Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-09"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 22
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Decrypting messages: Extracting digital evidence from signal desktop for windowsPublication . Paulino, Gonçalo; Negrão, Miguel; Frade, Miguel; Domingues, PatrícioWith growing concerns over the security and privacy of personal conversations, end-to-end encrypted instant messaging applications have become a key focus of forensic research. This study presents a detailed methodology along with an automated Python script for decrypting and analyzing forensic artifacts from Signal Desktop for Windows. The methodology is divided into two phases: i) decryption of locally stored data and ii) analysis and documentation of forensic artifacts. To ensure data integrity, the proposed approach enables retrieval without launching Signal Desktop, preventing potential alterations. Additionally, a reporting module organizes extracted data for forensic investigators, enhancing usability. Our approach is effective in extracting and analyzing encrypted Signal artifacts, providing a reliable method for forensic investigations.
- Application of curcuminoids in inflammatory, neurodegenerative and aging conditions - Pharmacological potential and bioengineering approaches to improve efficiencyPublication . Lagoa, Ricardo; Rajan, Logesh; Violante, Cristiana; Babiaka, Smith B.; Marques da Silva, Dorinda; Kapoor, Bhupinder; Reis, Flávio; Atanasov, Atanas G.Curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, has shown promise in treating brain-related diseases and conditions associated with aging. Curcumin has shown multiple anti-inflammatory and brain-protective effects, but its clinical use is limited by challenges like poor absorption, specificity and delivery to the right tissues. A range of contemporary approaches at the intersection with bioengineering and systems biology are being explored to address these challenges. Data from preclinical and human studies highlight various neuroprotective actions of curcumin, including the inhibition of neuroinflammation, modulation of critical cellular signaling pathways, promotion of neurogenesis, and regulation of dopamine levels. However, curcumin’s multifaceted effects - such as its impact on microRNAs and senescence markers - suggest novel therapeutic targets in neurodegeneration. Tetrahydrocurcumin, a primary metabolite of curcumin, also shows potential due to its presence in circulation and its anti-inflammatory properties, although further research is needed to elucidate its neuroprotective mechanisms. Recent advancements in delivery systems, particularly brain-targeting nanocarriers like polymersomes, micelles, and liposomes, have shown promise in enhancing curcumin’s bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in animal models. Furthermore, the exploration of drug-laden scaffolds and dermal delivery may extend the pharmacological applications of curcumin. Studies reviewed here indicate that engineered dermal formulations and devices could serve as viable alternatives for neuroprotective treatments and to manage skin or musculoskeletal inflammation. This work highlights the need for carefully designed, long-term studies to better understand how curcumin and its bioactive metabolites work, their safety, and their effectiveness.
- Humic acid aggregates with laccase and decreases the performance of the enzyme catalytic systems through various mechanismsPublication . Lopes, João; Marques-da-Silva, Dorinda; Peralta, Cláudia; Rodrigues, Joaquim Rui; Vaz, Daniela; Lagoa, RicardoLaccases are among the best-rated enzymes for industrial and environmental applications, yet their use in bioremediation is limited by interference from environmental components like humic acid (HA). This study evaluated HA impact on the oxidation of 2,2 ′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) and two model pollutants — anthracene and methyl orange — by laccase( mediator) systems. HA consistently diminished conversion rates, with EC50 values between 5 and 51 mg/L suggesting diverse inhibitory mechanisms. We investigated potential mechanisms including substrate sequestration, radical quenching, and chelation of laccase coppers by HA. Incubations with free and immobilized HA showed that adsorption can impede anthracene degradation, at least at high concentrations, but not methyl orange. Using chemically generated ABTS radical and azide-blocked enzyme, it was demonstrated that HA scavenges free radicals produced by laccase, though this alone did not fully explain the observed interference with catalysis. Further assays with metal chelator and added copper or calcium ruled out HA binding to the laccase metal centers. Instead, data from molecular docking, f luorescence, light scattering, and microscopy revealed that HA forms micrometer-scale aggregates with laccase that encapsulate the enzyme. This newly identified mechanism likely applies broadly to laccase-based systems and must be considered in applications involving aqueous media containing humic substances.
