattering, over 45 days at 4 °C and 25 °C. Rb-loaded WPI nanostructures showed no statistically significant differences in terms of size (ca. 120 nm) and PdI (0.2) during storage period, at both temperatures tested. Rb showed a bioaccessibility of 56 % when associated in WPI nanostructures, enhancing Rb bioaccessibility. These results contribute to improve the knowledge on the use of WPI nanostructures as effective encapsulating systems to augment hydrophilic bioactive compounds bioaccessibility, towards food fortification.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Ontology-Based Framework for Heterogeneous Data Sources Integration

Ontologies have been extensively used to model domain-specific knowledge. The main reason for this success is due to their capability to be at the “semantic” level, away from data structures and implementation strategies. In addition, ontology formalisms have allowed certain kinds of reasoning to be automated within a reasonable time complexity. Due to ontology data independence and automated reasoning, ontologies are well suited for integrating heterogeneous databases, enabling interoperability among isparate systems, and specifying interfaces to independent, knowledge-based services

Water Peel-Off Transfer of Electronically Enhanced, Paper-Based Laser-Induced Graphene for Wearable Electronics

Funding Information: This work is funded by National Funds through FCT I.P., under the scope of the project UIDB/50025/2020-2023. The authors acknowledge the ERC AdG project DIGISMART ref 787410, EC project SYNERGY H2020-WIDESPREAF-2020-5, CSA, proposal number 952169, EC project EMERGE, No. 101008701, and project BEST - ALT20-03-0247-FEDER-113469 | LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-113469. T.P. and R.C. acknowledge funding from FCT I.P. through the Ph.D. Grants DFA/BD/8606/2020 and UI/BD/151295/2021. The authors also want to thank Jonas Deuermeier for the help with XPS measurements and analysis. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Chemical Society.Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained preponderance in recent years, as a very attractive material for the fabrication and patterning of graphitic structures and electrodes, for multiple applications in electronics. Typically, polymeric substrates, such as polyimide, have been used as precursor materials, but other organic, more sustainable, and accessible precursor materials have emerged as viable alternatives, including cellulose substrates. However, these substrates have lacked the conductive and chemical properties achieved by conventional LIG precursor substrates and have not been translated into fully flexible, wearable scenarios. In this work, we expand the conductive properties of paper-based LIG, by boosting the graphitization potential of paper, through the introduction of external aromatic moieties and meticulous control of laser fluence. Colored wax printing over the paper substrates introduces aromatic chemical structures, allowing for the synthesis of LIG chemical structures with sheet resistances as low as 5 ω·sq-1, translating to an apparent conductivity as high as 28.2 S·cm-1. Regarding chemical properties, ID/IG ratios of 0.28 showcase low defect densities of LIG chemical structures and improve on previous reports on paper-based LIG, where sheet resistance has been limited to values around 30 ω·sq-1, with more defect dense and less crystalline chemical structures. With these improved properties, a simple transfer methodology was developed, based on a water-induced peel-off process that efficiently separates patterned LIG structures from the native paper substrates to conformable, flexible substrates, harnessing the multifunctional capabilities of LIG toward multiple applications in wearable electronics. Proof-of concept electrodes for electrochemical sensors, strain sensors, and in-plane microsupercapacitors were patterned, transferred, and characterized, using paper as a high-value LIG precursor for multiples scenarios in wearable technologies, for improved sustainability and accessibility of such applications.publishersversionpublishe

Does the cleat model interfere with ankle sprain risk factors in artificial grass?

Background: The cleats-surface interaction has been described as a possible risk factor for lateral ankle sprain. However, their interaction is still unknown in individuals with chronic ankle instability. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different soccer cleats on kinematic, kinetic and neuromuscular ankle variables on artificial grass in soccer players with and without chronic ankle instability. Methods: Eighty-two amateur athletes divided in two groups: 40 with chronic ankle instability and 42 without chronic ankle instability. All subjects performed 2 series of 6 consecutive crossover jumps with dominant foot, each one with one of the four models of cleats (Turf, Artificial grass, Hard and Firm ground). Cleat and group main effect and interactions of kinematic, kinetic and neuromuscular variables were analyzed according to factorial repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: No statistically significant cleat and group main effect and interactions were identified in kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic magnitude of the peroneal muscles. A main effect of the group was observed for peroneus longus activation time for TF model (p=0.010). Interpretation: In soccer players, the contributor variables for ankle sprain were not influenced by the kind of soccer cleat used in a functional jump test on artificial grass. However, players with chronic ankle instability present delayed postural adjustments in peroneus longus with the TF model compared to players without chronic ankle instability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Does the cleat model interfere with ankle sprain risk factors in artificial grass?

Background: The cleats-surface interaction has been described as a possible risk factor for lateral ankle sprain. However, their interaction is still unknown in individuals with chronic ankle instability. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of different soccer cleats on kinematic, kinetic and neuromuscular ankle variables on artificial grass in soccer players with and without chronic ankle instability. Methods: Eighty-two amateur athletes divided in two groups: 40 with chronic ankle instability and 42 without chronic ankle instability. All subjects performed 2 series of 6 consecutive crossover jumps with dominant foot, each one with one of the four models of cleats (Turf, Artificial grass, Hard and Firm ground). Cleat and group main effect and interactions of kinematic, kinetic and neuromuscular variables were analyzed according to factorial repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: No statistically significant cleat and group main effect and interactions were identified in kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic magnitude of the peroneal muscles. A main effect of the group was observed for peroneus longus activation time for TF model (p=0.010). Interpretation: In soccer players, the contributor variables for ankle sprain were not influenced by the kind of soccer cleat used in a functional jump test on artificial grass. However, players with chronic ankle instability present delayed postural adjustments in peroneus longus with the TF model compared to players without chronic ankle instability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Non-small cell lung cancer's burden of disease in Portugal

© European Society for Medical Oncology 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.Aim: To estimate the Disability Adjusted Life-Years (DALY) associated with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) during 2012 in Portugal.The Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon received an unrestricted grant from Laboratórios Pfizer Lda. to conduct this study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cost and burden of non-small cell lung cancer's in Portugal

Copyright © 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.Objectives: This study estimates the impact of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) on population health levels and its economic impact in Portugal in 2012.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio