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Determinants of food choices among portuguese adolescents with contrasting eating habits: a qualitative approach
Publication . Cardoso, Susana; Santos, Osvaldo; Nunes, Carla; Loureiro, Isabel; Cunha, Madalena
Introduction: Investigatingthe factors that influence dietary choices, particularly during adolescence, is important, as these choices have a significant impact on health and tend to persist into adulthood.Objective: Toidentifyand characterizethe factors perceived by the adolescents as determinants of food choices.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in two schools, based on a sample of 358 adolescents. From a quantitative approach, we moved to a qualitative approach. Thequantitative study wasused: EHA (eating habits scale), IPAQ (international physical activity questionnaire), TAA-25 (eating attitudes test),and the GSQ (general self-efficacy questionnaire). For the qualitative study, we selected subgroups with healthier and less healthy eating habits for a grounded theory approach, using semi-structured interviews and coding according to Charmaz’s method.Results:The determiningfactors that were more often mentioned (in decreasing order) were family influence, taste preferences, family habits, healthyeating rules,and availability. The ones that were mentioned by a bigger number of adolescents were family influence and family habits, risk perception, knowledge of healthy eating,and preferences. Other factors are mentioned, such as self-control, feeling well or bad, peer influence, feeling hungry or full, developing a task or not, impulsiveness, time available, humor/stress,and cost. Some factors take different perspectives in each group.Conclusion:Familymust be considered as an integralpart of the interventions that are related to health education. Administrative measures, taken by schools and government agents, can make healthy choices easier, modulating the effect that determiningfactors such as available time and availability may have.
Current Strategies to Produce 3D Electrospun-Based Wound Dressings for Skin Regeneration
Publication . Ferreira, Carolina A. M.; Lemos, Marco F. L.; Maurício, Ana Colette; Dias, Juliana R.
Tissue engineering-based wound dressings are a promising treatment approach that mimics the native skin microenvironment to promote effective healing and tissue regeneration. In fact, those advanced wound dressings can be made by electrospinning which has revolutionized the field of wound healing by developing biostructures that closely mimic the skin’s extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, most electrospinning research has focused on composition and materials rather than exploring advanced deposition strategies. Conventional electrospinning using random, aligned fibers, co-electrospinning, core-shell approaches, or redesigned collectors has achieved significant results in wound healing, which are discussed in this article. However, these approaches lack the development of realistic 3D structures. To achieve that, advancing approaches through the combination of electrospinning with different techniques such as gas foaming, short nanofiber assembly, or 3D printing significantly enhance skin regeneration of deep wounds (full-thickness and chronic wounds) compared to 2D structures. This review highlights the latest developments, design principles, and recent breakthroughs in electrospinning structures for skin regeneration and provides a fresh perspective for upcoming research in the field of 3D electrospun-based structures.
Exploring Cultural Heritage Using Augmented Reality Through Google’s Project Tango and ARCore
Publication . Voinea, Gheorghe-Daniel; Girbacia, Florin; Postelnicu, Cristian Cezar; Marto, Anabela
This research is focused on the importance of using modern technologies in preserving and exploring Cultural Heritage (CH). Specifically, Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to enhance the user experience related to cultural heritage. We briefly present the main technological approaches in CH and a state of the art in mobile augmented reality. The latest Software Development Kit (SDK) for building AR applications are reviewed and compared. The 3D object that participants could place in the real environment was obtained using photogrammetry, a popular and relatively easy to use digitization technique. The virtual object represents a fortified church and is part of a group of UNESCO monuments from the historical and ethnographical region called “Țara Bârsei”, located in Brasov, Romania. We also provided some guidelines to ensure an accurate 3D reconstruction of any object. We assess users’ perception regarding two mobile AR applications, one based on Project Tango while the other was developed using ARCore. Results confirm that AR improves user experience and increases the enjoyment of learning about cultural heritage.
Magnesium oxide coatings on thermoplastic polyurethane as a key approach to prevent catheter-associated infections
Publication . Padrão, Tatiana; Monteiro, Fernando J.; Sousa, Susana R.; Dias, Juliana R.
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential healthcare tools, but their use is often complicated by bacterial colonization on the catheter surface, leading to serious infections and life-threatening bloodstream complications. Current strategies, often reliant on antibiotics or antiseptics, are increasingly ineffective due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to develop a novel antibacterial coating for CVCs by incorporating magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles onto a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film surface containing barium sulfate (BaSO4). The antibacterial efficacy of these coatings was evaluated against Staphylococcus epidermidis, a major pathogen in catheter-associated infections. The results showed that MgO coatings significantly inhibited bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with 0.50 % and 1.0 % MgO concentrations achieving complete eradication of both planktonic and adherent bacteria. Importantly, the coatings exhibited excellent cytocompatibility with fibroblasts and showed no significant impact on hemolysis or blood clotting. The 0.50 % MgO coating was identified as the optimal formulation, offering the best balance of potent antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. This approach preserves the valuable physical and chemical properties of the TPU material while providing effective antibacterial protection. The straightforward and cost-effective coating process holds significant promise for industrial scale production, paving the way for a new generation of safer and more effective CVCs.
Técnicas de Representação Digital 3D em Design de Produto
Publication . João Mateus
Integrada num curso de Design de Produto, a unidade curricular TRD3D, tem o seu foco na modelação tridimensional através do domínio de técnicas digitais que permitam a utilização de software de modelação 3D e síntese de imagem na representação virtual de objetos, conjuntos e ambientes. Resultante da experiência positiva das aulas online durante o confinamento, o presente artigo relata uma nova abordagem recorrendo a práticas pedagógicas híbridas com o objetivo principal de tornar as aprendizagens mais efetivas reduzindo temporalmente a curva de aprendizagem dos estudantes permitindo-lhes aplicar antecipadamente as competências adquiridas, em representação digital 3D, numa ótica de interdisciplinaridade com as unidades curriculares de Projeto. Com o recurso à plataforma MOODLE e às suas diferenciadas ferramentas foram propostos exercícios de aplicação de técnicas com um grau crescente de complexidade. Parte dos conteúdos curriculares foram preparados para e-learning com recursos vídeo (tutoriais e aulas invertidas) de forma a estimularem e desenvolverem as competências de autoaprendizagem. Cada exercício foi avaliado em termos formativos e fornecido o respetivo feedback. Terminada cada componente de e-learning os alunos demonstraram, na generalidade, em ambiente de sala de aula, a capacidade de aplicar as diferentes metodologias de modelação 3D e visualização virtual em projetos concretos de Design de Produto.