- Discriminative influence of persistent organic pollutants on nesting green sea turtles through genotoxicity, oxidative stress and reproductive related markersPublication . Morão, Inês; Muñoz-Arnanz, Juan; Simões, Tiago; Bartalini, Alice; Vieira, Sara; Ferreira-Airaud, Betânia; Caliani, Ilaria; Noi, Agata Di; Casini, Silvia; Fossi, Maria Cristina; Jiménez, Begoña; Lemos, Marco; Novais, SaraPersistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochloride pesticides (OCPs) affect biodiversity by bioaccumulating through food webs, impacting marine organisms like endangered sea turtles. This study represents the first evaluation of these contaminants in sea turtles nesting in São Tomé and Príncipe. The main goal was to evaluate PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs levels in sea turtles' blood and investigate their potential effects on erythrocytes’ nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) and oxidative stress and reproduction-related gene expression. The relative mean abundance for contaminants was ΣPCBs > ΣOCPs > ΣPBDEs. Contaminants such as PCB-28, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180 and p,p’-DDE were associated with ENAs, suggesting potential genetic instability and cellular disruption. PCB-126, PBDE-100, and o,p’-DDD correlated with antioxidant and detoxification genes (glrx3, gst, txnip, txnrd2, and gclc), suggesting oxidative stress responses. The reproduction-related gene est17 was correlated with α and β-HCH, potentially affecting ovary development. Correlations between ace2 and various PCBs, PBDEs, and o,p'-DDD suggest disruptions in follicular development and egg transport. Embryo development genes (hoxA1 and tuba1) were associated with PBDE-154, PBDE100 and o,p’-DDD, suggesting possible embryonic alterations. These findings highlight the impacts of POPs on nesting female green turtles in São Tomé, threatening this endangered population.
- CULTURAL DETOXPublication . Matoso, RuiPara esta edição dos cadernos Escrita Manifesto, compilámos um conjunto de exercícios realizados por estudantes da Licenciatura em Programação e Produção Cultural. A seleção dos trabalhos reflete a diversidade de linhas de investigação e perspetivas acerca das interações complexas entre políticas e práticas culturais, evidenciando a pluralidade de abordagens no campo da gestão cultural, em sentindo amplo.
- T/V Distinction in Second Language AcquisitionPublication . Zhang, YuxiongThe T/V distinction refers to the use of different second-person pronouns to signal social relationships, such as familiarity, respect, or formality, a phenomenon common in many languages, including Chinese Mandarin and European Portuguese. Modern European Portuguese has lost its traditional V-form, with younger generations often using você to express formality and seniority. In contrast, the younger generations often using você to express formality and seniority. In contrast, the posteriorly developed V-form nin has been well preserved and remains frequently used in Chinese Mandarin. This study investigates whether learning a foreign language influences speakers’ choices of address forms in their first language and examines cross-linguistic associations in pronoun use. Three experiments were conducted to examine the influence of a first language on a second language, the reverse influence of a second language on a first language, and the differences in address form preferences between Chinese and Portuguese speakers. Quantitative and qualitative analyses show that learning a foreign language does not effectively influence speakers’ decisions regarding pronoun usage in their first language. Learners tend to establish a direct association between pronoun usage in the two languages. For instance, Chinese speakers generally favor the V-form in most contexts, except when addressing friends or peers of the same age. In contrast, Portuguese speakers consider factors such as formality of the context, age, social relationships, respectfulness, and social status when choosing address forms.
- Differences of Strategies Applied in English-Portuguese and English-Chinese Translations: From a Cultural Translation PerspectivePublication . Zhang, YuxiongTranslation studies often discuss the challenges posed by the lack of equivalents between cultures. It is widely believed that translation is frequently hindered by culture-specific items (CSIs) that exist between languages of different origins. This study analyzes 105 sets of translations of furniture related terms from IKEA’s websites using a corpus-based approach and a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods. The aim is to identify differences in translation strategies between English to European Portuguese and English to Chinese. CSI translation strategies, including foreignization, neutralization, and domestication, proposed by different authors, are used in the analysis. The data indicates that foreignization is more commonly utilized in translations from English to Chinese, while neutralization strategies are more frequently employed in Portuguese translations. While it may be possible to retain certain words with specific cultural references when translating between languages that share a similar culture background, such as English and Portuguese, this approach cannot be accepted in Chinese translations. Due to the distinctive grammatical structure of the Chinese language, it may be necessary to provide supplementary semantic information or even create new words in order to accurately translate certain CSIs in English into Chinese. This study illustrates how different writing systems can affect translation strategies and procedures for translating cultural references.
- From Form to Function: The Anatomy, Ecology, and Biotechnological Promise of the False-Kelp Saccorhiza polyschidesPublication . Afonso, Clélia; Mouga, TeresaSaccorhiza polyschides is a fast-growing pioneer and opportunistic canopy-forming false-kelp belonging to the order Phyllariaceae (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae). The species plays a pivotal ecological role in temperate marine ecosystems and exhibits promising potential for diverse biotechnological applications. The species, however, is under growing pressure from anthropogenic disturbance. This review synthesises current knowledge regarding the biology and geographic distribution of the species, with particular emphasis on its distinctive morphology and ultrastructural features. The species’ complex life cycle and marked seasonal productivity are examined concerning environmental variables. Furthermore, we explore the ecological interactions of the species, including its role as a habitat-forming species and its responses to anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and habitat degradation. Special attention is given to the state of knowledge regarding the bioactive compounds and associated bioactivities of S. polyschides. This includes a detailed examination of the species’ phytochemical constituents, extraction and fractionation strategies, as well as in vitro and in vivo bioactivities, and potential biotechnological applications. By integrating findings from recent literature and identifying methodological and knowledge gaps, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of S. polyschides as an emergent marine bioresource and to propose directions for future research and sustainable valorisation.
- The Impact of an 8-Week Running Technique Program on Linear and Change-of-Direction Speed in Youth Football—A Pilot StudyPublication . Camacho, Diogo; Monteiro, Diogo; Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Antunes, RaulIn football, linear speed and change-of-direction speed are fundamental skills for performance in the sport. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of an 8-week running technique program on the variables described in young footballers. Thirty-one athletes participated, 16 in the intervention group (Under-15) and 15 in the control group (Under-17). The intervention group had a mean age of 14.37 ± 0.50 years and the control group had a mean age of 15.80 ± 0.76 years. Both groups underwent two assessments, pre- and post-intervention, performing the 20-m test and the 5-0-5 Agility Test, assessing linear speed and change-of-direction speed, respectively, with timing conducted manually by trained evaluators. The results showed improvements in the intervention group in both tests, with statistically significant differences in change-of-direction speed (right foot: p = 0.010; r = 0.669; left foot: p = 0.05; r = 0.503), while the control group did not show any significant differences in either test, even showing a regression in results. The present study indicates that running technique training, even with a weekly frequency of only one session per week, may contribute to improvements in linear speed (even non-significant) but, especially, in the change of direction of young footballers. These results are important because training can promote more efficient running movement patterns, promoting benefits in terms of sports performance and the prevention of non-contact injuries.
- Preserving and hydrogel-matrixing the bioactive properties of aromatic medicinal halophytic herbs from the coastline of the Iberian PeninsulaPublication . Parracho, Tiago; Cruz, Pedro F.; Peralta, Claúdia C.; Silva, Cândida G.; Campos, Maria Jorge; Neves, Marta; Cordeiro, Rachel; Trindade, Daniela; Moura, Carla; Almeida, Zaida L.; Pereira, Cidália D.; Guimarães, Carla; Brito, Rui M. M.; Guerra, Mauro; Reboredo, Fernando; Veríssimo, Paula; Vaz, Daniela C.; Santos Ribeiro, VâniaEdible wild plants are part of the ethnobotanic heritage of a certain geographical area and are important sources of essential oils, antioxidants, minerals, and special flavours. Corema album (Portuguese crowberry), Crithmum maritimum (sea fennel), Eryngium maritimum (sea holly), Helichrysum italicum (curry plant) and Otanthus maritimus (cottonweed) wildly flourish along the sandy dunes of the coast of the Iberian Peninsula. These plants are locally known for their beneficial properties, with important value for food, cosmetics and/or medicinal applications. Hence, leaves of these endemic species were collected at four different locations and submitted to different preserving treatments (oven-drying, freezing, and freeze-drying). Acetonic extracts of the different plants submitted to the different post-harvesting treatments were analysed regarding their antioxidant capacities and phenolic contents. Plant extracts were also analysed by diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DOSY-NMR). In general, freeze-drying was the best method of preserving plant minerals, antioxidants (~4 mgVCEAC/g fw) and polyphenols (~5 mgGAE/g fw). Minerals were quantified via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and despite their location, all plants were rich in Ca, Cl, K, S and P. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses (PCA) pointed towards chemical/metabolic proximity between taxonomic families. Alginate hydrogels loaded with 0.1 % and 0.2 % (w/v) of extracts presented homogenous surface properties by scanning electron microscopy, good mechanical tensile strength (~30 MPa) and antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Edible alginate hydrogels enriched with plant extracts hold great nutraceutical potential to be used as natural preservatives for food coating and packaging or as sources of bioactive compounds for biomedical applications.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »